Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1878-09-14
SPOTTED TAILS INDIANS.

SPOTTED TAILS INDIANS.
Maj. Pollock,s Experiences Since He be-
ca.as Acting Agent.
A conversation with Msj. J. w. Pollock
last evening, in which he gave the details of
the recent move made BY the Spotted Tail
Indians under his charge. convinces us that
he has just accomplished = job Of no small
magnitude, and also that men Of less energy,
push and managing ability would have
made al utter failure of the move. This
change Of location from old Ponca to the
Rosebud was insisted upon by the Indians,
who threatened to commit d%epredations il
their wishes were not complied with. No
order from the department authorizing the
move was issusd..and under this delay the
Indians became restless, insolent and threat.
ening. They finally made . move on the
Niobrara settlements and Maj. Pollock con-
cluded that it was policy to begin the move.
He therefore issued the order and immedi-
ate preparations were begun for the march
of a hundred and fifty miles across the prai-
riea The transportation contractor failed
to furnish c%onveyances for the weak and the
sick, but Maj. Pollock determined not to in
cur the risk Of the consequences Of further
delay and told his Indians that the next
issue of rations would be made at
q certain point some distance out
towards the Rosebud on a certain day.
The Indians were there promptly on time.
The next issue was made farther On, with
the same result. The problem, how to move
the Indians without transportation was
solved. The ration pile was moved and the
Indians moved themselves, There is Of
course = large amount of property scattered
along the road. but it will all be gather
ed in before snow flies and the Indians COM
fortably fixed for the winter.
One of Maj. Pollock's feats was the con.
struction of a ration house between daylight
and. dark Of a single day. The supply train
arrived at the Rosebud in the morning.
The rations were placed in . compact pile
upon the ground. Every available man was
sent into the woods to cut logs. Every team
was pressed into the service to haul the logs
to the ration pile. The result was hat
a log building forty feet long twenty
wide and eight feet high, with a tarpaulin
roof was erected over the rations before
dark that night. The same indomitable
energy prevailed in the construction of item.
porary quarters for the Indians, and by the
time Major Pollock had got them comfort
ably fixed in their new home he received q
telegram from headquarters asking him if
he had yet commenced to o his Indians
from Ponca, and telling him to hold them
at that place till further orders. 1t was too
late. Rosebud had become a point in In
dian history-the home Of Spotted Tails
eight thousand Indians.
the expense of the move TO take
place was figured up and 1t was..agreed that
it could not be done for less than 100000.
Under Major Pollock's management it has
been accomplished for $4,000. In the
meantime he had been busy selecting and
fitting up q river landing for the supplies
of his Indians, and while attending to the
details of the move had built a warehouse
at the new landing and laid out a good
road from it to the Indian camp.
In all these transactions Maj. Pollock hes
shown an energy that has been productive
of the best results. 1t has accomplished a
move in the face o. difficulties which seem
ed too great to overcome. 1t has built roads
aud warehouses in the heart of the wilder
ness and has placed the Indians in their
new home while headquarters was consi-
dering schemes for the accomplishment
Of the great undertaking.
The contract for the construction of build.
ings at Rosebud agency, for which bids were
sent in a few days ago, has been rejected by
the department and Maj. Pollock has teen
instructed to purchase the necessary mater.
ial, hire mechsnics and himself superin-
tend the erection of the necessary build.
ings. An order has also been issued for
bin to purchase Two hundred yoke Of cattle
aud two hundred wagons are to be sent
him. These will constitute his supply train
and will operate between Rosebud agency
aud the river landing below the mouth of
White river.
LADIES!
Call at Eiseman & Co.'s before purchasing
and examine their stock of dress goods,