St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-03
SIGNED BY NINETY.
The Signatures Of Several
Indians Secured at Crow
Creek Agency.
White Ghost and Other Chiefs
Still Violently Opposed
to the Act.
The First Indian to Sign AL
most Mobbed by the
Crowd About Him.
A Decided Sensation Caused
by the Remarkable Speech
Of Bowed Head.
Special to the Globe.

Crow CREEK, Dak., Sept. "A cOun-
Gil was held last evening, and proved to
be very exciting, resulting in securing
almost 100 signatures to the Sioux act.
The council did not meet until late in
the evening, and Chief White Ghost
was the first to address the asSemblage.
He did not cOnfine his remarks to the
real question before the council, but
talked over old issues and old COM
plants. Several of the chiefs followed
White Ghosts remarks by talking in
the same strain. Commissioner Wright
then spoke, and again urged
the Indians to take advantage
of the act, as by its provis-
ions they could secure undisputed
title to their lands. Agent Anderson
informed the Indians that to-day the
time had arrived for the signing to COM
mence, and number of the Indians
were anxious to sign and go to their
homes to take care of their crops, and
that it was utterly impossible to hold
them at the agency any longer. White
Ghost then arose and stated that he was
not yet ready to sign and should not do
so. A number of the chiefs then arose
and declared they were of the opinion
of White Ghost and would not sign yet.
BOWED HEAD,
an Indian then sprang to his feet and
caused decided sensation by making an
urgent appeal to his brethren to sign
the papers. He stated that what he was
going to say would probably hurt some
of the Indians, but that he was going to
speak nevertheless; that he was on
different path from the balance of the
tribe, meaning he was Christian, and
wanted to make lead for his children;
the opposing Indians, because they
are men, and that the only one
he was afraid of was God, in whom he
believed. He stated that there was
only one salvation. To save the souls,
he wanted to save the young generation
of his tribe, that he who believes in the
Great Spirit and sweats for Him was
honored by Him. He also said that he
did not wish to act for his own personal
good, put for the good of the children
and grandchildren, and did not wish to
impose upon the rights of the chiefs.
He said that he looked at it for himself
individually, and referred to his fine
allotment of land, covered with timber,
four stacks of wheat, and that he had
a self-binder, and considered that he
was at liberty to say what he wanted to,
and thought that if any one was friendly
to the great father the chiefs should be,
and asked what
THEIR FOREFATHERS
had done for them. The only thing
they had left behind them was an old
camp fire, where even now the grass
does not grow, covered with old buffalo
bones, and that old stones could still be
seen that they worshiped. He asked
the assembled Indians if they wanted
their children to go like that, and made
an earnest appeal to the chiefs to have
mercy on the young people who are
Just beginning life and have no prop
erty to start with. He requested the
chiefs to come forward and set an
example, or the balance would go for
ward regardless of them. He was fire.
quently greeted by rousing "HOws"
during his remarks, and his speech had
a good effect on the majority of the
council. An Indian named Williams
then stepped forward, placed his hat on
the ground and said in the presence of
older men he uncovered his head. He
then made very telling address, tell
ing the Indians that if they had any
love for their children and wished them
to be educated like the white people,
that they should come forward and sign.
The more radical Indians threatened to
kill the first one who signed, but
Williams walked steadily up to the
table and signed his name to the bill.
The entire crowd of Indians immedi-
ately sprung to their feet, and for mo-
ment it appeared as if pitched battle
would be fought between those favor
the bill and those opposing it, but the
friends of Williams came forward and
stood about him until quiet had been re-
stored by Agent Anderson. who spoke
very forcibly to the opposing element.
No more councils will be held, but the
commissioners will see the Indians indi-
vidually and secure their signatures.
About ninety names were enrolled at
the council, and the commissioners are
pleased with the days work.