Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1900-05-26
APPROACHING THE GRAVE.
nea Cioud, the Famous War Chief, ID
Now Feeble, with Fail.
lng light.

At his home near Pine Ridge agency,
Red Cloud, the last Of the great war
chiefs, is quietly passing the twilight Of
his long and eventful career. Red
Cloud, says the Globe-Democrat. is
the last Of the long line Of fn-
nous Indian chiefs, OF which Powhat-
tan, 0sceola, Black Hawk and Tecum-
sch were the earlier leaders.
'Aiisinformed and careless WRITER'S"
said C. C. Marrivall, of Pine Ridge
Agency, while in the city performing
his duties as official interpreter Of the
United States court, "have caused
newspaper readers to look on sub
chiefs Of minor degree through magni-
flying glasses. Red Cloud during late
years has given his efforts toward civ
ilization; and because he wears ordi-
nary white mans clothes, and because
some of the subchiefs stick to paint and
feathers, he has been considered in q
wrong light. Nevertheless Red Cloud
Is far ahead Of any and all Of them,
having been distinctively the war chief
Of the powerful Sioux nation during
the long years OF warfare between the
whites and Indians throughout the ter
ritory now embraced in the pakotas,
Nebraska, Wyoming and Montana.
"When in his prime he was aclsnowl-
edged to be the greatest Indian tao
tician Of his generation. Red Cloud
for years has lived quietly at his home
q short distance northwest OF Pine
Ridge agency, on the bottom land Of
White Clay creek, within plain view
Of the agency. He lives in q comfort
able frame building. In front Of the
house stands n tiagpole, and whenever
Red Cloud sees that the stars and
stripes have been hoisted on the agen-
cy buildings he, to show his loyalty to
the United States government, hoists
a similar flag ON the staff near his
home.
During late years Red Clouds eye
sight has steadily failed, until to-day
1t is impossible for him to distinguish
objects at greater distance than five
or six yards. On fine days one Of the
pathetic sights Of the agency is to see
Red Cloud slowly making his way
through the agency streets, leaning for
support and guidance on his faithful
and devoted Indian wife, who usually
leads him about. Red Cloud Is now very
old and is becoming quite feeble, al.
though his mind is us clear as II was in
his younges days. His wife Is nearly as
old, but is not nearly SO feeble, and in
sists on accompanying the old warrior
in his journeys around the agency and
to the homes Of old friends living in
the immediate vicinity.
He seems to delight in calling on and
visiting the old-timers at the agency
Indians and squaw men who lived with
the tribe during the thrilling days
when Red Clouds blood coursed
through his veins more hotly than 1t
does now, and when his sole ambition
was to lead his fierce warriors in battle
against the whites.
"Red Clouds influence over the MEM
bers Of his tribe is shown by the man.
ner in which they follow his advice in
refusing to accept allotments of land
in severalty under IN act of congress.
Red Cloud was satisfied that the land
in the Pine Ridge reservation was not
suitable for agricultural purposes, and
he advised his brethren not to take
lands in severalty. Up to this time not
one Indian on the entire reservation
has taken an allotment.
"When Red Cloud dies the whole
Sioux nation will turn out to do hom-
age to his memory and testify to the
great esteem in which he was held by
all his tribesmen."