National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-01
FATHER STEPHAN.
A Talk with the Distinguished Catholic
Missionary Of Dakota.
sitting Bulls Account OF the Fight Where
Custer Was Slain.

Rev. Father Stephan, famous catholic
priest, who has been for four years among the
Sioux in Dakota, is in the city. Father
Stephan was for four years agent at the
Standing Rock agency and had charge of
Sitting Bull and his tribe, and is quite popu-
lar among them. He is stopping at 1101 G
street northwest and was seen there by
REPUBLICAN reporter last night Father
stephan is 81 years of age, but looks younger
He has iron gray hair and long beard of the
same hue. that gives him patriarchial appear
ance. A pair of restless gray eyes look out
from beneath shaggy eyebrows with II keen
but kind glance, whose sharpness is TEN pered
by very pleasant voice. While speaking u
slight German accent can be detected, aud
his RS" which are pronounced broadly and
'clcarly, bear out the impression of his German
nationality. lilo came to this country thirty
four years ago asa civil engineer. He served
through the late war as chaplain of the union
hospital at Nashville, Tcnu. After the close
of war he went to Indiana, where he was
stationed up to about seven years ago, when
lie accepted the agency ut Standing Rock,
from which position he has just resigned on
account of i'll health. When at Prague,
Austria some years ago he became very init
mate with Able List, the great pianist. In
speaking of the great master he is loud in his
praise. He pronounced Lislt to be the great
est pianist living, but said that his personnel
was not imposing. HE is" said Father
Stephan, "a tall, spare man, with ferretlike
eyes, and has long, wsvy hair. He speaks
slowly and is very eccentric The days
spent in his company were the happiest of
my life"
In speaking of the Indians, he said that
great injustice had been done them, and de-
cared that the only way to deal with them
was to do SO fairly. "They are strange
race" said he, and in my connection with
them came to understand them thoroughly.
They can easily detect q lie, and when once
they are told one, will never trust the utterer
again. Sitting Bull was in my agency, and
not long ago told me the true history of the
Custer massacre. Ho said that the troops
would not let his people alone, and were
constantly terroIizing them. "Two days
before the fight" quoted Father Stephan
from Sitting Bull, my people came to me
and said that the Long haired Chief was
coming to drive us into the agency to COM
pei us to sign the treaty. We did
not want to sign the treaty, and
the great father had once lied to me, and 1
fight, Sitting Bull said, 1.-THE troops came to
us beside stream, probably the Little Big
Horn, and talked with us, telling us that we
must go the agency and sign the treaty. This
we refused to do, and they then fired on us,
killing two squaws and a papoose. BY this
time our braves were ranged on the side of q
ravine and completely surrounded the troops.
Each brave selected a soldier, and the fight
began. When all but eleven of the troops
had been killed. we drove these into the
stream and killed them"
Sitting Bull declared, T." said Father Stephan,
that Custer did not lead the troops but then
he had had his hair cut and was not recognized
Sitting Bull told me the story several
times and it was always the same, never
deviating one word from his original story.
The only way to make Indians behave and
at the same time do them justice is to abro-
gate all treaties and make them citizens of
the United States. When once taught
thing they never forget, and some of them
make excellent farmers. l have settled $50
families and they are all doing well. This
government pays sos, $1,000 for %, 900 troops,
but only 100000 for 10000 Indians. SO the
amount per capita will not permit them to
hardly subsist. The treaties they have made
they have rigidly respected, but the govern
ment has been the first to break them. To
make them dependent on their own resources
for their support and teach them to respect
and obey tho laws like white men will be
one of the greatest triumphs of civilization +"
Father Stephan said that the Indians of
Standing Rock agency were now quiet and
peaceable tribe, and created little or no dis
turbance. "What tho territory needs" ex-
claimed he, lis young and active men. The
pcOplc Oub tucES arc LlIcu VI WIS IeIlpTeW-
Ordway fight, and take no stock in it. Why,
half the residents of tho territory will be-
come grayhaired waiting until the quarrel
is settled"
Father Stephan is located at Jamestown,
whore he has quite q large parish. He an-
nOunced his intention last night of appearing
before the house Indian committee and lay
ing before them his view. He will go to New
York in day or so to arrange for the trans
portation of emigrants to Dakota, but will
return here before going back to Jamestown.
THE Scott Art Galleries, 1il9 and l42l New York
avenue, are attracting the attention of connois-
scurs of art, the paintings on exhibition there
ueing Of a much higher class than has ever been
shown in this city. Explanations of pleasure
aud admiration follow view OF BouSuereaus'
masterpiece, the study of which alone is well
worth the cost nj admission TO all the galleries.
Art lovers should not fail to examine this collec-
| l!On
The Homeopathic Pound Party.
| At the house warming pound party to be
| given this afternoon and evening ut the new
,GnU n 4