Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-08-12
RED CLOUD IS DYING.
Aged Leader of the Sioux is Passing
 Away. Blind and Pennless.

Aged Leader of the Sioux is Passing
 Away, Blind and Penniless.
 Old, decrepit, blind and penniless, Red Cloud chef ot the Sioux, lies dy- ing in his little tent at his home, one mlie from the Pine Ridge agency, s. D.
 Formerly the greatest or all Indian chieftains-Washlngt nrst in peace, first in war"-Red Clouds glory has departed, and he lies, a broken reed, dependent on charity almost for his daily bread. White physicians have given up hope of saving the old sachem's life, and state that dissolution may come at any hour, surely within few weeks. The medicine men. how- ever, still hold daily ''pow-WoWs' over their dying chief and make good medi- cine" in his behalf.
 Red Clouds career has been as re- markable as has that of any white man in the country. Like so many of the, nations great men, he was born in ob- scurity, and by sheer force of will, bravery and intelligence, he rose, step by step, to be the chief of the greatest, most warlike and most savage tribe or American Indians. #.
 In his thirty years war with the whites, from 1S45 to 1876, Red Cloud became known as the dercest and bold est of the Sioux leaders, and 1t was during those years that he gradually worked his way forward until he was recognized as the big chief of all Sioux bands and tribes. And the old man has been a diplomat of rare ability, also, and in councils and meetings has ruled his people and gained his points in a manner which many white polltl- cal bosses might envy.
 Never a forceful speaker, Red Cloud always employed some flrst-class ora tor to represent him in debate. and even during the trips he has made to Washington in the interest of the In- dtans, Red Cloud always refrained from making set speeches. But with his council he instructed his mouth pieces just what to say, and how to handle points under consideration, and woe unto the man who failed him.
 When Red Cloud fought the whites he did so to the best of his ability. Descending like whirEwind of death on a settlement, his band left gory path in its rear. But when he sign ed his first peace paper" he buried his touahawk, and to his credit 1t can be said that that peace was never broken. Since that time he has lived within the terms of the contract, and for twenty-three years has lived at this place. Pine Ridge agency, a pen sioner of the government. and has done much to hold the other Indians in check during excitable times.
 But Red Cloud has never sruckled' to the whites, and to this day he in sists that the Sioux are not receiving the full benefits of the peace paper" which he signed years ago. The old man is still vigorously opposed to the new idea of the government in cutting off the rations of the younger Indians and forcing them to work for their liv- | ing. Two months ago he sent out let ! ters to the sub-chiefs instruct1ng them | to prevent the young men from work l ing, and saying that the government l would not see them starve; that the government owed them rations forever.
 Realizing that death Is at hand. the old man has issued a short address ! along those lines to the Sioux, saying l "The government has never given
 us our rights. It has not lived up to
 the contract But the Sioux can no
 more fight for their rights. Their | fighting days are over. They must | AOL QuGt1y dCCSPL. LuAS SiLunt4oA a0n a
 become practically slaves, working by the day for master, when they should be forever supported by government
 which has taken their hunting grounds from them.
 Therefore the Sioux must refuse tc
 work, and the white people everywhere
 will see the justice of their cause and
 will see that they are taken care of And would advise Indians of other tribes and nations to do likewise.
 Should all Indians refuse to accep!
 work they will remain as Indians, but
 should they follow in the paths of thf whites in years to come there will be
 no Indians. but instead will be lot o1 1 slayes.''-New York Herald.