Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1901-03-14

There is restlessness among the
Sioux. From the Rosebud, from Pine
Ridge and from Standing Rock, names
picturesquely suggestive and descrip
tive of little but peace, comes the news
OF a threatened revolt, that if precipi-
tated promises from the present tenn
per Of the braves to send them on the
red pathway, which they have not trod
for ten years. When word comes from
the White River country that the Sioux
warriors are bent on trouble it means
simply that the families of the braves
are hungry. The government DEGREES
that the Indians shall have issued to
them a certain amount of food. They
do not get it. Uncle Sam buys a steer
weighing LOO pounds. By the time the
animal is delivered to the Indian family
for which it was purchased it's weight
hos dwindled to 800 pounds or less. The
ration issue, however, is made on the
basis of the purchase weight. The beef
does not last the time that the govern
ment allots; the squaws and pappooses
cry Of hunger; the head of the family
takes his rifle, and to avert the starv-
Ing Of those who are dear to his Indian
heart kills the steer of some white set
tier. Then the cry goes forth from
the frightened agents and from the set
tiers on the reservations borders that
the Sioux are on the warpath. There
is a killing two, and war comes in
earnest. It is the same old story over
and over again.
Provided the Sioux can be held in
other influential chiefs a great con-
ference of the whole nation is to be
called, at which delegates will be cho-
sen to go to Washington to see the
"Great Father" and ask for redress of
grievances. Time was when the Sioux
Chiefs would have scorned a conference.
There are living today leaders with
dimmed eyes, but still fiery hearts, who
on smaller provocation than a broken
government promise and the starving
Of a few pappooses would have mixed
the black and green paint, washed of
the peace color and have gone forth
against a legion Of soldiers and re-
5oiced in the fray. American Horse, Lit
tie Wound, Two Strike, Short Bull and
Kicking Bear, and above all others Red
Cloud, are now only names to conjure
with. Spotted Elk may be Of service
In council, but the strength of the 9th
ers was for war.
Red Cloud was a Sioux leader more
terrible than Sitting Bull. There was an
Unquenchable hatred in his heart for
the white despoilers OF the land Of his
fathers. Unless within a short time he
has pitched his tepee on the prairies of
heart. Red Cloud, the suggestive name.
Thirty-five years ago it held for both
soldiers and settlers in a double sense
q scarlet significance, for when Red
Cloud appeared on the horizon there
followed the whirlwind of war.
Immediately following the civil war
Red Cloud met in battle many of the
greatest white warriors to which that
conflict had given fame. The discovery
Of mineral wealth in Montana made
necessary from a government point of
view the erection and garrisoning of
many military posts along the route
elading across the prairies to the mines.
Fort Phil Kearney,on the Powder River
trail, was built and manned. While
the soldiers were on the way to the
new fertilization q scout came riding
hurriedly in. After a moments talk
with the commanding officer, Colonel
Fetterman, the two put spurs to their
horses and galloped forward. SEirting