The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-02
INDIANS NURSING SOLDIERS.
DAUGHTERS OF CHIEFS SERVING
SICK BOYS IN BLUE.

Devoted to Their Duties and Eager
20 Anticipate the Wants of Their
Patients-HONv nm Irish Cavalry
man Was WoOed and Won by the
Daughter of Cloud Engle-His
Daughter Has Not Forgotten That
Her Father WAS "a SoIdier-Indinns
Who Have Renowned Tribal Al
Iegiance TO Devote Themselves TO
Humanity.
OUT IN The First Division hospital four
Indian women are nursing back to health
the blue-coated boys of Uncle Sam.
They are all of the Sioux tribe, and three
of them at least are descendants of noted
chiefs. To-day they remind one but lit
tie of their ancestry as they move about
among the stricken soldiers. clad in the
garb of Catholic Sisters Yet they were
born in tepees, on reservations in the Their
wilds of the Dakotas, and but for the fact
that they were fortunate enough to at
tract the attention of Father Craft, de-
voted priest among the Indians, would
doubtless to-day be leading the ignoble
and unsatisfactory lives circumstances
have prescribed for the descendants of
the aborlgines.
These four nurses comprise what is
known as the Congregation of American
Sisters" an order founded by Sister Cath
crime. a full-blooded Indian, In 1888 The
order, which received the sanction of the
Pope, Is intended for work among the
Indians primarily, and while the member
ship is not confined to Indians, so far only
those of Indian blood have been admitted
to 1t. Its purpose is TO carry out nine
tenth century American principles In
church matters, and eventually 1t is hoped
to extend its membership greatly and
make 1t a power for good. Father Craft,
who is also In the hospital as a contract
nurse, is chaplain for the sisters. On the
list of nurses their names appear as
Susan Bordeaux, Two Bears, Anna Il.
Pleats and Ella Clark. In the Congrega-
ton they are known as Mother Anthony,
Sister Joseph, Mother Bridget and Sister
Gertrude.
Mother Anthony is the granddaughter of
Spotted Tail, head chief of the branch Of
the Slouxs, and was born at the Rosebud
agency in South Dakota. Sister Joseph is
the daughter of the old chief, Two Bears,
of the Standing Rock agency in North Da-
kota. Mother Bridget Is the granddaugh-
ter of Cloud Eagle. chief of the Black
foots, and Sister Gertrude is the daughter
of one Of the chiefs of the Santees. Moth
er Bridget is the daughter OF romance,
equal in many respects to the weh-knoWn
story of Pocohontas. Her father was an
Irish cavalryman. During an engagement
I1ga. he t,,x IA oh
was almost wiped out, he and four others
were captured by the Indians. The Irish
soldier. with the characteristic bravery and
stubborness of his race, had fought 10 the
bitter end using his rifle as club Wheh
his ammunition was exhausted and send
ing many a Blackfoot to the happy hunt
| ing grounds~of his race. The Blackfoot
| tribe was feverish for revenge on the man
| who had slain so many of It's warriors.
| His four comrades an captivity were kllied
and the Irishman was held for special tor
| tnres His courage never forsook him
! and while tied to tree he defed his cap
| tors. Approaching his bravery and SUI
perb fighting qualities, some of the chlefs
concluded that he would be valuable &C,
ouisition to the tribe. But the offer oil
adoption was scorned by the soldier, who
| had seen his comrades slaughtered.
Turn me loose, yelled he at the chiefs
land I'll lick the whole tribe of you.
Finding that the soldier was determined
not to accept the offer of life as mem,
her of their tribe, the Blaekfoots decided
10 nut him to the torture Before the
preparations had been made the daughter
of Cloud Eagle. infatuated with his pray
cry. claimed him for herself.
The Irish solder was impregnable &c
| the offers of the chiefs. Fear OF deatf
could not lead him to accept adoption as
one of their number But when love pui
in its claim he yielded,
nThe girl want you" said Cloud Eag.e
as he stood ready to cut the bonds thai
held the prisoner.
"Shure an she can have me, them re
Piled the gallant Irshman.
| And so Mike became a Blackfoot, anC
| his daughter came to bear the time
| ored Irish name of Bridget when she en-
tered the ssterhood. The soldier and thu
| Indian maid were married by a Catholic
priest soon after peace was arranged witt
the Indians, and the bride came 90 th'
fort to live with her husband until his time
in the army expired
Mother Bridgets complexion is quite
light. She has a soft peasant voice {
light. quick movement, and is devoted t.
her work as a nurse.
MY father was a soldier" said she yes
terday, land is a pleasure TO me, al
wen as a duty, to nurse the men win
wear the same uniform that he wore"
The four Indian sisters are in the wdrC
for the men suffering with measles. They
are on duty twelve hours, with two hour
for dinner. Outside of the novelty of be
ing attended by the daughters ana grand
daughters OF Indian chiefs men who have
been under their charge have found then
the kindest and most attentive of nurses
eager to anticipate their wants and NEE
all their requirements. The sisters eX
pect to go with the army 70 Cuba anC
there continue their work among the ~.
Father Craft is the son Of DIR. Craft
professor in the New York Medical Colleg
many years ago. He is a physician b!
education, leaving that profession to en-
ter the priesthood. He has spent man.
wears among the Indians and was al Pin
Ridge agency during the honblous time
Of 1890. being present with the Seventh
Cavalry at the fight at Wounded Kne
creek, and numbered among the wound
ed Father Craft believes that the pos
~.