The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1896-02-29
Az the Head Chief Of the Entire
Sioux Nation, He Ranks With the
Chiefs Famous In American His.
tory-Of Late Years He has Devoted
His Life to Civilisation-Incide
In His Career.

y desire 10 once more snake nanuS
with the great father (meaning the
president of the United States, and
then return to his reservation to die.
This "last visit" will be in conformity
with what is recognized practice
among many members Of the Sioux ma
tiOn, who, however, being of lower
rank than Red Cloud. are satisfied to
make their last visit include their
agency only. Instances are known
where old Indians, who felt that their
days were numbered, arose from sick
beds for the purpose Of making final
visits to the agency, and thus show
their good will toward the agency au-
th0rities.
Red Cloud is certainly the greatest
Indian of modern times, and the last
of a long line Of famous chiefs. He is
the head chief of the entire Sioux ma
tion, comprising about 10000 persons.
and ranks in the same line Of chiefs as
Powhattan, Osceala. Black Hawk, Ger
onimo and others prominent in history
MisinfOrlned and careless writer's have
caused newspaper readers to look upon
subchiefs Of minor degree-such as Lit
tie Wound, Two Strike, American
Horse and Others-thrOugh magnlfying
glasses. Little Wound, for instance, Is
simply what might be called a second
hand leader of an unciviliZcd and semi
hostile band Of Sioux. Red Cloud, dur
ing late years, has given his efforts to-
ward civilization, and because he
wears ordinary white mans clothes,
and because some of the subcl,iefs
stick to paint and feathers, he has been
considered IN a wrong light by the su-
perficial reader. But. nevertheless,
Red Cloud is far ahead of any and all
of them, being the absolute ruler Of
the great Sioux nation.
The early deeds of Red Cloud have
taken their place in history, aud cover
the period during the early settlement
and development of the central and far
West, when the relentless warfare Of
the Sioux and other Indian tribes
against the encroachments of the
whites dotted the overland trails to
the California gold fields with the skel-
etOns Of thousands of adventurous gold
seekers.
Later, during the Indian war which
Is best known because of the Custer
massacre ON June %, 1876, Red Cloud
was preparing to Join the hOstiles, but
the seizure by Gen. Crook Of the po-
MES of himself and followers frus.
trated their design. Since that time
Red Cloud has Ostcnsibly been ut peace
with the whites. During the early part
of the Sioux outbreak at Pine Ridge
agency in 1S9O-'91, he remained quiet
ly at his home near the agency, AID
though there was little doubt that the
H,o ,r,O,0 lnl r. <k,n
general among them used every means
to prevail upon him to cast his for.
tunes with them and again lead the1D
to battle against the whites.
Alarmed by a False Report.
On several occasions during the lat
ter part of November and through De-
cember, 1890, Red Cloud visited the
headquarters Of the newspaper corre-
the progress of the difficulty, and 1t
him. Red Cloud was decidedly down.
dations committed by the hcsti' cs, and
lost no opportunity to counsel peace
and use his influence to end the trouble
bloody conflict. Red Cloud and his In.
of the most powerful bands which par.
ticipated in tile Custer massacre. were
together almost constantly during this
period, and were frequently at the
agency up to the day of the battle Of
Wounded Knee, Dec. 20, 1880.
For some weeks previous and mp to
so-called "friendly' Indians encamped
nj, f1,a Vl,,< t0,s, NJ
the battle, 80 distorted as to make it
had disarmed Big Foot's followers,
stood them in a row and shot them
down like rats In trap, caused the
friendly Indians encamped about the
agency to become alarmed, and they
at once stampeded to the adjacent
hills. and made every preparation for
battle. Red Clouds dwelling, fine
frame building. stands a short distance
northwest of the agency buildings, ON
the bottom lands along White Clay
creek. and 1t was there that the larger
portion Of the stampcding Indians
gathered. presumably for the purpose
of coaxing Red Cloud to stampede with
them and assist in avenging the death
of Big Foot and his people. While
surrounding Red Clouds house some
Of the Indians opened fire upon the
agency, thinking. 10 doubt, that in
excitement Of the moment the war
spirit of the good chicftian would be
aroused sufficiently to induce him to
go with them.
After exchanging shots with the
troops and Indian police for time the
Indians retreated, taking Red Cloud
with them. he afterwards insisting
that they forced him to accompany
them. The next day word was re-
ceived at the agency that the stamped
ing Indians were attacking and at
tempting to sack and burn the Drexel
mission, located some four miles north
of the agency, and the Seventh caval-
rv, Col. Forsyth commanding, was at
once sent to drive away the hostiles.
It was soon after driving the Indians
from the vicinity Of the mission that
the cavalry narrowly escaped q repetl-
tion Of the fate Of Custer and his