The Red Cloud chief., 1904-07-29


One hundred years ago.--the morn
ing of August 2. 1904 party of forty
three white men might have been see
spreading the mainsail OF a clumsy
Missouri river bateau as an awning
on a little plain above the high water
level Of the Missouri river. at the end
of a woody ridge about seventy feet
high, in Nebraska. sixteen miles above
where 10Y stands the city of Omaha.
A little later a procession OF fourteen
Indians,-members or the Otoe and
Missouri tribes.-wound it's way to the
shelter Of the awning. They were ac-
companied by that omniprescnt being
In the region a hundred years ago-a
Frenchman living with a sQuaw-who
acted as interpreter. When all were
seated. began the first council OF the
| United States government with the
Indian inhabitants OF the Louisiana
purchase.-frst act In the drama OF a
century OF struggle between white
Americans and rcd Americans for pos
session OF an empire. The representa-
tives OF the United States government
told the Indians that they were no
longer Spanish or French. but Amer
icans-a piece Of news which we are
told gave them great Joy. They were
promised the protection OF the govern
ment at Washington. and its advice In
the future. In reply the six chiefs OF
the Indian delegation declared .ney
we're pleased with the change OF gov
eminent. that they wanted to trade
with the new great father, and espe-
cially they wanted arms TO defend
themselves from their enemies. (What
little cause for pleasure II they mac
known that the change meant to be
dis possessed Of their homes and hunt
Ing grounds.) -.
At the end Of the council came the
presents,-a medal hung by a core
placed round the neck OF each OF the
six chiefs. paint, carriers n cloth, {
canister Of g%unpOwder. and the mos
significant of all, a bottle Of whiskey
Thus began the Official relations OF tn
United States government with tn
Otoe and Missouri Indians. How
prophetic Il was OF the future let hin
who cares to know read from the las
official report of the Indian agent a
the O4oe and Missouri Indian agenc,
in Oklahoma. Diminished In number
from 1000 to $40. the agent says
many OF these people are addicted Z
drink and are. both men and womer
inveterate gamblers, the Otoe oeln
especially bad about the gambling. n
punishment seems at all to mitigat
these evils. Their days are spent !
almost utter idleness, and worse. 10
vice and debauchery are rampant
The names OF three OF these chiel
have been preserved for us In the re-
ord. The principal chiefs present wei
Shongotongo. or Big Horse. an Otoe
wethea. or Hospitality. a Missouri
and Shosguscan, or White Horse. a
Otoe. The spot was named by Lewis an
Clark Council Bluff. from the circun
stances which there took place, ar
their report Of the council conclude
with a recommendation Of the locatiG
for a fort and trading factory
Fifteen years after the historic cou'
] ell here described. the first steambo'
{ 1.-THE Western Engineer) to naviga
Z Missouri waters arrived five miles b
low the Council Bluff. 1t carried M
jor Long with a party Of engineers al
scientists who were to make the mr.
scientific survey OF the region. IN
, expedition found already at Count
Blum a force Of United States soldie
/ engaged in building a fort. afterwa'
called Fort Atkinson. This fort Il
4 the next eight years was the most a
varced frontier post Of the Unit
States army. always having sever
companies of troops and sometim
: more than a regiment. In 1927 q
! post was abandoned and the troo
moved to Fort L~eavenworth. Some
the buildings were dismantled by u
troops. Some were burned by lndial
or hunters. There still remained {
the plateau of Council Bluff In 1S5
when the territory was organized al
white settlers came In to take I
claims. a vast amount OF debris
brick and limestone walls. beams al
timbers. The early settlers hanl'
this away by the wagon-load to bui
chimneys. make foundations n
curb wells, yet so great was the qua
tity that thirty years later farme
were still hauling bricks away.
Both these historic sites, that OF Il
1 council of 1904 and that OF Fort A
kinson, are within a few hundred var
Of the present railway station of Fo
y Calhoun. There yet remain piles
brickbats and debris. long rows OF e.