Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-01-27
WANT A MILLION.
Delegation Of Indian chieftains Make a
Trip to the City to See sena-
tor McCumber.
Mandans, Grovons and Arickarees Who
Want a Million for Lands
Claimed by Them.
Arrive Too Late to See the Senator,
But Prepare Statements to Be
Sent On.
Indians Want a Million.

A delegation of Indians came down
from Fort Berthold yesterday to inter-
view Senator-elect McCumber relative
to a claim they have to present against
the government, and, if possible, to en-
list his aid in securing consideration of
their representations. The delegation
numbered some of the old chiefs of the
Mandan, Grovon and Arickaree tribe
and was accompanied by interpreter Joe
Packinau. The party was much disap-
pointed to find that the senator elect
had gone. The chiefs were convinced
that their eloquence in representing
what they claimed to have been the in
justice done them, and the rightful title
they claim to possession to an immense
tract of territory, would have been
potent in enlisting the assistance Of the
new senator in bringing their claim to
the attention of the proper authorities
at Washington, and securing for them
the sum of a million dollars which they
want as payment for land which be-
longed at one time, so theyIclaim, totheir
tribes, and whichthey have never trans
ferred to the government.
The most interesting figure of the del
egation was Crow-Flies- High, chief of
the Grovon tribe, and an old man of
nearly eighty years. He is yet active and
in good health, although his hair is
grizzled gray, his shoulders begin to
show the effects of age, and his face is
wrinkled and worn. He has in his prime
been a remarkable specimen of phys
ical manhood, for his shoulders are
broad, his chest massive, his neck full
and muscular, and his eye is still keen
and bright. He speaks no English but
is earnest in talking through his inter
prefer. The old chief wa a visitor at the
TRIBUNE office last night, where he was
highly interested in the mechanical part
of the institution and awed at the type
setting machine. He took away with
him a line Of type cast from the machine
which he regards with reverence as a
wonderful production, and something
completely beyond his understanding.
The party of clriefs were deeply disap-
pointed to find that the new senator had
left the city, and they made statements
of their case to Receiver Satterlund Of
the land office, with whom they were ac-
quainted. Their statements and claims
We're transcribed and will be forwarded
to the senators, for presentation to the
department.
Among the Indians present are Crow
Fly High, Sitting Bear, Old Dog, Bears
Ghost, Black Hawk, Wounded Face and
Charles Burr. They claim that the con
fines OF their reservation were establish
ed screnty-two years ago by Il govern
ment commission that came up the river
in boats. In extent they claim it covers
the territory from the Little Hart river,
near the present site of Mandan, west to
the head Of the Little Missouri, thence
to Powder river and along the Yellow
stone, north to the Canadian boundary,
west to White Earth and the vicinity of
the present site of Minot, and thence
south to Bismarck. The territory claim
ed includes the towns of Bismarck, Man.
dan, Minot, and a score of other towns
besides millions of acres of grazing and
agricultural land. This reservation, ex-
cept for a small portion, they claim was
never transferred to the government.
By treaty ten years ago part of the land
was coded, but this treaty is soon to eX-
pire: and now that this is the case the
Indians want some arrangement with
the government, whereby they shall re-
ceive a million dollars in payment for
their claim to the rest of the land.