, 1879-06-29

The TR1BuEH has contained from time to
time dispatches and communications relative
so the removal OF the Ponca Indians from their
Dakota reservation, and also in reference to
the habeas-corpus case brought before Judge
Dundy. This matter, however, was given in q
fragmentary form. aud for the purpose Of get
ting straightforward story Of what is unques-
tionablr one of the greatest outrases ever per
petrated bv the Indian Ring, TRIBUNE re-
porter called yesterday upon Mr.
e.. 7. Il. Treble =
OF the Omaha Hcr11d, gentleman who took a
deep inte.es: in the wrongs of these Indians,
and who started the movement which led to
their release on habeas corpus. Mr.. Tihbles is a
gentleman well known through Nebraska, hav-
ing been connected with the Omaha press for
many years, aud comes to this city With the
strongest letters OF Endorsement from the Mayor
OF that city, and from Gen. Crook, command
Ing the military district.
II wish, !" said the reporter to him, "that YOU
would tell INC conciselY, beginning at the Begin
ming, the facts connected with the removal of
the Ponca Indians, concerning which see you
are going to speak at FarWe1l Hail Monday
night-''
''Tbis tribe Of Indians occupied reservation
OF about 10000 acres of land in Dakota, be-
tween the Missouri River and the Niobrara, which
separates Dakota from Nebraska 1t was fur
ther advanced in civilization than any other on
the plains except the Omahas. They lived In
good houses, we're generally dressed In citizens
clothes, and had schools, which we're largely at
tended. and churches They we're a quiet
peaceab1e community, aud had always been
friendly with the whites-specially so; and
were rewarded for being so ia the special treaty
made with them BY which they were given some
lane they wanted. They had never been
charged on any OCCASION with :havlng killed
white man. or taking any property of the
whites.
1.-THE FIRST THAT THET HARD
anything about this business was in the spring
of 1876. They went TO church as usual on Sum-
day.. and after the missionary had gotten
through talking to them, he said he had some
bad news for them; he heard that they were to
move to the Indian Territory. As soon as sery-
ices we're over they sent out runners to call the
tribe together, and when they had assembled
they asked the missionary what it all meant
He said he couldn't state anything further than
the mere fact that he had heard that they we're
to go. Things remained in this condition
for some time, until three persons
appeared On the scene. They we're
E. G. Kemble, Indian Inspector; James Law
renee, United States Indian Agent; ard S. d.
Hinmau. They came to the Agency and called
council. at which they told the Indians that
the President had issued an order for them to
be removed to the Indian Territory. They i'm
medfately protested and said they would not
20; the land on which they we're living was
theirs; they had never sold it; it had been
deeded to them By the Government: they had
always kept their treaties with the Government,
and they did not want to give up their farms or
EEL them, or to 60 to the Indian Territory; they
hsd good farms where theY we're, doing well
and living well. These three men still insisted
that they must go; the President had |
given the order, and it must not be disobeyed. |
They called another council for the purpose Of /
sHanging with them to give up their lands, but |
the Indians refused to attend 1t, and would have
he Agency quite while, and all the time kept |
1rRtng these chiefs and trying to get some sort
II 2u agreement out Of them to 20 to the In-
1ian Territory. Finally, they made
PROPOSITION OF THIS SORT,
l!ter WORRYING them a great deal, and having
frightened them with the idea of leaving: That
they would send their chiefs to the Indian !
Territory they could see the land, which was
Ietrer than theirs, and it, after inspecting It, |
hey did not want to stay there, they co11d coma
ack, and that would be the end Of it, The
gent said they would not ask them to stay il
ITO this tue Indians consented, and sent
heir chiefs to the Indian Territory, accom-
anied BY these three men. When they got
here, they saw the land. the number fsick
hat had been moved there, and absolutely re-
used to recommend to their. tribe to go down
here and give up their Dakota lands Then |
aese three men took them TO the southwest