The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1890-12-06
The Berthold Indians Quiet.
Report of Indian Agent Murphy to Com
missioner of Indian Affairs.

Report of Indian Agent Murphy to Com
missioner of Indian Affairs.
The LEADER is under obligations to Maj
j.. s. Murphy, u. S. Indian Agent at For1
Berthold, for copy of the following com
munication he this week addressed to the
commissioner of Indian affairs at Wash
ington:
"Referring to the Indian troubles in
North and South Dakota, and your request
that the department. be kept informed as
to the temper and conduct of the Indians
under my charge, take pleasure in saying
that there is at present no signs OF disaf'
fection among the Indians of this reserva.
tion with whom have come in contact
have, as you surmise, learned of the
threatened outbreak among the Sioux.
and naturally had some curiosity to know
what my Indians thought of the supposed
supernatural manifestations of the "Ghost
Dance" hence have been at some pains to
make inquiries of representative Indians
of the three tribes belonging to this reser-
vation regarding their credence in the
theory maintained by certain of the Sioux.
While find that opinions differ among
the Indians, am at the same time salts
fed that many of them are more or less
affected by the reports brought and dis
seminated among them by the Sioux dur
ing the summer and fall. While many of
the Indians laugh at the spiritual side of
the matter, there is no denying that their
exceedingly impressionable natures are al
ways open to influences of the character
which now seem to be SO widespread
among other tribes. Yet do not believe
them to be attacked by the craze in de-
gree at all menacing to the continued
peacefulness of the tribes.
Several reasons furnish assurance that
in case of general Sioux uprising these
Indians would not be led astray by the
actions of the former; among these are
the following:
lst-They have always been on friendly
terms with the whites; their treaty entered
into with Lewis and Clark, upwards of eigh-
ty-five years ago, has never been broken.
2d-They seem to be generally content
with their present mode of living; they
seem to look to the white race for encour-
agement and aid in their gradual progress
towards self-maintenance by peaceful pur-
suits.
3d-They have not that restlessness and
love of war that mark other tribes; and
finally, they have no love for the Sioux,
having formerly been oppressed by them
and objects of their frequent raids and
butcheries.
Notwithstanding this, however, they have
of late been visiting to and fro, and MAX
ing each other presents, chiefly of horses,
and apparently patching up an amicable
relationship. While it is impossible to
forecast the outcome as regards these
tribes, should there be general Sioux re-
volt, which would unquestionably drag in
other tribes, such as the Grows and Assina-
BONES, feel confident that they would not
act as allies of the Sioux in case of an up
rising.
There is possibility, however, and one
not remote, that, while refusing to act with
the Sioux, they would decline to act with
the whites as against the Sioux. I am led
to this reflection from remarks of several
of the Indians to the effect that, in case
the Sioux should rise, these Indians would
not 90 out to fight or scout, as they always
have done in former campaigns against
the hostles, unless guaranteed pensions
for their families in case of death or dis
ablements. They argue thus on the ground
that the government has failed to keep
certain promises made by its representa-
tives, hence they do not feel called upon to
help fight it's battles against hostile Indians
who have ever received more at it's hands
than they have.
In this connection take occasion to
state that my Indians, as well as all the
tribes in this region, even into British
America, are undoubtedly kept well in
formed as to the intentions and movements
of the turbulent Indians. Couriers are
constantly passing each way through this
reservation. They avoid the agency, and
can gather only scant information as to
the purport of their messages. I have
reason to believe that overtures have been
made by the Sioux to these Indians. Of
course, the result is only conjecture, but I
feel confident that the advances have been
TO no purpose. While these Indians evince
the utmost goodwill towards the whites,
and on their part give no cause for alarm,
they are thoroughly satisfied that the Sioux
mediate general uprising if the oppor-
tunity offers"
Prof. sprague, of the Grand Forks uni
versity, says he would like to be our next
United States senator, if he can get it with
out sorambling for it or telling lies. Don't