The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1905-10-21
Gen. Custer Tells of Rain-in-
the-FaCe'S Arrest.

Gen. Custer Tells of Rain-in-
the-FaCe's Arrest.
The Mandan Pioneer says: Through
the courtesy of Major Bingenheimer
who has many relics which he secured
while Indian agent at Standing Rock,
we are able to give herewith copy Of
of the telegram sent by Gen. Custer
bearing on the arrest of Ring Race or
Rain-in-the-Face. Now that so much is
being said about this noted Indian it is
very interesting reading:
Fort Lincoln, D. T., via Bismarck, D.
T., Dec. Is, 1874 Assistant Adjutant
General, Department Of Dakota, ST
Paul, Mimi: sent a hundred (1oo)
cavalry from this post and Fort Rice on
the morning of the twelfth (12) to Stand
ing Rock agency, under command of
Captain Yates, for the purpose Of arrest
ing Ring Race, an Indian Of the Unca-
papa band of Sioux, for the murder of
Veterinary Surgeon Housinger and Mr..
Baliran. The party returned today,
having been entirely successful in exc
cutting the above order. Ring-Race is
now confined in the guard-house at this
post. He has repeatedly acknowledged
having killing (killed) both the gentle
men named, and has traded and has
still in his possession, articles which
belonged to at least one of them. For
tunately the troops sent to make the
arrest happened to be at the agency on
the day for issuing provisions to the
4 Indians, and this man, Ring Race, was
arrested almost in the act of receiving
his rations, thus illustrating what has SO
often been charged and 80 often denied,
that the government feeds during the
j. winter the Indians who make war upon
the frontier during the summer. An
!: other fact worthy to be noted is that
Ring Race had in his hands at the mo-
ment of his arrest, a breech loading rife
J. Of the latest improved pattern, and
loaded with ball cartridge. The arrest
occasioned great excitement, and an
earnest attempt was made by chiefs and
prominent Qndians?) to incite the In
, dians of the agency to attempt rescue.
One chief reminded the Indians that
; they had boasted that no troops should
! ever arrest one of their number, or il
I done at all the troops should be over
S powered, and that now was the time tc
! make. their words good. At this juno
: ture, and with desire to induce the
S agent, named Palmer, to exert his in.
: huence with the Indians to allay the
: excitement, Captain Yates, the officer in
!. command, sent request to the agent
l who kept himself in his quarters, to
2 repair to the scene of excitement, within
! a few yards of the agents quarters. As
a fair sample of the good faith of an
i Indian agent in affairs of this kind
j. Palmer declined to come, sending a
t message in reply that if Capt. Yates
. desired to see him, he-Captain Yates
knew where to find him. Fortunately
8 owing to the prudent and courageous
o conduct of the officers and men making
t the arrest, no rescue was attempted
: although several hundred armed war
riors maintained threatening attitude
for some time. The officers who accom-
panied the detachment from here unite
3 in the statement that the agent, Palmer
y did not act as if desiring them to sue
, ceed in discharging this delicate as wei
$ as dangerous duty They Furthermore
;, state that had they acquainted him, wher
i they first reached the agency, with thu
r precise object of their visit, he woule
o have acted in such manner as to defea
q them. AS it was, acting under my in
Il structions, they gave out the impression
e upon their arrival that their object wa
It to effect the arrest Of three other indians
e charged with the murder.>eAs result
these three could not be found, but th'
man whose arrest was really desired wa
secured.
e Here is case of reservation Indial
IS who with his tribe has been fed an,
It clothed and armed by the government
IS and who confesses to have killed tw
j, men employed in civil pursuits, a rail
n way survey. 1t may be claimed that thi
e was an act of war, but the claim is un
,r founded, as not shot had been fired Q
IS hostile act performed, until the murde
g referred to was committed, and even
war existed it was not with his band
le which was then, as now, supported an
S fed by the government at its agency o.
L the Missouri river.
'e l trust this man may receive fai
Is and impartial trial at the hands of tn
r. civil law; and that he may beJdealt wit
S. precisely as white man would be unde