The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-01
INDIANS IN DISTRESS
Rosebud Reds Cannot Get Food, Although
the Government Owes Them.

LN6 government SWSS HE'LL
BONESTEEL, 8. D. - A Journal re-
porter had All interview with Thomas Red
Horse. a son of Chief Red Horse Of the
Swift Bear band Of Sioux Indians located
on Ponoa creek, about twelve miles west
of Bonesteel in the course Of which Red
Horse detailed pltiful story Of suffering
among the Indians
It seems that a large number have been
iouarantfned for about six weeks on &C
count of smallpox. Three weeks ago it
Is alleged the disease was stamped out,
but the special police sent down from the
Rosebud agency to enforce the measure,
together with the boss farmer in charge
{of this part Of the reserve, refuse to raise
the quarantine. Several families are on
the verge Of starvation and a repetition Of
the Taylor tragedy is feared unless re-
lief is promptly given them. Red Horse
stated that his family has had but about
cne-haf enough to eat for some time and
that the children have been crying for
food for a, week past. .''f
t. A great deal of the trouble is due to the
new plan of civilizing the Indian Last
summer they worked faithfully and were
to receive s125 a day as compensation.
This money has not been paid them,
neither have they received any payment
for cattle which the government allows
them to turn in Al the sub-issue station to
e be butchered and issued Some Of these
cattle were sold to the government as
early as September. and up to date no
payment has been made. This winter
" only a very small amount Of the old time
rations are being issued to them and with
the order in force forbidding them selling
wood from their allotments. they have
no means of helping themselves. -
Blame the Boss Farmer
The Indians on Ponca creek allege, tina,
I the boss farmer has their time that the
money due them will be paid through him
4 that they have repeatedly asked him to &c
to the stores when in Naper, their nearest
b trading point. and get food for them and
take the amount out of their wages when
b 1T is received by him from headaua rters
but that he has persistently. refused Ii
4 many Of the lodges are sick children an6
as they have no kerosene they are com
I PEELED to do without light at night
It seems strange this distress SHOULD
prevail almost within a stones throw
& of the land of plenty. With the openins
f to settlement of this portion of the Rose
bud reservation. conditions will b,
changed and the sooner congress sees ii
4 to Justice not only to the citizens Of til,
comm ealth. but to the Indians as well
bysratifying the measure now before it
In relation, to these lands Che better.
Stockmen from the Rosebud reservation
say the entire cattle range west Of thi
point is covered with snow to a dept]
h of at least two feet and that stock of al
kinds is suffering greatly, Very few
have a sufficient amount of feed to las
over a half winter, and unless weathe
conditions change at once, a loss OF: a
least SO per cent will be the result: If til
weather grows warmer in the next fey
i5 days, thereby melting the snow so tina
81 1t will be possible for cattle to be drive
here for shipment at least 200 head wi
4 be. sent to the Omaha markets .irnmed]
l5 ately. The thermometer has been fror
II 8 to Is degrees below zero for thre
Is weeks, something before unknown in tn
history of the country . !. 4s:
To-day is warm and clear. with ever