Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1888-11-03
MISSIONARY WORK

A Visit so the santee Agency and BaziIle
Creek, Neb.- Organizing an Indian
Congregations Charcb.
To the Press and Dakotaiap: Through
o sletter missive" from the Indian Con-
grega.ional church at the Hantee mission
the Rev. d. F. Bradley and his church
by a delegate and the writer were invited
TO Bszille creek, ten miles above the
agency, opposite Running Water, to con-
slider the expediency Of organizing an
Indian Congregational church 10 that
vicinity.
Fifteen minutes before one O'Clock p
M. the company rolled out OF Yankton.
Our company consisted of Mr.. ard Mrs.
Bradley, Mrs. Jaques, Miss Helen
Bradley and the writer. Our means of
transportation was q span of ponies from
VIM. M. Powers livery. These animals
reminded me OF q traveller on the dead
horn turnpike questioning d colofed man
as to the distaDce to Boston "WelP' said
he il you 60 On that plug Of q horse it
will take Jon ell day, but if you could
get Neighbor--horse it would be ten
miles but il you was on my massa's horse
you would be there now" / never cav
q span leave the world betild faster and
with greater ease. Tt you doubt 1t try it
yourself, you Will find the team on Capt.
tol street opposite the Morrison. About
ell we could do between Yankton and
springfield vas to note the mile posts.
Al q quarter TO five we were at the
Springfield ferry, we were soon over and
then u route lay over the sand bar,
through the willows and over the bottom
where the tall grass grows. Before the
sun went down we drove to Raw. A. Il.
Riggs residence. We were all glad to
some into the port. The horses go8o a
comfortable stable and we sake our traps
and take up the line of march for the
building where the members of the mis-
fsion take their meals.
From printed documents put into my
hands I learned that the Santee Normal
training school was definitely started
eighteen year ego. Ii is now under the
charge OF the American missionary $3.50
cletion. The obi act aimed at in its es-
Establishments is stated to raise up teachers,
preachers. Interpreters and business
men for the Sioux nation. In connection
with the school there is an industrial de.
partment where the pupils learn the use
OF tools not simply teaching show to
make 3 living" but rather show to enter
into life"
In this entire establishment we found
eighteen good sized building Gus up
with an eye TO beauty and convenience.
Anew building is nearly completed where
there will be accommodations for three
families OF boys and three of girls. These
several families are under the charge oil
acapable matrop. There is q shoe shop,
carpenter shop and blacksmith shop,
printing Office and farm work for the
boys. In each of these shops and farm
work a pupil is required TO work
one month and then go to one
oil the other shops or to do
farm work. When the entire cIfcnii
OF industries ia gone over a month in
each place then the pupil goes back tc
the place OF beginning for a 8. ond term
Where We supped and took our breakfas,
we found 160 standing at the table. MIR
Bradley WAS requested to return thanks
and then from . we'll known ri ;nal oil
the mstron OF the house all we're seated
The meal was dispatched In o very
orderly manner. No small, we'll govern
ed family could have had more order
In the morning the able conductor oil
The mission returned thanks In the ma
tive Dakota. After the breakfast wal
over the pupils faced towards the organ
and sll joined in o spirited song OF. praise
and then the writer read o portion OF the
nineteenth psalm then offered prayer.
That morning service will not sooE b:
etf faced from memory. 1t was here that
We saw and felt that q satisfactory solu
ton for the Indihn problem vac belne
sought out, reliance on God and q ohris-
tian education.
In the evening We visited the schoo.
room and saw che school drill. Fifteer
Indian lads about the age Of IL or IA, in
three rows went through the drill, the
motions answering TO music in the sey.
srsl movements. Certainly their exer-
cises reflected great credit ON the assis.
tant principal, Mr. I. Arthur Ohadbourn
l never cav che drill performed mere
orderly in any school. The next morn
ing we were ont OF the morning drill,
Here the movements showed the soldiei
up TO good advantage. The straight
form of the Indian gave him the true
bearing OF the soldier. The industrial
departments we're visited. In the print
ing office We found the Iadian boys,
under q competent head, setting and
distributing type. A very fine outfit 10,
the printing Office and q $4,000 press
have been secured. We saw encoura
ing work done by the Indian boys in the
shoe shop and from the carpenter shor
we brought home some hne specimens
of handicratt in this department..
In the smithery We found five patent
forges operated by five Indian boys and
from this shop we brought away speci
metna OF their work. These specimens o
wood and hardware will 20 to enrich the
museum ct Yankton college.
Thu gur;I1 ~ ~ --