The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-02-03

were ueiu III contempt Dy MIN unless
there was a strong, firm hand admins.
tering them. In that case Red Cloud,
although cowed, would stalk past the
agents Office with meek and lowly
air, but one could rest assured that
his old red heart was in rebellion.
One day several years ago "Old Red"
was missing from his reservation. Not
one of his wives or followers knew
whittier he had gone. At least they
said so. Runners were sent here and
there, but no trace of the old fellow
could be found. Days passed, when
finally the agent received telegram
from Washington to the effect that Red
Cloud, dressed in ready made suit of
clothes, had called at the white house to
see the president on his own hook.
Later it was learned that the aggrieved
traveller informed the executive that
the agent was baby, that his people
were getting pickaxes instead of beans
for rations and that. above all other
things, he had not yet been paid for
the ponies the troops had taken from
him. week later Red Cloud appeared
on the reservation as unexpectedly as
he had disappeared. He had made the
long trip without escort or permit, and
had made his appeal single-handed and
without the presence OF delegation of
his tribesmen, n custom which he held
in contempt.
Of all the agents at Pine Ridge Red
Cloud held but one in respect. This
was DR.. McGillicuddy. who now lives in
nj II 4
icine in Detroit. When DR.. McGillicud-
dy took charge of the reservation Red
Cloud at once attempted to hold the Off
GERS in contempt. He even went so far
as to laugh at the doctors slender
physique and to pooh-pooh the way af-
fairs were being conducted in the
agency Office.
One day Red Cloud was particularly
offensive. McGillicuddy. who was not
courting trouble. hut who is not afraid
of the devil himself, took the pompous,
conceited leader of the Ogallalas and
pulled his big Roman nose and swatted
him hip and thigh. AS Red Cloud
emerged from the Office door he was
kicked and sent sprawling upon the
walk. From that time until McGilli-
cuddy left the agency he and Red Cloud
were the best of friends. So much did
the Indian think of the doctor in fact,
that he bestowed upon him the name of
Thunder-in-His-Neck observing, 1 it is
supposed, the hoarse voice of the doc
tor. One night Red Cloud was sorely
troubled with an obdurate liver. He
called at the agency pharmacy and told
McGillicuddy by means of signs and an
interpreter that he was i'll. Two doses
of calomel were given the red man,
who swallowed the powders aud pro-
ceeded to make payment. When he was
told that the medicine was free he de-
manded two more doses, which he
tossed into his mouth. Later that night
there were wild howls and grunts from
nearly a week before "Old Red" ap-
peared for duty. His face then looked
like an old russell apple. so wrinkled and
shriveled was it. So profoundly weak
was he that he could smile but feebly
to DR. McGillicuddy, who found the old
man squatting on knoll above the
agency and gazing wistfully at the set
ting sun.
Red Cloud was very old man when
the Sioux war of 1890 filed the west
with alarm. Those who were in that
campaign well remember him as bent
and tottering, wrapped in a long, faded
purple overcoat and baggy trousers,
the legs of which fell upon pair of
poorly decorated moccasins. His face,
deeply creased with age and woefully
shrunken. was made doubly repulsive
by huge pair of blue goggles, which
he wore because of his fast failing
sight. Red Cloud wore neither paint
nor feathers. He looked like the veriest
"coffee cooler" of the agency--a red
gnome, dessicated. ill-smellingsavage,
who seemed ready to be crunched by
the hand of death any time. That was
over seven years ago. There is now
little left of the Indian who for over
three generations has been bloody,
crafty, yet interesting character of the
Sioux nation. Counties, towns and
horses bear his name, but the savage
himself will soon be no more. The last
of the really great leaders of his tribe
is now passing over the divide. where
doubtless his untutored ears hear the
chant of those who have gone before.
But when Red Cloud dies it will be with
heart still steeled against the whites
and a protest against the injustice of
their government. He will die an ir-
reconcilable, as did Sitting Bull. He
will leave a daredevil of son, Jack
Red Cloud, for the troops to snbdue at
some future time.