Daily Yellowstone journal., 1890-12-17


scribed, upon earth, together with the
dead Indians returning 10 reibhabit
this country. he would return con.
vinced thst they (ths lndians) he'd
been TOO credulous and had been i'm
. sed upon, which report from him
would .atisfy the Sioux and all the
practice Of the ghost societies would
cease, hut that. II found to be as pro-
f-ssed by the Indians, they be- permit-
ted to continue their medicine prat-
tices, and organize, ss they are now
endeavoriDg to do. told him that
this prop ,sition was novel one, but
that an attempt to carry II out would
be similar to an attempt to catch up
the wind that blew last year, but that
wished him 10 come to my house,
where I would g We him whole night
or day and night, In which time
thought / would convince him of the
absurdi'y Of this foolish craze, aua tho
fact Of his making the proposition that
he did was convincing proof that he
did not fully believe IN what he was
profe sing, and endtsvoriDg o arI 70
make other. believe. He did not,
however, promise fully % a. me into
tbs agency to discus Iue III alter, but
said be would consIGcf niv talk and
decide afier deiberation. consumed
three days in making this trip, and
feel well repaid by what had accom-.
plished, as my presence in their midst
encouraged the weaker aud doubt.
ing one, and set those who are be-
levers 20 thinking Of the sdvisa-
b'li y Of continuing the practices they
are now engaged In. / also found that
the active in the dSnces were not more
than half The earlier dancers, and be-
.isve II IL losing ground among the
Indians, and while there are many
who are half believers I am fully sat-
isffed that can keep the dance con.
fined TO the Grand river distict. De-
string to use every reasonable means
to bring Sitting Bull and his followers
to abandon this dsnce. and to look upon
its practice ~ detrimental to their in
dividual interests aud the welfare Of
their children, | made the trip herein
reported, 10 ascertain the extent Of the
oissffection and the means of affecting
its discontinusrce. From close obser-
vst.on, I am convinced the dance can
be broken up: and, after due r. a sction.
would respectfully suggest that, In
case my visit to sitting Bull fails to
bring him in to rec me In REGARD to
the mctisr. rs invited to do. all the
Indians living on Grand river be not.
flied that those wishing to be known
a. opposed to the ghost doctrine,
friendly to the government aud de-
string the support provided In :he
.resty, must report to the agency for
such enrolment and be required to
camp near III sgency for few weeks;
aud those 'ntinuiHg their medicine
practices. in violation of the deusrt.
m.nt orders, to remain an Grand
river. from whom sus rnsnce will be
withheld. s S,me'hing lo king toward
the breaking up Of this ciszs mn.t be
done. and now when cod WA her is
approaching, is the proper time. Such
a step as here suggested would leave
sitting Bull with bat few followers,
as all, or nearly all, would report for
enrolment, and thus be would Be
forced in himself. There are not
many fire arms among these Indians,
still there are few, ana as pledge OF
good faith on their part, they should
be required to turn In oil their arms tc
the agent and get memor ,udum re-
c.ipt for the came Knowing the To-
dians as l do, I am confident thss J
can, by such q course. settle the Me-
siah crsze at this agency, and also thss
break up the power of Sitiiag Bal
without trouble aad with but little ex
citemeLt. This will be sustained b.
the public sentiment and conform b
the dicipline approved by the bette
disposed Indians. IL IL true. II w0ul
unsettle the Indians of that district 4,