The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1889-08-08
HAS SIGNED.
The Signing of Chief Gall Gre.
ates a Sensation.
The Great Sioux Reservation
Open to Settlement.
The Sugar Works at Topeka
Destroyed by Fire.
President and Party En- Route
for Bar HarbOr, Maine.

6.-The requisite number of signatures
for the opening of the great Sioux re-
servation was finally secured last even
signing by Chief Gall. Gall made no
speech as was expected, but with his
faithful followers around him, and in
the presence of those whom for years he
had Influenced against giving up the
lands, he marched silently to the roll
touched the pen and amid the applause
of the friendly Indians. and the disa-
proving grunts of Sitting Bulls band,
it was announced that Gall had signed.
This settled 1t. The Blackfeet and
Upper and Lower Yanktonians follow
ed Gall and signed with a rapidity and
eagerness that proved the wonderful
influence of this powerful chief.
All day the Indians signed and
Now the eleven million acres of land
to which the whites have been looking
longingly for years are theirs. The
commissioners are rejoiced over their
success. Gall was sought out by
correspondent. Il have given my
consent" said he; my Indians have
signed because told them to, after
learning that the government could
take our lands for nothing if it wanted
to. The whites have now got our lands
and L hope they will be satisfied, and
let us live in peace in the future"
John Gross said he had been holding
out for better terms, but when he found
that the Indians at the lower agency
were signing, he thought 1t best TO do
so. I'VE hope, he added, "tO receive
such help from the government and the
nc fn IN hnnnT1Nn
like them, to become civilized. There
| is one big log in our camp though, and
| that is Sitting Bull. He is utterly
worthless to us and keeps us back
| more than he helps us. He is of no
| consequence toS us. and if the whites
think so much of him they
| had better come and get him. He
never was chief and is always noisy
| and making trouble. He has gath
| no idea of civilization, and all he seems
| to want is notOriety. He has not only
opposed the present treaty, but always
will be Il nasty man to get along
with"
What is the general idea of the In
dams regarding civilization? Do they
/ want it or not?"
Yes, we want to be civilized and
| live like white people. We want to
earn our living and be as the whites;
but so long as we have the disturber
and his bad influence to contend with,
we cannot accomplish much.
what do you think of Governor
| Fosters idea OF having industrial
schools at the agency?n
1T is a good one. If the government
| would build big houses, where they
| could teach our young men TO make
wagons, harness, shoes and clothes for
ourselves, and teach them the white
peoples language besides, it would be
good and we would like it. l hope
/ they will do this. 1t would help us
along and give our young mem en-
| plOyment, instead of leaving them to
loaf around their camps and make
mischief"
Sitting Bull, when asked what he
believed the effect of opening the res
ervatiOn on the Indians would be, 'ex-
/ claimed: Don't talk to be about the
/ Indians. There are no Indians left
except those in my band. They are all
dead, and those still wearing the clothes
of warriors are only squaws. l am
sorry for my followers who have been
/ defeated and their lands taken from
them" 1t is learned that the Indians
have all along doubted that the
government had the power to take
their lands without paying them what
they asked, and not until John Grass
became satisfied of this point by con-
sultation with lawyers in this matter
did he consent to accept the treaty.
Hundreds of settlers have been camped
ON the eastern bank of the Missouri
during the last two months, awaiting
the success of the commission, and al
though for several weeks they were
respondent. they are now
| jubilant and are receiving tel
egTams from friends all over
the country giving notice of probable
reenforcements. 1t is predicted that
the rush into the reservation will be
greater than the Oklahoma stampede,
as the land is of much better quality
and the prospects for prosperity
brighter. General Cook said the COM
missiOners hoped to close their reports
within few weeks, and place every
thing in readiness for the formal open
ing of the reservation. There is some
fear that premature rush of whites
to the lands viii cause much trouble
between the Indians and the settlers,
| as there will be for some time many
points for dispute as to the boundary
lines and survey. Sitting Bull al
though in the minority, has sufficient
number of followers to make vast
amount of trouble and will require
close watching until they resign them
selves to the new order of things.