Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1878-04-24
INTERVIEWED
Affairs Up the River Among
the Indian Agencies.

Gen Hammond at the depot in that city
on last Saturday and drew out of the
General the following facts in relation to
matters up river:
"Gen. j. IL. Hammond, inspector Of Indian
agencies, arrived in our city over the Dakota
Southern railway yesterday noon, and departed
via the Illinois Central with hts baggage checked
to Dubuque. As to his Ultimate destination we
are unable TO state. ten. Hammond expressed his
surprise at finding himself so notorious upon ar
irving in this section Of the country He has
been up 10 Red Cl,Gd for some time past. after
closing up the agencies at Crow Greek aud else.
where.
The general was very re,icent in what he said
to us, remarking that he was not at liberty to
speak at length upon the matters which have ex-
cited such interest here In connection with his
proceedings at Crow Creek.
He, however, stated that the story of Brock
mann. as detailed the other day, is not tue. He
did arrest Broekmann on q charge OF misappro-
pria,ing government property, but let him 90
free, when he was censured for doing SO by par
ties cognizant Of the Gaze, who remarked that
Gen. mmo would have 10 answer for his len
icncy In the case He Gays that the hue and cry
mas Deeu ralHeU, 10 ne nus leuEueu ICCculy, tuat
he had arbitrarily removed certain post traders
and agents. when the facts in the case are that he
has removed no person whatever. Such removals
rs have been made were by the department at
Washington. His duties are to obey his snpe-
riors, and to investigate such matters as may he
properly brought before him. This he Is doing,
and will continuc TO do, and he could only ex-
press his regret that any person or persons should
have placed themselves iii a position TO be ircon-
yenicnced thereby. SIZES
We called the attention of the general 10 the
statement that his powers were of the unlimited
nature mentioned in d formed article, and he said
that was a mistake. His powers are defined by
statute and gave him authority to close up agen-
cies and depose agents under orders from the de-
partments, and where there are grave charges
against the incumbcnts.
We called the attention Of the general to the
sta tcment Of the Yankton Press, repuhlishtd in
our columns recently, that reports from the upper
country are that Gen. Hammond has promised
the Red Cloud Indians that they may remove
back into the country TO the Eagles nest. Gen.
Hammond assured ne that this report was false.
He had never given them such permission or
prom Used that he would do SO, and furthermore
he had no authority 10 grant them permission to
go there OF any where else. On the contrary, he
had spent nine days with those Indians TO keep
them on the Missouri river, and had u concil go-
ing for still another effort to hold them On the
river. They want to 80 to White Clay creek, near
the Nebraska line, and not far from their old
stamping ground.
Ten. Hammond says that DIR. Livingston of The
Grow Creek agency refused to deliver up the key
to the government safe at that agency, and still
retains it. lie claims tina; the safe contains pri
waite papers belonging to him, and with which
the government has nothing to do. Hammond
claims that the safe and it's entire contents be.
long to the government until>i, is proven that
some of the property is in fact the private proper
ty of DIR. Livingston. This Is a question for the
law officers to decide, and with which Gen. Ham
mond has nothing TO do. Ills instructions was 10
seize aud hold the property until further orders,
and this has been done.
We called his attention to lhc report that Sevast
Hooker Che gave the latter as the right name, not
Hacker, Us reporled) bad committed suicide be-
cause he had been hound by Hammond and his
minions. Mr.. II. said this happened while he was
away from lied Cloud and that the cause Of
Rockers death would be subjected TO rigid judi
dic!a Investigation 1t had been reported that
the unfortunate man had died by his own hand,
but Mr.. II. IN that there were grave doubts
Is to the case.
The general denied the stories Of the alleged
intimida ton p~rac,iccd upon the late employees at
the agencies, but eaid such stories did not as
tonish him in the least but he was uiprised to
find himself pos scssed Of sucD great power as had
been attributed to him here, and also that he was
suddenly converted into such a notorious
character.
We asked the gentleman about the reports that
his life had been threatened. and that he had
been warned not to move around without q body
guard. He nswered that it would not become
him 10 make any statement as to that, lie had
received threatening letters and had received
intimation that he had better go Slow but he
had paid no attention 10 them, as they were TO be
expected In a case involving the positive action
he had been compelled to take in executing the
orders given to lin.
We tried to ascertain where the general was
bound, but he politely eyadcd our questions on
| that point and we clearly saw that he thought II
was none Of our business. and we decidedly
| agreed with him. His frank was checked to Du.
| buque, but that IL not his ultimate destination,
He Will undoubtedly so 10 Chicago and mosi
probably TO w Washington, before his return, where
1t Ii bclieved..he has neen sGmmOned.
He informed us tina. the finale Of the present
rampus would soon be reached, when the law
officers as he denomInated them, would give Il
the world the truth Of the whole matter. W.
asked him what was the cause OF this and II there
was a big steal somewhere, but he parted ou'
question at fret and haally informed us that OF
that point he had no right to speak at present.
The general ext ressed his thanks to the Jour
nal for the fairless with which it had treated th'
agencies matters, and intimated that when tn
whole matter was made. PLAIN 1t would appca
we'll not to have gone of half-cocked."
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