Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-10-15
SPOTTED rA,L ,,.e,Aas

W.. 49,
Arrival OF Trader Pratt and Standing
Bear-All Qaist Al the AEcncy-Inaias
Bullwhackers.
+. ID. Praft. Indian trader, and Standing
Bear, a Sioux chief Of Spotted. Tails band
arrived TO day from Rosebud agency, hav-
Ing left that place on the 9th Inst. They
report everything quiet at the agency and
say that Spotted Tails people are quiet
and we'll disposed. The Indians orc Get.
Ting down in their new home and are
speedily adapting +. themselves to the
improved order Of things with excellent
grace, under the efficient management
Of Major Pollock, who has conducted
this most difficult change Of base with
marked success. Maj. Pollock has inaugu-
rated a new system of freighting, whereby
the Indians do the work instead Of white
men. MI. Pratt says that when the order
was received giving authority for the en-
ployment of Indian freighters and announc.
ing that they we're to have the same pay
heretofore allowed white men, there was a
general season Of rejoicing in camp. The
Indians celebrated the event with
. dance. They then cut off their
long war locks, threw aside their blankets
and donned citizens clothes. There was
considerable parade about this. 1t was an
event in their lives. 1t signi6ed their vii.
lingness to abandon their wild ways, take
up the customs of civilization, and, in their
rude way, labor for their living. A com
plement of red men was speedily procured
for the agency bull train. and they are now
engaged in hauling their supplies from the
river landing to the agency. Mr.. Pratt saw
the wagon master of the train, a white man,
at the landing, and he stoutly averred that
his Indian teamsters were better than any
white teamsters he had had in his employ.
This is a most important step in the direc.
ton of the civilization Of the Indians.
With something to suppiant their hours Of
idleness, they wall the more quickly leave
behind them their wild customs. Major
Pollock is now organizing q pony train. to
be managed by his Indians, which will al
80 be used for transporting supplies.
This train will be made up of four hundred
ponies and will be operated BY one hundred
Indians.
The saw mill and agency buildings, Mr..
Pratt says are now in:process Of erection.
The Indians have selected their locations
for the winter and the best Of feeling exists
between Indians and..agent. A note brought
by Mr.. Pratt from Maj. Pollock puts a
quietus on the supposition that the Spotted
Tail Indians were contemplating mischief.
He says, "the wild, senselese, sensational
stories about this people and about
troubles here are the merest bosh.'
Mr.. Pratt says nothing had been seen Of
the Cheyennes up to the time of his depart
ure, though the military was out after
them.
Standing Bear, the Indian who accompanied
Mr.. Pratt, is considerable of 4 character.
He clothes himself in fine raiment, wears
kid gloves and rides about in his own car.
riage. He was in some doubt about wheth-
er he had better put on his broadcloth, boil
ed shirt and diamond pin when he came to
Yaukton or whether it would be more ap.
propriate to wesr a blanket and leggins. He
fiually compromised with himself by wear.
ing a neat business suit. Standing Bear is
ordinary red man.