New-York tribune., 1880-09-27
FOPTY-TIVE DAYS AMONG INDIANS.

THE EXPERIENCE OF ORANGE JUDD.
RESULT OF HIS INvEsTIo.uoNs AT THE FORT PICK
.arrcY-AN INFLUX FROM HOSTILE TRIBES
TIMELINEss OF MR.. JUDDS VIT-WHAT WAS
FOUND AT OTHER RESERVATIONS.
Orange Judd, one of the Board of Indian Com
missjoners. has lately returned from the far
West. where he has been on forty-hve days tour
among the Indians along the Upper Missouri. Mr..
Judd's Investigations were largely at the Fort Peck
Agency. which takes in Poplar River and Wolf
Point. from $50 to 1S3 miles above the mouth of the
Yellow Stone River the Yankton and Santee Agencies
and the former home of the Poncas near The mouth
of the Niobrara River. II was expected on the APP
pointment Of Mr. Judd as Commissioner that he
would give special attention to the subject of nduc-
ing the Indians to earn ste ady subsistence by the
cultivation Of the soil, department of labor with
which he is very familiar and this he
has had much in view during his
absence. But he has besides looked
after many other matters affecting the well
fare of the Indians and their proper treat
ment by the whites. These will be given officially
and in full hereafter. What Mr. Judd is willing TO
say Just now is given below, as communicated to a
reporter of The TRIBUNE who called on him
shortly after his return: 49,
The Fort Peck Agency is at present one of the
most important in the Northwest, because il is on
the extreme northern boundary, and subject to
constant disturbances from the remnant OF sitting
Bulls bands, which are situated Just over the
boundary in the British territory. where there is no
natural barrier line. not even stream OF wafer.
At this Agency there were last year 5,5l2 Indians,
and these, together with about 4,Ooo fanktonaise
situated on the Missouri River near the mouth of
Poplar River. and 1900 Assnabolnes some
| thirty miles above, at Wolfs Point, were
all under the charge Of OF MAJOR apG 90 n; 76s =;
of Sitting Bulls bands being starved out, snrren-
| dered and were assigned to the Fort Peck Agency,
| ot.a Af fhn IN
| over COO. These were mostly Uncapapas and Oga-
| lalas Coming In not voluntarily but driven by
| want. their feelings have been far from friendly
and they have been largely the cause of the dis
turbances which have recently taken place III that
region. through their having harbmed,
fed and given counenanee Go TO daGr fn reves Edn %
| 600 have come INTO the Agency during thepresent
year without having formally surrendered.
Mr. Judd found large number OF the "tepees
or lodges of these hostile Indians right among those
of the ticket or Agency Indians at Poplar River
Sitting Bull has himself been at the Agency on the
plea of looking for stolen horses: The regular In
| dams at the Fort Peck Agency have turned their
| hands TO agriculture, and the Commissioner
found some 500 families among them raising
pumpkins, etc. These Indians have planted all the
| land which could be broken and for which seed
could be obtained, and would have planted much
| more If they bad had the opportunity. The Wis
tiDg hostile Indians were living upon these crops,
| encouraged by their relatives at the Agency. aud
| they became so emboldened that early in August
| they made o demand upon the agent for
| share III the Government rations, and both
| they and their friends, the Agency
Indians became threatening in their demonstra-
tiOns that many of the whites left, and those that
did NOT leave considered their situation very pre-
carious.
Just at this juncture Mr. Judd arrived. and be-
ing recognized as friend OF the Indians, and as
having a direct commission from the Great
Father he was able to exercise considerable in
fuence just when it needed. After snndry coun-
ellis with the hostile Indians including Rain-ln the
face, the reputed slayer of Custer, and with the
Agency Indians. of whom Medicine Bear
is the head he succeeded in getting promise from
most of the unfriendly Indians that they would
cease their depredattons and 90 and surrender
to the military, and q solemn engagement on the
part of the Agency Indians including those Of
them who were previously doubtful that they
would protect the Agency and the Government
stores and drive off the hostile Indians. persuade
them to come In and surrender their arms and set
tic down to peaceful pursuits. On September he
left everything quiet at the Agency aud the agent.
Major Porter, somewhat hopeful. Mr.. Judd is con-
fident that large proportion OF the remaining hos
tile bands will come In this fall. and u arrange
ments are made to receive their surrender north of
the Missouri all will come In, except perhaps. Sit
ting Bull and a very few OF his adhereDts who are
particularly fearful Of punishment on account of
their part in past massacres of the whites.
The chief obstacle for months past In tine way of
the surrender Of these hostile Indians has been their
fear that In requiring them to pass over the Mis-
sour River aud 70 down some l3O miles to Fort
Keogh ON the Yellowstone. they are to be drawn