New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-14
THE SIOUX CHIEFS IN WASHINGT TON.

THE LONG RIDE IN THE WAGONS HAS TIRED
THEM OUT. AND THE COUNCIL is
POSTPONED.
Washington. Oct 13.-The sxty-one chiefs and sub
chiefs from the great Sioux Reservation in Da-
kota composing the delegations from the several tribes
OF the Sioux Nation which have come to Washington
to confer with the President and the Secretary OF the
Interior and to present their objections 10 the Ia" re
Gently passed by Congress for the REIMBURSEMENT OF
IL 900 acres of their reservation were escorted
TO the Interior Department this morning After De-
ing introduced to the Secretary, one by one, the
Indians filed into the Office OF the AsSsi ant Attorney
General and took their seats. All the chiefs, as well
ne the interpreters wore civilized dress. with the
exception OF moccasins, but each wore conspicuous
earrings or trnkets of some kind peculiar to their
Rarely has notable delegation OF Indians ap-
peared in Washington. Prominent among them was
Sitting Bull, who made the medicine" for the Custer
massacre; Gall, who commanded the Indians In that
fight John Grass, said to be the most intelligent In
dian in the whole Sioux Nation, and several others
of prominence among their people Assistant secre-
tary Muldrow, the members of ths
S eHy R. Ti BeIi, Chief Of the Indian Division
Mr. Peel chairman of the House Indian Committee
and Delegate Clifford of Dakota occuned seats near
Mr. Cleveland. a member of the Sioux Commission
offered a prayer in the Sioux language, ashIng TOR
the council The Indians stood with bowed bead hGad
during the prayer and at Its close secretary Was
addressed them. lie said:
Nv friends you have travelled long way to
visit Washington, and am glad 10 SEQ you. am
glad 10 you como In the white mans dress. Inc
Congress- which makes tho laws which govern tnls
whole country from tho ocean on the east 10 the
ocean on the west has made this law (talnG In his
hand the act for the purchase Of the reservation.
Congress saw that the time had como for the Sioux
Indians take steps toward clvlllzati0n ana
that the waste and unused lands OF ther reserva,
The Secretary then explained In detail me mcthOus
which he had adopted 10 secure a faithful ana free
EXPRESSION Of their wishes, with respect TO The law
whether they would accept 1t or reject II:
He explained that the Commission had been instructed
10 Interpret them fully and with absolute faihfulncss
the provisions Of the act He added that he would
every opportunity explain fully their wishes in the
matter -" To-day he concluded. you shall have
tho opportunity to state what you wish and all you
wish. | VII now hear you'
AS the Secretary took HIS seat, White Ghost, from
tho Crow Creek Agency, acose and after shaking
hands with nearly every one present except ms com
radcs said through interpreter that he was happy
10 see his white brethren and glad that we all have
good heart He said that he and $ friends Wcro
very tired and wished to until Monday when they
would come prepared 10 speak
Swift Bird from tho Cheyenne Agency, arose as
White Ghost took his scat. lie said My ir.cnos,
we are pleased To you to-day. God has made our
skins red Ook ne at his hands,, but we are all friends
and equal before Godp He urged postroncment
Of the council. Swift Bear. from the Pine Ridge
Agency. old man. with long gray hair was tho
next speaker He said he was an old man. and tho
wagons which brought him here had almost killed him.
lie said he could not even rid himself OF tho rock
ing motion of the wagons. lie wanted days rest.
Little Wounded from the Pine Ridge Agency. began his
speech by saving that he was well pleased to such
a good looking lot of men before him
All the speakers complained OF being unwell from
their long ride and requested a post ponemcnt OF tho
council until Monday, which the secretary granted.