The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-07-14
From Present Appearances the Work
Among the Sioux Indians Will
Not be a Success.
The Young Bucks Will Sign, but the
Old Warriors Fear Trick
in the Treaty,
standing Rock Pensioners Said to be the
Most Obstinate and the Hardest 20
Win Over-Tbe Indians Future.

BISMARCK, y. D.y July lo.-loPcSioA ~
the Independent THE Indian commits
sioners are meeting with little or no sue
cess at the lower agencies, and are becom-
ing thoroughly disguised and disheartened
with the colossal task they have under
taken. The prospect started out very
fiattering, and the anxious home-seekers
were jubllant over the fair indications that
the great Sioux reservation would be soon
thrown open TO the world at large But
now their hopes and apprehensions are
hanging on a delicate, huttering thread,
which is liable to part at any moment Ihe
fact grows more apparent every day here
that the commissioners will receive very
chilly reception at the Standing Rock
agency. These Indians are all organized
against signing the treaty, and the proml-
nent and influential chiefs are the most
active in this move 1t is thought that the
commission will forsake Its work at the
other agencies, return to their respective
homes convinced that the red man is not
weak and pliable child to deal with. The
Indians are the most suspicious and super
stitious beings in the world, and are
very chary in their dealings OF any
kind with the white man. The more In
teIIigent and civilized element will sign
the bill, which includes most OF the young
bucks. The old gray haired warriors of
course are fierce in their demonstrations
against it. They think that their budding
young sons are being too easily beguiled
by the acts of the palefaces and do not
listen 10 the advice of their fathers. The
old, grizzled codgers are imbued with the
firm conviction that there Is deep white
mans trick in the treaty and shun IL like
some dread pestilence. The bucks are
young and naturally curious and anxious
to determine the use and meaning of any
thing new. Their fathers caution them 10
fight shy of such things with significant
and knowing shake of the head, but when
the old warriors are reposing in their wig
wams the bucks lose no time In satisfying
themselves to the whole extent OF their
pent-up curiosity. And this is what the
commissioners meet on every turn. NO
sad mistake in not selecting the right kind
of lnen-men who are accustomed TO the
manners of the redskins who have had
years of eXperience-and there were good
many to select from.
The young bucks are rapidly advancing
in civilizations stride, but the old Warriors
never will. They love to sit by the camp
fire in the cool summer evenings, passing
around the huge, lengthy pipe, and recount
their deeds of pr0wess in the days OF yOre.
You seldom see a young Indian logged out
in his old-time tribal garments. Instead
there are the pair OF cheap pantaloons,
ditto shirt or blouse and hat, and perhaps
pair of the regulation army shoes Many
yet cling to the fRvorite mOccaslns, which
are frequently used by all types OF west
erners. But the aged warriors still revel in
the luxury of their forefathers garo, and
cannot be induced to refrain from wearing
them. They look with disdain upon the
frolicksome, headstroDg bucks. The time
Is not far distant-nOt many years on
thing that has been. He will have been
sunk into oblivion. The bOnahde red man
will be thing of the past. The aged ard
deerepid warriors are passing on into the
'shappy hunting grounds" making room
for an entirely new regime, which Will
SAVIOR but little of the past life.
The veteran warriors treasure up their
old-time fighting sppurtenances as though
they were diamonds of a priceless value.
They are only used on special occasions,
which are too rare to Rppease the Dckle-
minded redskin. A delegation OF the most
famous warriors was secured from Stand
ing Rock 10 assist in the Fourth OF July
procession al Bismarck. They came at
tired all over with glory of the most strlk-
ing and brilliant order and made the hit or
the day. The Indians hugely enjoyed the
novelty of the thing, too; and were Ieted
like lords-these same Indians who had
mercilessly slain thousands or innocent
white people. AT their glrdles were
proudly strung the scslps OF their pale
faced victims, exultantly exhiolted 10 the
gaze of the aWe-strlcken audience, who
never once thought that perhaps the
CORY scalp of some loved ones were dang
ling there. These were the identical In
dians who totally a1nihilated the immOr-
tai Gen. Clusters devoted little command.
Talk with them and they will tell you bow
the brave yeIlow-haired general met his
death at last, though opinions vary. There
were several among this lot who bOasted
that they actually fired the missile that
put an end to Clusters earthly existence.
Yet those crafty, murderous Indians are
made the lions of the hour when out OF
their own territory An easterner will
crowd up TO Sitting Bull and pay him
dollar for the honor of shaking
his hand or touching him that
he may relate the fact with
eIances to his open-mouthed auditors at
home. Sitting Bull gets one dollar for
simply scrawling his name on bit of
pasteboard, which is eagerly sought for.
There have been numerous devices BY the
photographers to obtain Sitting Bulls
ssph.zn and avert the usual fee demanded
by him. but all attempts have proven sad
failures, and Bull never permits his like
ness transferred upon paper for less than
five dollars. People are not aware that
Sitting Bull is not the great chieftain he is
sscracked up TO be. In the whole Sioux
tribe be has only about twenty followers,
and possesses no influence outside OF
these whatsoever. Sitting Bull and
the other Indians as ''coffee coolers" q
term which means that they are no earthly
good and simply sit around cooling coffee;
in other words doing nothing but eating
and drinking. They are heartily desp1sed
in the fraternity.
Slit .ng Bull never was great Indian,
fighter or general. in the Sioux wars. The
greatest Indian that ever existed is hardly
known to the outside world. 1t was his
subtle bi ain that so successfully carried
out the Indians programme in Clusters
campaign. he is quite corpulent, weighing
250 pounds, with short, thin legs. very
much bow-legged, and hecasual observer
would wonder how such slight limbs can
support the heavy body. His name is Gaul.
the mention of which strikes terror to the
hearts of his enemies