The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-30
CAPTIVE PONCA INDIANS.

ANOTHER PAINFUL CHAPTER OF INDIAN HIS
roRY-M INDUSTRIOUS TRIBE DRIVEN SOUTH
BY scuEMISG AGENTS ALMOST A TRAGEDY
LIEUTENANT CARPENTERS NARROW ESCAPE.
BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
FoRT OMAHA, Neb.. March 20, 1879.
Lieutenant William l.. Carpenter, Ninth infantry,
nas arrived here with twenty-six Ponca Indians.
who, within the last two months, have made the
march country from the Indian Territory
journey almost equal that of the Cheyennes, and
who have also been ordered by the Indian Bureau to
be taken back to the Indian Territory
short time since these Indians arrived at
The Omaha reservation. in Northeastern Ne
praska and re eived shelter there for a few deys,
intending proceed thence to the old Ponca reserva-
ton on the Missouri. in Southern Dakota. They
had three four wagons and a few ga',iit ponies,
and almost starved not having stolen head OF
stock or other artc Gle during their long journey.
The Omaha agent, an aged Quaker named
vore informed the Indian Bureau of the
presence of these Poncas. and an order came
to this department to ttke them back TO the Indian
Territory. Lieutenant Carpenter was detailed for
the duty, and arrived at Omaha reservation asked
for the Indians, Who he understood. had given them
selves up. To his surprise Wore Informed him that
the Poncas were in camp by themselv, $ distance
of two miles away. and no attempt had been made
to take them into custody.
LONG RUNNER TRIES TO ESCAPE.
Carpenter proceeded to their camp with his corporal
and the interpreter of the Omahas, and entering the
first tepee found himself in the presence of Long
Runner, the best fighting man OF the party. Car
peiiter informed Long Runner. through the inter
prefer he had to take the Indians back to the
Indian Territory The Ponca replied that they were not
ready to return; that the country was unhealthy and
they dying there and they preferred to live up
north. Carpenter said that his orders were to take
them back and he should do when Long Runner re-
sponded savagely to the interpreter stealing to the
opening and gave his answer, I'VE VIII die before fore
warrior sprang for his gun, but carpenter
stepped before him. and ordered him to sur.
render This he refused to do, and the
corporal came forward just as two sqnaws. armed
with knives. rushed upon Carpenter The latter.
one of the lithcst and most agile men in the
army sent the squaws flying back with two mus
cular kicks, and placing the muzze OF gun IN the
Indian face shouted to him. surrender, and the
Indian dropped his hands and was securely bound
h nd and foot and taken to Omaha camp. while
messenger was despatched to bring in the remainder
of the Poncas.
AGREE TO GO BACK.
council followed in the presence OF Agent wore
promised to take the Indians to Omaha. give them
an opportunity to have a talk with General
Crook and to appeal through him to the
their old home farms on the Missouri.
The Indians finally assented to this and turned over
their guns, six in number, The Omahas gathered in
a body to them of, and amid the lamentations
and cries of the women the party started back.
march Of four days brought them to this point.
Your correspondent visited their camp to-day COM
prising four tepees and four wagons. He met the
Interpreter. an Omaha Indian. man of marked in
tclligence, and during the rebellion private of the
First Nebraska regiment, and by him was intro
due ed to Standing Bear. the Chief, a middleaged
Indian in citizens clothes, and from him obtained
the following statement
STANDING BEARS STATEMENT.
"Ihe Poncas were removed to the Indian Territory
by enemies and not by the government some OF
our men signed paper and we were made to co.
That two years ago. All of lodges but seven
were down. They were left behind. In few days
these lodges had to follow. When got down
there wanted to como back to the Omaha
and to the Yankton Indians. The Poncas are half
Omaha and half Yankton. When got South the
whole tribe took sick. and one lodge died out. Our
Poncas died there. too. We found we could not
come back to a country where could live. wish
the Great Father would help us to get back to the
Omahas and the Yanktons. The Omahas are willing
to have us come back up there. and we could have
land measured out TO u.s. Seven OF my people MIN
me here are sick with fever and chills. They
caught them in the Indian Territory. We left one
sick squaw with the Omahas when we went to the
Indian Territory We were T35. One hundred and nifty
have died since we went there. We saw That we
would all die. ana started back with our ponies
and wagons. That was about ten weeks ago.
We travelled from fifteen to twenty-five miles dag.
The Omahas going to send petition to General
Crook have all the Poncas brought back up there
together. Our ponies are worn out and they can
travel no further
The old men spoke with great carncstness. The
interpreter added 1T dreadful to them driven
back where they die and to the they are suf
fering II makes my eyes wet
pIEvIo:s HISTORY OF THE PoNCAs.
The Poncas formerly. occupied reservation in
the arts of civilization They had a school house.
church. built fences huts and initiated the whites
in many ways. They received very little assistance
from the government AMI two years and half
ago secured an immense crop which would
have done credit to any white community.
They had mills, threshing machines, reapersv
raised cattle, and every chief had his substantial
house. Their only trouble from the Sioux, who
occasionally stole from them, and the government in
laying out their reservation had included in it q
large tract for Sioux. 1t became convenient to re-
the Poncas to the Indian Territory, and it was
Sioux. In stereotyped form commission was ap
pointed and consultation took place. A document
prepared, signatures obtained, though the
Poncas did not know what they were signing. They
finally torn from home and taken south. The
attending their departure were heartrendrg.
Lawrence. the agent, resigned. declaring he would
have nothing TO do with it, and the matter was
placed in the hands of one Howard, who has been
since exposed in testimony before the Indian Com
missioner. Their deserted reservation remains
md many fences and houses still remain intact
They finally taken to the Indian Territory, for
which they now entertain horror almost unpre-
cedented One brave has i'll bag the bones Of his
wife. brought up from the South for burial in the
old Ponca burial ground The matter is in General
Crooks hands. but he has taken no steps yet At
best he can only recommend that the Poncas be
all anal 10 A&tts 20 1.,r h.xv..