The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-12-24

army Headquarters aa elaborate HeFOTt
sp0n tie Eig Horn country, made W
Lieut. vs.. J.. ClaTk, Of the ID cavalry,
who conducted > Reconnaissance for the
psTposs, and Submitted the report. lie
has had q long experience in the Indian
country, and few men in the army have
had a longer acquaintance with the
Indian troubles. lie has become
familiar with the country, with the
tribes and their leaders, with the wrongs
and the vices Of the Indians, not more
by his late careful examination than by
his prior long residence among them.
As no man better informed upon the
Sioux and in regard to their country
and their troubles can be found,a Times
reporter called upon him at the Palmer
house recently and talked with him
upon these subjects.
People generally. = said the lieuten-
ant, believe the entire Sioux nation 10
he lowering under the leadership Of
Sitting Bull, on the Canadian frontier.
sioux has become in the public estima-
ton, a synonym for fighters, and there
are very few who do not believe that
every Indian Of this tribe is an inyeter-
ate enemy of the United States govern
mcnt. The nation numbers In the
neighborhood of 5000. The hostile
Sioux do not exceed fifteen hundred
men, women and children. The tribes
all speak the same tongue, although
there are two dialects differing from
each other very slightly. Sioux is a
word known only 10 the enemies OF the
tribes. Among themselves they are
known rs either L.akotalIs or Dakotahs.
These two names illustrate about the
difference Of dialect between the tribes
The common name used by the whites
grew up in this way: When the whites
moved M from the south they met the
C%hippcwas first. When they inquired
Of the friendly Indians who were be-
You'd them, the Chippewa answered;
The Nadiwissioux' 1.-THE enemy 1t
WAS AS much as the English tongue
could do 10 pronounce the last Of this
name, 50 the lakatahs or the Dakotahs
became 10 the white men advancing to-
waTd Him the sioux
The governmental system among
them il 4 hard one To describe. The
Sioux are split mp into tribes, and they
are under the control Of not one head
but several. There is no national
council. or council Of kings, or supreme
executive OF legislative body in the
whole sioux nation. Concert OF action
il not possible, and has not existed
among them during any of the recent
troubles. 1876, however, Crazy
lIorsc lad several thousand warriors
with him in his fight with Custer.
This concert was due to tho despera-
ton Of the tribes. Nearly all tho Sioux
are quiet and attending TO their own
affairs upon tho reservations set apart
for them. Spotted Tail is at the Rose
Bud agency, with about 1000 OF the
nation; Young : Man Afraid Of Ills
Horse is Mt Pine Ridge with about
ZOO; Black Catfish Is ut Yanktonais
with about 5000. Sitting Bull and
Loo men, women and children, are all
that there are out OF abont $1,000, who
give any trouble or occasion any appre-
%hcnsion. The Sioux arc hne-looking
people, the finest probably among all
the Indian nations. They have mingled
less with the whites, and have fewer
of the vices than most other tribes.
The men are large, muscular and
hardy. The warriors are brave.
The bands known rs the Sitting Bull
Indians are not all under tho leadership
OF that notorious ambusher. Sitting
Bull leads the U%ncapapas, and, while
not without authority, has no great In
llucnco with the other tribes of his ma
ton. There has been for years certain
of the nation who refused to live quictl,
upon the reservation. Sitting Bull wa,
one of them. lie has always been Q
hostile, has always refused TO settle OF
any reservation, and has always beer
found with Il few hundred men In tn,
ranks of the fighting Indians.
Among the fifteen hundred or NOR,
men who are now away from the reser
yations, and known rs the Sitting Bull
Indians, are many criminals. Thcs,
fugitives have come Of them He'd from
the consequences Of their breach OF tn,
United States law. Many of them mr.,
seeking an asylum from the consequent,
of some crime against the Indian law.
This element, moro than any other
keeps tho hostilcs together. The
criminal class is large in this little bod,
Of 1000. For these outlaws there Is II,
such thing rs return. Keep out OF tn,
reservations they must and will. An
other element is the young men, win
become restless in the reservations an,
strike for the Canadian line and tn
camp OF the hostilcs, 10 make n name
y young Indian knows of no way I,
attain fame save by m exhibition o
bravery. II lie can return with boot,
or show trophies, his reputation |
sure. The camp crier celebrates hi
, deeds, and lie is on the road to n chief
tainship.
Crazy Horse was n great leader. Sit
ting Bull IA not tile man many of n,