The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-23
SPOKANE MISSION.
Special Work OF Rhode Island
Women's Indian Association.
Reports of the Work Already Accom-
plished Among the People.

The Rhode Island Women's Indian As
sociation meeting in the First Baptist
Church, Monday, was replete with inter-
est. The new school at Spokane, Wash,
was the principal subject OF discussion,
and Mrs. w. w. Bliss presented very
encouraging report, as follows:
The preliminary story of the Spokane
Mission, now the special work OF the
Rhode Island Wonen's Indian Associa-
tion, has been set down In the sketch OF
organization work in that State during the
past summer. The further story is given
briefly in the events which have transpired
since then. Miss Helen w. Clark,
a lady of experience in Indian work and
most highly recommended, was employed
as soon as her first quarters salary was
raised, and reached the home OF our
friend and adviser, Rev: A. b. Cort, at
Saturday, October goth. On Monday the
22nd, they drove twenty miles to the
Spokane Agency where the night was
passed at the home 81 the agency physician
DIR. Thomas, and from there 20 miles
drive took them to Chief Lots home,
having spent the night in an Indian house
on the way, where Miss Clark slept on
the floor wrapped in blanket and COM
forter, while Mr.. Cort occupied the hay
stack outside. Chief Lot, unfortunately,
was absent on a hunting expedition,
which occasloned some delay In the
drove the whole length OF the reserva-
tion without finding house which could
shelter me, and SO we went on TO SPRING
dale to see about the lumber and to buy
things needed for the house and work.
think now that perhaps l can get gta the
preacher, to occupy while building the
new one"; but she found herself COM
PEELED to accept first the kind hospitality
of Chaplain and Mrs. Marvine at Fort
Spokane, where she could more comfort
ably plan and build.
Another letter has now been received
from Miss Clark which tells US that on
Nov. Sth she again drove to the Spokane
Agency to find that Chief Lot had re-
turned from hunting and she had an in
terview with him. The letter says: "He
Is fine looking man and worthy OF being
chief. His broad, high brow and thoughtful
air give him a distinguished look. he
has keen sense Of humor and smile
often lights up his face. The agent had
bought a new span of horses in Davenport,
but for joke told Lot that he had won
them by betting on the election. With
smile Lot answered, You get for MOTH
ing; you can give Lot one.
"When the matter of the school was told
him he listened in silence, making no re-
ply. Then the agent, through the inter-
prefer, told him that he could mako his
choice as to having the school. Lots ans
the Captain think do not know TO take
a good thing when IL is offered me?'"
Miss Clark adds, 81 like the look and
manner of the tribe. There were about
dozen OF them with Lot and they have
bright, pleasant look. The doctor says
he would be surer OF his life gong through
their reservation than among some OF
the white settlers. Mr.. Cort said he
had never had anything stolen while
among them, and that those who professed
to be Christians kept Sunday rigldly will
not thres or reap as does the white settler
about them, and even in lesser things
keep the letter OF the law.
.Chief Lot allows none OF his band to
have more than one wife, and his word
carries weight with the white men as
well as the Indians, as he is just and up
right. Before he became Christian be
was incorporate ana disorderly; now of
course he never drinks"
1t seems that the winter Is the sure
time for gathering the children i'm school.
lt has been long deferred wish of
Chief Lot that he might have teacher
for his women and children, and this has
finally been accomplished through the
efforts OF Mrs. Quinton, president OF the
National Association, who visited Rhode
Island during the last summer and sue
ceeded i'm arousing an interest in this long
neglected tribe which numbers about 400.
The school opt ned on Jan. with 80
pupils, ranging In age from b to 10 years.
So anxious were some OF them TO be In
school that they were camping near by,
although there were three feet OF snow and
the temperature below zero.
The money with which to build the
cottage to serve as schoOlroom and home
for the teacher, Miss Helen w. Clark, was
given by the president OF the Rhode
Island Association, and the enterprise Will
be for tho present sustained by this as
fatt