Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-09-15
LOWER y AGENCY.

0NUle N0eWOv.
The Hsms OF Portion Of the Brule sioux
Band-lts Location and the Men who
Run it-IndiaM Advancement In ARri-
ture aud Literature.
[From our Travelling Correspondent
Lower Brule Agency, Dakota. September
8, lS79.-Brule agency, the home Of the
Brule Sioux Indians. is located on the vest
bank Of the Missouri, near the mouth Of
White river, aud a few miles below Fort
Thompson. 1t is q point 80 well known to
the people who live along the Missouri river
that sny detailed description of the agency
or its uses would be almost superfluous.
The Brule Sioux have come down through
recent history, first as . warlike people.
next as ,ntractable wards Of the govern
ment, and finally as peaceable, we'll disposed
savages who are anxious to learn the ways
Of civilization, but don't exactly stumble
to F" the manner thereof. 1t was early 10 tho
naturalization Of Dr.. Livingston e former
agent) that the Brules yielded subsection to
the authority Of the great father and came
into the fold as reclaimed sheep of the ma
tionsl flock. The story of their last "kick'
against the constituted authorities Is vet .
familiar ono TO the older denizsns Of this
region and the summary manner 10 which
DR.. Livingston squelched the incipient re-
bellion left a lasting effect upon the Brules.
They have since been tolerably good Iudi-
ans aud uuder judicious management are
gradually increasing in deceDcy as the wears
60 by.
Brule agency proper consists of but Q few
buildings small number, l should say,
for the large amount of business transacted
at the post. Capt. w. E Dougberty LIST in
fautry, is acting agent. Holding forth 10
responsible positions here I dud the clerk,
Charles E. Foster, j. w. Elsbire traders
clerk, Mr.. McClive farmer, l.. Foster black
smith. NJ. w. Martin carpenter and Mark
Wells interpreter. DR.. A. c. Bergen is the
agency physician. Mr.. Foster has charge
Of the agency 10 the absence Of Captain
Dougherty. The mission here is under
charge OF Rev. Un-ra-psga,de-dle. The
agency buildings occupy one of those beau
tiful prairie benches for which this county
is noted, with a bluff range encircling their
site on the noith and west.
Through an invitation Of Mr.. Foster, and
Ii company with that gentleman aud the In
terpreter, l visited several of the outlying
Indian camps. which are the dwelling place
of the red children who are furnished with
the necessaries OF life nj this agency. Big
Names camp, located twelve miles west Of
the agency, was our first stopping place
The route thithcr was over . rough aud
broken country, with the Missouri river on
our left and the White Earth on our tight.
A beautiful stretch Ut wild coun;ry i. was
and a view Of it made me feel more than
repaid for the fatigue Of the launt. We
halted at the domiclle of Big-Mane, chief
Of the band, and found the sschem at home
with a balf.dozen Of his subjects squatted
10 a circle abou. him. Evidently the old
fellow Was giving them some solid advice,
for they lacked exceedingly wise as we iu-
truded upon the privacy OF the assemblsRe.
Our party was made welcome and after the
FIRST formaiities were ipterchanged the head
of the band asked the interpreter who |
was. On being informed that / was a hum.
BILE pencil pushcr out in search of informs-
ton be said be would like to haye a little
conversation With me upon current topics,
aud there being no objection on my rart,
the talk went on, about as follows:
Big Mane-Arc you the reporter that the
white father sends to US once in . while 10
see how We are getting along:
A-No. l report for the benei, of the
people who read our paper.
Big-Mane-Do you lie like the govern
ment reporters?
A-No. I always tell the truth.
Big Mane-Then, if you tell the truth, l
want you to com along with me 10 my
camp. and see for yourself the improve
ments We have made. We have built
houses, fences. barns, cultivated the land,
raised corn. wheat, water melons 10 plenty.
put up hay. and done the best we could.
We are like children, for we have to learn
white peoples ways. But don't you think,
friend, we are doing we'll?
Ayes. l have remarked with pleasure
that you are not the same Indians 1 knew
you as six years ago. add that you have i'm.
proved considerably.
Big-Mane-We have schools now, and
very oon u children will know your
tongue, and thereby will be more able 10
help %, but I am sorry to see that they
teach our children 10 Dakota language. We
would prefer them to learo the English Ian.
gusge alone. Us
After this little talk, Bix-Mane passed the
pipe around. and then saddled bis horse and
took Us through his camp, showing Us the
Improvements Of his band. Nothing had
been misrepresented to US and l sincerely
complimented Big-Mane on the advance
ment made by his band.
Big-Msne, aud another chief of the upper
camp, accompanied 10 to another camp, also