The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-11
Redskin Sleuths Stole a Sat
chc1 Of Documents, and the
Commissioners Who Had
Obtained Signatures Of the
Aborigines Were Feazed IN
Their Efforts to MAKE
Good to the Government.
TWELVE years mystery was re

A TWELVE years mystery was re
y Gently cleared up in Washing
L ton through the balf-rationaI
confession Of an inmate of the Govern
ment asylum for the insane.
In the winter Of 1Sg0-'91 the Sioux
and Cheyenne Indians. under the lead
ership of Big Foot and the notorious Sit
unE Bun. engaged IN the last serious
outbreak against the rule of the white
man
Indians from the Pine Ridge Standing
Rock and Rosebud reservations in South
Dakota revived the weird and super
stitious ghost dance. and. firm in the be
lief that the Government was badly
using them. they took up arms. organ
lied into hostile bands and prepared TO
fight for their rights. For two months
OF more there was a merry time on the
Pine Ridge reservation. The Govern
ment found 1t necessary to call out
troops 10 the number Of about 1000 in
order TO put down The. rebellion.
War Of Short Duration.
It viii. be recalled that the actual
Sioux war of 1890 was of short duration,
hut there was time enough to kill OF
MAIN hundred brave soldiers and
larger number of equally brave but
treacherous Indians The uprising cuI-
minated in the fight at Wounded Knee
Creek. in which scores Of soldiers were
killed or wounded and whole families Of
Indians wiped out. Men, women and
children and. papooses on their mothers
backs were killed. After that fight the
Indians surrendered, but it was several
months before the last United States
soldier left the Pine Ridge reservation.
The following spring Secretary Noble.
by authority Of Congress. appointed a
Government commission to visit the sew
eral Indian reservations and adjust the
differences existing a large number Of
Indians from other reservations had 10
Gated on the Pine Ridge Reservation,
and. according to the law, they we're IN
authorized to remain there. There were
numerous other things arising from the
var 70 be Strengthened out. and the com
mission was directed to arrange affairs to
the satisfaction Of the Indians.
Welcomed by the Redmen.
This commission was composed of the
Hon. Charles E. Pearce, of St. Louis.
No, recently member Of Congress; a.
P Appleman. of Columbus. Ohio, and
George Il. Harries. now the commanding
general Of the District militia.
The members reached Pine Ridge early
in June. and were met by a hundred or
more red men. who were congregated
about the agency. anxious TO treat with
the representatives OF the Great White
Father, but more eager, apparently. to
De treated 10 beef and other articles of
food that make the Indian glad. The In
dams had learned from former ex-
periences that the men sent out by the
Government to deal with them are gen
orally very liberal when it comes TO ar
guing a point. and that they usually en-
pbasize their arguments with something
more substantial than mere words. On
his visit The Indiana were more than or
diBarily glad to see the Governments
agents: too glad. 1t turned out. for the
good Of the commissioners
great deal Of work had TO be lone
BY the Governments representative
Councils were called at the agency. and
modern and native American eIoquence
was banded back and forth. The Indian
is a sly dog. He viii sit all day listen
Ing in silence to the words Of the white
men, and when he has thoroughly digest
ed what he has heard he still wants
more time to think about it. He is
never in hurry. and this is especially
so when he has plenty 10 eat.
Work of Commission Slow.
Necessarily the work of the Sioux
commissioners was very slow and
tedious. Numerous councils were held