Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1879-12-08
beautiful valley,

beautiful valley. Then came that strane,
report and Recommendation of Commissiope
HAyta published in your issue of July Is
tbllowed very quickly BY the Withdrawal
nom entry or settlement Of, We understand
Ithree whole townships lover 100 pquar.
mtlee on the river. Finally, about the
middle Of August, a band of over 200 In.
dians suddenly made their appearance in
the valley, setting up some thirty ,epees al
Foster City Drifting Goose's old camp)
and Observation-Disclosures all up and down
the river north and south of there for miles
They entered the houses Of settlers when
the men were not ct home, insulted and
hustled the women, forcing them to couk
flor the Indiana, and Tightening the poor
women terribly. The Indians entered the
corr 6el6a. and carried OF the corn BY the
sack full, In some cases. They said tho
scent was coming to give them the lands,
and the whites must all leave Many fear
ed the Indians might break out on US at
any moment, as they were so threatening,
and the settlers 30 scattered as to be greatly
at their mercy. A man named Whileman.
and his wife and two children, were living
with and working for me. The wife was so
frightened that she asked to be sent into
WATERFOWL, ~seventy-fve miles for safety.
II, was done, the husband remaining. The
nextsday, ast6e Indians we're all about,
when the men left the house to go to cutting
hay, it was thought best to take arms along
for defense, IT necessary. A large revolver
vas put in the box of the moving machine.
In oiling the machine a slight
jar caused the revolver to be
discharged. and poor Whiteman, who was
standing by, received the ball in his brain,
and fell dead. the first victim to the strange
and shameful policy which has twice per.
mitted the Indians to return here to annoy
and harraes the honest; industrious settlers.
His blood, and any other that may
be shed here, lies at the door Of
those who have brought about this s,ate of
affairs. The agents from the two reserya-
Washington, and mel the Indians at Foster
City, expecting I understand, to put the In.
dians in possession. But, astonished at
finding the actual state Of affairs here 80
different from what had been represented to
the department. and being men of practical
Judgment in frontier matters, they held a
council with. the Indians, telling them they
must 60 back to the reservation and wait
till the great father at Washington sent
them more word. The Indians were much
dissatisfied, but finally scattered and left,
with many threats. These repeated hopes
and disappointments may result in the In.
dams breaking out and going through
the valley with fire and blood, if finally dis
appointed by the government deciding not
to disturb the settlers.
If the Indians have been wronged it is
not by the settlers, who are here according
to law, and who got their title from the
government. If the government has made
a mistake, or in any ways wronged the In
dians, are they going; to make a right of it
BY wronging the settlers, who have come
here risking everything ON the good faith
of the government? In many cases
the settlers have spent their all in
getting here and improving these
lands. No compensation that
will be allowed US will recompense Us for
our loss If our new homes are taken from
US. For,ifa commissioner is appointed to
assess damages, he will be in the interes,
OF the sharks who are to get the plunder;
and everything will be done to cut down
damages to the lowest point, regardless of
justice. The government cannot constitu-
tionally remove or disturb US. 1t will be
much better 10 settle with and satisfy the
Indians. II not satisfied or taken care of
BY the interior department they will break
loose on the valley. white blood will flow
like water, and women and will be outrss-
ed and butchered by the red tends! A De.
titlon from 102 actual settlers in the town.
ships concerned has been sent in TO the
government asking that we may moi be
disturbed. Drifting Goose's band numbers
altogether q little over a hundred; but in
case of trouble the braves from the other
Sioux bands, at the agencies and elsewhere.
say they will help Drifting Goose to raise
scalps. TIT agents who were here with
the last influx Of Indians we're angry at SO
many other Indians coming. Now. it is q
very strange thing for the interior depart
ment to decide to give up three whole
townships dOS square mlles) TO such a
small band of savages. They cannot and
will not make any reasonable or proper use
OF 1t! They will be surrounded on all sides
BY white settlements, and the result will
be, as the land sharks expect, that the IN
dams willnot long care to retain possession,
and then the sharks will get it all. In
Commissioner Hayt's report he y
These Indians have received nothing
from the government, but have
been selt-supportlsg, and 70,
thirty years. have occupied aud titled
this groundY Yet, q little further on, be
says that Agent Dougherty, IN order to
compel compliance on the part Of Drifting
Goose in the matter of removing to "Crow
Greek" sgency, threatened to prevent the
agent ct Sisseton agency from giving Drift
Inc Goose any more assistance. What q
glarlng discrepancy in an official statement
The report is full of such errors in fact and
statement. The Earth Lodges" twenty
two miles below Drifting Goose's camp
where, az COMMISSIONS Hayt says, 1.-THE
larger part ofthis band Of Yanktonnais re-
sided for thirty years." is left out of the
land withdrawn for these very Indians. and
the giant extended far northward, where
they never had any established camp. This
is because there is more timber further
north, and the land suits the Spectator,