St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-10-24
THE POOR PlLLAGERS
Want Uncle Sam to Carry Out
an Old Time Agree
ment.
They Think Big Chief Merriam
Should Be Found at His
Office.
A Batch Of Interesting Cases
Gathered in From All the
Courts.
The Hess Opera Company
Splendidly Gives Doni-
Zetti'S Lucia"

us the governor in his room?'' was
the question which fell upon the ears of
Chief Clerk Angel yesterday afternoon,
as he was busily engaged in looking
over number of important campaign
documents. He looked. up and saw
three pairs of bright eyes fixed upon
him. The owners of the gIittering
orbits were members of the Pillager
band of Chippewa Indians quartered at
Leech Lake reservation, in the north
ern part of the state. Two of the In
dams were chiefs, their names being
Ne-gah-e-bin-ais and Mah-ge- wah-kah-
quod. meaning in plain Anglo-Saxon
Falmouth and Bad AK. They were
dressed in full Indian travelling cos
tune OF blankets, moccasins, Ieggings
and coats, Falmouth wearing a hat
decorated with long eagle feathers. The
third one OF the party who addressed
the question as TO the governors where
aboutS was w llliam Bonga, secretary of
the band. He is well-educated man,
speaking English fiuentiy, and is well
read aud posted on Indian affairs. The
chief clerks seraphie smile was
absent as he gazed upon the
stern faces of the noble redskins, ard
be toyed with long pair of scis-
sors while he explained that the
governor was not in the office.
The chiefs thought that he should have
been there, and it required a long
explanation from the Interpreter to
make them understand that big Chief
Boodie'' was holding a pow-wUw with
the braves of his tribe, as the majority
OF the white tribes had determined that
he was unfit for the position of head
man, and were determined to put Good
Chief Wilson in his place. The Indians
were evidently of opinion that the chief
OF the white bands should be deposed,
Judging from the look of disappoint-
ment OH their faces at the absence of
the governor. Bonga. the interpreter.
explained to a GLOBE representative
that they had come to st. Paul from
their reservation to see Indian Commits
Sioner Rice as to the grievances they
were suffering from. The story is the
Old one OF the cOntiding redSkin and
his treacherOus white brother. From
the conversation of Bonga, who backed
up his statements with extracts from a
number OF reports On Indian confer
ences,lt appears that in 1S47 the Pilager
band ceeded their lands on the Leaf
river to the United States government
for a nominal consideration. 1t was
sold for the sum of X cents per acre,
100000 acres in all being disposed of,
on the understanding that the lands
were to be occupied by the Menomonie
Indians, who were friendly to the Chip
peWaS, and the country was to remain
forever Indian territory. Also that the
MenomonieS would form a barrier be-
tween the Pillager and Sioux Indians,
who for centuries had been at war. The
old men signed the treaty, thinking that
by having the region thus occupied
peace would ensue. But the white man
lied and broke his word, for the land
was soon thrown open 20 settlement and
the Piilagers were exposed to all the
evils of a frontier border. The sale was
positive, and, continued Chief Flat
mouth through the interpreter, s.my
band has no legal claim upon the lands,
but we have moral claim upon the
government" 1t was further learned
that the band. numbering 1,60O, is very
poorly situated; that the government
has built dams, causing overf1ows
on lands, and thus prevented
the Indians from obtaining fish.
The Indian commissioner informed the
chiefs last year that congress would
make grant of $l50,0G0 for them, and
1t was to see what had been done in the
Ilatter lnat they nave left their wig
vans. They explained their wish to
seek the Intervention of the governor
on their behalf: with the United States
authorities. Wrapping their blankets
around them. the chiefs stalked proudly
out of the executive department, to the
evident relief of Clerk Angel, who for
many minutes passed his right hand
over his head, to thoroughly assure him
self that he had not been relieved of
the luxuriant locks which are the envy
of all the officials of the capitol.