Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-12-17
McLaughlin's Visit.

last visit paid by white man to Sit
ting Bulls camp prior to the tragic
events Of today 10 told In report
received this afternoon by Assistant
Adjutant General Corbin. The parra-
tive throws fl ,od OF light on the old
chiefs willy character and strangely
depicts the circumstances Existing in
the isolated camp. The document l.
addressed to CommissIonsr Of Indian
affairs Morgan bv United States In-
dian Agent Jss. Mclaughlin of Stand
ing Rock aud e'ds in full ~ follows:
"Hsving just returned from the Grand
river district, and referring to my
former communication regarding the
ghos' dance craze among the Indians,
I have the honor tn report that on
Sa 'urday evening last / learned that
such dance was ia progress in Sit
ting Bulls camp, and that n large
number of Indians Of the Grand river
settlement Were psrticinators. Sitting
Bulls camp is on Grand river, south
west from the agency, in a Sc ton Of
couLtry outside Of the liue IF travel
and only visited by those connected
with the Indian service aud il there
fore secluded place for these scenes.
/ concluded to take them by surprise,
and IN Sunday morning left for that
section accompanied by Louis Pri.
meau, arriving there about Sp m +,
and, having left the road usually
Travelled by me In visiting the settle
ment, got up on them unexpectedly
and found the "gbo,t dance" Mt its
height. There were atout IS men. 25
women, 25 boys and 10 girls particips.
ting. A majority Of the latter (boys
and girl were until few weeks ago
pupils of the dsv schools OF the Grand
river settlement. And, 'pproximate-
ly, 900 persons, lockers on. who had
come to witness the ceremony, either
from curiosity or sympathy, most OF
whom had their families with Them
encamped In the neighborho d. l
did not attempt to stop the dance then
going on, rs In their crszed condition,
under excitement. 1t would have been
useless to attempt it, but after remain
ing some time talking with some oi
the spectators, / went into the house
of Henry Bullhsad, three miles d's-
,ant, where | remained over night,
and returned to Sitting Bulls house
next morning, where / had q long
talk with Sitting Bull and a number
of his followers. spoke very plainly
tn them. pointing out what had been
done by the government for the Sioux
people, and how his fraction by their
present conduct were abusing the con-
fidepce that had been reposed In them
by the government In Its ragnsni.
NIFTY In granting them full amnesty
for all past offences. when from desti'
tuition and imminent starvation they
were compelled 10 surrender as prison
ers Of war In 1880 and 1881. and
dwelt A. length upon what was being
done In the way Of educating their
children and for their own industrial
advancement, aud assured them o.
what this absurd craze would lead IN
and the chastisement that would GER
tainly follow II these demorslizinl
dances and disregard Of the depart
m .nt orders were not soon discoDtin.
ued. spoke with feeling aud earn.
estness and my talk was well receiv' d
and am convinced IL had a good
effect. Sitting Bull, while being very
obstinate and at first inclined to as
sume the role of "big chief before BIZ
followers. finally admitted the truth
of my reasoning and said he believed
me to be friend TO the Indians as 4
people, but that ! did not like hin
particularly, and that when In doub
In any matter In following my advic,
he had always found 1t well, and nov
ne had proposition TO make 10 me
which, n l agreed to Il and woult
carry II out, It would allay all furthe
excitement among the Sioux over thi
ghost dance. or else convince me o
the truth In the belief Of the Indian
In this rev doctrine. He then state,
bis proposition, which was that
should accompany him on . jourps,
10 trsos from this agency to each o
. the other tsibss Of Indians, througl
{ which the story Of the Indian Mssslal
lad been brought, ana when b
| reached the last tribs. q where it oris
, inassd. n they could not pro1uss u
. nan who started the stesy, ed y