The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-09-05
tion In the Field and ON the lrriga-
ton Ditch.

hob, unobstructed by human habitatton
evidence Of life other than scattering
title at the foothills in the distance.
Faversinq tho bench land a few miles. the
hgs descends to tho valley Of tho Big
Drn, and with few deviations fol-
ws the sinuous course of that
Feam to the fort. In the mean
he the Unitarian mission il passed,
me seven miles from the starting place,
ID the children nrs seen in the domestic
bployments OF the 6chool. which to them is
me. An unkempt lot they are. too. At
80 Eighteen-M Mile ranch ia reached,
brsss are changed and dinner is eat n.
he ups and downs of the stage ride have
ade the traveller u%nmindfnl Of some Gull
Try and domestic pe%culiarities that might
evoke comment under circumstances less
FIRING. Tho journey ia resumed and the
g Horn valley widens out and lies revealed
the eye for miles, q beautiful valley.
ouoh void OF the teeminQ life of the pop
GUS state. Here and there are seen unin-
abited cabins along the banks of the
ream, built by an indu!gent government
r unappreciative wards who prefer the
pee to the habitation OF civilization. On
DO road freight outfits are passed or met
UURluK buolr WGhTy way dlOuk w tu0 AOEt
q camp far in the interior. Gaudily
Fessed Indians ara met coming from the
Renov, resplendent in new garments that
blipse the morning sun in redness. the
kening grass in greenness; the lord of the
hmily or horse riding ahead. his %consort
irving the wagon loaded with %rations,
hildren and other supplies. most Of them
~nbonnetted and long innocent OF Contact
it'll soap. Many Indian women are met
no affect a style of equestl ianism that i'm
les the Jsnness- Miller divided skirt.
The fort is seen several miles in the dis
ance, situated IN a high natural elevation
aade by the Little Horn RE- it hastens to
,erge with the Big Horn 200 yards from
DO place of stage crossing. A heavy pull
' the four weary no ses through draws
I'D up steep places and the level Of the
ench land 10 reached and Fort Custer lies
here. A few colored soldiers nre doing
i'd chores about their quarters, uninvitinG
nough in all conscience, and the offenders
{ military rules are at mental work
apping in the stiff breeze proclaims the
Sower and might Of the great government,
Ind the. air Of Incidence and listlessness
hat pervades the place at this hour b~elittles
he proclamation of the flag.
] The valley of the Little Horn IL followed
ntil tho agency is reached, where Major
[. p. Wyman supervises all the Grows.
umberina almost 1890 mon, women and
hildren.
Unless it be ration day few adult Indians
re to be seen near the agency. they being
battered in small bands over the reser "a
bon. About I've dozen buildings comprise
he settlement at the agency, three school
uildings, q small Catholic church, two
Hrsders' stores. a hotel. offices of tho agent
Ind physician. store rooms, livery stable
Ind residences for employees. Ration day
aomes twice q month II then the pretty
pot is alive with busy men and women for
Two OF three days. The country round
bout is dotted with tepees, the days given
liver to the reds. the nights to the dogs,
sach of the latter exchanging his day for
#he hours of darkness in which to howl and
bark and fight. Plenticoues and Petty
Eagle will probably be there, head chiefs of
Inc Crow tribe; probably also Bell Rock and
Enemy Hunter, most renowned in war of
living Crows; Medicine Tail will be there,
thrifty Indian trader end land Qrabber.
Who won "a, 600 at a little sitting with a
veil known Helena gambler not so very
long ago; others of less consequence among
their own people and OF no consequence to
hny one else will be there. soon they have
In been supplied and go hence. and the Wis.,
tor may learn something of the actual bus
ness of the agency.
Last wear Major Wyman distributed
kmong the Crows Z, 2l3. 600 pounds of beef,
poo. 600 pounds of flour, sugar. salt, coffee,
Fioe, HON my, baking powder aud beans In
less quantities. blankets and articles OF
wearing apparel to the Value of 1886. 900. and
b cash annuity of $l2 to each Indian per-
bon of the tribe. There WAS also distrib-
pted among them nearly $75. 900, the pro-
their benefit, the money going to those who
Aid the work. Their crops consisted of
600 tons of hay, 5000 bushels of oats. half
~ many bushels of potatoes, $500 bushels
Of wheat, and garden products in consid-
srable quantities. Early one morning in
September last a hay caravan OF 500 horses
200 wagons, stretching along the route
nearly six miles, wen past the agency des-
for Fort Custer.
Since taking charge OF the agency Major
Wyman has succeeded in getting more work
out of the Crows than they had done in
their previous history. A ditch several
miles long now carries water to the agency,
gates quite n u act of land on which garden
stuff is raised, Il this with little cost to
The governments. All work that the red
man can do is done by him. and at . esent
hundred or more are employed on the irri-
eating ditch which will water 5000 acres of
inc land lying just to tho north of the
agency. Tho major believes that honest toll
is n great oivilizer.
The juvenile population of the reserva.
lion numbers about 600. distributed anon
various schools, except probably l75 in the
with their pa ents. Fifty are at the
Unitarian mission. before mentioned, ninety
tho school at the agency. 25O at st.
Catholic mission. twenty-five miles
south of the agency. and thirty at Carlisle
and other eastern Indian schools. A visit
the agency school is an interesting event.
| he boys and girls study and recite in the
,anIe room. but have dormitories in separ-
,ts buildings. They struggle with the same
that boset the young idea of eau
,asian extraction, and, if taken at u tender
,ge, with fair success. Instruction Ia of Il
very elementary character and in most
,nses progress is slow. The pupils make
better progress IN industrial work thar in
book learning. The gi Is do all the
work of their dormitory and
ire given tasks with tho needle and sewing
The older ones can make
iresses and do creditable mending of their
and the boys clothing. The dormi-
'ories are clean Rnd we'll ventilated, and
'nch pupil provided with an individual
and Il night-dress. md required to
1ny due attention to personal c%lrGnliness.
derottaneDt at table is early re-
luired Of them and they take turns in watt
ng on the tables. Thoy are given plenty
10 eat and have in general excellent health,
'hough the wLooping cough IL epidemic at
,resont. Each dormitory has Il play room.
he girls re'yling in dolls and tho boys ri.
pp.d5hemonium with tin horns and
'ther y,ah Of torture. II. ID. Arkwrieht
8 sWst..at endcnt and Mr.. Wilson indus
VIZ ' actor. Their labors are suppls-