St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-08
The Pathetic Story Of Philan-
der Prescott's Now Suf-
fering Son.
Prominent Part the Father
Played in the State In =
dian Wars. i
Mysterious Disappearance Of
Street Car Foreman g
Nelson. g
st. Paul Builders Who Will
Participate in National
Convention. :.

The pathetic story of poverty and
want related in yesterdays GLOBE, IN
which the application of half-breed
Indian named Louis Prescott to the Of
ficers of the relief society for aid Oh be-
half of his family was the chief point,
has brought to light new facts which
establish that the Indians story was
absolutely true in every particular
Philander Prescott, the father OF the
Indian family now shivering in mis-
cradle tepee on the outskirts OF South
st. Paul, was of all men the most prom
inent in Indian and frontier affairs
forty years ago. He was married to an
Indian woman, and they lived prior to
the outbreak of the massacre of 1862 III
what was known as the kaDOSia settle
ment, the very spot upon which the
now returned representatives OF
the tribe have pitched their half
dozen tents. Philander Prescott
was a man of excellent education,
powerful writer, and power among
the Indians as regarded their relations
with the white traders. He was valued
correspondent of the Smithsonian inSti-
tute and contributor of articles to
Schoolcraft'5 History of the Indian
Tribes, published by authority of con-
greSS. When the massacre broke out
the cause was. as every one OH the in
side was aware, the delay in the pay
ment of annuitieS for many weeks
after they We're due. This incensed the
Indians greatly, and in the excitement
and under the influence of Medicine
Bottle. one of the chiefs, they ascriDed
the non-arrival of the money to Pres
colts influence. In the pOw-wOwS neld
in the different camps at the time the
opinion was expressed that Prescott only
stayed among the Indians to get their
money; that he was in coliuSiOn with the
white traders to defraud the Indians of
their dues whea the latter did arrive.
When the trouble began Prescott was
on the Redwood agency. Little Crow,
chief of the Indian forces, who was his
friend, advised him to make his escape
to Fort Ridgely. This he failed to do.
but was later compelled to fly, and
started on horseback across the prairie
in the direction of New Ulm. 1t was
while en- route there that he was metby
Chief Medicine Bottle and his men, and
they killed him. Medicine Bottle oand
his assistants in the crime were
hanged at Fort Smelling in 1855
for Prescott's murder. PRESENTS
head was severed from his body
and stuck OH pole with the face turned
toward ST. Paul, so, as the Indians said,
that he could see their money when it
came in sight. The murdered mans
tongue was also cut out. the reason
being, the Indians claimed, that he
would thus be prevented from lying to
them any more. When Gen. Sibley
marched up to thebattle Of Wood Lake,
his scouts buried Prescott's body, and
when the main guard passed the grave
the next morning 800 sticks were I'M
bedded in the soft earth. This meant
that 300 Sioux warriors were watching
Sbley'S movements. After the close
Sof the war the Prescott family
of half breeds became wanderers from
reservation 10 reservation. They have
at last returned, foOtsore and half starv-
ing to camp once more on the spot
where their father first pitched his tent
forty-five years ago. Louis Prescott,
the oldest son, is dying of consumption.
The other members of the family can
scarcely escape the sc0urge, for their
manner of living is such as to invite
disease. They are hungry, almost ma
ked, and all alike bear on their faces
an expression of almost hopeless reslg-
nation to the fate that awaits them.
Louis Prescott said the other day in
good English: "They say the only good
Indian is dead Indian. 1t might be
said with more truth that the only hap
by Indian is he whom death has over
taken"