Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-01-09

earned promotion. and left for other
fields of duty. From that day the
poor heyennes began their downward
course. With no reservation, with no
agent TO look after their wants, with
no friend t. extend the helping hand
of protection. rnis remHant of a great
race were robbed, maltreated, and
gradually crowded to the wall, until
W. find them to day in a wretched.
famishing. naked condition, in want
of the actual necessaries of life.
Lazy white men beheld with amaze
ment the success of Cheyenne asri-
culture. They saw with amazement
the rapidly accumulating wealth of
the Indian herds. White men wanted
the Indian LANDS, and they took them.
Herds came ceowding in from all
sides, and although there were miles
upon miles of fertile prairie land un-
tenanted save BY myriads of buffalo
and antelope, YET there was no room
for the Cheyenne cattle, and their
animals sonleEs became branded
with tie white mems brand, and were
seen no more by the rightful owners.
About nine hundred are now living on
the Rosebud, and up to the past year
have been self supporting. Major I.
II. Logan, a regular army officer, has
charge of the band, and he is doing
the best he can until the authorities
at Washington settle upon some plan
fer the future
I walked among their lodges, aud
was much interested in the various
bills of fare which each separate tepae
had on this particular day. In front
of one tepee an old hag-10O years old
I should judge-was seated on the
ground pounding into flour some ker-
mails of Indian maize. This was TO be
made into q paste, and afterward
baked III the Goals of fire shoulder,
ing near by. At another lodge Calf
Shirts, belieye-a regular feast was
to take place. The Indian referred TO
bad just returned from a Miles City
slaughtering house, where he had
managed 10 pick up a few things,
which, though not palatable to evil
lzed taste, yet were much priced by
the savage red man. A little further
down the line regular hubbub was
going Oh III front of Iron Shirts lodge
Tom toms were sounding, impromptu
dances being executed, and lots of
nonsense taking place, all on account
of q dog. The dug-fcast of the Chey-
ennes is the greatest of all feasts
There is no luxury for Cheyenne
table like dog, be he pointer, setter,
fVll-bloo1ed, Or otherwise.
Once let the Cheyenne get hold Of
dog for cookidg purposes, and he is
fixed for week. | took ? peep into
the lodge Of Iron Shirt, and there lay
a fine dog before the Goals. nice and
brown to tarn, all ready fer supper.
1t is curious aud strange fact that
North American Indians of all tribes
VIII turn away from the choicest beef,
venison, or buffalo hump, if he can be
sure of getting dog instead; and
many OF the tribes raise colonies OF
dogs for the same purpose that we DO
beeves. As there were nc dogs in
camp I inquired OF Rowland how il
happened that Iron Shirt was so for
tunate in securing one. Rowland
questioned that brave on the subject.
and learned that a party of English
tourists has paid visit to the camp a
few days previous, out of curiosity,
and that the dog was theirs. From
the moment the doomed canine en-
tered the Indian village Iron Shirt
had kept his covetous eyes glued upon
the animal until, watching his chance,
he secured the prize and spirited it
out OF sight until the Englishmen had
taken tReir departure. The dog was
a Gordon setter, and had been brought
along by the tourists for hunting
purposes. Iron Shirt did not consider
his acten in the case wrong o. i'm
proper, as stealing is looked upon as
virtue rather than a crime by the
red men, and that is why the Chey-
ennes happened to have a deg for
supper on this particular evening.