The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-12-24

medicine man also, and by playing upon
the oredulity OF the Sioux with his science,
and being an adept in the crude political
work OF the red men, was twenty years
ago the acknowledged power OF the ma
tion. although such well-known Indians
as Hed Cloud and Crazy Horse, and such
minor chiefs as Rain-in-the-Face, Gall,
and Broad Trail, were at times inclined
TO call the question OF leadership into
arbitration. Sitting Bull, however, was
not to be brought into an argument,
physical or otherwise, 10 maintain his
right to q position which he could hold
by aboriginal wire-pulling and chicane.
To the day OF his death he was the prin-
cipal chief OF all the Sioux and leader OF
5000 braves who were at all times ready,
at his command, TO commit any crime,
from murder up or down. AS q medicine
man he had the squaws OF his tribe alb
jectly subservient, and through them
was assisted In maintaining control OF
the bucks
The first that was known OF Sitting
Bull among the whites was at the time
of a terrible raid he led near Fort Blu
ford, in 1866, when the commanding officer
there shot his wife to prevent her falling
into the hands OF the Sioux, whose
fortunes would have been worse than
death. From that time until 1875 he was
known as marauder, stealing horses
and cattle, and very ingenious in eluding
pursuit. In January, 1876, the Interior
Department decided TO turn Sitting Bull
and his men over to the War Depart
ment. His leadership was drawing the
young men away from the agencies to
the war-path. The following summer
occurred the massacre Of the Little Big
Horn, where Custer, disobeying the or
ders Of Gen. Terry, and failing TO be
REINFORCED by Reno, fell with his 800
men. This battle was victory for
Crazy Horse, Gall, and Crow King, rather
than Sitting Bull. They were the war
riors; but the lightning that struck
terror TO Clusters horses and rendered
slaughter possible was claimed by the
crafty old chief as due to his medicine
work.
Sitting Bull didn't know where he was
born, or when He was, however, about
65 years old. Being Teeton, he was
probably born In Central or Southern
Dakota. Four Bears, his uncle. says the
place was near old Fort George, on Will
low Creek, near the mouth Of the Chey-
enne, on the west side of the Missouri
River. His father was a rich chief,
Jumping Bull. At 10 years of age the
Indian lad was famous as hunter, his
favorite game being buffalo calves. His
father had hundreds Of pretty white,
gray, and roam ponies, and the boy never
wanted for horse. He killed more
young buffaloes than any of his mates,
and won popularity by laying his game
at the lodges of poorer Indians who
were unlucky in the chase At IA he
killed an enemy; his name before had been
Sacred Tor wonderfully Standshot When
he had killed this man and could boast
scalp, his name was changed to Sitting
Bull, though why the cd man didn't
know. He had two wives, Was een-by-
the-Nation and The-One-That-I Had Four
Robes. His children were all bright,
handsome boys and girls, nine in num-
ber-one, young man, when about IS,
was in a Catholic school near Chicago.
Sitting Bull himself was not Catholic,
as reported. One little boy, 6 years old,
bright as n dollar, was with him at Blu
ford when he surrendered. At the for
NAL pow-wow the chief put his heavy
rifle in the little fellows hands and Or
dered him to give it to Major Brother
ton, saying: Il surrender this rifle 10
you through my young son, whom l now
desire to teach in this way that he has
become a friend of the whites. / wish
him 10 live as the whites do and be
taught in their schools. / wish to be re-
membered as the last man of my tribe
who gave up his rifle. This boy has now
given it TO you, and he wants TO know
how he is going to make living"
Sitting Bulls personal appearance is
described by John Finerty, who paid the
chief visit at his camp on Mushroom
Creek, Woody Mountains, Northwest
Territory. The noted chief had taken a
trip into the British possessions to re-
main until he could arrange for amnesty
for his connection with the uprising of
which the Little Big Horn or Custer
massacre was one of the sanguinary in
cidents. Mr.. Finerty thus paints the
portrait:
"Soon afterward an Indian mounted on
a cream-colored pony and holding in his
hand an eagles wing which did duty as
a fan, spurred in back of the chiefs and
stared stoldly for minute or two at
me. His hair, parted in the ordinary
Sioux fashion, was without a plume.
His broad face, with a prominent
hooked nose and wide jaws, was desti-
tute of paint His fierce, half-bloodshot
eyes cleaned from under brows which
displayed large perceptive organs, and
as he sat there on his horse regarding
me with a look which seemed blended
curiosity and insolence, did not need ~
be told that he was Sitting Bull.
After little the noted savage dismount-
ed and led his horse partly into the
shade. | noticed he was an inch or two
over the medium height, broadly built,
rather bow-legged, and limped slightly,
as though from an old wound. He sat
upon the ground, and was soon engirdled
by crowd of young warriors with whom
he was an especial favorite as represent
ing the unquenchable hostility of the
aboriginal savage to the hated pale
faces"
This hatred for the whites dIstin-
guished Sitting Bull above all other
Sioux. When he was engaged in hos
tilities he was as ferocious and blood
thirsty as beast of prey, and his atroci-
ties, or those directed by him, have
earned him death thousand times. In
peace he was a smooth liar, and. pro-
Tossing the utmost friendship, never