New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-12
marshals who help to enforce the election laws IN
spite Of the Supreme Court decision that tnese
are constitutional
THE MURDER OF A PONCA CHIEF.
HOW BIG SNAKE WAS wANroNLY MURDERED By
THE SOLDIERS, ACCORDING TO THE TESTIMONY
or A GnYERNMENT INTERPRErER.

OF A GOVERNMENT INTERPRETER
lBY TELEGRAPH TO The TRIBUNE.l
WAsuNGroN March 11-SenatOr Dawes intro
duced resolution to-day, which was passed, calling
upon the Secretary of the Interior for any papers
which might be on file IN the Department OF the In
terror relating TO the killing of the Ponca Chlef
Big Snake, and for information as to what mas Deen
done about it by the Government
Senator Dawes is a member of the Ponca Investi-
CATION Committee. and the immediate cause Tor the
introduction of his resolution was the testimony oil
Jo Esau. half-breed Ponca, given before the COM
mlttee this morning. If that testimony is true
that murder was the most outrageous and terrible
which has been brought TO light in connection With
the Poncas.
Big Snake was Pouca chief, held in high es-
TEEN py all his tribe, and is represented by mem
bers of his tribe to be a peaceable good-natured
man. Some time after his tribe had been removed
TO the Indian Territory, Big Snake, IN company
with several other Poncas, left the reservation
without passes to pay visit to the Cheyennes.
Orders were telegraphed to have the whole band
arrested and this was done. All except Big Snake
and one or two others were sent Immediately DacK
to their reservation. Big Snake was kept IN Jail
for about four months, and when he was released
he was found to be in bad humor, and. it ls said
the agent who had caused his arrest heard that Big
Snake had made some threats against him. There
upon the agent is reported to have telegraphed for
authority to have Big Snake arrested and confined
for the remainder of his natural life.
Jo Esau, who is in appearance an honest ignorant
fellow, a Government Interpreter, tells the re-
mainder of the story follows, he being an eye
witness to tie event.
On the morning saw the officer at the agency inc the
ageut was nBying tho Indians for hauling goods BIG
snake had wagon and had sent three persons several
times TO haul goods with hs wagon Big Snake got MS
| fr1ph
other trips unless Big Snake would come himself Ior MS
money. . ,,o c,,o o,
| the time 1t small room. The cieTK ana agent
on either SIDE OF BIG snake lie sSld & hg . 900 R
Snal. put his tobacco pouch and TOOK OUT some
T and tod me to tell B Snake that come for HIM
Big snake didn't lift up mis- head and the othcer
snake said he would line know what he had DONE for
he had been put in atl for nohing and had lust
come hack from the The officer said ne dld not
kLow what It was Tor BIZ Snake then sad he had com
mted no crime yet be ad 3e' u put ~ Ia' " rhc T1ccT %
said It was useless FOR him 10 resist ana he muSt GO
They GOT his blankets and after some more tak me
officer asked the agent II he should tell Big Snake what
It for. Tie agent said ne SHOULD te -, anu i .neH
and another person Biz snake looked the agent and
said this was moi true He sad he didn't hate anybody
near me" Big Snake shd the agent had Inn arrested
once for nothing and put hm In JAIL and he didht Ike
The oicer called in the soldiers ana they tried & to
Big snake but be tnrew % ne ~ 10 oh Show W tbat m
was OF armed He said he did not want TO go 10 JAIL
| and lie would rather die right there.
Then tho officer called Tor handouts, but he threw
them all Off Then more soldiers came ~ ana they we're
roo many for Big Snake handle One OF the soldiers
struck him in the face with the butt OF MS rino ana
fhen struck him on the forehead with the barrel knork
ing some OF the skn III Then soldier put the muzzle
OF his rifle TO Big Snakes head and shot m through thc
| head. , ,,s -. 80
There was then considerable confusion. did not sec
the one that shOt him Big Snakes back was AGAINST
The wall and as the bullet went through hun II went
the wall and passed close 20 another PoAca out
side Afer he dead examined bs BODY ana theIe
was no knife about him.