Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-21

tory from Medicine Knoll creek up TO
Apple river, near Standing Rock, ~ theirs,
because no other tribe disputed Il, Or had
previously occupied is and when. at
old Fort Sally, in 1865, they agreed
70 20 to the Crow Creek reservation, the
agreement involved the extinguishment of
the tribal title In all other possessions.
At that time "Drifting Goose" though
possibly a chief, had no following, nor as
serted any special claim. nor disputed the
agreement made By the tribe. Naturally
and instinctiveiy svagabond, he preferred
the life of a m%arauding gypsy. and did not
appear at the agency for some time after the
location of the tribe, except occasionally
when his resources were low. At last star
walton and hard weather compelled him to
come. but he remained only a short time,
and the following spring he departed taking
with him a large number Of the others, most
OF whom subsequently, returned when
pinched in their turn.
About 20 lodges of the most obdurate
savages and restless spirits of the tribe final
" remained. drawing subsistence and annu
tiles from sisseton aad DEVILS Lake agen-
ctes. and occasionally coming to Grow
Creek and Cheyenne and Grand River. fa.j
In June 1873. Hon. g. @. Williams, M.
G.. referred to the Indian Office written com
plants from tive settlers in the neighbor-
hood Of the Earth Lodges" of annoyance
and outrage by this band. The papers were
referred to the agent at Crow Greek. with
orders to investigate the charge. and remove
the Indians If possible to the agency. IL
July Captain DouRherty reported to the
commissioner Of Indian afairs that he had
visited the Indian camp. on the James river
and found about 40 Indi ans with drifting
Goose in thirteen lodges. Four Log houses
had been erected. but only two of them were
occupied. About Is acres of corn was under
cultivation, and probably half an acre Of
potatoes. Not a mouthful of anything edible
was found in the camp, except green corn
and the wild turnips, the last resort Of the
destitute Indian. The chief stated that he
obtained rations from the agent at Sisseton
where he had also obtained three plows, .
yoke of cattle and two wagons, but that the
agent had recently refused to issue him any
more. Gabriel Renville, however, had as.
sisted the band from the supplies of his
people. He claimed the land at the Earth
Lodges" as his own, saying that the ssntees
had sold it to the government, but without
his consent. The sale of the land was ex-
planned to him, and also the order of the
department to m him to Grow creek.
He neither refused nor consented to 60, but
stated that he would have to go to sisseton
to consult Renville about the matter.
Dougherty then informed him, that he could
have until the first of September to husband
his crop, aud that unless he came in then he
would 60 and bring him in, and sent a let
ter by a messenger to the agent at Sisseton
requesting that no more supplies be issued,
and one to the commanding officer at Fort
Sisseton to request him to make use of the
troops at that place to compel drifting
Goose" and his party to leave should they
appear there.
Drifting Goose" having failed to
appear at Crow creek at the time
appointed a party was cent out
and the whole outfit brought in. In the
following May he told the agent that he
would take his band back to the James
river, even If he had to fight. The agent
him that he could have the 6gh.
as soon as he started, and the same day
dispatched a telegram to Gen. Terry, who
authorized the use of the garrison at Fort
Hale for the purpose, and old "Goose,"
with the laughter and ridicule
Of the rest Of the tribe, subsidized, and at last
a pathetic speech and a long smoke,
gave in his submission, and abandoned his
.pretension, and that of his band, to the
James river and a few days afterward left
10 attend the sun dance at cred Clouds"
camp on White river. Several of the band
hen went TO work and built houses, and
began some small improvements. Subse-
nine lodges stole away from the
agency in the night, one at a time. under
ID. Goese's"brother a vagabond of the first
Vater. These were intercepted and brought
Jack, but refused to remain at the agency or
AXE rations. The agent informed them
if they left the agency again, without
cave, he would burn every lodge and des-
roy everything found in their possession,
nd send their ponies to Yankton for sale.
he last hope of going back to the James
GEMS to have been then abandoned.
Next comes the executive order Of June
9Th, reserving three townships along the
ames for the use of "Ma-ga-bo. ba.da" and
is band. 1t will be necessary to 70 back
nd examine the record in this case, to find
ut upon what this executive order has been
redicated.
On December 7th, 1878, the commissioner
Indian affairs writes to Captain
ougberty, lst infantry, agent at Grow