The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-07-09
AGENCY.
nenlorable Condit1oE of the Indians
neplcted by a Correspondent of b
River Press.
CHoTEAU, June 80, 1884.

,eairs at the agency are certainly in
1anlorable condition, with no imme-
az prospect of being b. tered, ana
u" Indians are at present deserving of
lnU nmiseration instead Of condemnation.
GGU} hi is terrible suffering among them,
II cases of actual starvation, especially
anu the children. When disease
ato hold of them they are SO reduced
tahe famine hat they have not strength
ny ally The mortality is fearful, eigh-
o,1 deatbs occurring during the month
NAV, This (making a rough estimate
too60 Indians at the agency is nearly
u ro ner cent. The Indians are on such
1hU rations that the day after the issue
~ made there is no food in any Of the
iodges. Major Allen took me through
lTa camp. with his Interpreter, to see,
VIZ va nnblish what [ might see, and hear
ana Story told by the sufferers. Chill
dren with faces pinched by hunger,
unoihers, for want of nutritive food, un-
Lila IN furnish nourishment to their in
tsnts. and the same story was told by
nanh and every one. [ saw ~ woman
tboiIinp the hoofs of cattle to get some
punishment, and in every lodge [ Wis
tied the same lack of food vas noticea-
bIn was shown the warehouses of the
agency: there was not provisions enough
ss9 two good issues, and that must hold
nnt for several weeks yet, or until the
Concentration is available, unless for
snpbcial reasons the interior department
npakps some arrangement for furnishing
a%unnlies. It is fearful. It cannot be
fnIHIyv known until one has seen for HIM
elf The agent is powerless to re-
]ieve their s~ufferings, and SO the matter
stands.
At the invitation Of Major Allen / at
tended a council of the Indians, which
the Young men had arranged. Bear
Chief made a long speech, He said he
had lived in the country ever since he
was born and claimed the privilege of
sneaking at any and all times. He had
made no attempt to become acquainted
with the agent because he thought he
was on the wrong trail, the same as the
other agent; but now he was Of a differ
ent opinion and wanted to get acquaint-
ed, and hoped the agent would still con-
tinue on the right trail, and he was sure
all the young men would follow him..
He alluded to the Great Father, and de-
sired that as other tribes had sent depu-
tations to Washington he wanted to be
one to go, that the Great Father might
hear their story and take pity on them
and supply their necessities; that they
were starving the graves on the prairie
would testify.
Major Allen replied that they must be
for or against him; that it was his in
tention to keep on the right trail, and
desired them to be with him, for without
them he could do nothing. AS to their
lack of food, he was constantly writing
and had no doubt that provisions you'd
be forthcoming, and that shortly. he
expressed his sorrow at their condition,
but could do nothing. He was doing
out food to them to make it last until
provisions arrived. To satisfy them that
he was telling the truth he would show
them the warehouses. He would also
write to the Great Father about their
paying him a visit.
Other speeches were made by Little
Dog, Big Nose, Little Bull, White Calf,
and Running Rabbit, all of the same
tenor as that of Bear Chief. There is
no doubt that Major Allen is doing all
he can. He is a kind-hearted nan and
their condition distresses him beyond
measure. There is no question but
something must be done for these In
dams or we may expect trouble. The
defenseless settlers on Birch and Du-
puyer creeks are fully aware of the stu
alton and regard it as extremely dan
gerous. "A. d. n.