Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1878-1884, 1884-03-21
SIOUX COUNCIL

After the calling of the roll, Great Thunder
arose and said:
s.MR. CHAIRMAN: This morning while thesun
was peeping her first faint peep across the Big
Muddy. an ambulance whirled out OF the village
and away along the trail toward the cities of the
naletace. It bore our beloved chief, Sitting
Bull. who has gone to St. Paul to visit his old
boyhood companion, Joe Wheelock. My heart
is filled with sad forebodings, az I contemplate
the possible results which may follow his trip.
St. Paul is wicked city, and our chieftain's
friend is not pillar of the church.
'When clasped our loved chiaftain's hand as
he planted his semi-circular foot on the steps of
the ambulance, I whispered to him that tempta-
tions would assail him at every turn, and that
the tirewater of the pale face would ibe set be-
fore him in flowing fagons, and instead OF
wearing a frightened look his eye frightened,
and he told the driver to hurry up. told him
that he was going where free lunches would lure
him into the lair of the amber beer and where
the song of the siren would make him forget
the simplicity of the reservation, and instead of
looking sad and worried, he asked Agent Nc
Laugh how long it would take to get there.
My heart was sad, and turned from him in
SORROW.
"Even now as he speeds up the winding val
ley, his heart is doing double time and working
in seventeen or eighteen extra beats to the min
ute, as he contenplates the fun he will have with
the boys in the great city on the Mississippi.
His eyes glow with lurid lustre as he reflects
upon the number of two-dollar autographs
which he will succeed in palming off onto an
unsuspecting public as genuine.
"When he reaches the great city his friend
will meet him at the train and embrace him and
ask after his folks, and then they will seek the
seolusion of the ante room of the saloon and
tell the boy to bring in two schooners. know
whereof speak, for I once met friend in st.
Paul myself. Before an hour had passed, in my
fond eyes he appeared as q dozen friends.
ssMr. Chairman, Why did we let him 60?
Why did we concent to his departure when We
knew the dangers which lurked in his path?
Why did we permit him to leave the reservation
when we know that he is but human and that
appetite for his beer can knock him out at any
time in onethree-minute round2
Even now I can see him sitting in the front
row of the Olympic amid group of convivial
friends, wearing doubled -barreled opera glass
and glad smile of pleasure. can hear his
native encores and loud huzzas as the ethereal
maiden in the tights of spotless purity endeav-
ors to kick out the gasslight up in the flies.
As before remarked I've been to St. Paul my
self. -sssg-3
"Mr. Chairman, We can but pray to the Great
Spirit to watch over him and TO
ns assassss We can but supplicate heaven to
keep him out of the hands Of Satan and the
police. Sitting Bull is getting old, and he
| can't stand as much as he coald when the blood
of youth traversed his copper-washed frame.
II have known our chief since he was but a
toddling boy with bunged up toe and ma
! tive fragrance which has clung
to him through all these years.
! have been with him in the chase, when it was
nip. and-tuck whether he could get into the re-
servation ahead of the soldiers or not once
made tour into British Columbia with him
when his august health demanded a change of
climate and my own health was somewhat
precarious. To know him was to love him.
To associate with him is an honor. To be in
his company is pleasure which the whole
northwestern army has been known to seek
He is my friend, and my solicitude for his we'll
fare is great. Let us pray that he may never
| on his present tour awake in the morning and
fail to find a friend to pay his fine.
! "Mr. ChairmanI have spoken. trust that
the council will join their prayers with mine
that the fates may return our chieftain to us in
the full vigor of his strength, even though he
may be dead broke and have headache"