Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-17
STANDING ROCK AGENCY.
The Home OF Over Five Thousand In
dinna-The Origin of the Name.

dians-The Origin of the Name.
A visit to the Standing Rock agency
is we'll worth the time and expense,
says Bismarck correspondent of the
Sioux City Journal. The agency build
ings are about sixty-five miles down the
Missouri river from this place. The
reservation has frontage on the river
OF about eighty-tive miles and extends
siXty-tive miles west, containing about
$500, 600 acres of splendid land. This
reserve is the home of about $500 Mica
papa and Blackfeet Sioux indians.
Major Mclaughlin has been their agent
for over six years, and all who have
seen the workings of this agency agree
that he is one of the most successful In
dian agents IN the employ of the gov
ernment. Every one admits that he is
the head chief at this agency. Running
Antelope, however, is the chief orator
among the Indians. Sitting Bull and
Gall, who commanded the Custer mas
sacre, have their followers. The agency
is located on the banks of Cattail creek.
The houses of the Indians are located
along the Missouri, Cannon Ball and
Grand rivers. The two latter named
rivers form the north and south bound
airy lines of the reserve. A large pro-
portion of the Indians wear the garb of
the pale faces.
The agency took it's name from rock
about five feet in height, and said to re-
semble human being, but which is
really sugar loaf shaped, that was dis
covered five miles up the river from the
agency standing upright. The Indians
had a tradition that this rock was pet
rified maiden who had went out for a
walk with her lover, and that they had
quarrelled and that the ungallant lover
left her abruptly and alone and that
from her exceeding great sorrow she
became petritied. For years it is re-
lated the supersttious Indians would
go and set food around this rock to as
sist the spirit OF the departed maiden to
be happy in the hunting grounds be-
yond. Some years since this belief was
overcome to such an extent that the
rock was brought to the agency, and
amid much ceremony and speech-mak-
ing was mounted on q pedestal, which
had been provided just in front OF the
agents residence.
One hundred head of cattle are
slaughtered every ten days during the
warm weather. Twenty head are driven
inside long pen and then shot by the
white employees and dressed by the In
dians, many Of whom are experts from
long practice in sllinning government
b
takes 1000 head. 1t is an interesting
sight to see the natives come in for ra-
tions. AS many as 200 teams are in
sight at Il time during issue day. They
draw rations every ten days. Each
head of a family has Il ticket with the
number of members of the family upon
it and the number of pounds he is en-
titled TO receive. The Indians at this
agency are reported to be progressing
rapidly in farming. Major McLaugh-
lin advertses for 100 bushels OF seed
corn, 800 bushels of seed oats, 800
bushels seed potatoes and 800 bushels
of seed wheat. There are several school
houses at the agency.
The spiritual training of these people
is in the care of the Catholic church.
The military post at this agency is
called Fort Yates and is commanded
by Colonel e. r. Townsend, who has in
spected the Dakota militia several
times, and is garrisoned by Companies
E, G. FL and /, of the Twelfth infantry,
and f and G of the Eighth cavalry.
The Twelfth infantry band are .with
Headquarters at this place.