The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-07-18
SENT The UIES R)RE
Major Stouch Returns a
Wandering Indian Band.
PROHIBITS PONY SWAPS
How the Custom Worked to
the Indians Detriment

Major stouch of Darlington, agent of
the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, was in
Wichita yesterday.
Major Stouch has taken a new step in
the advancement of the Indian towards
the shining goal of a better ordered life,
and the step, as is usual in any work
pertaining to the Indians, is novel.
The major has prohibited among the
Cheyennes and Arapahoes the practice of
Indian pony swap.
1t is the practice among nearly all the
Indian tribes to visit" For instance, a
band Of Pawnees will load up families
and provisions and a string Of surplus
ponies and go wandering away to visit
the Cheyennes. In honor of their visit
the Cheyennes will give a dance, a re-
ligious ceremony which leads to an emo
tional frenzy In which an Indian be-
comes irrauonally prodlgal of all he owns.
During this condition of mind he wants
eagerly to present. his friends with
everything in sight, and ponies being
convenient, the visitor is usually shower
ed with horse flesh. But other chattels
are not exempt
II have seen" said Major Stouch yes
terday, Indians during this excitement,
give away their blankets; even take the
shoes from their chiIdrens feet to give
10 the visitors"
The visiting Pawnees then return home,
rich in ponies and thinking their hosts
the salt Of the earth. But the salt Of the
earth have likely given themselves poor
ard are having a hard row to hoe. In
the course Of a few weeks, and in re-
spouse to a social instinct which com
mands that a visit must be paid, an in
stinct equally true Of satin and red
blankets, the Cheyennes load Up and go
back to the Pawnees, getting back in the
way Of gifts ali they gave and then
some.
THE custom" said Major Stouch yes
terday. "lost the Indian time, encouraged
him to roam, impoverished him for a time
and did no good and much as the Indians
liked it and as much as I would Ike TO
have pleased them, I had TO stop IL in his
interest. [ went to the Indians and ask
ed them TO cease giving ponies as they
had done"
One of their spokesmen said to the
major; I'VE do not give away our strong
horses, only our little ponies that are not
strong and are not Of much account
Il want you to give the little weak
horses away, IF you wish" said the
major. THAT is all right. But when
yen want 20 give one away, go TO your
friend and say: I want to give you a
pony because you are my friend Don't
dance first and get all excited about it
and don't visit with a string of ponies to
give away
As a result the pony swap. as q social
feature in the Cheyenne country is now
bel9w par The major not very long ago
had 70 turn a band of PaWne1s home.
This last week he ordered band Of Utes
back 10 Colorado.
The INSTRUMENTATION maintained by
tho Indians IN the west Is brought out in
this connection, too About two weeks
as1 Major Stouch, who keeps in close
touch with his reservation, was astonish-
ed to hear that q band of Utes from
western Colorado had arrived at Canton
ment to visit the Cheyennes. He discov-
cred. too. that the Cheyennes had pre-
pared for their reception. BY means OF
secret messengers the visit had been en-
trely pre-arranged and not a white man
knew of it. The usual dancing and pony
swapping had begun TO transpive when
Major Stouch sent out and asked the
Utes to go home. They wanted to 60
through the Kiowa country, but as most
of the Cheyennes would have followed
them IN that direction. he sent them di-
rectly home. So The Utes are now home
ward bound on q route 400 miles long.
In speaking OF Major Stouch to a rep
resentative Of the Eagle recently in
Washington, Commissioner of Indian AZ
fairs Jones said:
4 think a great deal Of Major Stouch.
He is a wonderful Indian agent He
unites in himself discipline which is
necessary, and a patient regard and re-
spect for the Indians better side, which
Is also imperative"
Major Stouch, who has been in the IN
dian service IN Montana, the Dakotas
as well as Oklahoma. was told about this
yesterday ana he laughed good naturedly
over the compliment
Il think it is my temperament" he
said. (which makes me get along so well
with Indians. I am naturally patient I
am patient with the Indian. II he has a
complaint I sit down and hear him at