The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-28
AN IRISH INDIAN CHIEF.
A Chicago Man Chosen to Rule Over
the WinnebagOs.

From the Topeka (Kan) Capital.
The latest achievement of civilization
has been to secure for Chicago Irishman
the position as chief of one of the great
Indian tribes of the West. The man who
expects to attain this honor is Thomas r.
Roddy, who has long been a resident of
Chicago. He is now about 40 years of age,
and is the son of an Irish trader who set
tied among the Wisconsin Indians more
than half a century ago. The boy, Thomas,
was born among the red men, and for
years he lived with them playing with the
youngsters in the streets of the Indian
villages and learning all arts of woodcraft
known to his associates. He acquired
their habits, clad himself in similar gar
ments, hunted with them, tished with
them. and, in fact, became an Indian in all
but color.
The old Irish trader. however. was
quick at making "A bargain, and he sue
ceeded in laying aside considerable money.
BY this time his son was quite well grown
and no was taken from his playmates and
sent to Chicago He went through the
public schools. spent a year or two IN
college. and went into business for him
self in Chicago. He married, and every
one supposed hat he had settled down TO
To a certain extent this was rrue He
had decided to take advantage of his OPP
portunities to acquire wealth and standing
in a civilized community, but in spite OF
all that. his heart was with the people
who had adopted him He continued 10
speak their language, and In order that he
might have an opportunity to converse
with some person in that strange tongue
he taught IL to his wife. From them their
children learned It, so hat when the fam
iIy goes back among the Indians, as they
expect to do In a few weeks, they VIII not
feel as If they were among strangers.
Occasionally Roddy went out 10 visit his
old friends. He kept on good terms with
all the prominent men of the tribe and
was the confidential adviser of the old
chief. Black Hawk. who had known him
ever since he was child. Often he pre-
vented them from being imposed upon ana
his knowledge of the ways of the white
man was Of great usefulness 10 the trlpe.
In the fan of 1897 the chieftain, who was
then nearly 80 years OF age. called tho
great men of she natioR together. He told
them that his end was approaching, that
he was growing weaker and was not abie
longer TO conduct the affairs of the tribe.
He suggested therefore, hat ne be per-
mtted to retire and that Roddy should be
named as his successor. While he was not
by blood an Indian he had learned their
could also speak their language not only
the language Of The Winnebagos. but also
the tongues OF the neighborlng Chlppewas
and Pottawatames.
Green Cloud Ambitious.
There was a. once a general agreement
that the succession should go to the white
man, ard Rodjy would have been inaugu-
rated at once n It had not been for he eff
forts Of an indian named Green Cloud, a
mon who felt hat Re was in direct line TO
the mantle OF the aged Black Hawk. As
he was an enemy Of the old chief. however
the latter would not consent 10 abdlcate in
his favor, but the opposition finally sue
ceeded in persuading he tr'besmen to post
none the matter under the specious plea
that the man who had ruled over the tribe
for more than the ordinary span or lie
should not be permitted to abdicate in that
way
In September last the old chief died
with his last breath he besought his as
sociaies not TO permit the affairs Of the
tribe to go into the hands OF Green Cloud.
explaining why he believed that such an