Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1884-08-09

just received from Indian Agent V. II
McGillicuddy, report regarding the
removal OF Dr. 7. A. Bland, editor Of the
Council Fire, from the Pine Ridge agen
cy. DIR. Bland is also here and has filed
statement giving his side Of the case
McGillicuddy says cdr. Bland arrived
at the agency June 2Sth bearing the
letter Of the secretary Of the interior,
and that he was Immediately removed
'herefrom. The reasons he assigns for
the removal are ostensihly that he caus.
ed disturbance among the Indians and
perhaps. as DR.. Bland alleges, because
DR.. Bland published and commented
upon in his paper, extracts from In
spector Pollock's report on McGilicud-
| dy's official action. McGillicuddy re-
lates that he gave Red Cloud and other
disturbers at the agency passes to Valen-
| tine, Neb., 70 meet DR.. Bland, whom
they denominated as special commits
sioner to the great father to settle their
land business and straighten up agency
affairs generally. On the way down
these Indians were joined by Little
Chief, of the Cheyennes, and forty other
Sioux, consisting Of nearly all the OPP
ponents Of civilization. Before and after
the departure Of the party, the report
continues, the antagonistic class Of In
dians near the agency, adherents Of Red
Cloud, pretended that things at the
agency were to he reorganized i'm the
interest Of Red Cloud, and enemies Of
the latter were to be punished. This
had very demoralizing effect On the
arrival Of the party at the agency, Dr.
Bland did not at once report to the
agent, and the regulations required him
to do, but went to hotel, where he
gave sort Of reception to the Indians
AS he would not conform to the regula-
iions, and promised to be source of
continual trouble, McGilicuddy request
cd him to depart. DR.. Bland refused,
and was arrested and then taken to
Nebraska.
A subsequent letter has been received
from Agent Mctiillicuddy asking the
department to forward, without DELAY,
1000 rounds of United States forty-five
caibre cartridges for Remington maga-
zine rifles, they having only 200 rounds
on hand, adding that the ammunition
is necessary for the proper moral sup
port Of the police. He complains of the
hostile attitude of the mob element un-
der Red Cloud, and says DR.. Bland is to
a large extent responsible therefor. He
says that on July lst DIR. Bland had a
general council in Nebraska, seven
miles from the agency, attended by 100
of the worst class Of Indians. In this
council DR.. Bland was represented rs
general representative Of the govern
ment, in which capacity he requested
ST 600 from each agency. Immediately
after the council. 200 or 300 Cheyenres
appeared in Red Clouds village, appear
emily to take possession, offensive and
defensive. 1t appears, the letter con-
tinues, that the Indians, who are to as
sassinate the agent at Red Clouds re-
quest, as suggested by Dr. Bland at the
fremont house, Washington, are to be
selected from these Cheyennes. Mr..
Joslin, acting secretary Of the interior,
said to-day that the department had not
taken any action regarding the difficulty.
Dr. BANDS charges had been filed, and
will be forwarded to McGillicuddy for
his answer. McGillicuddy recommends
that Todd Randall also be removed from
the reservation. He further says Of DIR.
Bland: This man Bland, ultra and
visionary in his ideas. is one of class OF
individuals Of the Guiteau stripe, men
in whom it is difficult to determine
where eccentricity leaves off and insani-
ty begins-nen who are dangerous in
civilized communities, and doubiy so in
The Indian country, and particularly Sc
as coming from Washington, as it is
known as the great fathers home, and
the Indians naturally regard all persons
coming from there as official.
BLAND ON McGILLIcUDDY.
DR. T. A. Bland has filed the following
paper with the secretary ofthe interior
Sir:--I have just read the letter OF
Agent McGiilicuddy in relation to my
arrest, and desire to submit the follow.
ing as my reply to charges against my.
self. am informed. on reliable white
authority, that Chief Red Cloud told the
agent that his friend, DR.. Bland was ia
be at Valentine, and that he wanted to
go down and bring him to the agency
II is not true that Red Cloud and his
friends are the opponents of civilization
The statement Of McGillicuddy that my
presence on the reservation was an in.
reference with agency matters is absurd
The insinuation that wanted to excite
the Indians to resistance is answered by