New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-12-23
A LUCKLESS MEDICINE MAN.
MISTAKES OF FROST, A SIOUX PROPHET.
HE STARTS FALSE RUMoR OF WAR AND MAKES
OTHER FAILUREs-PUT IN CHAINS.

HE STARTS FALSE RCMOR OF WAR AND Mhhho
OTHER FAILUREs-PUT IN CHAINS.
Bismarck, Oak Ter. Dec. 81 recently Wis
tied the Standing Rock Indian Agency and was
more than repaid by interview with the guards, VINO
are now watching the Indian, Frost, who caused the
recent war between the Sioux and the crows
1t will be remembered that the Sioux started out more
than a month ago with paint and tOm-toms To
meet the Crows, who, Frost informed them, were
coming TO make attack. Frosts authority TOT inc
news was a dream, and as he is one OF the young
medicine Of the tribe, the Indians believed hm
At that time the leading chiefs were in washington
irving diplomacy with the Great Father and the
rank and file were bewlldered. Believing that the
Crows were about to take advantage Of the absence
of their great commanders, Gall, John Grass and
Sitting Bull the Sioux gathered about Frost and de
pended entirely upon the power of his medicine and
dreams to lead them in successful battle against the
Crows. They stripped 10 the skin, daubed on the
war paint and started TO meet they supposed, the
approaching foe.
Frost Informed them that they would meet the
Crows just beyond tho first hill They reached the
summit Of the hill but no hostile tribes appeared
But their faith not shaken. Frost led them on
with the promise that the next hill would reveal the
Crows and he urged them and on until they had
gone many miles The Sioux are still waIlike
people, the further they marched the Drawer they
became until they warmed up TO the regular scalping
II
cavalry TO bring them back TO the agency. The
cavalry overlook the warlike braves about twenty
niles out. but the only Indian who had committed
an offence Frost and he therefore was the only
one to be brought back as prisoner Of war He
was marched back in front Of the cavalry, and 1t Is
indeed 10 be regretted that photograph of the United
states Army marching this solitary Indian dreamer
back to the agency could not have been obtained 1t
is reported that the soldiers fully realized the ridiculous
appearance which they would present marching into
camp behind the lone and helpless Indian, and that
they killed time in the most soldierly manner that
they might arrive at the agency after dark and thus
| cheat the photographer
| Having proven false prophet in matters Of war,
Frost tried his hand in the matter Of miracles The
agency is named for rock which STANDS on END
Standing Rock-aud the old Indian tradition is that this
rock is perifed squaw, who was turned into stone
while weeping for her fahless lover This story Is
believed implicitly by the Indians and is not very
strongly doubted by the hafbreeds and the super
stiuous whites Recently the rock which had been
knocked about carclessly for years, was put In
permanent place on a stone pedestal ana Win me
mos. impressive ceremony was painted to resemble the
only Indian of the tribe who had never sinned Frost
| sat gazing at the stone evening after his arrest
and I'm a solemn cavernous voice informed the indians
about him that he could make the standing rock come
TO him at any time he desired. This assertion created
sensation among the Indians far greater than he
|
the Great Spirit in the estimation of the indians
al agency At first the warriors sed doubt
but Frost positi We and confident in hi asser
tons that they finally believed. and time for The
miracle appointed. Frost sent out 10 the camps
| for his singers and dancers and they responded as
| promptly their ponies would permit The Indians
came fIOm all parts OF the reservation, and on me
| evening designated there an immense assemblagt
| of nervous and expectant braves.
Frost took sea, az the agency building, directly
opposite the Standing Rock and gave the signal for bis
singers to open their concert Of aboriginal dscoh II
| was novel well a most humorous sight The
| confident medicine had unbOunded faith in hi:
| ability to make the solid and immOvable rock wall
| 10 where he sitting He did not tel whether
be expected the rock to fly, to roll, TO take on leg
| and walk in the regular pigeon toed squav
fashion. In all probability BIO expected the stone n
assume the shape OF the sQuaw IL once was and tro
| over to embrace him. But the stone remained mute
mOtoncss and irresponsible. The great medicine maI
stirred bis medicIe. cast pleading eyes al the roci
! and sang a most heartrending Kyi," but the rocl
| dfd not move
| Not satisfied with the first trial he repeated bis
performance several times and at last gave up II
despair while the Indians left him In con tempt liz
was returned 10 the guard house In humiliation ant
shame and now ball and chain for having lee
| the Indians 70 the path. He IS no longer thu
great medicine Of his people but as an attraction
| at the agency he surpasses Sitting Bull or Gall