Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-03-19
NUTS FROM NEVADA.
The Princess Winnencucca and zn-
dian Commissioner Price.
Baltimore sun.

Mr.. Joseph King, corner OF Charles
and Biddle streets, has received from
Princess Wlnnemucca a small bag of
nuts from the great pine trees OF
Nevada. The princess states that for
some time her tribe has lived on pine
nuts alone, ali other kinds of food be
ing exhausted. The Indians, she says,
gather these nuts in quantity and store
them. The nuts are about three qnar
ters of an inch long, and in general
appearance and size, with the hull on,
resembles the kernel of a ground nut
The pine nut stripped of its shell has
a glisteulng, oily appearance, and an
aromatic flavor, with slight trace of
the taste of rosin. a number of Balti-
moreans have pronounced them good
eating, though they would hardly APP
prove of them for an exclusive diet.
Many of the best cit Gems of Baltimore
are concerned about reports circulated
concerning Winnemucca, which they
pronounce untrue, saying the reports
were started maliciously in behalf of
certain interested parties. Mr.. King
anG his wife are in receipt of letters
from Miss Elizabeth Peabody, of Bes-
ton, Mass, and others, affirming their
belief in the integrity of Princess
Winnemucca, Miss Peabody in her
last letter to Mrs. King, says letter
will be issued from Boston denying
The charge against Winnemucca. This
letter, il is said, viii be signed by
those who are able to refute the
charges against the champion of In
dian wrongs.
Indian Commissioner Price, at
Washington, says there is no act of
congress which gives to the Winnie
mucca and Leggins bands of Piute
Indians lands, in severalty and citizen
rights at Pyramid lake, Nevada. He
also denies that the Piute Indians are
now in a starving condition. These
Indians, he says, have occasiened the
Indian office more trouble than all the
other bands combined. The Piutes
were originally in Washington terri
tory, and afterward at Malheur and
Yakima. The secretary Of war re-
commended that they should be locat-
ed at either Walker river or Pyramid
lake. In accordance with these re-
concentrations an Indian agent was
sent out with Instructions to gather
them up and put them on the Pyramid
lake reservation. and Immediately
supplies were forwarded to that point.
The Piutes refused to locate on the
reservation assigned them by the war
department, but preferred to scatter
about at various points in the valley.
When it was aseertaiped that the In
dams refused to go to Pyramid lake
and receive the supplies intended for
them, Indian Agent Gibson was &i-
rected to take supplies to Winnemucca
station, in hopes that the Indians
would come for their supplies.
Commissioner Price produced a
communication or this subject from
Indian Agent Gibson, written at Win
nemucca station Feb. II. Mr. Gibson
stated that in accordance with instruc-
tons from the commissioner he pro
ceeded to Winnemucca, having order
ed supplies to be forwarded to that
point without delay. AT Winnemucca
depot he met about twenty indians,
one of whom spoke very good En-
glish. He inquired as to their condi-
ton and wants, and was informed by
the entire number present that they
had pleRty of everyt nag. They look
ed healthy and were comfortably
clothed. ExDistrict Judge Bonner
said and all the local officials of Hum
boldt county whom Gibson met there,
stated the Indians were prospecting
finely, and they knew that there was
no suffering among them
Chief Natchez, of the Winnemucca
tribe, he said, was doing well, being
the owner of a rancho and fifty head
of horses worth from $50 to S75 per
head. Other business men and citi-
zens in Winnemucc2 substantiated
what Judge Bonnifield had said con-
corning the Indians All the Indians
Gibson could find were interviewed,
and they all said that they had plenty
of everything they Leeded. The mer
chants at WInnemucca said they were
not called upon to credit Indians, as
they all seemed to have the necessary
cash. Buena Vista John. next in
rank to Natehez in the tribe, spoke
good English, aud is considered re-
liable Indian. Gibson visited quarters
and asked him if he wanted any sup
plies. He replied No, me got
plenty" In reply to an inquiry if he
dId not know some old Indians who
wanted some assistance, he said: "Ail
got plenty" He ad }ed that he did
not want -four bacon. or other sup
plies; when he wanted them he had
the money TO buy them He appeared
very independent, and cemarked;
indians heap work. al have got
money. Me got four good horses, you
bet y
In conclusion Gibson writes: II
concluded that the department had
been misinformed with regard to the
condition of the Indians at Whine.
mucca, all the latter being unanimous
in their statements that there is no
suffering among them" Commission.
err Price said there appeared to be a
class Of people who took delight in
making complaints to the Indian Office
concerning the treatment of the In
dians. princess Winnemucca, as
she calls herself. said the commission