The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1904-02-26
Tit For Tat.
Tale OF Sitting Bull S
Camp.
BY FRANKLIN wELLEs CALKIss.

By FRANKLIN WELLES CALKISS.
81 once had a roundup with Sitting
Bull" said Kelly, the trader, one day,
when he was in a reminiscent mood.
1T was in 1880, or whereabouts, as
nearly as / recollect. Our Sioux had
all been penned on their reservations
or chased into Canada, and white
skinned men had coralled the last
big herds of buffalo in Montana and
North Wyoming. | was having hard
work to make expenses.
81 was feeling particularly blue
when some Assiniboine hunters came
down from the north with the report
that Sitting Bull had pitched his
camp on Milk River, just across the
line, and that his Indians had killed
a whole herd Of buffalo which the
whites had run up there.
1.-THE Assiniboines said there were
no traders near Sitting Bulls village,
and that the Sioux had heaps of robes
to swap OF course | wanted those
skins, for Indian 'tans' were high
market, and were going higher. So
gathered five trusty Canucks and a
Sioux half-brsed and loaded five wag-
ons with Indian game and pulled out
to find Sitting Bull before another
trader should get to him.
The Assiniboines had left him but
five or six days before they came
in at my post. So we pushed up Milk
60 wv
came to big cairn which marked the
United States boundary line. Beyond
the line | could not safely carry my
goods. left the Canucks camped
on our side, and with Jim Sawpit,
the Sioux half-breed, l rode on to Sit
we reached it-sixty or seventy tee
pees sheltered by a fringe OF timber.
"As soon as we reached these tee
PEGS saw that the Assiniboine hunt
ers had told me the truth. Every
where among the trees and on high
strips of meat, and circles of bulls
heads ornamented the front yards of
the teepee-dwellers. A hundred wom
en-, l should think, were at work,
dressing and tanning buffalo skins.
Il had expected to find Owl Bon
net, a sub-chief, and a number of
Sioux whom | knew well, at this viii
lage; but up inquiry l learned that
only Sitting Bulls clan band were
here, and that | knew none OF them.
$50 made little camp by myself,
and secured the services of a crier,
who went about announcing my pres
ence and purpose
ut lacked something of sunset
when an old Indian came to my camp
and remarked that Sitting Bull would
like to see me at his teepee. This
was cheering Aside from the ques-
tion of trade, l really wanted to
meet the man. My old gentleman
showed the way. and in brief time
l was STOPPING into the presence Of
a stout man of middle age. who was
reclining upon robe.
HE rose to a sitting position and
reached out hand.
"'How' he said. SO you have come
10 tTdue Will me
"'Yes,' l answered, If we can agree
on prices
".Where are your goods?'
81 told him.
"'Why didn't you bring your train
to my village?'
81 answered, as | thought with judg-
ment, that my goods were liable to
seizure by the Canadian authorities
should | bring them across the line,
and that naturally I preferred to
trade under the protection of my own
government.
This conversation was carried on
IN the Sioux tongue. AS | spoke the
chiefs face darkened. and at the end
he fiared out angrily:
"'You white people have ruined this
country-my country. What good
are your silly laws. which prevent
honest men from going and trading
where they please?'
"'Well,' answered. I did not make
our laws, and at any rate. you as an
Indian are at liberty to buy my goods
and bring them to your camp
HE seemed to ponder on this for
a time. Then he spoke. Good he
said. I will talk with you in the
morning.
Il returned to my little camp. Saw
pit was not there. and I presumed he
was engaged with friends. | rolled in
for the night. and the next morning