Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-12-19

eS~oA
there about 8 p. m. and, having left the
road, usually travelled by me in visiting
the settlement, l got up on them unexpect-
eddy and found the "ghost dance" at its
height. There were about as men, rs
women. 25 boys and 10 girls participating,
A majority of the latter (bOyS and girlS)
were until a few weeks ago pupils OF the
the day schools of the Grand river settle
ment. And, approximately, 200 persons,
lookers-On, who had come to wit
ness the ceremony. either from curiosity
Or sympathy, most OF whom had their fam
lilies with them and encamped in the
neighborhood. | did not attempt to stop
the dance then going on, as IN their craZ"d
condition. under excitement, it would have
been useless to attempt it, but after re-
naming some time talking with some of
the spectators. | went into the house of
Henry Bullhead, three miles distant. where
l. remained over night, and returned to
Sitting Bulls house next morning, where
/ had a long talk with Sitting Bull and a
number of his followers. l spoke very
plainly to them, pointing out what had
been done by the government for the
Sioux people, and how his faction by their
present conduct were abusing the conf
dence that had been repOsed in them by
the government in its magnanlmlty IN
granting them full amnesty for all past
offenses, when from destitution and immi-
nent starvation they were compelled to
surrender as prisoners of war in 1880 and
1881, and | dwelt at length upon what was
being done in the way of educating their
children and for their own industrial adj
vancement, and assured them of what this
absurd craze would lead to, and the chas-
tisemcnt that would certainly follow if
these demoralizing dances and disregard
of the department orders were not soon
discontinued. | spoke with feeling and
earnestness and my. talk was we'll re.
ceived, and [ am convinced it had a good
effect. Sitting Bull, while being very OBJ
stinate and at first inclined to assume the
role of ':big chief before his followers,
finally admitted the truth of my reasoning
and said he believed me to be a friend to
the Indians as a people, but that l did not
like him particularly, and that when IN
doubt in any matter in following my ad-
vice he had always found 1t well, and now
if | agreed to it and would carry it out. it
would allay all further excitement among
the Sioux over this ghost dance, or else
convince me of the truth in the belief of
the Indians in this new doctrine. He then
stated his proposition, which was that l
should accompany him on a journey
to trace from this agency to each Of
the story of the Indian Messiah had been
brought, and when he reached the last
tribe, or where it originated, il they could
not produce the man who started the story,
and we did not find the new Messiah, a
described, upon earth, together with the
dead Indians returning to reinhabit this
country, he would return convinced that
they (The lndians) had been too credu-
lous and had been imposed upon, which
report from him would satisfy the Sioux
and all the practice OF the ghost societies
would cease, but that, if found to be as pro.
fessed by the Indians, they be permitted to
continue their medicine practices, and Or
l told him that this proposition was a nov.
FL one, but that an attempt to carry it out
! would be similar to an attempt to catch up
the wind that blew last year, but that |
wished him to come to my house, whe e |
would give him a whole night, or day and
night, in which time l thought | would
convince him Of the absurdity Of this fool
the proposition that he did was convincing
proof that he did not fully believe in what
he was protesting, II endeavOring so
hard to make Others believe. He did not,
however, promise fully to come into the
agency to discuss the matter, but said he
would consider my talk and decide after
deliberation. | consumed three days in
making this trip, and felt we'll repaid by
what | had accomplished, as my presence
III their midst encouraged The weaker and
doubling ones. and set those who are be-
levers to thinking of the advisability Of
continuing the practices they are now EN-
gagged in. l also found that the active
number III the dances were not more than
half the number of earlier dancers, and be-
ileve it is losing ground among the In
dlans, and while there are many who are
half believers. | am fully satisfied that |
can keep the dance confined to the Grand
river district. Desiring to use every reas-
enable means to bring Sitting Bull and his
followers to abandon this dance, and to
look upon its practice as detrimental to
their individual interests and the welfare
of their children, l made the trip herein
reported, to ascertain the extent Of the dis.
affection and the mean Of etfecting its dis
continuance. From close observation, l
am convinced the dance can DE broken up;
fully suggest that, in case my visit to Sit
ting Bull fails to bring him in to see me in
regard to the matter, as invited to do, all
the Indians living on Grand river be mott
fled that those wishing to be known as OPP
posed to the ghost doctrine, friendly to the
government and desiring the support pro-
vided in the treaty, must report to the
agency for such enrolment and be re-
CURED to camp near the agency for a few
weeks; and those continuing their medi-
cine practices, in violation of the depart
ment orders, to remain on Grand river,
from whom S~uStenance will be Withheld.
Something looking toward the breaking up
of this craze must be done; and now, when
cold weather is approaching, is the proper
time. Such a step as here suggested
would leave Sitting Bull with but few
followers, as all, or nearly all, would re-
port for enrolment, and thus he would be
forced in himself. There are not many
firearms among these Indians, still there
are a few, and as a pledge OF good faith on
their part, they should be required to turn
in all their arms to the agent and get a
memorandum receipt for the same. Know
ing the Indians a. | do, | am confident
that I can, by such a course, settle the
Messiah craze at this agency, and also thus
break up the power Of Sitting Bull with
out trouble and with but little excitement.
This will be sustained by the public seDti-
ment and conform to the discipline ap-
proved by the better disposed Indians. it
is true, it would unsettle the Indians of
that district in their home life for a few
weeks, but after which all worry and I'M
e~asiness would cease, while if the ghost
practices are continued, all the participants
being Indians regularly rationed by the
government without any appearance of a
withdrawal of this support, the anxiety
among the well-disp0sed, and a greater
temptation for others to join, is increased.
The Senate.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-The senate met
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