Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1900-03-03
INDIANS GOOD WILL.
Western Railroad Men Think It Is
Worth Having.
What Takes Place When the Ex-
tremes of Civilization AID Saw
agery Are Brought Close
Together.

the Indians treat everybody connected
with the railroad
The Indian is no fool" said a Great
Northern official with whom | discussed
the subject. 'He knows when he is
well treated and seldom expects any
thing unreasonable. This railroad has
never knowingly done an Indian
wrong. We paid literally for the right
to cross the reservation, and any diff
ferences that arise are treated with con-
SHERATON. We never try to impose up
ON the Indians IN any way, nor do we
permit them to impose upon us. When
trains first began to run through the
reservation a number of ponies were
killed by accident. We promptly paid
! for them and the owners were satisfied.
a few cunning Sioux thought they saw
IN the situation an opportunity TO make
money and drove their ponies 10 the
track to be killed and paid for. We dis
covered the trick and appealed to the
chief, who promptly suppressed the
iniquity. This is the nearest approach
to misunderstanding that we have
had"
a good story is told of a big chief who
wanted to trade 100 ponies for loco
motive. He did not appreciate the
utility of the track and thought he could
dash over the prairies at will with the
iron horse. 1t took some time and pa
thence to get the idea out of the chiefs
head, but he finally relented. 1t was,
however, great disappointment.
Another story is connected with pay
ment for the right Of way through the
reservation. 1t may not be quite accu-
| rate in letter, but il is true in spirit.
The through express from St. Paul to
Helena had not been running long
when a strange incident happened out
on the prairie.
y solitary Indian, feathered in state
/ ly fashion and mounted on horse of
rare beauty, occupied q conspicuous po-
sition beside the track and gave the en-
gineer friendly signal TO stop. Off
went the steam and gentle touch of
the airbrake brought the long train to Il
standstill.
The red man explained that he repre-
scented his tribe in matter of right of
way. There had been a mistake and the
railroad ought to pay some more money.
In this formal and diplomatic manner,
/ the Indian explained, the matter was
| presented for adjustment, in full con-
! tiGenCe that the great white chief who
built the railroad would be just to his
Indian friends.
For the engineer this was a poser
! 10 I,l ,,i. - 1
but he was, all the same. He called the
conductor, and all three discussed the
case. The white men knew nothing of
the merits Of the matter. The Indian
talked like one who understood his
business and was telling the truth.
The amount involved was only a few
dollars, and the conductor looked as
wise as possible. He was a man of com
mon sense, sharpened by frontier life.
With due deliberation he wrote out a re-
ceipt, which the Indian ambassador
signed and the engineer witnessed. The
money was paid out of the cash col
lections and the conference was at an
end
The red man mounted his horse and
NPPAASNA Ills 1uiS' liz SIlS LlCCl SlSpDGu
into the cab and pulled lever.
For an instant a party of eastern cap
italists occupying an observation car
were face to face with an Indian horse
man. The white men received lasting
impression of majestic dignity and
grace. The red man was dazzled by a
vision of luxury of which he had never
dreamed.
The extremes of civilization and saw
agery had met and parted in friend
ship. The Indian, according to tribal
custom, reported the success of his mis-
sion with solemn formality and sup
pressed joy.
The train conductor, according to the
regulations of modern corporation,
made notation to the auditor on
blank form provided for the purpose,
cash and asking that his report be held
in allegiance until he could secure the
approval of his irregular act by higher
official.
The approval came, with a statement
that the Indian was right There had
been a mistake in the right of way set
tlement. 1t was also stated. that the
president of the railroad had intimated
that while rules are sacred things there
are times when common sense NAV
serve a good urpose.-Atchison Globe.
Man Drunk, Block Signals Sober
The introduction of block signals on
railroads running fast express trains