Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1881-10-07
Sitting Bull.

ut Ot. dul tONceT gives au ACCOUNT
of reporters late interview with the
old warrior. 1t is interesting to all
who are admirers of in,ii .u character.
The writer says: TIE face. to any one
who has seen Sioux Chief, is strikiHgly
characteristic. The high. pointed,
narrow forehead and the corresponding
ly-attenuated chin; the prominent cheek
bones aud pronounced nose; the intent,
wide-open eyes, and mere than all the
MephistOpbelean mouth, with its sar-
donic. sneering expression, conveying so
much of unbeiief and distrust, all 20 to
make the tout ensemble of the intelligent,
willy, scOrnful, suspicious savage whose
barbarism has received only u lacquer
of repression through attlition with
civilized whites. The old man is Door
that can be seen at d glance. Upon
bis head are no waving plumes, save
the indispensable coup feather which
droops as if in sympathy with its
owners fallen fortunes. Instead of the
fur-triMmed braids and gaudy bead and
headdress of the agency Indian is the
simple handkercbief-safely may it be
assumed it is grimed with filth and age
-knotted carelessly behind. The
spectacles may strike some observers as
odd, but many Indians wear them, as q
protection against snow-blindness in
winter. and the alkali dust of the plains
in summer-and Sitting Bull has
reached the age when his eyes are
"purgiDg thick amber and plum tree
gum,". and need the covering the lenses
sffOrd. As before stated, he is swarthy
Of complexion-remarkably dark in
fact - aud "age has withered him."
while lack of food and the continual
trouble crowded into his last few years,
have given vigor to decays effacing
fingers"
Sitting Bull gave the following &C.
Interpreter" Where we're you born,
and when?"
Sitting Built don't know where
l Was born, and can not remember. I
know that l was born, though, or would
not be hero. was born of q woman.
know this is O fact, because exist
Sitting Bull here held long conver-
sation with his uncle, Chief Four
Horns, and after pointing at different
fingers for some time, said:
II was born near old Fort George.
on Willow Greek, below the mouth of
the Cheyenne River. am forty-four
count our years from the moons between
great events. The event from which l
date my birth is the year in which
Thunder Hawks was born. lam as old
as he. l have always been running
around. Indians that remain ON the
same hunting grounds all the time can
remember years BETTER
Reporter" How many wives and
children have youp"
Sitting Bull (running over his fingers
and tn. n with his thumb aud forefiDger
of one hand pinchiDg and holding
together two fingers of his other hand
-" have nine children and two living
wives. and one wife that has gone to
the G eat Spirit. l have two pairs of
twins"
Lieutenant Dowdy-" Tell Sitting
Bull be is more fortunate than l am.
l can't get one WIFE"
At this interruption Sitting Bull
laughed.
Reporter" Which is your favorite
wife?"
Sitting Bull-"I think as much oil
one as the other. If did not would
not keep them. I think If had q
white wife I would think more OF hel
than the other two."
Reporter" What are the names oil
your wives?"
Sitting Bull (raising the side of the
tent and calling squsw to him evi.
IDENTIFY he asked herr" Was Seen By
The Nation is the name of the old one.
The One That Had Four Robes is the
name of the other"
Reporter-'' Are you chief by in.
heritance, and if not, what deeds oil
bravery gave you the title?"
Sitting Bill" My father and two
uncles were chiefs. My fathers name
was the Jumping Bull. My uncle that
is in the teepee is called Four Horns,
and my other uncle was called Hunting
His Lodge. My father was q very rich
man and owned a great many good
ponies in four colors. In ponies be
took much pride. They were roam,
white and grey. He had great numbers,
and l never wanted for horse to ride.
When was ten years old I was famous
as famous hunter. My specially was
buffalo calves. (Here Bull indicated
with his arms how he killed the buffa-
lo) l gave the calves killed to the
poor that had no horses. l was consid-
cred a good man. (Here Bull again
counted on his fingers and joints.) My
iather died twenty. .one years ago. For
iour years after l was ten years old l
Killed buffalo and fed his people, and
mus became one of the fathers of the
tfioe. At the age of fourteen I killed
% enemy, and began to make myself
great in battle, and became q chief.