Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-08-14
Aged Leader Of the Sioux is Pass
Ing Away Blind and fsnniIo8s,
LONG AND STIRRING CAREER
Tut when ilo Buried the Tomahawk
II Was for Al Time--No Ready
To Cross the Range.

Pine Ridge Indian Agency s. D.
Old, decrepit blind and penniless, Red
Cloud. chief Of the Sioux, lies dying in
his little tent at his home, one mile
from this agency
Formerly the greatest CT all Indian
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. FIRST in
peace first in war"--Red Clouds glory
has departed. and he Hes, broken
reed, dependent on charity almost for
his daily bread. White physicians have
given up hope Of saving the old sa-
chems 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 med
icine' In his behalf.
Red Clouds career has been as re-
markable as has that OF any white man
In the country says the New York
Herald. Like so many Of the nations
great men, he Was born in obscurity,
and by sheer force Of will, bravery and
intelligence, he rose, step by step to
be the chief Of the greatest, most war
like and most savage tribe Of Amerl-
can Indians.
In his 30 years war with the whites,
from 1876 TO 1875, Red Cloud became
known as the tlercest and boldest Of
the sioux leaders, and It was during
those years that he gradually worked
his way forward until he was recog-
nlzed 0s the big chief Of all Sioux
bands and tribes. And the old man
has been diplomat OF rare ability, al
so, and In councils and meetings has
ruled his people and gained his points
IN manner which many white politi-
cal bosses might envy.
Never fOrceful speaker, Red Cloud
always employed some first class orator
to Represent him IN debate. and even
during The trips he has made to Wash
inet(n ir the interests Of the Indians,
Red Cloud always RETAINED from maxi
ing set spec ches But with his council
he instructed his mouthpieces just
what % say. and how to handle points
under consideration and woe unto the
man who failed him.
BURIED THE ToMAHAwK.
When Red Cloud fought the whites
he ala so 10 the best of his ability. De-
scending like a whlrlwlnd of death on
a settlement his band left CORY path
IN its rear. But when he signed his
fret peace paper" he buried his toma-
hawk and to his credit II 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 pensioner Of the gov |
eminent, and has done much TO hold |
the other Indians In check during ex-
citable times,
But Red Cloud has never "truckled" |
10 the whites, and TO this day he in |
sists that the Sioux is not receiving the |
FUN benefits Of the peace paper" which |
h. signed years ago. The old man is
'till vigorously opposed 20 the new idea
IF the government In cutting of the
rations OF the younger Indians and |
forcing them 10 work for their living.
Two months ago he sent out letters to
he sub-chiefs instructing them TO pre-
vent the young men from working. and
'aying that the government would not
see them starve. that the government
)Wcd them ratiOns forever
Realizing that death Is at hand. the
I'd man has issued a short address
llong those lines 10 the Sioux. saying
THE government has never given us
'ur rights. II has not lived up 20 the
ontract But Tie .SiuX can no more
lght FOR their rights Their fighting
lays are over They must not quietly
ccept this situation and become prac-
ically slaves working by the day for
master. when they should be forever
by a government which has
AIKEN their hunting grounds from
hem.
Therefore, the Sioux mus refuse to
FORK, and the white people everywhere
'ill see the justice Of their cause and
Ill see that they are taken care or.
nd | would advise Indians u other
rihes and nations 10 do likewise.
should all Indians refuse o. accept
'ork they viii remain as Indians. tut
nould they follow IN the paths of the
hites In years to come there win b.
o Indians. but instead viii be a lot OF
ayes"