Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-21


An interesting statement of the causes OF
the recent disturbances among the Sioux In
dams was received this morning by Indian
Commissioner Morgan from James A. Cooper.
special agent who was sent to Pine Ridge at
the beginning Of the trouble. Mr.. Cooper's re-
port is as follows.
referring to your letter under date of De
cember q, 1880. in which you direct me TO
make full report on what have found to be
the causes which led to the excitement and
turbulence among portion Of the Indians Of
this reservation, have the honor to submit
the following for your information:
First, must say that il would be and Is.
IN my opinion, an utter impossibility for any
person to tell truthfully the real causes, as
there seems 70 be a complication Of causes. and
the Indians themselves do not seem to know
just what caused il.
THE GHOST DANCE
"There seems to be q diversity Of opinions
on this subject by men who have for the past
twenty-five years been acquainted with Indian
character. I think the first starting OF the
trouble was the ghost dance the cere-
monies OF which best suited the older Indians.
and especially chiefs who were realizing that
by the advance of civilization and education
they were losing their influence with their peo-
pie and gradually becoming creatures OF insig-
nitcance. The ghost dance provided much which
was desired by the Indians. and the doctrine
taught being very susceptible TO their nature.
they readily grasped that which promised such
liberal reward. The originator Of this dance
was fully aware of the Indians superstitious
nature, and in setting up the doctrine and pre-
scribing the course of ceremony il was so con-
structed as to meet the exact wishes of the In
dian. / have talked with a great many head
men on this reservation. such as Big Road, Lit
tie Wound. Jack Red Cloud (son Of Chief Red
Cloud and Crow Dog, and they all seem to
be of the same opinion, and that IN that the
ghost dance theories promised them a great
deal more than they were getting from the gov
eminent and they all joined it, thinking that it
would in the end bring the abundant wild
game and plenty of everything to eat without
the least effort on their part Little
Wound says that great deal of jealousy exists
among the chiefs and they would adopt any
method that would retrieve their lost prestige
over their people.
THE sIGSERs OF THE BILL
81 find there is a great discord between the
two factions OF Indians here-those who signed
the late Sioux bill and those who did not.
Those who did not sign the bill are among the
prime leaders in the ghost dance. with but few
exceptions. and those who did sign the bill are
among the friendlies who have stood so nobly
with the government and the agent, such as
American Horse, Young Man-Afraid-of-H His
Horses. Fast Thunder. Spotted Horse, High
Bear, Three Stars and Blue Horse.
1T might be well to mention that the Indians
of this agency have taken no part, practically
speaking, in the committing of depredations,
killing of whites, DC, and that the trouble
here would have been settled long since had
not the Big Foot fight occurred at Wounded
Knee on the 29th of December, 1890. of
course a few young, foolish Indians of this
reservation have joined the Brules in some of
fl,os,r A,,%, hesa hat
had not the most turbulent elements congre-
gated here from the Cheyenne River agency,
Rosebud agency, Standing Rock agency and
started this trouble the Indians of this
agency would have scarcely participated
in anything that would bring bloodshed. and in
this connection desire to state that il would
be a very unfortunate affair for the Indians of
this agency should any of the Indians from
any of the agencies have mentioned above be
permitted to remain here permanently, from
the fact that the friendly Indians have lost
most all of their property at the hands OF these
people and the recent trouble has aroused a
feeling that cannot for a long time be obliter-
ated.
DEPREDATIoNs on THE RESERVATION.
"This reservation has sustained a great loss
in this recent trouble from Indian depreciation
committed principally by the Brules. and i,
will require a great deal of time and money to
bring it back to its former condition, and in
this loss the friendly Indians are the sufferers
as their homes have been destroyed. their stock
killed and their small improvements on Their
farms largely damaged. / was informed the Other
day from a source that consider reliable that
horses and cattle have been killed promis-
cuously and in many places they were lying
thick as many as one hundred IN a small space
of four acres. the cattle having small portion
of the tenderloin cut out and the balance of the
carcass left
WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN DONE.
''You ask me what methods of administra-
ton should have been pursued to have kept tie
excitement under proper control and to have
prevented any such disturbances as have oc-
Cured on the reservation In answer TO the
above will say that in order to reply intelli-
gently to the question 1 will put myself in the
position of the agent of this agency.
agent 1 would have first insisted
upon giving the Indians plenty to eat, and es-
pecially plenty of beef, and sufficient clothing
to make them comfortable. After 1 had sue
ceeded in this would have compelled them to
live in obedience to the law Of your department
and the rules laid down for governing the
agency.
should have found that the police force al
lowed was insufficient to enforce law and order
should have urged that additional force be
furnished. and if this could not be done. then ]
would have called on the respectable and
frienly Indians for assistance as 1 did on
former occasion while in charge of an agency.
When the Brule Indians appeared on this reser-
walton and began to destroy the property of the
friendly Indians would have called NV police
force together and number of friendly Indians
and gone to Wounded Knee and quietly ordered
the Brules back to their reservation. After /
had used every means possible TO get them back
without avail, and found my force not sufficient
to compel them to go back, would have contin-
ued to enlist friendly Indians until had a
number equal to the emergency and l would have
then forced the Brules back to their own reser-
walton and the trouble would have ended then
and there No one can deny the fact that the
Brules have caused all of this trouble. few
Indians from other agencies have gathered
here also; but had the Brules been checked in
the start the trouble would have ended and
settled this question
1.-THE presence of the military on O reserva-
ton is a good thing in time of war, but has a
very exciting influence over them in time of
peace. From my experience in Indian affairs
must confess that the use of military would be
my last resort to settle disturbances among
Indians. In my opinion the best method
for settling trouble among Indians is
to use the good element against
the bad and quiet the matter among
themselves, and II should be remembered in
this connection that the very best method to
be used in subduing an Indian is plenty of
beef. The older Sioux are just as carniverous
in their desires as they were twenty-five years
ago, and this class will never be educated
people may differ with me In this matter
the newspapers as well as individuals all have
their theories and solutions to the question
and ara Eharal vrifh fbaiv cvific,sxx,a