Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1890-03-30
GOOD INDIANS.
Excellent Traits of Character
Displayed by the Crow Indians
Under Major Wyman.
The Otter Greek Suicioe Did
Net Kill Himself for Love,
But was Insane.
HUNTING FOk A HIDE.

HUNTING FOX A HIDE.
How Five kefrsetory Crows Were Con-
quered.
In conversation with Major Wyman,
agent for the Grow Indians. yester-
day, he related an incident which H.
lustrstes In marked degree the integ.
rily Of the Indian character when
dealing with men whom they respect
and have confidence In.
Some time before Christmas last
year the Msjor received information
through the police that certain In
disns, five In number. were In the
p 'ssession Of some fresh beef. As the
time that Rad elapsed since ration day
made ii clear that they bad killed q
beef unlawfully, they we're summoned
to appear before the agent. who ques-
toned them rigidly rs to where they
g't the meat, aud finally com, elltd
them TO make clran bresst OF the
matter, disclosing, ~ was supposed.
the fact that thev had killed q beef
steer. Being desIrous Of knowing
whose steer II was, which information
could only be Rad from an txsmina.
ton Of the brand, the Msjor asked the
Indians what they bat done with the
hide, and was informed that It had
been put in the river, 10 . hole used
for watering pouirs. He then Or
dered the culpsits to take q lodge pole
and 60 TO the hole where they bad
thrown the hide. and try and hsh !,
out II possible expecting that they
would make some kind Of Q hook on
the end OF the pole and grope around
under tbs wstar Tor the missing hide,
but the Indlans either lacked mechan.
ical genius or else construed the ordes
too literally. for going h the wateI
hole they thrust the pole dowa 10 tbs
bottom. In which position it vas frm-
ly held by fur Of them. Wills ths
6fth stripped o6 10 the akin, and
usipg the pole % . safety hold, venl
down under water where it wss teu
feet deep to hunt for the hide. A,
soon % the first one came 10 the sur
face exhausted, another took his plac,
until the whole ave had made search
unsuccetsfully Of course. when with
hearts on the ground they returped d
the agency to tell the agent Of theil
failure. This, remember, WAS with
the mercury ten degrees below zero
Msjor Wy man was OF coure surprised
when he heard what they b I'd done
but did not let them know IL. He ex
planned TO them that the failure :,
find the hide mercy prevented MI
making restitution for them 10 IN,
person who owned the steer, bot th'
crime Of killing the animal still re
mained and that they must be pun
ished for 1t. He accordingly sentences
them to confinement 10 the jail viii
bard labor ut wood saving for . tern
OF days. which had not expired wheI
Christmas came. The i've culprit
had worked faithfully, however, an
on Christmas eve the Major sent 70
them, and after explaining the Cnris'
mas festivities as enjoyed by the 0res
Father and bis people, told them tbs
be was going to give them come col
fee, sugar. rice. beans and other dell
cacies dear to the red mans stomach
together. with permission 10 20
their homes thst night and celebrai
Christmas with their people. the onl
cordition being their word Of hons
that when the sun went down o
Christmas day they would be back
finleh the remainder Of their sentenc'
The Indians gave their parole witho,
hesitation and thankfully, and TOO
tn -ir departure laden with supple
The Christmas feast wss enjoyed, an
% the sun snn sunk behind the bill
ON Christmas day the Ave warrion n
ported for duty at the wood pile III
20 many school boys. but u"sba-b'
aud With Ill The dispssy 4 ( h'os
men. vhoss pledge Of honor had bes
taken In the full sxpsotssios that
would BE- redeemed. A ~ ners dr.
q the veod pie eoup,sssd We NJ
ltsnos. ~ to-day thvss sss - Gro
IndlAns n the whole Csow nat
nors snpsssssd With ths duty Il sb
ldisnes swsd 10 the 0Esas Fash
|throueA hb representative. ~ -
than shese nvs. Jus>1os ts0Dssl
Ivith msssy mpsssod thsn.
L 9an og8un CnnuR sgpcED4
II nwU - - . wsonnh AeoDanA
| pr.m 1ssuner Yennn. - rn1nEn(