Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-15

| xeE oI an outbreak among the Indians of
Spotted Tails band, who are Just now in an
unsettled condition and have manifested a
disposition to take the management of mat.
ters into their own hands. Parties who
nave recently arrived from up river look
upon the situation with considerable anx-
lety, feeling that slight cause might pre
clpltate trouble In the present wrought up
condition of the Indian Imagination. The
visit OF Commissioner Hayt and the special
commission which accompanied him was
most unsatisfactory in its results. In fact
II had no result, except to more clearly dc.
vclop the intentions of the Indians to take
the conduct of affairs into their owa hands
and operate independent of government Off.
Gals and in accordance with their own no
tions of thing. Our own opinion is that
there has been great danger of trouble with
these Indians, but that the critical time has
passed and that quiet is now assured by the
receipt OF an order for the immediate re-
moval of the Indians to location of their
own choosing.
Maj. j. NJ. Lee, who has been acting for
the past year and half in the capacity of
agent for the Spotted Tail Indians. was in
town last night or his way to Omaha to
join his regiment, and we took advantage of
the opportunity presented for obtaining his
views upon the subject of trouble in the
camp just left by him. 1t is evident that
the major has shared IN the general anx.
iety. He thinks the Spotted Tail Indians
have not been fairly dealt with, and any
bad faith on the part of the whites is de.
moralizing TO the Indian. He says these In.
dians were induced to come to the Missouri
river upon the explicit promise Of
the president and the secretary
OF the interior that they would be permitted
to go to location of their own choosing as
soon as spring arrived. A portion of them
accepted these terms, and a portion
did not, but instead deserted the band
and have not since returned.
Maj. Lee experienced great difficulty in
transferring the faithful ones to their pres
ent location. The move was made at an
inclement season and it was only BY the
most judiclous management and constant
reminder of the promises that had been
made them that he succeeded. As the win.
ter passed away and spring opened they ex-
pccted fulfllmcnt Of the promises freely
given anc as time passed on and no
move occurred they became uneasy, This
ceiling became gradually intensified until 1t
dangerous form. It Was of no
avail to explain to these red men the details
Of the appropriation business-the part con.
gress had in 1.-THE slowness of that body
to act-all the mysteries of red tapeism.
They had chosen a place on the south
branch of White river, seventy miles away
from the Missouri, which suited them and
they wanted to go there The hardships
and exposure incident TO winter Journey
across the plains and the necessarily poor
accommodations furnished in their tempo.
rary camp had induced disease. Consump.
lion, pneumonia and diptheria were preva-
lent. This added to their discomfort and
The whole combined has exasperated them
to degree which renders the wild Indian
an unsafe element along the frontier. 1t
was while they were in this unpleasant
frame of mind that the special commission
invaded their camp with proposition to
select for them home. As they had al
'eady performed that part of the business
Ind saw in it the foundation for further dc
ay, considerable more "bad heart" was de.
'eloped and Spotted Tail talked rather i'm
to and about the agents of the
.reat father and their mission.
Upon the subject of possible trouble with
he Spotted Tail Indians, Maj. Lee could
lot speak decisively. lie said there was
'lways danger where there were Indians,
md cited the experience with the Modocs
md Nez Pcrces, who were partially civi.
lied, as an Illustration. They had broken
,ut wholly unexpectedly, because they had |
grievance. "What thsn," added the ma
or, "might be expected of wild Indians? ?"
Many Of those now under control of Spo:.
ed Tail had been hardly a year upon an
gency. They had been accustomed TO no
estrictive laws and were unfamiliar with |
he ways Of civilization. He thought that
fno misunderstanding or conflict of opin.
on arose in carrying out the details Of the
emoval there would be no trouble. Some
light act which did not accord with Indian
IDEAS, however unintentional 1t might be,
would tend to arouse bad blood and induce
consequences An outbreak, he
thought, would not seriously jeopardize the |
safety of the settlers. 1t would probably
come, if at all, in the shape of an uprising
and row upon their agency grounds, a
white man or two might be killed, the
horses within reach stolen and the reds
would then light out for the plains,
which were their home. That,
be thought, would be the Indian oft. Maj
Lee could not say that he had any fear that
of this sort would occur, but it was
within the range of possibilities. He deem.