New-York tribune., 1879-12-08
SEEKING REDRESS IN THE EAST.

PONCA INDIANS N w-YORK-wHAT THEY SAY
THEY HAVE sUFFERED~i TALK WITH STANDING
BEAR.
The three Ponca Indians AT the Fifth Avenue
Hotel under the charge of T. II. Tbbles, Of Omaha,
Neb, have come East, they say, TO lay before the
people the real condition of their tribe and the
treatment they have received from the agents and
inspectors OF the Government. Ma-chu-nah-zhe, or
Standing Bear is a large. powerful man, with long
black hair fastened the ears with small rings.
He has characteristic Indian features. He is of
the chiefs who went from the reservation IN Dakota
to select new ground in the Indian Territory, and
who because they were not satisfied, were left 10
find their way home on foot. He does not speak
English, and talks through an interpreter. Zon-
the-tah or Wood Worker. is an intelligent young
man, with a broad, pleasant face from the Omaha
reservations be is the son of one Of the chiefs
of his tribe, is educated, and speaks good Eng
lsh In-shta-the-am-ba. Bright Eyes, Lis
sister, is yOnng woman of medium height,
slight figure, with pleasing manner and grace
ful bearing. She speaks perfect English,
and her voice is gentle and well moduiated. When
speak;nc of the expulsion of the Poncas from their
reservation. she said that 1t seemed to her like
repetition of Longfellow's story of Acadia and
Evangeline. The Indians visited Mr. Longteilow
few days ago. When the poet saw Bright Eyes he
erasped her by the hand. exclalmlng, ms Is
In - proposed by these Indians 90 bring three suits
In the Supreme Court 70 right a. tar as possible the
wrongs inflicted upOu them bv the Indian agents,
the cost OF which Will be about SlOOVV. lheie
vii H. no expense Tor lawyers fees, :. j. Poppe-
fou and j. L. Webster have already offered their
SERVICES About "a 900 has already been raised
fhougb the party has only been IN Boston, where
they were very well received. and made two snort
SONS m Pitfsburg and Chicago. Their movements
i'm Nev-York are not decided upon but Will De under
the direction of Mr.. Lincoln. of Boston, and - VI.
F.ske of this city. private reception WI De
given TO them Monday evening nj MI iske
house Public meetiI rs also Will soon be held; In
n conversation on saturday between the chief,
Standing Bear, and tribune reporter. Bright
Eye- acted as interpreter The POnca chiei speaks
earnestly and emphatcally. The following IS tue
substance OF his story
He had land on the river on which he had always
lived II was ours. God gave 10 70 Us and placed
ns on IT, Every man has right TO his own, ard
should not be deprived of II without his peruls-
sion. white man and told US that the
President said must move. lie sad ho would
Take 10 the Indian Territory TO select new Land
II We dld not like any that saw there we could
90 70 Washington and tell the President about II.
They promised To pay Us for our land and give us
new land IN the Indian Territory. Then he took
ten chiefs with him. He showed us Ouly three
pieces of land aud when came 70 the last one he
said We must choose Of them. We told him
that we were not satisfied, aud that wanted 90
20 TO Washington, as he promised we should. Then
the inspector said we could not go. We reminded
him OF his promise, but he grew angry and insisted
upon our signing the treaty, as he said there was
soon TO be 4 new President February, 1k77l. We
refused 10 sign IT. and lie said he would leuve US
there to walk home. We asked for a pass, and il
was denied us Then asked TOR the money Of