The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-16
CHIEF RED CLOUD
| DYING IN DAKOTA,
Aeatest of Sioux Fighters Help
& less in His Tent at Pine
Ridge Agency.
oH,4r o,artrn Iknnr nRHlNn
&cE OWNED LARGE RANCH.
Medicine Men of His Tribe Hold
Daily "Powwows" in Vain
Z Effort to Cure
= Him.

Hne Ridge Indian Agency. s. Oak. Aug.
CfBud chief Of the Sioux, lies dying in his
little tent at his home one mile from this
aaoncy. Formerly the greatest of all In
dim chieftains. Red Clouds glory has de-
parted and he lies broken reed. depend
erH on charity almost for his daily bread.
white physicians have given up the hope Of
saving the old sachem's life. and state that
diisolution may come at any hour. surely
within a few weeks at the most. The medi-
cine men stir hold daily ''powwows" over
their dying chief. and make good medi-
cine in his behalf.
Rid Cloud. like so many Of the nations
great men, was born in obscurity, and by
sheer force OF will. bravery and intelli-
gence. rose. step by step. to be the chief
of the greatest. most warlike and most saw
aes tribe of American Indians. In his
thirty years war with the whites, from 1915
to- 1s76, Red Cloud became known as the
fercest and boldest of the Sioux leaders,
ana 1t was in those years that he gradually
worked his way forward until he was rec
oknized a. the big chief of all Sioux bands
"a tribsA
And shs old man has been diplomat Of
=
inss has rulsd his people and gained his
pdants IN . manner which many white po-
ideal bosses might well envy. Never a
fogesfu1 speaker. Red Cloud always en-
plSvsd sumo frst-class orator to represent
hi3 IA dSbats. and, even on the trips he
I'D snsds 10 Washington in the interest of
TT Indians. Red Cloud always refrained
ntm making set speeches But with his
- A. yy,outhpfecAS inst
what 70 say and how to handle points under
cc..,der.tion. And woe unto the man who
nsa1ed him.
BURIED HIS TOMAHAWK.
Then Red Cloud fought the whites he
aid so to the best of his ability. Descend
tn,rs like q whirlwind of death on a settle
mept. his band left CORY path in its rear.
BIZ when he signed his first peace pa
pei he buried his tomahawk. and to his
crttit It can be said that that peace was
never broken. Since that time he has lived
within tho terms of the contract. and for
twenty-three years has lived at this Pine
I3idge) agency, pensioner of the Govern
,nStit, and has done much to hold the other
In6lans in check during excitable times.
Although at ono time lord Of all Kansas.
Nebraska, Dakota and parts Of Iowa. Min
leeota. Wyoming and Montana, old Red
placed on the Dakota reservation Red
Cldnd was given a small body of land inn
mediately adjoining the agency in order
THAI he might be near to assist the Gov
eminent agents in preserving order Grad
ually this little body of land has been sold
10 the Government, until 1t contains about
whatever. Three months ago. becoming con-
WINGED that death was near, the old chief
cal}ed his children around him and divided
all his property, including 500 in cash.
which tie Government had just paid him
on& claim for horses: But he has fingered
lonfer than he thought.
Red clouds mind went back to the days
when he was q young man, more than half
century ago. and the old man told sew
erak of the young men Of the most danger
ou& position he was ever in. and the one
which gained for him his first title Of
Chief It was tale Of one man against
seven, and the seven were all killed. A we'll
knewn warrior was jealous of Red Cloud
and together with six of his followers. way
lat6 the young nan. Two rifles and five
boys and arrows were the armament of the
w1bchester. Red Cloud fell at the first fire
Wit bullet in the thigh, but from his
fla in the tall grass succeeded in killing
SION followers gathered around him. and
as wars broke out with the whites Red
Clopds following Increased. He. Joined the
feafful agony and torture of the sun dance
-aEeremony which requires more fortitude
than any other initiation the world has ever
knewn: and when, in 1866, the other chiefs
eigned a peace paper ceding valuable
LANDS to the whites, Red Cloud refused to
maze peace. but, instead. declared war.
BRAVES TRUSTED HIM.
Immediately the fighting men OF the tribes
fiooned to his standard, leaving the heredi-
tary chiefs without followers Then came
the Fort Phil Kearny massacre, in which
the Indians were led by Red Cloud, who dis
played tho greatest bravery and reckless
ness. the battle ending In the determination
OF the soldiers. Then It was that Red Cloud
was proclaimed chief of all the Sioux tribes
which position he has held for nearly forty
yeArA
Az Red Cloud Grew old he became childish
and returned to many habits of early child.
hood DESERVING the little old house which
was erected for him by the Government, he
now lives In q tent In one corner of his
yard. With him lives his aged wife, Mary
RED Cloud, and among those who know It Il
SAID that she 10 the real ruler Of the Sioux
that her word Il law with the old man
whom 6he rules with a rod Of iron.
With the passing Of Red Cloud win disap.
pear the last Of the great Indain chieftains
whose names are written on every page OF
the history Of the West.