The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-04-20
CORRESPONDENCE.
MONTANA.
] UNITED STATES INDIAN SERVICE. !
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~ ORAAE1 "a bo hN OEhvlO6 i
IS FoRT PECK AeeEcY. >
PsPLAR CREEK, Mon April 5, 1886. ,
ErIroR SPIRIT: After long and very
cold winier we are having pleasant,
Spring weather, at least we call Il pleas
ant when compared with that experienc.
ed during the past four months. / j
Thus far we have sowed len acres In
wheat and rs acres in oats, and have
commenced plowing for corn and pota.
toes.
The'Indian farms, 272 Of which have
been staked of, contain from one to two
acres each. Al The Agency, Deer Tail
Lower, Box Alder. Box Alder, Jack
Mtchelrs, Dave Mitchei's aud three
farms at Wolf Point, there will be be.
tween eight and nine hundred Indian
farms, besides the ground farmed for the
Ag, ncy.
The Indisns are furnished plows, bar.
rows and hoes; and corn anil potatoes
for seed. The farmers are kept busy
alter the potatoes are cut up for seed
preventing the Indians from eating them
in The raw state Some OF them will
even dig them up alter thev are planted
The Missouri river is still frozen over
bnt old residents predict that there will
be a "break up soon.
The positions here are:
Clerk, Physician, Commissarv Clerk
Superintendent ~ Wolf Point,s Farmer,
two Assistant Farmers, Sawyer q En-,
gineer. Carpenter. Blacksmith, Butcher,
two Interpreters, 3 Herders and ~ Po.
lice.
At the Agency Boarding School there
are, Superintendent, l Asst. Teacher
Matron, Lsundress, Seamstress and
Cook; and teacher Of the Day School
at Wolf Point.
F. A Jefiers and wife, OF Monroe
county, Sup't and Matron of the school
are doing excellent work Their posi-
tions require constant work from 6 A,
M. to 9 z. M There are 80 pupils, and
they are boarded. lodged and clothed
and are not permitted 10 sleep out of the
school buildings. At g P. M. the pupils
are required to be In their domatories
and alter they retire the Sup't or Assis.
tant passes through and sees that all
lights are out, and that everything about
the rooms is in proper condition.
The Indians never put the bodies o {
their dead in the ground. They wrap
the body In q blanket, or put it 10 q
rough hog, and carry it out to the top
of high bluff and there deposit it on
top OF the ground where they can 60
and gaze upon the remains at any
time they desire go to do. Some tie the
body to large limb up In tree. When
an Indian dies, his wife and other friends
who live 10 the same house, give it away,
sell it or tear It down and move away
and build another. They never contin-
ae to reside in the house. or tepee where
q member Of the family died. Another
custom that prevails, 10 for the survivors
to give away to members Of the tribe
articles OF household goods and ponies
This is done to crafty the spirit OF the
''noble red that has departed for the
''happy hunting grounds"
This is the season for antelope, wild
geese and ducks Have not bagged any
vet, because ] have not had time to take
q hunt. Alter "corn plantin" think I'll
go out and take in few dozen of each.
o! course all the candidates before
the People, 10 the Nominating Conven.
ton, will be successful TODAY. They
are invariably al nominated several
times before the balloting takes place
Did you ever meet a candidate who was
not dead sure that bis cbsnces were A
No. 1, and al that was required was q
count to give hiw the priz.2 l never
net any other kind
Will write again soon and hope to be
able to furnish something that will prove
more entertaining to your readers than
is contained in this scribble.
Yours g.,
HENRY r. WEST.