The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-03-02
DOWN IN TEE TERRITORY.

Last week brief mention was Maue OF
the return of Mr.. ID. Hays from the Indian
Territory. Knowing that Mr.. Hays had had
much experience with the Indians and that
although a very quiet man, nevertheless eN-
ceedingly obseryant and that for ten years
he mad been often at Ft>. Sill, aud Reno, and
at Darlington and other agencies we asked
him what his judgement was touching the
Territory, and the condition OF the Indians
at the agencies as compared with ten years
ago. His answer was that the change for
better was very marked indeed in many re-
spects. He said that SO far a. the Indian
moment the government for all wild Indian
tribes adopts the policy adhered TO by Jno.
d. Miles. at Darlington, the Cheyenne aud
and Ariaphoe agency. For twelve years
Major Miles has made the question of Indian
treatment a conscientious-his sole study.
and the progress of these wild tribes eollec-
lively and individually toward self sus-
thinning civilized life has been wonderful,
The widest and most uncomfortable spirits
who formerly led on the war path had be-
come interested in the accumulation of prop
crty and the earning Of money. Mr.. III. cited
many individual instances, where former
wild men now owned quite fine herds of eat
tie. The policy OF Major Miles in eucoursg-
ing the Indians TO do goyernme. lrcighting
with their own teams has proved 4 splendid
and profitable stroke. for the Indians. some
three hundred wagons are now owned aud
used in this direction. some of our older
readers will remember that years ago the
EAGLE gave an account Of Major Miles sue
cess in getting his Indian school children to
inves, in q herd of young cattle, and how
that herd grew, and how every extra dollar
was freely contributed 10y the Indian boys
and girls for this purpose These boys and
giris are now growing up TO manhood and
wcmanhood, and Mr.. Hays says they are
more genteel. polite and mannerly than half
the people you meet IA days journey.
Then numbers Of these school boys. A. well
Us older Indians, are taking 10 trades \
blacksmith, who had been wild Indian, get
up the other day and harransued crowd Of
red loaiers for their laziness, declaring that
any OF their number could do just a. well a.
he had If they would try. And he was right,
and be knew il. one of the boys sent TO the
Pennsylvania school has returned preach
err, and holds forth in an intelligent manner
regularly.
As 10 the extension OF a railroad through
the Territory, Mr.. Hays says the Wild ln-
dians arc apparently unalterably opposed TO
the scheme. The surveyors on the proposed
ed extension from Ninita west were met by
large body of Indians, and told squarely that
they must stop their work or there would be
blood split. The chief engineer said he
would not 20 back end attempt TO finish the
line with les than one thousand soldiers at
his-baek.
Mr.. Hays says, gather all the wild tribes
into the Territory. and put them under the
rule and policy a. indicated above, and one
soldier only will be required where il takes
ten now, and that in one generation blankets
and breech clouis will disappear.
A terrible fire occurred at Darlington last
week. The Mennonite Mission Indian school.
a three story brick building. presided orer
by a Mennonite missionary, an supported 10y
that people, was burned Two children Of
the missionary, and two Indian children,
were burned 10 death. The school was only |
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