The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-11-23
TALK OF THE TOWN.
Facts and Fancies Discussed
in Seattle.
ABOUT THE INDIAN UPRISING.
Ways Of Some Of the sioux Leaders
A Candidate for the Supreme
Court Bench.

II do not put any great credence in these
stories Of an Indian uprising in Dakota"
said Ex-Governor Louis K. Church yester-
day. There are two reasons for my in
credulity. The first is that the Indians are
not likely TO cut themselves off from sup
plies at this season OF the year by going 10
war with the government You see they
come down to the agency twice month
now for rations ard supplies. If they be-
gin to fight they lose these, and the buff
falo are all gone. the antelope are scarce,
and what will they have to eat7
Another thing to be considered is that
Sitting Bull is said to be at the root of the
trouble. Now Sitting Bull is not n man of
any great influence among the Indians.
He is an old mischief maker, but ne has
not much power. The two most infuen-
tiai men among the Sioux are John Gaul
and John Grass. If saw that they were
concerned in this trouble I should think
something would be done. John Gaul is
what you might call the General Grant OF
the Sioux tribe / regard him as their best
warrior. When the Sioux surrendered af-
ter the Custer massacre the United States
authorities asked him where Sitting Bull
was. and why the old fellow didn't come in
and give himself up. Gaul answered: If
he doesn't come in I'll bring him in by the
ears
John Grass is q son of a man who was
formerly very friendly with the whites, and
who used to be the go-between for negotia-
tons between the Indians and the whites.
Grass has inherited some of his fathers
characteristics. He is fne specimen OF a
fellow, and his large head and high brow
make him really handsome
THESE two men. as I understand it, are
not interested in stirring up the trouble.
You must remember, also. that Major Nc
Laughlin, who has charge of the Standing
/. Rock agency, can speak Indian and his
wife can also; and they. together, have
strong influence over the Sioux. So take
every thing together, doubt if we shall see
an outbreak.
The Indians who are threatening are
impelled Dy q religious craze. not by dis
content with the opening of the reserva-
ton. As l remember the negotiations in
1883, there was delay in tho settlement, be-
cause the Indians wanted a larger price for
their land than the government had
offered, and they wished the money put
into the United States treasury and the in
terest paid over to the tribe. To these de-
mands. believe. the government prscti-
cally acceded. But now they think Mes
siah will arise and drive the whites from
the country.
"The condition OF these Sioux is much
better than most people imagine. They
are far past the paint and feather stage.
If you should see them with their clothes
and horses and wagons. you would agree
that they look nearly as well-to-do as the
average farmer about Them"
Mr.. Frank J. Barnard, who had listened
to this conversation, said; "A day or two
ago | met friend who had just come
through Dakota. My friend said the peo-
pie at Mandan were really alarmed, the
farmers were flocking into the place. and
fort was being built near the town.
Mr.. E. ]. Owen. of Detroit, who is at