National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1880-02-16
REMOVAL OF THE PORCAS.
An officers Version of the Noted
Transaction.
Standing Boar and Bright Eyes Statements
Not Sustained The Indians Led to
Violate Their Stlpulations by Bad
weather-Iho Indians Revolt
and Run Away--Standlng
Bear Among Them.
Testimony of Inspe ctor Kemblo.

Testimony OF Inspe ctor KembIe.
On Saturday Senator Kirkwood's special com
mitcc. investigating tho causes and method of
the removal of the PonCa Indians from their res.
ervation in Dakota TO tho Indian Territory, had
before them T. G. Kemblc au cx-army officer
and late Indian Inspector. MIR. Kemble was
the first inspector appointed under President
Grants administration, and served to the end
of his term in 1878. He was tho officer who
was intrusted with the execution of the orders
issued by the Interior Department. under tho
act of Congress providing for the Poucas' re.
moval. He was asked to state his knowledge
of tho circumstances which led to their re.
moval, and the connection which lie had
with it and with the tribe previous to that
event. His testimony developed many facts
not heretofore published. 1t was substan-
italy as follows: He said ho had known the
Poncas since 1862; first knew them when he
was au army officer on duty on the Missouri
river, and aitcrward visited them as secretary
of tho Indian Commission OF the Episcopal
Church. This was in May and June, 1872
Witness accompanied the late William Welsh
and other friends of these Indians to their
agency, and participated in councils with
them at this time. Their condition at this
time was destitute aud unprosperOus during
tho period covered by his acquaintance. At
the time of the visit referred to they were di
vided into two bands, full-bloods aud half
breeds, the former propOnderating IN numbers
aud Influence. The full-boods were anxious
to move from the reservation. Tho half.
breeds generally preferred to remain. White
Eagle, Standing Bear and others of the full.
blOGds, who subsequently, opposed tho re-
moval were then lin 1922 anxious tn go.
They wanted to live among their kinsfolk,
tho Omahas, in Nebraska, aud Mr.. Welsh
visited the Omahas aud enluavored TO effect an
arrangement by which the Poncas, or those
who desired, could go there, but it failed. His
influence at Washington caused them to be
placed Oh tho feeding list" for they were
starving. They lived in continual terror on
account Of the Sioux, and dared not go over
the bluffs by day or out Of doors by night for
fear of them. They were harassud by Spotted
Tails Brulc Sioux, and besides this their lit
tic crops frequently failed altogether from I'm
perfect tilagc, drouth and other causes. On
this visit witness assisted ut the first baptism
of members of the tribe, and alterward as
secretary of the church commission, appealed to
tho people of tho East for clothing, medicines,
etc, which wero sent them in large quantities.
As Indian Inspector, in January, 1877, he
was summoned to Washington by Indian
Commissioner j. @. Smith to take steps for
their removal to the Indian Territory. The
commission of the previous year, consisting OF
Bishop Whpplc, MCssrs. MOneypenny, Boone
recommended the removal Of Spotted Tail
Sioux to the Missouri river and also advised
| that the POncas be removed, rs they had de-
sired to be- from Nebraska.
| Mr.. Kemblo read from his orders to show
that tho removal of the Poncns had been fully
determined upon by tho Department. He
was instructed to first obtain their consent
aud then take u delegation to visit the OsngC
agency in the Indian Territory, and endeavol
to negotiate with the OIages for part of thcii
| lands. He arrived at the Ponca agency about
| January 30, aud held three councils with al
| tho head chiefs and principal men of the tribe
| At the first council they were unitedly op
posed to any change Of location; subsequent
| reasoning overcoming their prejudcGs induced
them to talk more iavorably, and thoy finally
| agreed TO give up their lands and go to thC
Indian Territory, provided delegation, ate,
visiting that Territory, should bo pleased with
1t and be allowed to 90 to Washington to finish
| the negotiations. Permission to do SO wa.
obtalued by telegraph from tho Department
but it was ordered that tho main features o
| the negotiation must be settled before they
could visit Washington, leaving only the
minor details to be arranged thore. 1t had
been partly determined in conferences Will
tho Commissioner of Indian Affairs, aud sub,
sequently with the agent Of tho Poncas that
1t would be necessary to get their unequivocal
| consent to give up their lauds in Nebraska
before attempting 10 complete negotiations for
| tho selection OF another tract.
1t was feared they would do as other Indian
| delegations had done-viz: practice deccp
tion on tho Department after puttins it to
! considerable expense and gratifying their
curiosity TO see the Great Father. They were
then asked to consent to surrender their lands
IN Dakota M q coalition precedent to dele
cation being taken to tho Indian Territory
and this consent was formally given in n
council at which all tho head chiefs aud
! principal men were present on January "a
| At this point tho minutes oCthis council were
| produced before the committee and shown tc
be certified by ono of the chiefs present, who
had beon signer of the Two treatios between
| the United States and the Poncas, by the two
| interpreters and By the agent and II dozen
| other witnesses.
| Mr.. Kemblu then described his visit with
| the delegation TO the Indian Territory. Stand
ing Bear was one of the chiefs who had con
sGnted to give up the lands IN Nebraska
When they arrived at the Oiage agency tbs
weather became bad, the roads wcro heavy
the strip of country they had seen along the
route traverScd WAS uuprcpOSses5ing, aud the
| POnCas became hOncsics and asked to he
taken back to their homes. They refused tc
look at the Indian Territory or any part Of it,
aud were taken to Arkansas city in Kansas
! From this place COloucl Komble OK
| pldluGu Iub SllNullOu W tllC lHhlHu 'uliu
| by kilograms over the nearest wires
and asked further instructions. Nothnr
definite was received in reply, and eight o.
the delegation left him at night aud started
back to their homes in Dakota afoot. They
ran away from him because no refused to take
them home until he received orders Stand
ing Bear was one of the leaders OF the revolt
| Tho two chiefs who remained with him were
the surviving sgnors of the last two treaties
with the Poncas. With these he went to In
dependence City, Kan, the nearest telegraph
station, where he was emphatically assured by
tho Commissioner of Indian Affairs Ia a tele
gram that tho removal Of the Poucas would be
insisted upon,
Tho QuRpaw reservation having been named
as one Of the places which the tribe might
choose for Il home, he visited it and tho two
chiefs asked him to have it set apart, as they
would try and get their people to accept it,
At st. Joseph, Mo-, u telegram was received
from tho Commissioner OF Indian Affairs di
recting him to proceed to tho PoueA agency
and remove the Indians without delay 10 tn,
Kaw reservation. As this was part of tn,
country upon which tho whole delegation had
turned their backs, he urged upon the Indian
Office tho selection of the Quapaw reserve fol
the future home of tho POncas as IL was NOR,
healthy aud desirable in every respect.
lie Joined in an urgent letter to the Com
mi. sionor asking that preparations might be
made to house aud otherwise provide for the
/ D,,,nug "a, chair naV bnn,a aud nointo1 nuI