Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-26
HOSTILE INDIAN LEADERS.
They Were All Non-Progressive and Of Bed
Influence.

HOSTILE INDIAN LEADERS.
They Were All Non-Progressive and Of bed
| Influence.
|. letter was received Saturday by Indian
Commissioner Morgan from James G. Wright,
who was formerly an agent among the Sioux
Indians. giving his personal views OF the char
aeter OF some of the men who were prominent
in the late outbreak. 81
From the public press learn il IL tho In
tention Of the department to permit certain OF
the leaders Of the recent hostile Indians to visit
Washington to present their grievances CD to
the President and Secretary Of the Interior.
| The Brules from Rosebud agency I am per-
sonally acquainted with from being with them
as agent from 80 to Sc, and more recently for
short sojourn one year ago. Thinking you
would be pleased to know something of the
men who are likely to be part of this delcga.
ton take the liberty Of giving my opinion OF
| Crow Dog, Short Bull Turning Bear. Lance.
| Eagle. Pipe, High Hawk and others prominent
in the recent turmoil will probably all or part
| be included These. with their associates, con-
sntute the troublesome, non-progressive ele-
ment of Rosebud agency. not willing to work or
make any effort toward advancement them
| selves, and use every influence to prevent
others, opposed to and antagonize schools OBJ
| Ject to have them in or near their camps, op-
pose the farmers, refuse absolutely to locate on
lands capable Of cultivation, and obstruct
others that do, same time antagonizing the
agent for not issuing 10 them implements sent
for those who will work and use them, abso-
lutely refuse to allow any to settle on or take
land In severalty, threatening to soldier on
whip, or otherwise maltreat the persons and
stock Of those who do
Two Strike, the only one among this number
recognized az chief told and decrepiD is one
OF the most non-progressive; when spoken To
about work. says no. il they work il would be
evidence of capacity to self support and their
rations reduced. He told me a year ago they
wanted less schools and fewer farmers but
more rstions. L replied. 'rhe honorable COM
missioner would regret to hear this statement
from one claiming to be chief" He and his
following were the most duplicated in numbers
on tickets, drawing the greatest excess Of RI
tons before recent census and who refused to
allow the census to be taken. He and (by his
persuasion) his followers were the only Indians
at this agency who refused to sign the treaty or
agreement of SO. Two Strikes absorbing am
bition has always been to visit Washington
No year during the last ten has probably passed
without such a request from him. as CORE
spondence will show.
Crow Dog Is the murderer of Spotted Tail.
from the penalty of which coldblooded crime
he escaped, and was unfortunately permitted
to return to his home at this agency. By this
act and his bravado certain ones follow him.
others from fear. He is not slow to cultivate
this feeling by telling TO any who oppose him to
remember that ''he has killed his man" He ia
shrewd and deceitful, always ready to use others
to carry out his evil designs, while he shirks
the responsibility. He will not work and dis
couragcs others. He is at all times antago-
nistic to progress and civilization.
Short Bull, n man of no particular force
gains influence by simply being medicine
man, from which calling he makes profit from
the Indians in ponies, &c. He formerly insisted
upon the renewal of the 'sun Dance re-
curing strong pressure to overcome him. His
force Is now III his persistency in the ghost
dance and the Indian superstitions. disciple
OF the doctrine and teachings of Sitting Bull
Turning lear is an impulsive and revengeful
man, follower of Two Strike and Crow Dog;
is neither chief nor head man; has no follow
ing OF his own, is an iIveterate dancer. and SO
under the influence of Short Bull: was n Do
hceman and as such did well: has since become
evilly disposed by surrounding influences
Lance and Eagle Pipe are about the worst
specimens OF Indians on this reserve; none can
yindictive. Opposing progress themselves,
they Will, to the extent of moiestation, prevent
1t in others. Both have threatened the agent
at different times for not complying with their
unreasonable demands; by their determined
non-progressivc stand they increase this ele-
ment on the agency; they are truly Indians of
the savage or barbarous type.
High Hawk has been supposed to be OF rather
unsound mind, but of sufficient force to be
made n tool Of by designing comes; he is
very voluble and, though without much point.
Is used by those more shrewd. He was the sub
ject Of correspondence with the department in
50 (referrlng to some correspondence of his
with Gen. Harvey, as were several of those
whose names figure prominently among the
present hostiles. Had the request Of agents,
inspectors and other officials been complied
with and several of these removed from the
agency II Is safe to surmise that there would
not hava been trouble among the Rosebud In
dams.
Others among the hostile band might be
enumerated, but all bearing the same charac-
teristics and reputation.
While it may be granted that these turbulent
Indians may have grievances CD 1t is hardly
reasonable to suppose they were, or are, worse
than the very large majority on the reserve
who have remained true and loyal, resisting
all pressure to join the hostile band remaining
at their homes to protect their own and govern
ment property, in several cases caring for
school property and protecting the teachers in
keeping the schools open. Surely this elemen:
| should be heard, whereas it is claimed there
are common grievances to complain of and not
the statement Of the unprincipled unruly and
non-progressive only, and their version or what
they may represent taken as the sentiment of
this whole people.
had faith in the advancement of these peo-
pie from the progress made during my official
connection with them, and have reason to be-
lieve as a people they are still 80 inclined
Their schools are well supported. anG those
both old and young) have since met satisfy
me that large majority Of this population are
disposed to advance in the future as thes have
during the past ten years more rapidly than their
neighbors ut adjoining agencies. as evidenced
by the number Of schools and the attendance
the desire for more school buildings, the acre
age Of land cultivated, and but for the drouth
Of last season the probable amount of return
therefrom. Why should not this progressive
element be heard on subjects pertaining to
their future prospects and we'll being. equal to
if not in preference to the non-progressive and
turbulent ones? Such men as Swift Bear, Good
Voice, Hollow Horn Bear. Milk, Ring Thunder,
Quick Bear, Reuben Quick Bear, Little Dog
and very many others are fair representative
of the advance element of these Indians and
Bishop Hare, Bishop Marty, Rev. Cleveland,
Rev. Clark, Father Digman and others are
capable and unbiased judges in giving an opin-
ion Of either or both Of these representative
parties.
II these turbulent leaders were removed 70
| such distance from this agency that their evil
influence would not be felt, doubtless after q
| while their present following would gradually
fall in with the better disposed and progress
| and civilization become the rule Of the Rose
bud agency. 1t is now a struggle which shall
tha tha o,v -