Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-11-07
AN OLD LETTER
"a Pioneer Objects to the Tribune's
Favorable Criticism of Gall,
the Sioux Indian,
And Produces a Letter Written by
Linda w. Slaughter to the
st. Paul Pioneer
In 1872, to Show the Difference in
Public Sentiment Then and
at the Present Time.

trN-r H
Public Sentiment Then and
at the Present Time.
A Valuable Historical Letter.
GFrom Fridays Daily, s1st.l
BISMARCK, Oct. 80, 1890.
EDITOR TRIBUNE: Your article in yes
terday's morning paper, relative to the
threatened Indian uprising, in which you
say that "Some Indians are said to possess
noble traits, and if such be the case, Gall
possesses them," is rather surprising to
the old pioneers who know by experience
that this cruel and treacherous savage is
influenced by no consideration or regard
for defenselesS settlers save those engen-
dered in his breast by the presence OF
armed troops. How does the enclosed let
J ter of Mrs. Linda w. Slaughter, then cor
respondent of the old St. Paul Pioneer,
written October q, 1872, and which then
voiced the sentiment of the time, compare
4 with the modern opinion of "The Gauls"
character and exploits? This letter now
has a fixed historical value as showing the
state Of affairs on the frontier eighteen
Z years ago. OLD SETTLER.
Northern Pacific Railroad Crossing of the
Missouri River, Edwinton, d. T., Oct. %,
1872.
To the st. Paul Pioneer:
The great expedition to the Yellowstone,
conducted by engineers Of the Northern
Pacific railroad n escorted by United
States troops that left Fort Rice on the
25th Of July last, has returned, having sue
cessfully accomplished the exploration and
survey OF a route through Yellowstone
valley, reaching to the river of that name
and to the mouth of Powder river.
The party encountered many hostile In
! dians, and their return march is described
as a series of constant skirmishes. But
few lives were lost, however, as every pre-
caution was taken to prevent struggling
from the main line, it being we'll known
the cowardly one of lowering o the
outskirts of the enemy's party and attack
ing those who stray out of sight of the
main body. In this manner were killed
Lieutenants Adair and Crosby, two officers
whose loss is irreparable to the service,
respected and beloved alike in the army
and in social life. Their dreadful death
has filled us all with sorrow, and if posi-
ole has intensified the already deep feeling
of resentment everywhere manifested to-
ward the imbecile peace policy of the gov
" tlllLuCuL WI SuCI Hull DIS UllcSt, WHOSE
lives were thus cruelty cut short, were
worth more to the country and to their fel-
low-men than thousands of the vile. de-
graded beings so mildlytermed "The wards
s. of the nation"
Lieut.. Crosby, following a wounded an
telope, had ridden out OF sight of his par
ty, no Indians having been seen that day,
and all felt secure, so near home were
they. But shortly after he disappeared, a
Z force OF Indians appeared in full view on
a neighboring hill, among them an Indian
called 'The Gaul," well known at Chey-
the LATEST and most worthless Of the
"'wards," who have been consuming gov
eminent rations for the past two years and
who, with derisive shouts and haunting
gestures, displayed some object in his
hand which, by the aid of field glasses, was
discovered to be the scalp of the unfortu;
nate officer. Search was at once made and
his mutilated body. found and taken to
Fort Rice for burial.
How l wish the eastern people could see
this Indian question as we of the west do,
who live in scenes of terror and daily have
some such tale of wrong and outrage. The
Indian who killed Lieut.. Crosby did so
with a rifle furnished by the United States
government, and the knives that mutt
lated his body were obtained from
the same benevolent source. The Indian
" WuO hkllCu I'LL Is well Known,
Yet what we'll the result beq For this act
of atrocity he will be entitled to wear an
other turkey feather in his head dress and
will be made a ''big chief" of his tribe.
Next year he will probably be taken 10
Washington by some scheming Indian
cheap notoriety, and then be Toasted and
caressed by the dignitaries and fashion
ables of that fastidious capital.
It certainly is not encouraging to United
States officers to know that they, in the
full discharge of their duty, are liable to
be shot down, or to meet death in some
horrible shape at the hands OF these de-
r mons in human fOrm-and with weapons
/. furnished by the government they have
sworn to serve-andy yet to know that any
effort at revenge, or even in self-defense,
will be trowned down and censured by the
4'powers that be" who are so anxious to
avert the horrors of an Indian war, that |
verify believe they would sacrifice every
man, woman n child of us rather thar
that a hair of n OF the red heathens'
heads should be harmed. Oh, I tell you,
such q method Of preserving peace. Rather
let US have war-a war short, sharp and
decisive, that will effectually teach the
" Sioux nation that the "Great Father" is not
the weakly cowardlthey think him but that
instead be has, q .strong hteartn and will,
GOgsVMly ucl0uuN LIE. DEdN0Es6VIuloES anu
officers, buttake a swift and earnest ven
geance for their fall: The aGreat Father"
cannot, restore. tAdafr To- his stricken fam
lily: or give back Crosby to.~society, but he
can punish, their murder, and take prompt
measuresSto prevent asrepetitionStof the
crime. IL he does not, then upon histhead
will rest the blood Of these martyred men,
who fell In the discharge Of a great duty
to the government and to the world. We
weep for them, but we ask for justice on
their murderers, and pray earnestly for 4
change Of policy that will enable some of
our brave officers to cut the G0rdian knot
with the sword and so settle the Indian
question even If it should send half of
! the nations wards" to the happy hunting
grounds Of their forefathers. h
Slaughter silhouettes.
Peder Peterson went out on the prairie
Thursday night to look for his yearling
bull that had strayed off. He heard a ter
ssrible rumble and roar in the distance that
led him to believe that the animal had
II gonna mad Int IT wae on)v Goorno D tTlo,,i