Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-08-23

ton lad Of supplies. The two ofacial,
sheu hclda council with the Indians Ant
advanced Q proposition TO buy their claims
put TO this tho Indians entered
AN ABSOLUTE RRrusAL.
Then they suggested . Recommendation "a
the Indian department TO pay the white
eettlers for their property and improve
mnents. and charge the cost up to the In
dams. This proposition the Indians also
declined to entertain, saying that the land
belonged to them and they wanted all Of 1t.
These Indians have broken in three
years about thir.y-ave acres OF land, but
tever had It all under cultivation at one
fine. They have nevsr occupied the three
townships given them BY presidential or
DER, but have made their summer homes
upon a small portion of township III.
They have subsisted upon govern
ment ,~rations drawn at Crow
creek and sissetoal and upon ~annulties
drawn at those two agencies and at Stand
ing Rock. ds,Is ~
Major Chrlssey ard Captain Dougherty
gre very much annoyed over. the situation
and VIII earnestly recommend the authori-
ties to send the Blowing Goose band back
to their reservation Immediately and keep
them there. They ordered the Indians
back to Grow Greek temporarily. In re-.
spouse to this order about one.third the
sauaWs and children went to Crow Creek
and the other two-thirds to Sisseton last
Sunday. The bucks are struggling about
over the ~prairie-some at the agencies,
some on the road and others hanging about
jim river to see what they can see.
'' AscRAP FROM THE PAST.
II will be remembered that last season
these same Indians caused q number of
families to leave SPHINX county aud In con-
sequence the Indian department vas ap
pealed to for protection. In response to
that appeal the following comforting COM
munication was sent to Mr.. Foster, one Of
the pioneer settlers of that region:
s. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.
Occ4Ch Vt INDIAN AFEAlRo,
Washington, Feb, 18th, 1879.
G. B. Foster, Esq, &esseton Agency, D. Z.
gia 81. Paul. am in receipt by depart
ment reference of your letter dated the Goth
ultimo. relating to certain white families
who have made settlements on the James
River in Dakota, and were driven there.
from by the chief, drifting Goose" and
his band about a year since, and have to
advise you, that under instruction from
this office, these Indians have been re.
moved from the James river to the agency
Grow Creek" and are commencing a set
Element On their reservation. The agent
reports that they nave no desire, nor will
they be permitted to return to the James
river. E. "A, HAYr.
Commissioner
Upon the assurances contained within
this communication, the settlers all re-
turned to SPHINX county this season and a
great many more went with them and have
since followed. They had picked out their
farms and instituted improvements when
the right Of Drifting Goose was formally
recognized by presidential order and the
whites notified to vaca,e these townships,
that this band Of government paupers
might take possession thereof. The gov.
eminent doubtless imagines that it is act
ing rightly aud humanely In this matter,
but IT is committing a grave blunder which
will lead to trouble as surely a. II Is per-
sisted in.