St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-18
Poundmaker,s career.

AS I1o u0AG move Ol tuG Cduduldu IOTC6S
operating in the Northwest must necessar-
lily be directed against Chief Poundmaker
land his 600 braves), he who deluded the
unwary buffalo into his trap and thereby
acquired his title, the GLOBE gives herewith
sketch of the willy recalcitrant: Pound
makers reserve is on Battle river, short
distance west, of Battleford. He is par
ticularly fne-looking specimen of the race,
being considerably over six feet high, of
rather slight build and singularly erect. He
has an intelligent and rather refined looking
face, high, prominent forehead and nose
of the purely Grecian type, while there is
nothing coarse or sensual about the lower
part of his face. His hands are small and
delicate in appearance, his fingers being
long and faultlesSly tapered. He is accounted
an orator among his own people, but has
none of the
NOISE AND BLUsTER
that too often characteriZeS Indian OratOry.
He speaks slowly and distinctly, and in
manner that gives the hearer his idea of
suppressed power. His gestures are in
variably very graceful, and his manner
thoroughly dignifed, without the faintest
suspicion of pomposity OF offensive self
consciousness. He is always solemn and
earnest in his utteranceS, and generally
bears himself after the manner of religious
enthusiast who was oppressed with the idea
that he had some great mission to accom-
plish Though pagan, he has more than
once betrayed strong inclination to en-
brace Catholicism His father was Cree
and his mother half-sister to the great
Blackfoot chief Crowfoot. His grand
mother, on the side of his mother, is said to
have been Stoney, and this is corroborated
by the great chiefs peculiar cast of coun-
teuance.
POUNDMAKER'S CAREER
has been in many respects remarkable
one. To use his own language, he often
went among the Blackfeet during his boy
hood for the purpose of killing their people
and stealing their ponies, but when he grew
to be man he conceived the idea of MAX
ing peace between the CreeS and the Black
feet. Crowfoot, his uncle, was then all
powerful in the councils of the latter, but
often when he was absent from the camp,
POundmaker lay pretending to sleep while
he heard the Blackfeet debating whether
they should kill him or not. Many night
had he lain hour after hour with his right
hand grasping his big Remington revolver
at full cock under his pillow. After win
ter of terror and several trips from Eagle
hills to Blackfoot crossing during the fol-
lowing summer. his great object was ac-
complished, and peace was made between
the two great nations of the plains. AS
the friend of Crowfoot, the great chief Of
the Blackfeet, and as one of the most in
fiuential and the most intelligent of the
Cree chiefs, Poundmaker can just now, If
he chooses, become the most dangerous
Indian in the Northwest. His influence
with Crowfoot has
ALWAYS BEEN EXTRAORDINARY.
and he is universally looked up to and re-
spected by all the Crees of the North. 1t
will be remembered that he had trouble
with the Indian department last winter, and
he is not man to quickly forget an indig-
nifty offered to himself or his people. There
is not an Indian in the Northwest who
knows the country better than Poundmaker.
In 1881, when Lord Lone went across the
plains, Poundmaker joined the party for
the purpose of Interpreting the language OF
the Blackfeet into Cree, as the Cree inter-
prefer accompanying the party did not un-
derstand Blackfoot. Johnny Saskatchewan
was taken along to act as guide, but be-
tween Battleford and the crossing of the
Red Deer the half-breed lost himself, and
for the last two days Poundmaker was
ssguiding the guide" After crossing the
Red Deer Poundmaker took the lead and
travelled in almost an air line to Blackfoot
crossing, though there was no trail, and
what was even more remarkable arranged
his timetable so that he hit the best grass
and water to be had just about camping
time on every occasion.