Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-11-29

t0o Cnoxoceo1 u OeeGD8 0u11s tAo 0100o
Chief u The sioux.
Probably when the facts arc all known
It will be discovered that Sitting Bull
had more to do in influencing the In
dams against signing the treaty at
Standing Rock than any other man.
Bull is an Indian Of largo brain. a. tho
writer ascertained while travelling with
him for three months in the East. He
10 diplomatic in his nature; not great
warrior. but rather q safe counselor,
and as such he has great influence with
the Indians. He is thoughtful savage.
and his travels in New York, Phi adel-
phia and Brooklyn. in 1884. taught him
the ways of the whites to such an ex-
tent that he is now we'll able to cope
with them. He is especially good in
making a bargain. Indeed, the writer
considers him intellectually one Of the
most powerful Indians on the American
continent That he has had much to
do in shaping the opinions of the tribe
there can be no doubt.
Sitting Bulls Indian name is Ta-tou-
Ka-i-a-ton-Ka, and he was born on the
banks of Grand river. within the
boundaries OF the great Sioux reserva-
ton and about forty-five miles south
west from the present Standing Rock
Agency in Dakota. He is ffty-dve
years Of age, has q very large head. is
cool and thoughtful. very decided in
his ways. and yet will listen to argu-
ment and will answer with argument.
His original name was Wa-Kan-you-na-
gin. or Standing Holy. which name he
retained until he was fourteen years
old, when his father. whose name was
Sitting Bull, took him along with him
on the war path in the Crow country
(the inveterate enemies of the Sioux,
and he, the fourteen-year-old boy,
counted his first victory by killing
Grow Indian. After returning to their
home his father ''threw away" three
ponies, i. e., killed them in honor of his
brave sons achievement, at the same
time announcing that he had changed
the name Of his son from Standing Holy
to that of Sitting Bull, bestowing his
own name upon him.
In person. Sitting Bull is a solidly
built Indian, not quite so tall as an Or
binary savage, yet heavier in many re-
spects. His features are strong. and
when he walks he turns his toes in
ward, strikes the ground with heavy.
Earring tread, and moves rapidly like a
man of business. His general look is
heavy, while that of Little Crow, the
leader OF the great Indian outbreak in
Minnesota in 1861, and Hole-in-the-Day,
the great Chippewa chief. were more
refined, but none the less true Indians.
The Dakotas believe that they must inn
itate Hay-o-Kah, the undemonstrative
god. who inculcates the idea that it Is
not dignified, or manly. or great to
evince lively emotions of grief or joy.
but under all circumstances. even Of
torture and death itself, the Indian
must show q stoical. impassive face.
and hence the immovable features of
Sitting Bull or any other Indian who
lays claim to power among his tribe.
The principal characteristic of this
great medicine man-for he is known
among his tribe as such-is his stub
bornness of character, the same ele-
ment which made Grant the greatest
warrior of modern times. With ju-
dicious management Bull could, no
doubt, be won over to the whites, but
you can't drive him.-C0r. Ithaca IN.
~ journal.