Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-08-07
POPLAR CREEK AGENCY.

AuseH0EA0CS VWuVk ALIVE ~
late s~care-.sitting Bull Beyond Oh
Border Getting Ready TO starve q
Ftght--Massaere ofthe Lambert Famil.
Correspondence of the Press aud Dakotaial
July 22.-Our boat arrived at Fl. Bufor,
Sunday, July IL, at Z p. M, two hours b,
hind the Nellie Peck. Buford is locate
close to the river on a beautiful piece {
prairie which commands a fine view of til
surrounding country. The government hs
provided literally for this post in the wa
of buildings, officers quarters, barracks an
warehouses. all being nice, comfortable ant
roomy. After a short stroll we returned t.
the boat and in a half hours run arrived
at the mouth Of the Yellowstone. Here, a
its mouth, this river looks the same az the
Missouri. Over the line into Montana, We
billow our way, and as We gaze on the sur
rounding shores of this vast country, We
can realize that we have left even the faint
eat traces of civilization behind, and are
fairly launched on the great wilderness of
the west.
July 13.-To.day we passed several herd
of antelope, some of them so near the boat
that for safety they took to their heels, and
in a short time put = very respectable dis
lance between themselves and the boat.
Land through here is very rough and un-
even in places-the surface Of some of the
bluffs being bare Of vegetation and covered
with q white substance resembling lime.
There are no settlers through here. The only
thing to be seen is now and then a log
cabin belonging to wood.choppers who are
living q precarious life to sell their wood
at the modest sum of $3.50 per cord. We
tied up for the night thirty miles from
Poplar Creek agency, and nothing prevent
ing We shall be at that place in the morn-
ing at 10 o'clock.
July 14.-At 8 .. m. this morning We
sighted Poplar Creek agency, and by 9 we
were at the landing. 1t looks as though all
the Indians on the river were here awaiting
our arrival they were singing q monoton'
Gus refrain, and we were unable to know fol
some time whether this was meant for oul
funeral dirge or as a compliment to our ar
rival. We were informed afterwards thai
this was for the benefit of General Miles
scouts Black Catfish and another sub-chiei
of the Yanktonais, whom Miles had sent
for, and who were going up on the boat to
join him. Major Porter, the new agent al
this place, had been here for a week when
we arrived. DR.. Bird, the retiring agent,
goes to Fort Benton from here, and from
there to the National park before returning
home. The doctor has got the buildings on
this agency in very good shape, everything
being comfortable and pleasant. The
agents house is about forty feet square, two
stories high, frame, of pine. There is also
q large cistern belonging to the house which
furnishes water for household purposes
large warehouse, stable and school house.
The trouble arising here from the Indians
was a lack Of r%ations, there being nothing
for them to eat for a long time. Most of
the trouble was imaginary, no outbreak
having occurred here, though one was anti
cipated. At present things seem to be as
safe here as at Yankton, and no one thinks
of being afraid. All the rations on hand
here at the present time consist of twelve
hundred sacks Of -four, with nearly five
thousand people to issue too.
Wolf Point is the smaller half of this
agency, and is located twenty-five miles
west of here on Wolf creek. The boss
farmer has charge of this place-one-third
Of all supplies for the two camps going to it.
There are about 1000 of the Assinaboines,
and as they and the Yanktonais do not
agree they are located at seperate places.
Most of the young Indians are on the south
side of the river hunting buffalo. Sitting
Bull and his forces are on the north side Of
the British line, and if reports are true, is
having a sorry time Of it. There is a great
of buffalo in that vicinity, and he
will soon be compelled to either fight or
starve. Miles and his forces are located at
old Fort Peck awaiting the movements Of
the hostiles. Lieut.. Thompson came down
dispatches for Major Porter from
Miles yesterday. He says thst the Indians
complain Of not having enough to eat here
at this agency. This is true, as part of the
time there has been nothing here for them,
and now there is nothing but -four here. He
also brings the report that there are sup.
posed to be hostiles in the Yanktonais
camp, which is just across the river from
here.
There are reports here now, Just in by
runners from Wolf Point, that Miles has
engaged the hostiles in battle. Did not
hear the particulars, and do not know
what the result was. As Soon as I find out
the truth of these rumors I will send you
full particulars.
LATER.
Tuesday afternoon, July 26, Maj. Porter,