Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1903-04-02

CAPT. r. II. PRATT that the same sys-
TEN which converts the dregs Of Euro
pean civilization into respectable, self
applied to the aborigines, produce the
same results. He sees no reason why
Indians should not be allowed an equal
chance, at least, with the foreigners
who annually flock to our shores by the
hundred thousand.
Richard Henry Pratt was born in
Allegany County, N. Y. When he was
quite young his parents removed to In
diana. His early opportunities for ed
ucation were only those offered by the
village school. At the breaking out Of
the Civil War he was among the first
to answer the call for troops. cnlisting
In April, 1861. He served duling the
entire war, taking an active part in
all the engagements Of the Army Of the
Cumberland from Shiloh to Nashville,
and was mustered out in May. 1865,
as captain in the Eleventh Indiana
cavalry. In 1867 he accepted a COM
mission in the Tenth United States
cavalry, and until 1875 was stationed
on the frontier in Texas and the In.
dian territory.
During the Indian war of 1S74-75 he
had charge of hundreds Of Indian pris-
oners at Fort Sill. Seventy-four Of the
worst Of these were selected and sent
in care Of Capt. Pratt to the Spanish
fort at st. Augustine. Fla. 1t may be
said, too, that although these men were
regarded as incorrigibles, and that al
though Capt. Pratt was their jailer and
took them to Florida in chains. by his
humane and reasonable treatment Of
them he won their affection. and the
survivors even now regard him as their
best friend. Some of them have chill
dren at the Carlisle School, where they
permitted them to come, because they
knew that Capt. Pratt would have
charge Of them. When he visits the
Indian territory they greet him with
demonstrations Of affection quite un-
like the traditional stolidity Of the red
man. effectually refuting the charge
that the Indian is by nature migrate
full and vindictive.
Capt. Pratt was given charge Of the
Carlisle Industrial School. which had
been created out of an old barracks at
that place. The school started with
1876 students. In the nearly quarter
Of century which has interviewed
thousands have gone out to careers Of
usefulness. The pupils are first taught
70 ch nd n no Ui q
primary education, in connection with
4 knowledge of some common and prac-
teal industry, so that each pupil may
be furnished with some means OF self
support among civilized people. To
this end regular shops and two farms
have been provided. where the princi
pal mechanical arts, such as prilting.
blacksmithing. shOemaking. harness.
making. tailoring, wagOnmaking, car
pentering, painting and timing are
taught, and the boys also acquire prac-
teal knowledge of farming and the care
of stock. Not few Of these pupils have
found employment and located in CIV
iliZed communities. The girls are
taught cooking, sewing. Laundry and
Homework. After some preliminary
training in the school, eight young
women entered regular training
schools for nurses in Philadelphia and
elsewhere. Six of these have Complet-
ed the prescribed course, and are now
doing the same work as white nurses,
and receiving the same wages. Others
occupy positions as teachers. seam
stresses and housekeepers. Many of
the young men have gone out from
the school to occupy responsible posts