St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-09
FLATMOUTH'S VISIT.
He Had Pleasant Interview With
Governor Hubbard.
The Governor Promises to Help Him to a
Call to Washington.

Falmouth and his retinue of Leach Lake
Indian chiefs and braves, accompanied by
two interpreters, appeared before Governor
Hubbard at the state capitol yesterday after
noon at O'Clock, and had hearing which
lasted fully and hour and a half. The
big chief, by the way very fine built
and intelligent appearing warrior, and his
companions, all of them above the common
herd of modern Indians in height, bearing
and general appearance, were in their state
toilets and were met by several citizens con-
versant with Indian affairs and by Capt.
Blakeley of the United States commission
who recently placed price upon the dam
ages accruing to these Indians by the build
ing of dam on the headwaters of the Miss
issippi to hold back its surplus waters until
in time of drouth needed to float steamboats,
and logs run sawmills, etc.
1t was very picturesque scene as these
abongines were seated with the whites in
council in the governors private office, and
as each OF the chiefs in turn stood up and
made his jesticulatory speech and waited for
the interpreter to convey its meaning to the
10
The appearance of Flat Mouth, who was the
principal orator, was quite commanding as
he told the object of the errand, and how he
thought that the affairs of his band might be
| amicably and thoroughly odjusted.
The business of this chief and his cabinet
can be told in a few words. For damming
the Mississippi the government by com
mission has fixed upon the amount of dam
thnr al,xrt hi. Iii
gathering, without consulting them, and pro
| poses to pay them certain stipend and no
more. They feel as though that this was not
enough, and with their natural mistrust of
misinterpretation by agents and Interpreters
to the great father at Washington, by which
in the past the Indian has had some terrible
experiences, feel that they shall not be salts
| fed, until as the nation which they feel them
selves to be, they can reach the ear of the
Great Father personally and talk over mat
tiers with him face to face. Consequently
the main object of their visit is to prevail
upon Governor Hubbard towrite to Washing
| ton to ask the president to invite Flat Mouth
and retinue to visit him at the National cap
itol to have talk at the governments eX-
| pense.
Capt. Blakely explained to them the basis
| on which the commission fixed its price of
ten cents pound for their lost rice and $2S
ton for their lost hay by the building of
| this dam, and enlightened them as far as
possible in all matters relating TO the build
ing of the dam and the doings of the COM
mission in the premises.
Governor Hubbard, at the close of the 'big
talk" informed the Indians that he would
write the great father their request and the
reasons they had offered for asking to come
to Washington, which were that by this visit
they might come to peaceable and perma-
nent settlement of all matters in controversy
in regard to their reservation, and stated to
| them farther that he would recommend the
great father to let them come. After some
| arran gements had been made to get the en-
bassay home to Leach Lake, the council
broke up.
The Leach Lake chiefs and Interpreters
had intended to return home to-day, but
concluded to stay over one day longer and
will visit Maj. Allen, government engineer,
at 10 a. IN. The chiefs were very much
pleased with their visit to Governor Hubbard
and pronounce him as their friend.