New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-16

DICE IN FAVOR OF INDIAN CUsIoMS'
rot Editor The Tribune.
Sir: About the last Of October ono G. +. Lummis'
writing from Los Angeles addressed an open iet1r
10 me- In which he charged immortality ana orutaiJ
In the Indian schools OF the southwest pnt ne par
tcuary concentrated his complaints upon the gov
eminent Indian tralningschool, known as the FISH
Institute at Albuquerque n. NJ he also chareeu 'hs'
these things we're done with my knowledge ana con
nivance as general superintendent OF lndah SCHOOLS
The aforesaid letter widely published In western
and Eastern papers long before my attention was
called to it. was on the frontiers and indian rescr
vations OF Montana from early In october uhti iar
into December receiving only longdelayed mals
Hence the lateness Of my reply.
In responding shall not enter tho field OF personal
inuendo which Mr.. Lummis widely opened. but will
conlne myself to as brief a statement as possible
OF facts vindcating the Indian school service.
As to the Indian schools OF the Southwest, will
say first of ALL that during nearly three and three
fourths years, since my appointment to this Office,
have boon in New-MeAico and Arizona from February
TIL May 1890; two weeks In August '91 from Febru
airy to August, '02. and now than two weeks In
December, '02. And must say that the accusation
Of bad morals In any Of the schools either among the
pupils, the employees, employees and pupils. Is
wholly gratutous and unfounded. Close scrutiny has
been made OF every school by Mrs. Dorchester and
me- and no evidence Of immortality has been found
during those nearly four years except in one distant
reservation school, and that thoroughly corrected
some time ago.
The Albuquerque Government school Is especially
involved by Mr. Lummis In this charge OF immortality.
In doing this he only revived story that originated
about year and half ago. and which was then
thoroughly investigated and exploded. Soon after
tho story out. about July /, 1891, United States
Inspector Gardner and Investigated the matter
In August sent for for the same purpose. tie
custom Of the Indian Office being 20 have more than
one examination where serious charges have been
made. The reports Of these two Investigations, with
"a large number Of detailed aihdavts In due FORM
put into the hands Of a legal expert IN the De
partment of Justice in Washington. who declared the
findings TO be conclusive. My verdict OF acQutta
turned chiefly upon the stories OF the them
seves-hc self evident inconsistencies OF their state
ments, which need not mention in this paper Their
conduct Indicated concerted effort by libel, to bull
dozo the superintendent into retaining them as en-
ployes In the school for another year
While write there lies before the original letter
Of tho legal expert referred 10 10 the Commissioner
OF Indian Affairs, from which l make the following
extracts
| regard the analysis Of the Investigation BY Daniel
Dorchester, superintendent OF Indian schools as ex
honstvc and correct which does not materially vary
rom That OF Mr. Gardner, who saw the witnesses
lace 10 face
Again he says
Mr.. Commissioner. want to express my good
opinion of Professor Crcagers manhood and abilities
and feel that from all points of view he IS worthy OF
your confidence.
Before lett Albuquerque. at the time Of that In
vcstigatlon testimonial was drawn up, highly com
Elementary to the school and superintendent. and
signed by thirty-ive Of the most prominent citizens
and business firms OF Albuquerque Mayor
and ex-mayors. eX-mcmbcr OF Congress. editors,
half dozen bank officers. etc These gentlemen repre-
sent all political parties aud nearly al denominations
them had had personal conversations with
the accusers aud discarded their statements.
Mr.. Lummis says that in the Fisk Institute "bar
baritIes almost fit for Apache outbreak have been
perpctrated upon shrinking. noifensve pupils; that
slave irons, slave whips and other implements OF
education with which iuofensye Pueblo children
tortured" are openly supplied TO the Government
Indian schools: and he also charges the using OF
reyovefs, shackes aud seourges.' Tie also clams to
be fully fortified with proofs TO the barbaritles
prac,ed, the kidnapping Of children and the torture
Of nGocents.' In one paper Mr.. Lummis says II
they (pUpils) run away from their slavery there lin
school, he 1.-THE superintendent hunts them down a.
he would convcts. Bloodh0undS the only EN-
belr,hments lacking. In within my personal
knowledge BOYS who hnvc escaped were captured and
carrid back at tho point OF six-shooter. not by an
officer by writ. but by the salaei teachers OF
a parental Government. and restored TO the prison
their brief period Of freedom rewarded by a ball
and chaln.'
4 local writer IN Albuquerque nm echo of Lummis.
also charges that boys when captured have been tied
BY A halter round the neck TO the tail OF wagon,
compelled 10 walk back more than ten miles to the
school, and then sentenced TO two months OF imprlS
onmentn: that one captive was trotted over the
pa1s In the same way" stalcd out In chains all
night was put into the dungeon in hanicnfs and
a rope. tied to link uniting them. was thrown over
IL beam and MS body dragged mp until only his toes
NoOr nd have been WliDDpl
until the raw. Gulverng flesh nles open at every cut
Of the bloody Lash
snch IS the terrible Indictment drawn mp. WAS
at first unwilling 10 believe that the Grand Jury Of
the American people would listen TO such charges,
and was disposed to lot the matter p-sS unnotced'
but under the powerful bias of political and religious
portSanshlp men sometimes strangely give credit TO
the most absurd scandals, especially when adroltly
IN, by n facc pen nsnuang address.
For more than two weeks I have been in Mbmqucr-
ouc \ M untngly seeking evidence. pro and con,
closely searching every possible and probable source
az information. \ volume of aHdavits has been ac-
cnmulatcd and | must say that the evidence TENDS
remarkably in one direction Indeed, no testimony
which can stand examination sustanS the discrctt-
able stories A canscless and bnN"i"Ss libel
upon any institution and It, officials have never met
in nv life. This statement Is made Understandings.
There IS not particle of evidence that The Snp'r'n
tcndcnt az this school or any school Official has
treated pupils cruelty.
The solemn asscvcraons OF Mr. iumms ana his Hell
tenant that they possess ample proof 10 sustain Their
Infamous calumucs only spccio'is empty bubbles
desperate attempts bcgulc innocent people ana To give
currency ana air OF pauSibty to astounding STORIES
| had no opportunity personally To test MI "'n"'S
,roof. 81 called, for he Is now In South America; but
dd remarkably appeal his representative to prove the
statements, vet In vain. except that he CAV" me som"
uomcs OF Indian pupils residing In the city who h"
said would furnish proof called them to my room at
the hotel, and drew from them all they had to say,
but their testimonies against the accusing parties
These xpupl, said they had not known nor heard OF
my such crncltc, at the school by any school Of
fetal except as they had read the stories in the news
u,nrrs I have been unable TO find even the shadow
Of proof I'm support Of alleged brutality.
If mics edit