davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10

suspecting hat they were in want. The
woman met me at the door in an old and
torn calico dress and a pair of rotten
shoes. | asked her if that was the best
clothing she had. She said it was. but
that she needed something more than
clothing, and that was food. | gave her
an order for $14 worth of groceries m
Hayes Center and also one on the conn.
ty. A good many of my neirhbors bove
lett. Their teams were mortgaged and
they couldn't get away. | have fftv
or more head of horses, and | told fivo
men TO pick out teams and go on. They
did this, leaving their mortgaged teams
to run at large. The stock of the county
is mostly gone. People either took il
away with them or the mortgage men
nave got it. Some irrigating was lone
near our place on the Red Willow. One
man., on a patch about 20 by 80 feet.
raised cabbages which sold for % cents
a head and potatoes which q while ago
brought So a bushel."
Stories like these are coming from all
directions in the afflicted district.
In Other States.
In more thar twenty of the counties of
western Kansas the suffering and desti-
tuition are fully as great as they are in
Nebraska. Il. A. Gilbert, writing from
Macon, Wallace County, that State, gives
this truly startling description of the con-
dition of the destitute there: "At ono
time we had nothing in the house to
eat. My daughter Rose came across nm
OLD Hour sack containing some stale bread
ana crusts, which had been in the house
eighteen months, hard and dry as q bone.
by pounding with n hammer and soaking
IN warm water, we were able to eat
them, while my son was away in search
of work. We have lived the past wear
almost exclusively on bread and flour
and-water gravy. There are many in
this vicinity who are fully as destitute
as we are. Food and fuel are what we
are the most in need of. We can burrow
in the ground to hide our nudity and keep
from freezing, but it will not satisfy
hunger"
The letters which come from the af-
tlicted portions of South Dakota, Color
ado, Oklahoma and Texas are equally
touching. "The drought has left us with
out resources of any kind" writes II. 7.
Benbow, of Gala, S. ID. "Many have left
the State, and many others have sent
away tHe Hlost OF tnelr STOCK, as there Is
no hay or straw with which to feed them.
Our crops were a complete failure, and
hundreds are living on bread and water,
and very little of that" And C. A. Yeo-
sin, of Burlington, Col, says: There is
an army of destitute people in the east
ern counties of this State. Only a fourth
of a crop was grown in 1893, and abso-
lutely nothing in 1894. l heard of q fam
lily the other day who have been living for
some time on wheat ground in a coffee
mill, and one of this family is a man Is
years old. This old man has only an old
oyercoat for Il bed. Such is the present
condition of many of our people"
A MAN In debt is stoned every year.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10
NWO STICKS HANGED.
IAN ADDITION TO THE LIST Or
GOOD INDIANS.
s.rth Dakota Educators Hold an Inter
estinc and Profitable Session at Huron
south pakota Farmers Learning from
Costly Experience-Tw Bank Failures


rwo sticks is now a good Indian. He
,yas hanged at Deadwood for the murder of
four cowboys about two years ago, tat
yent to his death protesting his innocence.
EIo was restless all night, not sleeping at
Mi. md arose at 4 o'clock. After the arri-
cal Of the priest he became quieter. AT
FIVE minutes past ten the death warrant
read to him by United States Marshal
pccmillcr, after which he made a speech,
In which he said: Il am innocent. Ny
heart is not bad and never has been. There
are lots of good white men around here
and there is nothing the matter with me.
sod is good and if a man tell "A lie he DROPS
dead tnat minute. | can hold up bot}
hands and say | was not at the cabin tn 8
night. The four boys did the killing.
an not afraid TO die and am ready to q j B.,
cd made all people and put the samc
b.Art and the same blood in all Of them.
When the reservation is thickly settled and
big towns are scattered OF il. the deccn-
dants of my people will say. Two Sticks Is
not here. he was hanged
He made an effort while being pinionCd
50 hang. himself, but was prevented. At
l0:.1 he sang a SONG of praise and when he
mounted the scaffold looked around at the
people and said: LEILA washta, you bet.
All things are good On the scatf0ld he
,aug the death song. At10:3S the drop fell
and al 1S:j3 he was pronounced dead and
1yaS cUt down.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10

while the bonds nave not been sold, prob
ably from distrust of Eastern capital in
Western Investments. The consequence
is that the farmers who did this work
upon the ditch are q great deal worse off
than if they had not gon out there Mt all.
The crops of the last two years lave been
total failures, and in nine years we aave
had but three crops. The limit OF our
BOND issue having been reached wa are
left helpless for funds of any kind. Men
and women sometimes drive in here for
twenty-five miles for relief which We are
unable to give. Farmers who have lived
in the county for years and have sunk
their capital here trying to raise crops
come to me with tears in their eyes and
ask for food. There is not a stream of
water in Perkins County nor n living
spring. Wells run from 60 to 200 feet,
the majority being from about $50 10 200
feet deep. The soil, if watered, raises
good crops; if not, it bakes into o solid
mass. The roads and much of the prai-
ries resemble asphalt, SO hard packed and
smooth are they"
AS q result of these conditions many
of the settlers have left the country, and
a traveller through the county describes
the situation graphically:
On every hand the bare country spread
itself. Not a shrub, not a tree met the
sight; no creeks, no rivers, no aign of
anything which would give moisture or
produce hay. The rolling swella of the
table land are covered with tile shot,
crisp brown gass. but nothing above ankle
high shows itself, except Il dead and de-
serted tree claim on the right size. But
little stock could be seen, though what
was there was in good condition. A few
deserted sod huts and frame houses were
seen, and there were signs, hare and
there, that some h%abitations Had been
taken down and removed with The other
goods of the owners when they left.
In some cases farm implements were
seen in the fields, and at Il distance sub
stantial granaries stood just as t1eir own
ers had left them. One farmer l talked
with, who had come to this town for re-
lief, said, with tears in his eyes:"I never
applied for help before and l never
thought to, but when a fellow has lost
all his crops for two years, and has had
his team and cows taken away OF account
Of board while working on the ditch. he
can't see his family starve. I'm Lot above
saying tnal there ISL | u tHlbS III the
house but a little f1our and abe It O peck
Of potatoes that was left of Il @ last lot
they gave me credit for at the store.
Pm no worse off than my %neighbors,"
he continued; but the honest truth is
that we're all mighty near starvation.
They're all good, industrious men. and
have worked night and day, some of
them, to try and get Il crop. Since June
IA last not a drop of rain fell Oh my place
except Il light shower too late in the fall.
1t stood JOG and los in the shade, I'm
Seld, several days in succession in June,
and then the hot winds did the rest. l
tell you there is going to be starvation all
over the county iii Il few weeks. The
farmers are on their last row.. and unless
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10
Raised the saloon Fine,

The city council at YanktOn raised the
saloon fine. making the minimum monthly
fine $50. After the passage of the prohib-
tory law and after it was found that it
was impossible to enforce it, a monthly fine
of $50 was placed upon each saloon. Since
that time the saloons have increased in
number till at present there are twcnty-six
saloons in the city. The action of the city
council will serve to decrease the number
of saloons at least half and render strict
regulation possible. The vote was very
close, the ordinance being passed by only
one majority, but the YanktOn people will
stand by the action of the council! in this
matter.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10
help comes in q few days I don't know

help comes in q few days I don't know
whatU happen" 1t Is not too much to
say that his case is well nigh typical of
the farmers throughout the county.
On Sunday n visit to the house of one
of the settlers revealed the farmer dress
ing a jack rabbit he had killed.
III hang this fellow out to freeze to-
night" he said, and I'll live high for u
day or two"
well, you manage to keep the wolf
from the door," / asked.
NO wolf ever comes to my door," said
the sane hills philosophers; I'D eat him
if he did"
1t is said on good authority that in n
drive Of thirty miles in any direction from
Grant ten tons of fodder could not be
found.
The situation in Hayes and Hitchcock
Counties is but little better than in Per-
kins. County Commissioners Rhodes, of
Hayes County, gives the following de-
tails Of restitution and suffering in hs1
districts:
Il tell you the situation is about as bad
as it can be. We have raised no crops
no, sir, none. l speak from bitter eXpe.iA
ence, for you can see for yourself hat
there wasn't an ear of corn on one of
those stalks. Even the stalks are not
any too good fodder. And l am no worse
han my %neighbors. The stock has been
driven out of the country and sold for
whatever it could bring. Cows brought
as low as Sc or 50. although to-day they
are worth SIG. So we have no stock. Our
funds are about exhausted. There is very
little money in the treasury, but the mer-
chants cash our warrants at par. We
are offering limited aid only to the most
urgent cases, cutting our acquisitions
down to the lowest living quantity of all
the necessaries. No sugar, coffee or tea
is given out except to old or inirm per-
SONS. There is the greatest need of
fuel and flour at present. In the spring
everyone except a few will need seed Of
all kinds.
Many DESERVING Their Farms.
Postmaster Nickerson, of Marengo,
tells the following tale of helpless star
walton as he has seen and experienced
it in his neighborhood:
Il am keeping three families on u pen
sion Of So per month. Luckily, l have q
little credit here and there. The other day
| called on some %neighbors of mine, not
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10
WILL TRY
south Dakota Farmers Learning From
, Costly Experience.

south Dakota Farmers Learning From
, Costly Experience.
The dry seasons for several years coupled
WIN the low price for grain products. has
Dcgun to turn the attention of South Da-
hcia FARMERS more extensively to dairying,
ana as a result the past few months have
seen a number of local conventions or
I0rmtfs' Institutes, so called, at different
points over the state to discuss the question
OF DAIRY products. Many of these conven-
IONS have been attended by Prof. Wharf
ton OF the Agricultural College of Brook
ihgs, who is taking an active interest in the
movement, and attends supplied with the
necessary machinery for lessons in prac-
ucal butter making, and is earnestly at
worn TO develop dairying in the state.
AS an outcome of the numerous local
meetings.. ID. W. Dake of Wessingron. who
~ 1911 was an active promoter of the Ma
'ional Butter and Egg Association, vet in
existence, has called a meeting at Huron,
January and 5, to perfect a State Dairying
ASSOCIATION. Mr.. Dake has written Gov.
Sheldon, inviting his attendance and par
.tlclpation in the organization. The dates
are such that the Governor cannot attend.
but he gives the movement his hearty sane
tlon. and believes it to be a step in direc-
ton which will bring greater prosperity to
the state by turning the natural growth of
grasses into "A valuable product.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10
Two Banks to Close,

The First National Bank of Fort Pierre
has assigned to its creditors, and c. ID.
Meade of Pierre was appointed receiver.
The principal c%reditors'are the Georgetown
National Bank of Georgetown, Mass: John
Farnsworth of Cresco, Iowa: Bank of Volga,
NOlga, 5. ID. The bank holds plenty of
collateral to satisfy all fclaims, but was
obliged to close on account of slow cOllec-
tons.
The Bank of EdgertOn has also closed
its doors. A general assignment has been
made to Henry Harding, the present cOun-
ty treasurer and the largest creditor of the
institution. Crop failure and consequent
non-collections is given as the cause. The
aIncts are in excess of the liabilities, and
depositOrs will be paid in full.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10
SOUTH DAKOTA EDUCATORS.
Hold and Interesting and Profitable Scs-
sion at Huron.

Hold and Interesting and Profitable Scs-
sion at Huron.
The three days of the interesting and
profitable session of the South Dakota Edu-
c|ational Association at Huron has come TO
a close. Miss Kate Taubman, of Planking-
ton. vas elected president; w. w. Girton
of Howard, and Otis c. Crosse of Aberdeen.
secretaries, and Miss Jennie West of Nit
chcll, treasurer. The next meeting will be
in Aberdeen.
Gen. Bcadl" served notice that he would
offer an amendment to the associations
constitution Severing the "educati0nal
council" from the South Dakota Educa-
tional Association. This met the hearty
approval Of the association, most Of whom
regard it as an absolutely useless append
age to that organization.
In a brief talk by President Shannon. of
the State Board of Regents, he remarked
that the board would look carefully after
the interests and welfare of all the educa-
tiOnal institutions of the state the coming
year, even though the Legislature should
reduce the appropriation $25 1900. He also
wished the duties and powers of the board
TO be more definitely defined.
Gen. Bcadlc'S flag drill was a pleasant
feature.
At Friday afternoons general meeting IA
vote prevailed amending the constitution of
the association and severing the relations
of the association and the Educational
Council, and each are 10Y distinct bodies.
The council will continue to aid in perfect
M uniform system of education and pro-
NJ educational interests in general. The
~ elected officers are as follows:
NIOciation Miss Kate Taubman of
Planeint0n. president; w. w. Girton of
Howard. recording secretary: Otis .GroSc
# Aberdeen. corresponding secretary; Miss
Jennie c. West of Mitchell, treasurer.
County superintendent Department..
W. Watson of Turner County, president:
Miss Jennie G.. West Of Dawson, secretary:
Miss Kate VI. Smith, member of reading
circle board.
High school and College Department
Prof. Edward Dukes of Parker, president;
Prof. l.. i. McClenon Of Madison, Secre-
tary.
Common school Department-Mrs. Mary
towen OF lroquis, president; Edna :.
IWitchell Of |Flandreau, secretary.
Before final adjournment was taken a
aumber of resolutions were presented by
sA' committee. tOliSlStllS VI - II loui-;
II. j. Whipplc. j. X. Freeland and Sue j.
Neill, which were adopted by unanimous
jotc, among them one thanking the people
Of Huron for the cordial reception OF the
association and the interest shown in edu-
eational work, for the large attendance up
Oh the meetings, and the pleasant rooms
provided for holding the various depart
mcnt sessions. and acknowledging courte-
sizes of railways and hotels, which contrib
1led largely to the success of the meeting.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10
DEMAND HIS HEAD.
NEW YORK BANKERS WANT CAR
Isles RESIGNATION.
}. PicrDOnt Morgan and Other Wall
Street Magnatcs Urge the President
to Get a New Secretary of the Trcus-
ury-Thc Currency Bill.
The President Ia Angry,

Washington special: Mr.. J. PicrpOnt
Morgan, the famous New York banker.
and some of the other gentlemen who
were taken into the Presidents confidence
last fall concerning an issue of bonds have
been making Il secret visit to the White
House on an important crrand. They
asked the removal of John G.. Carlisle for
the reason that he has demonstrated his
unfitness to manage the t~inanccs of the
country and that his continuance in Office
will imperil the public credit and retard
improvement in the financial condition of
the country. Mr.. Morgan and his Assoc
ciates also endcayored to ascertain whore
the President stands with regard to the
currency bill now under consideration by
the House of Representatives.
President Cleveland is said by those
who associate with him to be very angry
ut this demand OF the New-Yorkers for
Carlisle's head. He is exceedingly in
dignant that Il coterie Of bankers should
have the effrontery to poke their noses
into the administrative affairs of the
government, demanding the dismissal Of
an official whom the President has hon
cred with his confidence. 1t is pretty Ger
tain that they got no satisfaction. 1t
may be confidently stated that the prcsi-
dent declined TO ask for Mr.. CarliSle's
resignation, but he is believed to have
promised to look after the finances him
self during the remainder of his admins
tration. 1t is known and admitted that
the President informed Mr.. Carlisle of
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10

The finest and best appointed library and
reading rooms in the whole northwest was
presented with appropriate ceremonies to
the citizens of Lead by Mrs. Phoebe A.
Hearst, widow Of the late Senator Hearst
OF california. The library and reading
rooms occupy the third floor of the the new
hall recently erected by the Miners Union,
and contains in addition to a well selected
stock of literature, embracing the leading
dailieS and periodicals of Europe and
America. all the paraphcrnalia necessary
to play the popular games now in vogue.
once a fortnight a free musical recital will
be given in the main reading room, Mrs.
Hearst having employed a librarian with
musical talent ana sent with the furniture
Il magnificent piano.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10
FOR CONTROL OF LIQUOR.
state Auditor Nipple Has a Scheme to
Settle the Liquor Problem.

state Auditor Nipple Has a Scheme to
Settle the Liquor Problem.
State Auditor Nipple has been at work
JOr a scheme to settle the much veXed
liquor problem in this state and has evolved
d plan which he thinks will stop the agita-
ton and discussion of the reSubmlSsion
question at every session of the LeglSla-
tirc, take the question out of the political
field. shut up the 'hOles in the wall" and
create a source of revenue for the state.
His plan. briefly outlined, takes into con-
SideratiOn the fact that under the conStitu-
'ional provision the only purposes for which
lcai and medicinal. On that ground he
proposes that the state take control Of the
sale of liquor for these purposes; place 1t
on sale only with registered pharmacists, in
original packages" at a commission, the
same as patent medicines; compel every
purchaser to give a receipt for the amount
OF liquor obtained, but demand no alfidavl
for the purpose for which il is secured; the
pharmacist to allow no package to be
opened or the contents 10 be used in the
place where it is sold. The plan provides
that II any pharmacist shall be guilty OF an
lniractiOn OF the law lie shall be punished
~ reyoking his certificate.
The plan further proposes the appoint
ment of a state chemist, who shall test all
liquor to be sold, and for the appointment
o' state Inspectors or prosecutors to lnNeS-
tlgate II prosecute cases of viOlotion OF
the law, thus removing any fear from ad-
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10

The Edmunds County election contest
cases have been decided. BY a recount or
dered by the court the Wells-Le Claire con-
test was decided in favor Of lie Claire. The
face Of the returns gave Wells, fusion cam
didate for States Attorney, seventeen IA
jorty, but the recount gave lie Claire, Re-
publican, seven majority. That for the
office of county Judge was given to Parm-
ley, Republican, he having a majority of
five over IIcaly, Populist. The returns
gave Healy Il majority of fourteen. The
court held hat where a cross (X) was put
at the head of the ticket all the candidates
were voted for unless their names were
erased. Hence the changes above noted.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10
PUBLIC DEBT STATEMENT,
The Amount OF Cash Owed by Uncle
Sam Increased in December.

The Amount of Cash Owed by Uncle
Sam Increased in December.
The monthly statement of the public
debt issued from the Treasury Depart
ment shows that Dec. 81, 1894, the public
debt, less cash in the treasury, amounted
to 1910 O3, $50, an increase for the month
of S31 800, 775. Following is Il recapitu-
lation of the debt: Interest bearing debt,
SG1J, 16S, 100, increase during the month,
S10,02J, 100; debt on which interest has
ceased since maturity, S1.S2J,S 500, de
crease during the month, S1,l3O; debt
bearing no interest, $3S3.2i7,34J. increase
during the month, Sl26, 100; total debt,
$1.654,315,3I9. of which $500, 1874, 104 are
certificates and treasury notes offset by
an equal amount of cash in the treasury.
Cash in the treasury is classified rs fol-
lows: Gold. Sl39, 6O6,35I; silver. S5O4.-
035,456; paper, $122,914. I59; general ac-
count, disbursing officers balances. etc.
SIG. 197, 10; total, S7S2, 7Ji,2S9; against
which there are demand liabilities
amounting to 5000. i1G, 100, leaving ii cash
balance of $153,337,579, of which $751;
244.44J is gold reserve.
The monthly statement of the receipts
and expenditures of the United States
shows receipts during December amount
ing to sd ,SG6, 1876: disbursements, $27.-
1885, 400, leaving n deficit for the month of
$5.269,324 and for the six months Of the
present fiscal year 10Th i65 The re-
ceiptS from customs were Sl1. 2U3, Oi9,
against SlO,26O,G 92 for the month of No
vcmber: from internal evenuc, $9.39l.-
$50, against $7,I14,TOi for November.
The receipts from customs during the last
six months were Sti9,Gtri, $50, or only
about S16i 900 less han for the first half
of last year. The receipts from internal
revenue during the last six months were
So, 100, 49,, or SS,2ol ,216 in excess of the
! first half of the last fiscal year.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10
Great Rush to keystone.

Just now keystone seems to be becoming
the gold camp of the west. People are
hocking in from all directions. No such
rush has been witnessed in the Hills since
the palmy days of the first gOldiind. Many
are compelled to sleep out under the trees.
1t is now thought that there is ore enough
in sight to insure an output OF 1000 tons
daily for the next twenty years. The aver
age value of the ores in all the mines is
about SIS per ton. The gold belt at Key
stone is one mile in width by four miles i'll
length.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10

verse sentiment which might influence o.
control the acts of county officials who are
dependent upon the votes of all classes for
position. The liquor is to be sold at a
proiit sufficient to cover all expense of ad-
mlnistering the law, and leave a margin OF
prollt Tor the state, which Mr.. Nipple thinks
VIII increase the revenue nol less than
500, 600 a wear
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10
A Fight With Burglars.

County Auditor J. \. Fowles at Canton,
had quite a time with two burglars. They
were after the large sun of money he had
in the house, but awakened him before Sc
curing the money. A tussle ensued, but
the thieves made their escape with IA few
dollars and without seriously injuring Mr.
EoWlpS.
The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-01-10
No Uprising.

Big Turkey and High Shield, leading
hostiles who took an active part in the up
rising of 1891 at Pine Ridge, declared Ill
answer to numerous questions that the In
dams were not engaged in the ghost dance;
that if they were ii was the Governments
fault for not keeping its promises. They
were quite peaceful, however, and said
there would be no uprising.