Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1880-12-02
Helena Montana, Thursday, December Z, 1880


ian Mounted Police informed him that he
would return by the 18th of the month and
be mediator between him and all white
men. He says that Major Walsh exacted a
promise from him that he would make nc
agreement or treaty with any person or pow
er whatever, he, Major Walsh, promising to
return after certain number of days; that
at the time of this agreement Major Walsh
was trusted officer of the Canadian Govern
ment; that he had no reason to doubt his
integrity, and as he had pledged his word to
Walsh to faithfully observe this promise he
| intended to keep it; that if he breaks his
word with Major Walsh what guarantee has
the United States Government that he will
| not do SO again. He also says that Major
| Crozier, of the Canadian Police, tells him
| that Major Walsh is not coming back, and
| he may be right. But was not Maj. Walsh
an officer of the same Government? And
he said he would return. How am - to
judge between the two? l will not try but
| will simply fulfill my promise-my part of
the agreement-by waiting until the 18th of
November. will even give five days more,
then if he does not come I shall know that
his promise is broken and shall no longer
be under any obligation to keep mine and
shall be ready to listen to the Great Father
of the American people,
He says that he shall move at once to a
point on the boundary line known as Ruined
Timber, about thirty miles from Wolf Noun
tain. There he has already some lodges that
will join him. He will wait there until the
Goth for Major Walsh. He wants me to come
to him at Ruined Timber by the Goth of this
month, and if Major Walsh is not back by
that time he will then move his camp to Fort
Buford and treat with the Commanding Off
Ger of that post. This was all that took place
in the council but as 1 stopped two nights
in his lodge | had an opportunity to talk
with him privately, and find that he breads
military display at Buford, and breads the
presence of troops in his camp searching for
firearms. He fears that a strict guard will
be placed over his camp, and also fears that
close confinement will have an evil effect ON
the health of his people. He would like,
when the weather permits, to hunt buffalo
on the East side of the river. To all this I
could make no reply, but promised that it
should be mentioned to Major BrOtherton.
Again, Sitting Bull objects to the word sur
render but his word treaty seems to mean
the same thing in this case.
I brought in with me to Poplar River
twelve men, four squaws and two children,
who intend to remain here until Sitting Bull
comes, and then join him at Buford.
I had almost forgotten to state that in
Sitting Bulls camp is white man named
Chas. Thompson, who represents himself to
the Chief as agent and interpreter for Major
Walsh. He dresses like an Indian and is try
ing hard to be one. His presence in the camp
is certainly undesirable, but as the time
set by Walsh for his return is now nearly
EXPIRED it cannot make much difference in
Sitting Bulls determination.
1t would be well to prohibit the sale of
ammunition at Woody Mountain Sitting
Bull has now barely enough meat to last him
three weeks, and if he gets no food and can
buy no ammunition, then he will have to
make hasty march to Buford or kill his
horses to avert starvation" ...
Allison says that if he does go to bring the
Chief in, he would like to take reliable.
scout with him, so that message nigh besen
to Mai. Brotherton as soon as the camp begins
to move for Buford. He (A.) considers the
surrender as foregone conclusion, unless
unforeseen should occur.
Last winter the various bands of Indians
Sitting Bulls camp lost over 900
AC<tu Va lIOu1 SOu1C uloCitoG luc 1dtu1C
of which the did not understand, and the |
like of which they had never before seen. They
describe it as being something like the itch.
Pastules would appear, the hair would fall |
of, and q slight degree Of exposure would
kill the stricken animal. They say this was
caused by minute insect. This would sug-
gest the idea of scab. ,.: . |
Allison tells us that there are not more |
than 90 dogs in Sitting Bulls camp, the rest |
having been devoured last winter when the |
Indians came SO near starving. An Indian
lamp without its swarm of dogs Is indeed |
strange to think Of
If the surrender of this famous chief be-
,omes an accomplished fact you may expect
10 hear from me again. BURTON.