Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-02-10
CHIEF GALL.
Our Correspondent Interviews this
BloOdthirsty and willy 'Barbarian--.
How He Looks hat He Sn~S
Chicago Tribune.

Fort BUFFALO, Oak. Jan. Sl.--Your
correspondent was permitted to visit
the fallen Chief Gall through the
courtesy of Capt Clifford, who has the
imprisoned hostileS in charge. As we
reached the outside of the main camp,
Capt. Clifford said to the Interpreter,
"Bapt;ste, call Gall out here" and in a
few moments | was shaking the hand
of as nloodthirstv, willy, and irreclaim-
ably savage being MS there is now ex-
tant.
He says How, kala?" with much
suavity, and looks straight into my
eyes as the interpreter tells him who
and what | am, and tells HIM that what
he says to me to-day ''the iron talker"
will flash across hundred days Jour
ney ere the sun is risen tomorrow.
Can | describe this man, whose name
will be remembered and chronicled in
history when those of soldiers a thou
sand times his superior in education,
cultivation, and opportunity have been
utterly forgotten? 1t is somewhat
difficult task, though Gall is striking
figure as he stands in the posture Of
erect ease, indicative of the well-built
athlete that he is with his buffalo
wrapped in toga-hke folds about him,
and his sloe-black eyes looking intently
at the lips of the person who chance
to be speaking Five feet eight inches
in hight, scarce that, but with a broad,
deep chest, and massive IONS and lower
limbs, the feet, as with all his tribe,
small and well arched even with his
clumsy mocasins, the arms small com.
paratively, and hands whose size and
contour would put to shame many a
Caucasian who boasts of sangre a: ar:
the nails, though in frightful deep
mourning, are almond shaped and
clearly rounded rs any ballroom
beauty's. But it is his head that
strikes you at first glance with admra-
ton. \ y hat would pinch his massive
crown, and his life has shown that there
is no lack Of gray matter to fill the
tlnely-rounded skull. Gall evidently
weighs every word ere he utters it.
81 have always been a hostile said
he, forcefully, and n CLEAN of transi-
tory remembrance frightened his eyes.
Il have no fear of any white man liy-
ing, but fought them upon many bat
tlehelds," then. as he remembered his
captive state-"but now | and my
young men want to 60 back to Standing
Rock agency and farm. | lived there
in 1873, and would have been there
still but for some of the Agency people,
who hated me and drove me out on
the plains hostile, and, bereft of sis
tiers, mother, home, have suffered
and that bitterly. Many a time in the
five years just passed, | have sat by
my scanty fire, and hungry, cold, worn
out, wished | had wings that | might
fly to the warm tepees of my people
at the Agency. In 1879 | tried twice
to surrender at Poplar river, but once
the military would not receive me
there, and again, when / would have
come to Buford as directed, the Yank-
tonnais dog soldiers" forced me to re-
main away | surrendered to Ilges be-
cause | had to do so. But am glad |
am here now. Maj Brotherton and
Capt Clifford both treat me well, and
want you tell the people over "the
lron-talker that | want to 60 with an
interpreter to the Yanktonnais at Pop
lar river to bring in the rest Of my
band scattered there. ] would leave
my family here (he has two wives and
several children) and would go from
lodge to lodge telling r1y people how
well treated we are here.