The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1886-03-09
Letter From Montana.
UNITED STATES INDIAN SERVICE
FoRT PECK AGENCY,

UNITED STATES INDIAN SERVICE
FoRT PECK AGENoY,
Poplar CREEK. Mon Feb. 5, 1885
DEAR SPIRIT: The Indian women are
great grumbers, and since the annuity
goods were issued. have been playing
considerably, and the Police have been
busy watching and capturing their goods
Four of them will sit do wn, each with a
pile Of goods by her side-stockings,
gingham, blanket, comfort, combs, shoes
and other articles, and commence a game.
They have four decks OF cards all in one
bunch. As the game progresses arti
/ cles will be thrown from one pile to an.
other, and frequently one player will win
the entire outfit Of the others. Two
Policemen just now, 81 o'clock, brought
in q deck of cards that they captured
from two women who were playing in a
tepee. One of the Police peeped and
then jumped in and made the capture =
They laughed heartily as they told how
the women screamed and jumped when
they sprang into the tepee.
Tue Police force here numbers 16 able
bodied fellows who are ready day and
night to promptly obey orders.
Last Sunday, "Blsck Horn," young
buck, told the Captain Of the force that
had he been present Saturday night when
they broke up dance be would have
hult some OF them. The Captain in-
formed "BIack Horn" that the force sim.
ply obeyed orders in doing what they
did, and that he must behave himself
Afterwards "Black Horn," procured a
repeating rife and started to the Police
qlarters to shoot the Captain. Three OF
the Police met him, do wned him in short
order and took his gun from him. 1
was notified, went to the quarters and
ordered him to be taken to the lookup
Kept him there until Monday afternoon
when the Interpreter and l called. AZ.
ter talking to him and exp aiming to him
how ba lily he had acted and obtaining a
promise for good behavior in the future,
told him he could 60 home. Since then
be has been all right; called at the Cap
tain's house and expressed regret for
what he had done.
The practice heretofore has been to
put the shackles on offenders and work
them on the wood pile. Bat l find that
milder course works as well, if not
better.
Ora INsr-Have been about generally
to-day having gang here at the ware
house, WAYNE had another,in the corral
and BARNARD hanline. out manure and
Farme. Dunn and teacher French were
busy about the school premises cleaning
up. The weather is mild and pleasant
4S above zero yesterday and to day,
which causes the snow to disappear rap
idly. We had yoke of oxen out to-
day after logs and wood
W F. Okey and l went up to the
school at 2 o'clock and met all the en-
ployes in Jeffers' room. We had Qrile
talk about the proper management OF
the school, work and cleaning up /
told them not TO stop moment until
they had everything inside and outside
of the buildings clean and in good con-
dition and when in order to keep things
in, that shape. / intend to keep them on
the Jump at the school until they do get
things right, because to be inspected is
to be condemned and reported against
il it is not just what 1t should be.
Yesterday aud to-day Seffers had hia
coat of issuing to the children and :.ell
you be had his hands full. He finished
this afternoon and looked tired.
Our issuing is about over for this time
the school issuing on Thursday, Fri
day and Saturday. finishing the work =
1t has been long tedious job and am
glad it is out of the way. We shall now
have more time for looking after outside
matters and continuing the WORK OF re.
repairing for the Spring campaign.
Willie West has been engaged all week
at The school assisting Mr.. Jeffers, while
Wayne has been doing good work down
here-first in the warehouse, then 10 the
meat house, again in tue corral and barn.
yard, driving a team and many Other
kinds of work. Both work at something
every day and are assisting me greatly
in MANY wavs. W F. Okev works in
the office and warehouse and has the rur
of the work, returns &C., down fine.
The boys are all out tonight at some
of the houses OF the employts-having
some music expect.
hisTo morrow W. F Okey. Willie and
Wayne. Dunn, Webb, myself and Others
fare going up to Sunday School. 1t is
an Interesting school in many Ways
The Indian bows and girls take great In.
terest in the lesson aud singing The
Snp't, Mr.. Lewis, is the right man fol
the place.
Ira INST @ ute number Of Us wen
to Sunday School this morning. Las
SUNDAY there we're So in attendance, and
to day rs. The boys and girls to-day
we're all washed and dres. ed nicelv and
Hooked as bright as any children ] evel
saw. You ought to see, each Sunday
ihe outline of the lesson drawn by Mr.
Lewis on the blackboard. He is my
ideal of Sunday School Superintend.
ent.
9rH INsr.-Have been very busy ir
the warehouse to-day opening boxes and
cleaning up We will have everything
arranged by the latter part Of this
month so that we will know exactly
what we have and where il is.
1Ora INsT.-Willie West has elk In
dians cutting up ten beeves to-day tc
tissue tomorrow. Wavne has charge o.
IA Indians on the wood pile saving and
splitting wood. W. F Okey is in thu
Office preparing blanks for issue o
rations. He commenced Monday morn
ing and will get through tomorrow even
ing, Thursday. / have been in the ware
house awhile. but have not been feeling
irst-class to-day, consequently didn'
feel like working.
1 Weather very pleasant to-day. Oul
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