The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-16
SITTING BULL.
Career of Willy and Astuts Chief of the

SoASSi Va q WAy cuu Aslul6 CuleI OF LQe
siurx Nation.
Sitting Bull began life as medicine man."
He was the son of -Four Horns one Of the Su-
preme Chiefs elected by The Sioux nation more
than generation ago, and who is now a very old
man. Sitting Bull himself must have been nearly
so years old.
The Little Big Horn battle mark ed the zenith
OF bis fame aud the beginning of his downfall
He ascribed the outbreak of The Indians on that
occasion 10 the failure OF the Government to ful.
M the conditions Of the Black Hills treaty and
Its interference with the free movements OF the
Indians over The country in search of game. Sit
ting Bull always professed to regretthe death OF
General Custer. de claimed that the killing of
Custer was an accident; that II he had been
recognized in time his life would have been
spared.
AS A MEDICINE MAN.
Sitting Bull was tile most willy and astute In.
dian in the Sioux nation. With no name as a
warrior TO help him, he gained ascendency as a
medicine man." prophet, a preacher
teaeher ana tolltlclan. He had only one rival,
these Two chiefialns Gall commanded the In
dians at the Little Big Horn fight, Sitting Bull re-
naming 10 his tent, making incantatiOns dstil.
Ing "medicnes' -" and nduging in the foOlery
that was supposed to exercise great influence
over the fortunes of battle.
HOSTILE FACTIONS.
After the fight Gall wanted to make peace with
the whites. In this lie was supported by HumpD
Low Dog, Crow King, Two Bears, Big Head and
me , warrior element Of The tribe generally Sit.
Win him were the supposed "wise men" OF the
tribe. He contended that II they could get across
the line into the British territory they could com.
pei tue government to make better terms with
them. These opposing policies split the court
no ,wo noss % , iae,oas - ihe disagreement
and large number OF other followers. Sitting
BulPs policy led TO far different results. He re.
NAMED IN British territory until his followers
were reduced almost to The starvation point
maintaining that Major Walsh the commander
OF the Canadian mounted police had promised
I'm I'm lad
States at Washington.
SURRENDER.
The scarcity OF food the lack OF game and the
absence of any indications Of the concessions
that were expecIed from Washington caused the
Indians to murlnur aud show signs of dissatis-
faction with Sitting BulPs leadership. When his
fortunes were at the low ebD Sitting Bull received
Information from an Indian runner that his
favorile daughter, slinnestema tSeeping Water,
run away with an Indian BUCK, who had subse-
Quently abandoned her. These iidiDgs wei-niga
broke Sitting BULBS heart. With all his faults
lie was an affectionate father, as most Indians
are. Minnestcma, the flower OF the Huik- Papa
tribe. WAS his idol, and his pride was stung TO
the quick because the Indian who had deserted
her was a man whom he despised, Broken In
spirit, humbled Sitting Buli decided 10 surrender.
PRISONERS OF WAR.
When he got back TO Standing Rock Agency
ne ioand bis great rival. Gall, 10 complete COM
fortunes. He resorled TO the arts OF the "medi.
cine cine man TO recover his popularity, but all In
erlment nlpped all Of his cunning schemes In The
qua. ne was made a prisoner OF war, along
WIN hls two wives and their children, aud for q
Whiie was Kept at Fort Randall A year later he
was allowed 10 return to Standing Rock and to
20 10 me Grand River Valley, where he uit for
nlnlseu l1ttlo stack" about fifteen miles from
Stonewall Creek, tho place where he was born
Here De llved alone with his daughter Min
nestenia, almost forgotten and forsaken by All
the world, no ono 10 care for him In his old age
10 his days OF sorrow and misery, save his
darling, faithful caild.
OPENING UP THE RESERVATION
In May, 1889, the Government made the pre.
llminaIy arrangements for opening up the great
Sioux Reservation, extending from the Mis- souri,
River 10 the Black Hills and OLD Sitting Blu
himself was party TO this great deal made
by his people with the Government of the
United States. whereby 1t was expected the
Sioux would part with IL 900. 900 acres OF their
land and receive In payment therefor the sum OF
$14,OOO.000 Sitting Bull, with tho learning OF
the arts OF peace learned the fact that 100 cents
make one dollar, and that dollar may be as
valuable TO red faced man as TO a paie-faced
child OF civilization. He and other leading
men OF his nation discovered that the
white man has an eye to good quality
of real estate, aud little versed as they
were in agricultural pursuits they realized that
lbe land in question was strip OF property
which newcomers regarded with greedy longing.
Doubtless. to0 IL came to the not quick appfe-
bension OF the Sioux gentry that unoccupied land
is not as plentiful as of old, and that they would
not have many further opportunities Of moving