Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-02
"BUFFALO BlLL'S"INOIANs.
Another Protest Against Allowing Them
TO Go Abroad.

Reports of the exaggerated claims made
nv William L. Cody" Buffalo Bill I'm
his advertising of the WIld-West" show,
with which heis now touring Europe, says
tine New York World, have led members OF
the American Board of Missions 10 draw up
a protest against PERMISSION being gwen
for Indians 10 travel with wild West
shows.
buffalo Bill " is announcing himself to
the potentates of Europe as the saviour of
our country during the recent Indian out
break. In his circular heralding the com
inc of the Great Wild West" Buffalo
Bill " stated that he was connected with
the United States Army, and that in order
to save the country from the feroclty OF
the uprising Indians il was necessary Tor
him TO 90 into the field and assume COM
mand of his regiment.
Another interesting announcement APP
peared in a London paper. Il am coming"
1t said. with fifty of the worst Indians
who had been engaged in the Wounded
Knee fight"
II is in connection with this faring an
nouncement that " Buffalo Bill" relates
his wonderful and thrilling exploits in sub
DUNG the refractory wards of the Govern
ment. The Indians alluded to in Buffalo
Bill'sn circular are the twenty-siX prison.
ers who took part in the uprising and who
were afterwards imprisoned at Camp
Sheridan, near Chicago. Besides these
prisoners Of war who were permitted
by the Harrison Administration 10 ac-
company buffalo Bill" on the junket-
ing exhibition through Europe, the show
this year consists of forty-one other Indians,
who, il is understood, were obtained at the
Pine Ridge Agency, despite the protest
that was made by the missionaries among
the Sioux. Powerful influence was brought
to bear. and even Secretary Blaine gave
Mr.. Cody and his show clear bill of char
acter, and this letter or recommendation
was chiefly instrumental in moving Secre-
tary Noble TO reconsider his determina-
ton not to permit the indians again to ac-
company Buffalo Bill" on his European
tour.
The announcements of Buffalo Bill y
concerning himself and the character OF
the Indians he has with him this year again
bring before the public not only the charges
which have been made against Buffalo
Bills" management of the Indian, but
they have aroused friends of the Indians
among the American Missionary Board TO
the necessity of dong strenuous work to
get up vigorous protest which Will prevent
acontinuance of the abuses and evils which
follow the Government making contracts
for the employment of Indians in Wild
West" shows, inasmuch as the Gov
eminent has undertaken the education
and the civilization of the Indians.
Not only did the Indians say that they
were treated cruelty and harshly, but they
said that their physical wants and necessi-
ties were completely forgotten in the greed
of the management for the box-ottce re-
ceipts. Indians were sent home here sick
and destitute. The complaints of the re-
turning Indians caused General OBeirne
and Father Crafts, who was wounded al
the Pine Ridge engagement, to use theil
influence, officially and politically, 20 pre-
vent " Buffalo Bill" obtaining the con.
| sent of the Government for the removal OF
more Indians for exhibition purposes.
The friends of the Indians who are get
ting up the protest against Buffalo Bill
and his Wild West clam that the Indians
who have travelled with the show say thai
thew were permitted TO indulge freely theil
| most dissolute habits and appetites. They
were allowed to go to vile places of amuse
ment. In fact, no effort was made TO main
tain even q semblance of discipline. The
| life the Indians are allowed to liv,
while with the show makes physi
cal wrecks of them and places them
beyond the influence of civilIZa
ton. The Sioux prisoners who are with
Buffalo Billp left with the impression
that their going with the show meant i'm
munity from further punishment for thu
part they took in the uprising. This, sal
the friends of the Indians IN the American
Board of Missionaries. tends to demoraliz'
the Indians and lessen their respect fol
law and order.