The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-09-13


council, but the season was exceptional
ly wet and all the streams and slough
flooded, rendering travel in a wild coun
try very difficult, and this, togethe
with the Indians natural Indifference
had deferred all the distant bands from
coming, and it was nearly three week
before the traders and their courier
could bring all these remote and scat
tered people together.
The time was well employed, how
ever, by the commissioners in acqualnt
ing themselves with Indian characte
and needs, and by the traders In Great
ing pro-treaty sentiment among tn
gathering hordes.
The Indians busted themselves eacl
day with some national pastime o
superstitious rite, much to the enter
tainment of the whites A big bal
game between the young men OF rlva
bands, or two companies of youn!
squaws, would be the attraction on
day grand wedding, virgin feast
dramatic representations OF hunting
scenes and savage warfare, and, be
cause of the terrific thunder storms
then prevalent, a big dance held t.
appease the storm god, by breaking
the wing of the Thunder bird-each IL
its turn varied the daily program O.
genuine savage life here presented.
With the commission had come Mr.
James M. Goodhue, the first editor IL
Minnesota, and writer of much abili
ty, whose daily correspondence to hi
paper, the pioneer, not only con
tanned detail account of the making
of the great treaty but are vivid, also
with graphic descriptions of the In
dian life about him.
With the commission had also come
Mr. Frank Blackwell Mayer, an arts
of considerable merit from the state O.
Maryland, who busted himself eacl
day in sketching Indian countenance'
and costumes, and whose painting o.
the signing of the Treaty at Travers'
des Soiux,'' after a sketch made OF
the spot, is one of the most valued
treasures of our Historical Society
affording fine study for great his
torical painting of an event the mos
momentous as it was the most pic
turesque in the history of our grea
northwest. Thus fortunately, pen ant
pencil have preserved for us that mem
orable event, when savagery surround
ed by thousands of her sons surrendered
in peaceful council her choicest do
main to civilization.
On Friday morning, July Is, 1851
most of the Indians having arrived
the council met for its first session
After the commissioners had Informed
the Indians at length of the wishes O.
the government, recess was take1
until next day to give the Dakotas al
opportunity to discuss them.
Saturday, the pre-arranged sigma
of the firing of guns having beer
given, the council reassembled, bu
the Indians were not disposed to talk
Finally Wee-chan-hpee-e e-tay toa1
Having the face of starr, called thu
Orphan by the whites, head chief O.
the Sissetons from Lac Traverse, ROSE
and complained that some of his young
men, on the way to the treaty, haC
been turned back by the whites. Gov
Ramsey, in explanation, stated that
the commissioners had waited as Ions
as they could, since other business
demanded their attention, and thu
food supply was getting short. This
did not satisfy Eesh-t -hen-ba SLEEPY
Eyes,, prominent Sisseton chief o.
the Swan lake band, who personally
was bitterly opposed to the treaty
Rising he addressed the commission
Fathers: Your coming and asking
me for my country makes me sad anC
your saying that am not able to dc
anything with my country makes me
still more sad" he then alluded tt
the young braves who had been turned
back, as his NEAR relatives, an6
declared his intention to leave the
council, upon which his warriors
raised tumult, which broke up that
session. At this critical moment the
commissioners promptly proclaimed
that whether a treaty was made OF
not was immaterial to the whites, and
since the Dakotas were not disposed to
treat the matter would be dropped,
and orders were given to issue nc
more rations to the Indians, but to
strike the tents and be ready for de-
parture in the morning.
This decisive action had the desired
effect, for the great majority of the
Indians were now really in favor OF
the treaty, because of its promised re-
wards and such older chiefs as Sleepy
Eye and Red Iron dared not oppose
the wish of their young men. Hence
before night delegation from the In
dams awaited on the commissioners,
begging them to remain, as the Dako-
tas wished a treaty.
The council, therefore, resumed its
sittings on Monday noon, when, after
an apology from Sleepy Eye for his
conduct on Saturday, Oo-pee- ya-hed-
ava Extending Tall, Wahpeton
chief, commonly called "Curly Head"
by the whites, acting as spokesman
for the Indians, requested written
statement of the proposed treaty, that
his people might the better understand
and discuss it in their private councils.
This was granted and an adjournment
was taken until the next day to give
opportunity for the private delibera-
tions
The Indians met for this purpose at
the wigwam of Chief Takara 1.-THE
Enemy on top of the bluff, back of
the commissioners tents. At seven
clock next morning the council reas-
sembled and Eyangmani Running
Walker), known to the whites as big
Gun, - head chief of the Wahpetons,
handed to the commissioners paper
certain amendments to the
treaty proposed by the Indians.
Another adjournment was taken to
give both parties time to consider and
settle points still in dispute, and to
nave the secretary frame the final doc
lment in proper form. 1t required an
Ill night session of the secret Indian
council to adjust matters, and the
of the commissioners was
lot fully agreed to until only half an
lour before the important document
vas signed.
Mr.. Goodhue, an eye witness of the
inal scene on Wednesday, July 23d,
S51, thus writes of it: ''This is the
Law fixed by the grand council at