Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-07

Opinion of Bald Headed Mcn-llis BOld,
Plain Talk to Commissioners Hayt-Thc
Yankton Indians Open their Complaint
hook.
SSesr' Correspondence Press and Dakotaim.
~ Fort RANDALL, August 1, 1878.
There are only two companies-A. and e.
stationed here at present, two of the four
companies which formerly constituted the
garrison having been transferred to the new
military station at Bare Butte. The officers
now here are Col. Pinckney Lugcnbccl,
commandant, Majors Oiley and DeRussey,
Lteutenants Pierce, Callinan. Smith and
O'Connell, and DR.. Champion, post sur
geon.
The ridlculously small number of men
which under the new army regulations are
assigned to q company, make 9 poor show
ing, so far as members are concerned, and
as q consequence, the post presents a very
quiet appearance. Thirty-three men is the
maximum number allowed a company.
There are always more or less Of the men
on detached service, on the sick list, OF, alb
sent for other reasons, consequently a conf
pany on parade or in line for inspection sci.
dom musters over twenty men, and the read
er can imagine the display two companies
make at so large and we'll appointed a post
as Fort Randall. But what interest to the
visitor is lost in the lack of the excitement
and display incident to a large garrison, is
compensated here in the fine discipline, ex-
IRENE neatness and good order, and the
beauty of the post and Its surround
ings. We had the pleasure Of being
present at the monthly inspection yes
terday morning, and by invitation of Col.
Lugenbeel accompanied him on his round
of inspection, visiting the quarters Of the
men, the hospital (Which, by the way, con-
tains but n patient, and he is a civilian
who was brought here to be cured of a bro
ken Leg and the other buildings used or oc-
cupied by the men. Each department and
every apartment is scrupulously clean and
orderly. Not a speck of dirt, or dust or
stain to be seen, anywhere; and to this clean
illness and due regard to sound sanitary rules
can be attributed the notable exemption
from sickness which the residents of the
post enjoy. ...
This post occupies a very handsome site
on a high plateau of bench land, and is one
Of the few really desirable and eligible loca-
tions for town on the Missouri river. The
buildings are all good, are painted white,
and present a handsome we'll kept appear
ance.
A garden or rather a small farm adjoining
furnishes all the vegetables used at the post.
The garden is run" by Lieut.. Pierce, regi-
mental q~uartermaster, and its condition
shows that he is a good granger as we'll as a
soldier. His potatoe patch will yield about
5000 bushels, and when he drives up his
cabbages he will have an army Of 1000
heads. Pierce is a practical worker, and
there are thousands of farmers in the coun-
try who would be benefited if they knew
what he "knows about farming"
Our old friend John Cunningham, ~associa.
ted with D. L Pratt, are post traders here and
to those who know them it's unnecessary for
me to say that they average considerably
above 1S K. in everything that contributes
to the pleasure ofa visit at the post. These
gentlemen have q fine store building, and
carry q stock of goods, which would make
their establishment rank first class in an
important commercial mart.
AT WHITE swAN
we found very little change since our for
mer visit. We missed the genial counten-
ance of N. B. Reynolds, who, when Maj.
Clarkson was displaced as Indian trader,
purchased the stock of goods at the White
Swan store, and removed them to his ranch
IS miles farther up the river, where be built
a store and is selling considerable goods in
addition to carrying on a considerable farm
and taking care Of q large herd of cattle.
MIR. Sperry, the new trader at Yankton
agency, has recently opened a store here
in charge Of his son and j. r, Fitzpatrick,
who is also telegraph operator. These zen.
tlemen have a good stock of goods, and ap-
pear TO be doing,a good business. George
Chamberlin still keeps the hotel here, but
is anxious to sell out on account of ill.
health of his wife. A competent person
who desires to 20 into the hotel business
will find a good opening here.
ITEMS.
The thermometer at Randall fell 200 dl-
ring the eclipse on Monday.
Spotted Tail don't smoke. This is nota-
bic, from the fact that he is probably che
only abstainer from the weed in the whole
tribe. His abstinence does not extend to the
ardent. as he is said to smack his lips with
peculiar satisfaction as . token of his appre-
of a bumper Of fre-water.
The Yankton Indians at the lover end of
the agency, near Chotsau creek, have raised
considerable wheat this year, but they have
no machinery to harvest it, and it is going
to destruction. The machines at the agency
I,~-> III ---.- III.