The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-27

THIS country Will nave been settled
With the above facts before it, the interior
department cannot be held blaneless should
more trouble occur on the reservation.
The Military View.
Major Carroll, who is in charge of the
troops stationed near the agency, has also
made an investigation of the trouble. He
was ordered to Lame Deer to protect the
agent and government property, the Indi-
ans having declared their intention to throw
the agent out of the issue house unless he
discharged his interpreter, Jules Seminole.
This the agent refused to do. first on the
ground that the charges against Seminole
had no ground and second because if he had
yielded to the Indians in this, they would
have followed it up with demands for
the discharge of all agency employees dis
tasteful to them. Immediately after Major
Ca rolls arrival he held council with
the Indians to investigate their grievance.
sufficient rations and separation from their
Pine Ridge relatives. They also COM
planned of the lack of farming implements
and equipments, especially mowers, break
ing plows, wagons, and harness; that they
had no boarding school at the agency; that
they could raise but small crops on the
land for lack of lrrigation: that they have
neither furniture nor cooking stoves for
their houses, nor wire for their fences; that
some white settlers were taking up too
much room: that the beef hides were ap-
propriated by the agent (this charge is UNI
just as an examination of Agent Upshaw's
books shows the sales of hides have all been
covered into the Department.: that their
scant supply of clothing comes to them
plecemeal-a coat at one time. hat at
another, pants another, and SO on
In talking about these grievances Major
oaiA <>f tha o;,>{, 80
these Indians are just. Their rations
should be redoubled throughout especially
meat. The rations are issued every two
weeks, and after the first week they have
practically nothing. 1t is needless to ex-
pect that cheerful condition of obedience
and successful progress when people are in
a constant state of hunger. 1t is a misap-
prehension to suppose that these people are
self-supporting. The only part of their
| lands capable of cultivation lie on Tongue
river, and many of the best parts are owned
balance with little water. Last year the
Indians lost nearly all their little crops
| through drought. Their lack of skill in
farming and the want of implements explains
their inability to supplement the small
Issues by farm products of their own.
White men would do but little better under
similar circumstances. In regard to their
separation from their relatives at the Pine
Ridge agency. 800 miles away, l believe
that Justice, humanity and the interests of
future good order demand that the two
parts of the tribe be united and be placed
upon an enlarged reservation, either here or
elsewhere. The two sections of this tribe,
neither criminals or prisoners of war. have
thus endured forced separation for over
| eleven years-mother from, daughter, son
from father. The laws of nature will in
evitably ensure attempts each year to join
nNn hnr ,NnNI
on the part of the troops to keep them
| apart.
Some CT them want land in severalty l
| am in favor of this and would suggest that
| sum be set aside in the national treasury
equal to that given the Sioux. to be used in
| the land and improvements of the settlers
| on Tongue river The houses of the Chey-
ennes are wretched parodies on the houses
OF the white settlers among whom they live.
They should have cooking stoves. tables,
| bedsteads, chairs and other household fur
nishings. and they will use them and it will
| aid IN their advancement nightly. As it is
now, hous is built for them and they
simply exchange living on the ground in a
| tepee to living on the ground in a log cabin.
As to the trouble with the agent do not
believe it can be laid to any special cause,
but results from general state of dissatis-
| faction, due to the grievances referred to.
The Indians have evinced much interest in
| the story of the newMessiah and have become
| restless on the subject. Their destitute
condition, the new belief, and the frequent
assurances of some white men that the In
dams would be speedily removed from the
| reservation have been the prime causes of
the uneasiness. A census made by the mil
itary gives about COO. but this is probably
| under the mark, as a number were away
and not counted. Agent Upshaw places the
number at $40. and this is probably nearer
| the truth"
Wrongs of the Settlers.
The above shows the complaints of the
| Indians and the views of the agent and the
military. Many settlers and stookmen
were interviewed, and to illustrate their
wrongs and their wishes We give the result.
1t will be noticed that, contrary to general
report. they do not demand the removal of
the Indians, though united in the opinion
that such removal would be best both for
reds and whites, but they do demand
that the Indians be disarmed, fed
and kept on their reservation. The
stockmen have lost thousands of dollars
worth of cattle through the indifference OF
Ignorance of the government. and all theil
appeals for redress and protection have
been unheeded. They now look to the
governor and the press to help them to OBJ
tain justice. by seeing that the Cheyenne:
lACIuSctNSS dIo tlcdtcu JUSTLY
S. l.. Busby the agency farmer who ha.
until Ferguson's death, been a stout de
fender of the Cheyennes. and who has ,
ranch about twenty miles from the agency
} says the Cheyennes are not receiving BEEF
enough from the government to even feet
their dogs. of which they have 1850. ant
} in consequence the cattle of the stockmel
suffer. He says the Indians will drive
bunch of cattle into II coulee, of which
there are any number in the country, shoe
one or more Ms ahey need, strip the carcass
J and bury the hide under n projecting rock
or cover il with light layer of dirt. Their
are 10000 cattle ranging in the vicinity 0
\ the reserve. and until the reds are fed an,
disarmed the stockmen will continue u
: suffer,
! Perhaps of all the settlers Zook & Alder
son have been the severest sufferers from
I the Cheyennes. Both of these men ar,
9 intelligent, weli-educated and Law
. abiding citizens. who took up ranch nea
where the agency now stands and spared II,
expense in making an inviting and comfort
, able home. Mr.. Zook tells the story OF. hi
! troubles as follows: In the spring Of ISIS