, 1879-01-19

I
country would have to be sued. Besides tha,
these publications hnye been copied into tb
leading papers OF Europe. Furthermore, in
dlctmcnts have been found against all tn
persons involved, who arc thus exposed. b
Grand Jurics composed Of their own neichbors
in spite Of the most strenuous exertions ant
the bringing Of every possible local influence Il
manufacture and bias public opinion in tn
localities where these juries met"
"Havs you visited any Indians latelya"
| ayes, passed through Chicago on the 9Th
en- route to Washington direct from
| CAMP ROBINSON,
| Nebraska, and Pine Ridge Agency, Dakota, a
| which Agency the Indians are gathered wht
were formerly known as the Rcd-Cloud IL
| dians.''
"Whnt called you out there7''
II WAS sent out there to look after the gen
| cral interests OF the Government, and to assis
/ in whatever measures might be necessary tt
hasten the building and provide winter supplies
| for the Indians located there"
J ''At that time was everything .peacefull"
| "Eycrythng was very quiet when | was there
| and tue Indians were we'll disposed"
| ''What measures have been taken to suppl7
! thcm3"
"Fifty-six o1-teams aud $50 wagons driven
! by Indians and hauled by Indian ponies are en-.
| ployed in transporting staple articlcs of food
from the Missouri River and by the Union Pa
| cifc Railroad to Sidney. In addition to these
| all the means Of transportation that can be
| hired in the country at reasonable price have
! been employed BY contract to export both from
| Sidney aud the old Agency at the mouth of the
yellow Medicine Creek on the Missouri Riycr''
WAS it not very expensive to provide the
large number Of wa@ons you mentioned which
are used by the 1ndians?''
"Thcse Wagons had to be supplied in accord
| ancc With the treaty aud agreement with the
! Indians. They would have been supplied next
sprlng anyhow, and their employment ut this
time not only fulis tic treaty obligation, but,
i'll addition, enables the Indians to assist IN
providing themselves with food for the winter y
''Docsit't hauling at this time of the year
entail a great deal OF suffering!"
ut docs. The cold IS fearful, aud of course
both the men and the animals suffer. It would
have been better if these provisions could have
not, aud there's no use to complain OF what is
r, Every cxcrtion to keen the Indians iu:
supplied with what food they require. The
public will be surprised to know that more than
100000 pounds OF flour have been forwarded
from Sidney alone by the Indians and contract
transportation since the lst OF January, besides
what has been hauled by 10U horse aud tifty-six
ox-tcams from the Missouri River. In addition
to this, about 5000 head OF cattle were being
received when left the Agency, on the 18th Of
December"
'You have, Of course, read the newspaper ac-
counts OF
at Camp Robinson, aud its results. Did YOU
sec The Cheyenne prisoners When you were
thcre?"
~ d1d, and talked with most Of them.
There were $50, more Or less, OF whom between
forty and fifty were men found ut Camp Rob-
inson, and eleven were Cheyenne prisoners
captured and he!d BY the Ogallala band OF
Dakotas OF the Pine Ridge Agcncy,-yhici,
eleven have since been turned over to the
troops. These nien had surrendered during the
last week Of October to Caps. johnson and Col
Carlton on Chntlron Creek, at Pierce tE Jenkins
rnnche, about twenty miles east Of Camp Rob-
iuson. These Cheyennes are about half OF
those who left their Agency in the Indian Terri
tory, and, after numerous murders And out
RACES in Kansas and the southern parts OF
Nebraska were finally brought up iu the man
ner have already described. The other half
have been lost sight at, and have either con-
ceaIcd themselves among the Dakota Agencies
or have scattered and pushed their way north to
the British Possessions"
''What WAS the cause OF these Indians leay-
ing the Agency i'll the Indian Tcrritory1"
''On every Agency and in every white COM
munfty there are discontented men and women
always complaining, ready to take offcuse, to
And fault, ard break out II occasion offers.
These who left their Agency, and half OF whom
have been disposed OF ut Camp Robinson, mud
no greater cause Of complaint or for leaving the
lndian Territory than the three or four thousand
who remained behind. 1t is false that they left
because they were suffering for food. II that
had been tue cause+- it would have been an
outbreak Of the entire tribe instead of this dis
contented fragincnt.''
'sIs this one OF the Agencies that would have
been benefited By the control Of the military"
:" / have not visited that Agency,-the Cney-
enne Agency in the Indian Territory,-but the
eyidence is all in favor of the control Of the
Cheyennes by tue War Department. Then that
Department would have been untramneled by
any connection with the Civil Department, and
it would have been ut liberty to handle them in
its own way, and there could have been no doubt
about where the responsibility for the result be-
lonCcd."
''What do rou think was
THE CAUSE OF THE OUTBREAK .
at Camp Robinson, and OF the attempt to es-
capc7"
"The American Indian, particularly the
Northern triGes are much more Intelligent than
any onc gives them credit for. have no doubt
that when they found themselves ordered South
they thoroughly understood that they were to
se des taes with il ey yoc the sv suhHses Ssa Of
aitted murders and outrases, and, while
they ignored that, and expressed a dctermiua-
ion only With reference to returning to the In
lian Territory, they really understood that they
we're making an outbreak to escape punishment. !
When they did attempt to escape, it vas the ]
iuty Of the troops, Us 1t would have heen the |
luty OF any other men guarding prisoners III any !
portion OF the country, to kill or capture those J
1ho were cndeayQriug to escape. It Is to be de-
)lored that any women or children should have
'een killed or wounded but the fact is that
10Y Of II or II years Of age is just as dangerous
md fights just as hard as a man of 80, |
nd the women are. physically stronger
han the men, and quite as ready to
sc 4 weapon. The troops know full we'll
ow much od1um they incur by being compelled
o kill in case like this, and have no doubt
hey only did it when forced By dire necessity.
n a flight and pursuit ut night, III the dark, the
iling OF women aud children could not be
yoiled.''
"Wherc do you suppose, General, the Indians
btaincd
THEIR ARMS AND AMMUNITION ~
" I think they Ind some pistols and cartridges
oncealcd about their persons, which escaped
he search when they were disarmed- think
nat some pistols and ammunition were convey
i to them by the Indian visitors from the Dako-
! Agency. But, after they once got out,
ain satisfied that they knew just
hero to Look for cache or buried
lagazinc-o OF arms and ammunition provided in
dyance by their Dakota friends and relatives.
lie ruyine aud cauon to which they directed
leir flight Was peculiarly adapted Tor. that pur-
ose. nnd for the subsequent obstinate defense
hicll they made"
Il low do the CheYenncs compare, personal
:, with the Dakotas, who are said to be such
sccllcnt soldicrs!n
u There is very little difference to be noticed.
'hile there Is great variety 10 size aud build,
we'll us in the shade Of color, both the Chey: |
mes and Dakotas will average rather larger than
hite men, and both have proved their brayeryin
,,n1rrds nf wn1l.rontocrei fipl1ts There is nm |