The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-11-05

each with a few buildings, are successive
ly passed, and in the afternoon RObure,
on Birch creek, is reached. This flour
ishing settlement has several. stores and
sports Il dancing hall, three saloons and
gambling houses. 1t is across from
the Indian reservation, Birch creek being
the dividing line. The bright coin Is as
acceptable from the Indian as from any
other, and the allnring tire-water seems
to have as breezy effect upon the red
man as the white.
THE INDIA AGENCY.
Piegan is twelve miles to the north
west and contains the stockade with the
dllapidated log buildings for the agent
and assistants, and the general store for
Joe Kip, who Is an old trader with the
Indians. The Piegan tribe comprises
over 1000 members and they cover a large
territory. They abide in lodges-small
log housewife the roof and chinks
covered with mud. There is but II
small room, and in this II chief with sew
eral wives and II host of children will ex
ist. The lodges ale scattered FOR twenty
miles on either side of the st0ckade and
II small patch of ground is sometimes APP
propriated for gardening. The tribe has
no love for farming, however, and but lit
tie ambition for anything except drawing
%rutions as regularly as possible. The
government allows each member
over Is years of age a quarter
section of land; 70 those
over lG, eighty acres and all under 16,
forty acres, but no absolute title to pass
r,,D 81, pv thn lnpf trauty a half
million dollars was set aside by the COY
nual installments. Weekly r%ations,
implements are also provided. The tardi-
ness of congress delayed supplies this
year, SO the issuing of rations is not an
left and an extra quantity is issued until
the other stuff comes in.
NEW GENT.
George STEEL, the newly appointed
agent, has taken hold with a firm hand
and is sweeping Away all of the old cob
webs of license and abuse. Liquor is
prescribed admission into the reservation
and the Indian police. who have hereto
fore winked at the infraction, are now
vigorous in its enforcement. A wagon
with Il large cargo bound for a saloon
near the Great Northern extension, was
lately stopped while crossing the reser-
Walton, and the whisky, team, wagon and
all Its contents con6scated. Last Satur-
day while James Donovan of Great Falls
and DR.. Wamsley of Choteau were on an
electloneering tour at Birch creek, they
extended their visit to Piegan to present
their compliments to Mr.. STEEL. Mr..
Donovan left the doctor at he gate Of
the stockade to guard the team while Ii,
presented himself ut the office. The
doctor had "A suspicious looking bottle
protruding from his pocket which one
of the Indian police noticed and seized,
He took it to the agent and reported that
he had "pulled 1t from the pocket of a
white man." Mr.. STEEL, not being ap.
prised of the doctors presence, ordered
the police to bring in the guilty party
The doctor was accordingly brought
forth, but pleaded ignorance of the law
and a physicians privileges, but all to nc
avail. The bottle was taken to the guard
aud spilled in the presence Of the
police and a large crowd of Indians, who
had gathered to see the fun. The doc
tor begged for just one swallow. but Was
denied and he left TIE reservation witt
the resolution to hereafter take enough
inwardly at Birch creek to last until his
return.
THE MISSION.
Three miles beyond the steckade, OF
the Two Medicine, a mission has beer
established through the charity Of Mis-:
Kate Drexel of Philadelphia, who latel,
entered IA convent and gave her entire
fortune of five million dollars for the
education of Indian and colored children
The mission will accommodate 100 pu'
oils rdsir ; 3nag1ur eAs un nearly I'll !. that haty number ~! now
that the usual allowance of rations be no
diminished. The school has a six-yeal
course. which includes the elementary
branches and a modicum of the trades
After their entry they are debarred from
returning home, as experience has shown
That a few weeks in their old haunts will
spoil the work of years and demoralize
the best OF them. The school is under
the supervision of the government, which
pays Sl25 a year for the maintenance of
each child. Uncle Sam has also a separ.
ate school at the stockade, but the &C.
c~ommodations are meagre and the re-
suits unsatisl actory, AS the children
spend their vacations at home. 1t is ex-
pected that new quarters for the agency
and a new school, sufficient to meet ali
demands, will soon be erected on Cut
Bank, about 70 miles from the present
place. Commissioner Morgan's hobby Is
education and if it is instilled in sufficient
doses the Indian problem will he solved
by the time the rising generation have
attained manhood. r, E. LABAR.
MaruiAd