Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-01-02
UP H MISSOURI.
Ronxhing It Over the Frozen Road.
Things ON the Yamkton Reserva.
tion and at Springfield.

ROukhlng It Over the Frozen Dads
Things on tho ankto Reserva.
tion and at Springfield.
SPRINGFIELD, D. T., Dec. 81, III.
Friday afternoon and evening a consider.
able fall of snow occurred at Yaukton
agency, followed by colder weather, which
settled the mud question, but left the roads
in such a condition Of roughness as to make
a ride over them in a lumber wagon on an
u cushioned seat a matter not only of dis
comfort but of stern punishment. Having
concluded our business at the agency and
desiring to reach Choteau creek before dark,
which we could not have done if we had
waited for the stage, we took passage in a
freight wagon BELONGING to H. C.. Dawson,
of Springfield, which had brought to the
agency eight Santee Indians to attend St.
Paul school, and started on our down river
trip. For the privilege of enjoying this
ride we were charged by Mr.. D. the modest
sum of ten cents per mile. We paid the
demand, buff we should say that we enjoyed
the ride and paid the price with pleasure
we should deserve to he ex ,elled forthwith
from the little Ratchet society.
Saturday was issue day at the agency.
and We passed large numbers Of Indians
carrying home their share Of the govern
ment grub pile" The plebian red totes
his share on his back generally. however,
the toting is doneh nv proxy, his sqnaw acting
in that capacity. The middle class tfor be it
remembered there are classes. even snobberv,
among the Indians as well as among the
whites,) pack their allowance on horseback,
while the upper ten do their tran porting
in wagons, and some are so far advanced az
to whirl over the p%rairies in comfortable bug
gies.
A few miles below the agency our atter.
ton was attracted by the piercing cries and
wailing of an old squaw. As we drew near
er, we discovered that she was mourning
over he grave Of one Of her relatives. The
grave had the appearance Of being an old
one, but judging from the vehemence of her
cries her grief was still fresh in her heart.
The road led close by the grave, yet the
rafting of the wagon and the crack of the
drivers whip, did not divert her attention,
She remained motionless, and her shrill
mourning song was not in the least in
te-rurtcd by our close proximity to the rude
mound which enshrined the ashes of the one
she was so noisily lamenting.
At noon. after many a bom'e and a bump
: and bone-rattleing jar, we arrived at Geo.
Trumho's Cho'eau creek ranch, where we
!, intended to cross the river and pay onr re-
spects to our old friend ofthe regular army
Col. Spottad Tail. Bat after hearing Of the
danger Of the crossing, Of the many hair
breadth escape from watery graves
which had been made bv persons endeavor
! ing to effect a crossing, we concluded to al
low old Snot t, mourn our absence a little
longer, and instead Of crossing the river we
, ate a good dinner at Trumho's. and bumped
along 10 Springfield. Mr. Trumbo has one
Of the hest ranches on the rad: his build,
; iags are substantial and comfortable, and
us uJuSC IL n WIN oI''NuJ''S p''|' "
travellers in thai region. At Trumbo's We
met and entered into conversation with =
! small elderly man, aud apparently an entire
stranger. After a few moments talk, hi
remarks led US to inquire his name, Il
, which he responded that his name was Nc
!, Bride. care you a relative of John Nc
bride, who formerly lived on Sioux Point,
we asked. 81 am the nerson to whom vo,
qllude--my name IS John Mcbride" And
sure enough, q close scrutiny revealed il
the now withe1ed face indistinct outlines q
the once round and full features of Joh'
:, Mcbride. one of the pioneer settlers of tn
y territory, and a member Of the first terrific
rial legislature. He is now permanent.
" located in the upper country, and was en-
, gagged during the past summer in ~freightini
between Pierre and the Black Hills.
On the east bank of Choteau creek, whic
stream forms the eastern boundary of tn
Yankton indian reservation, there are
n number ofplaces where liquor is sold, an
not unfrequently it finds its way into tn
hands and stomachs of the Indians. A fe,
days ago some of the Indians residing o
y the point between Choteau creek and tn
Missouri river, and right under the shade
d Of the church spire, procured a supply of fir
water, and got on a whooping, fghtin
! drunk Knives and firearms were freely use
by the Indians in their drunken frenzy, br
n by some chance no one was seriously hur
Finally one of the Indians repnted, to be
= desperate and dangerous fellow, armed wit
a double barreled shot gun, put the entir
settlement of Indians-brcks, squaws an
pappooses-to:'Aight. The fugitives we're M
,e allowed to return to their homes until tn
J. next day, and spent the night in the brus
a and r%avines. During their absence the ii
" f~uriated savage broke up his own and hi
. neighbors furniture, smashed stoves, and ha