The sun., 1890-12-07

The 1ituassea ss Viewed ~ Father CeeA.
Chtef OF thp Dnkotns.

| Chfef OF thp DAkotas.
! The Rev. Francis Craft. q Catholic missseN-
arr Of the diocese Of Jamestown, N. D.. VIE
succeeded Spotted Tall as chief OF the Dakotas.
the curious story OF whose relation to that
tribe OF Indians WAS told in The suN OF Nov.
2. Is the guest OF the Rev. r. J. MoNamarn, pas.
tor OF the Church Of Our Lady OF Mercy in
| Debevoiss place. Brooklyn. As ohiet Of the
Dakotas Father Craft was known a. Hover.
, ing Eagle. His mission in the East 10
to secure aid for the prosecution Of
the work OF the Catholic missionaries
among the Inlians. Besides the Da-
kotas. Father Graft has labored for ten
years among tho kallspes. Pen d'Ortelle. Nea
Percts. Blackfeet. Grows. Arlcharees, 0ros
Ventres. Mnndans. and other tribes Of the
| Northwest lic has great influence with the
Indians. In a few days he will start for the
scene OF the present cxoitemeut
II don't believe tho Indians want to hsht" /"
Father Craft ai,i. Tho whites In the Indian
country for th r own base purpoaes would
like the red men to do something that would
appear to Justify all tho hubbub that has been
raised. The ln,lians aren't fools. though, and
can assure You they have sense enough NOT
to be used as catspaws. The army officers
know the situation very we'll, and am certain
they will not permit the Indians to be tor
mented and prosecuted beyond the limit Of hue
man endurance. Unless the whites make war
on the indians there will DO NO trouble. AbouS
Year ago the Messiah fovo. broke out Some
OF the Indians said they saw the Son OF the
Grent Spirit on the Pacific Coast He con.
soled them In their troubles. gave GOOD advice
to tkem, and promised that at his second com.
Ing. at the end Of tho world. he would make a
now heaven and new earth. would reward
those Indians who were patient under trials,
and would punish their prosecutors. All that
the Messiah said was understood Co relate to
tho future and not this life. Whom the In
dinns were told Of the interview with him they
were consoled, but not excited: In fact, the
supposed visit of the Messiah disposed them to
peace rather than to war; l was among the
Indians then. ard ! witnessed them call ON
Messiah TO prove their statement before they
would believe it. They were anxious 10 be.
deserted them. and they wore much consoed
ty 6y the En-, hope that He had come ne to promise th .m
.he sbs busbe ssnlea them on earth
aries, and not to accept II stat uiemcnt. .be!ief In
Had the whites not in,er'ered the majority Of
more OF he matter. willis those % Who con.inuod @ as
as adhsrsn's g. Of the Messiah idea would be no
ond Advent in the near future.
from the Northwest. tho indians we're suffering
make appropriations. which action delay ed In
dim supplies. Or sour. g. they werc somewhAt
engaging in war Just tat at this time tin e shs Whites
saw good chance 10 create an Indian scare
to demonstrate that thelr charges wore as
g :. Ssw
tbeIr positions ana salaries xouii DO aae as.
n of yn1t
% sha, The tbe sseaes
began to 1esE the t5sansition state would soon
The whites living In the indian eoun try aaw
that an Indian scare would enrich them.
Vicinity, and then thew would make semethins
by frelshting supplies. trading. and the many
t as Ss se 5s
Indian scar scare vas }tss tho thing .hst would
whsh Oh hey sssSnoSd q he
sfons the exeitemeS! BY U corroSora,!ns' s'PSs 9Se
AGENTS. and naturally tho lowest inhabitants Of
5dsea %a nna
Gen. Niles and other officers we're In the In.
dian country bnt saw no excitement exceps
ssainss tho fraud They Sl wsfe no, listened ds TO-
and and they we're 8 compelled to order troops to
and slanderod Indians i was expeoted that
tuo pT0seNct Oh troops NOulu EOuSo tQ6 1QQlnQ0
quiet. letting the whites Do ell tho bowling. and
,a ans od Inf SsE Wn. the R,
caught BY it. i DC not think TIE Indians would
there might have been has been averted BY the
pfEHdence co 9I 2 our I army NJ. ,i1oe nitilcsIs
are cause Of serious alarm. - am thorough
iy acqusi9ted with 4! the Indian a ncustoms." he
tribes tl0l0 dance call0d thu
ghost ghost dance Only very =, Lately , was anythlne
have, always used their dances AZ meetings 10
got the people tosether for other purposes. and
otthe Messiah In such meetings and It may
be hat those anxious to believe in the APP
Of hse %ba saw Ssnse as .hs
reservations; and letters sent to me by Indians
sHa ssa sRff sssS 81 s her.
nhlar f has % made made some ne o, the indians @ more on
Indians. | cant SO Why dance in any way
he1e popnp " ss
from whites who DO not understapd Indians
and their c9stoms, and such reports must al
The axensies most interested IN making
fse Rsss sua 5sS ana
aaFTlng hd Fl gor,9 report came from stsndi3g Rock
there and extended to the others. SittiHs Bull
10 there. but he has no influence wish tho In.
Whites. The officors at Fort Yates " Which Is q
that agency. have reported no excitement.
And the whites evidently are alone e blame:
The officers are tho on.y ones who can
be relied on for correct Information:
have caused the whole trouble. II must be tho
case. Tho people q Mandep. near Standing
Rock haye always tried to raise Indian seares
to keep the garrison at Fort Lincoln. Other
same object in view. Valentine and other
ma.e money by the presence Of ,sarisons st
very easy to see whore the trouble originated.
l. vii! BE- noticed that most Of the alarms oame
onsp nSspeaEing q the actual condition et the 2bo;.
said: The Indians. are In : state Of transi.
lion from their old HE to civilization. The in-
dian Department, which has charge OF them.
is suppo.ed to Be 30 condGoted as e lead 70 its
ending their transition state It is actually so
conducted as TO .perpesuate the transition
the Department whose existence depends upon