The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-06
A Rough Rider Who Won Dis
tinction for Bravery.
BY BIRTH A PAWNEE
A Wei Educated. Gentlemanly Fellow.
Possessed OF Remarka able Talents mi
Accomplishments None Would
Suspect He Was an Indian.

oppression and inhumanity 800 years
ago than this direct descendant of the
American red man has lone in the his
tory of to-day. History repeats itself.
Indian against Spaniard: only now 1t is
the spaniards' hour for defeat.
No career among the rough riders has
been more valorous than that of the
Pawnee Indian, william j. Pollock.
Pollock enlisted with the volunteers
from Oklahoma with the desire to enter
hard, active service, and when the
troops sailed for Tampa, leaving him
behind In charge Of the horses. he re-
belled against fate and hurried after
his regiment. His fearlessness as a
hard fighter was quickly shown. and In
Roosevelt's report there is honorable
mention Of the Pawnee Indian, who.
with two others. killed eight Spanish
guerrillas. Pollock also enjoyed the
distinction of being orderly In Roose-
velt's stan.
As a study of human nature. Pollock
Is a character of rare interest. In 1884
at the age of -. he entered Haskell In
stitute. at Lawrence. kas., a ~full-blood-
ed. non-English-speaking Pawnee boy.
His Indian name Is Se-tah-roo-wa-at-
hoo. The name william j. Pollock he
had taken from Major Pollock, Indian
Inspector.
The Pawnee remained at Haskell 10
years. and in all that time his record
was such an exceptional one that not
once was he subjected to a repri-
mand.
His artistic temperament first began
TO manifest itself soon after his ar
rival at the Indian school, and several
years later. through the influence OF
Ex-Governor Charles Robinson, he was.
placed under the supervision of an art
list, from whom he took his first in
struction in painting.
Many interesting anecdotes are told
of him at this period. Always uncom-
municative and apparently morose. IL
was difficult to ascertain to what eN-
tent he comprehended his Instructions.
His early attempts are the more inter-
esting. as they are representative OF
the true indian nature. Indian war
riors in battle array, buffalo hunts and
such objects. portrayed In crude color
ing. composed his first productions HIS
genius was remarkable. however, and
throughout his course in the grammar
department his natural artistic ability
continually developed.
The artistic temperament MANIFESTED
itself I'm other respects. as he possessed
a good bass voice and sang I'm the chapel
choir, was a musician and mastered the
slide trombone. and was for several
years bandmaster of the Haskell Insti-
tute band. He also served as drum
| mdJOI IoI ont Atdls ENlA'b'Nh'A ~
was extremely versatile. as his records
at Haskell show.
His graduation from Haskell In 1893
was the occasion of a visit from his
father. the Pawnee chief, Strah-raah-
roo-tee-wah-nee, or Big Eagle, n IL
was an interesting sight to see together
this civilized son and semi-saNage Ia
Their in all his native war paint and
paraphernalia. Big Eagle was an ideal
Indian chief. and his recent death de-
prived Pollock OF one proud N admir-
ing friend.
After his graduation Pollock took
special work in the normal department
at Haskell. and shortly after began his
art study in the school of fine arts at
Kansas university. His progres here
was remarkable. end the paintings and
sketches OF the Pawnee student have
gained a not limited reputation. In
technical drawings his work Is excel
lent; studies of the form. anatomy, the
human skeleton. show a surprising de-
gree of exactness. His instructor. Prof.
A. II. Clarke OF Kansas university,
speaks enthusiastically of his decora-
tive ability. and entertains the hope
that the Indian may some day continue
his studies in this direction and present
the history of art with a native Amer
lean decorator.
Another noticeable characteristic of
this moody. uncommunicative Pawnee
was his idea OF humor. His comic
sketches were numerous and embodied
a real strain Of genuine humor.
Pollock's portrait painting also was
one OF the branche of his genius which
surprised even his instructor. Always
a prolific painter. he was frequently
presenting friends with mementos Of
his art. superintendent PEARS of Has
kell institute Is In possession of an in
teresting painting, unusually so from
the fact that II gives a keynote to the
psychic development OF this descendant
of Indian braves. The painting is Pol
locks own conception OF the Messiah.
IL Is n water color Sxl0 inches. and
represents an Indian chief standing
upon the world. With upllfted hands
he looks toward a group In the clouds
above-the figure of Christ, on each
side Of whom is the form OF an Indian
: brave in the attitude Of prayer. To-
ward this group flies an eagle. the sym
bolical divine messenger OF the Paw
nees. The picture Is of value not only
on account of its artistic merit. but
. more because Of the psychological sig.
nihcance which II portrays In regard &c
, the development OF the Indian mind,
Pollock is a Christian Of the Protestant
: faith.
As a student Of Kansas university,
he was a favorite with his instructor.
: as well as with the art students with
whom he VAS thrown. and no society
9 youth" was more courteous and self
{ possessed at the class receptions than
. this Pawnee Indian. Although natur-
e ally communicative. he would con-
e verse freely with his acquaintance
!. when the demands Of society 50 neces-
, STATED. and on one occasion he so for.
got his natural reserve as TO give the
entire song OF the Ghost Dance. a
weird chant in monotone. ending with
a war whoop which sent cold shivers
e through the delicate nerves Of his fe-
male listeners.
Pollock was finally comne'lNd 80 iaavs
: Kansas university on account OF signs
: Of serious pulmonary trouble. on be.
o ing asked by his Instructor II re eVel
intended returning to ''the blanket.
he replied seriously: No no. I hav,