Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-07-07
NO HOME OR
The Seminole Negro indians Are in q
Queer Predicament.

According 10 reports received at the war
department, the so called Seminole negro
Indians, sequestrated on Fort Clark mill
tary reservation In Texas, ave neither
country, home nor citizenship. The pecu-
liar situation OF these mongrel people has
been under consideration at the war de-
partment for many years, with a View TO
more clearly defining their legal and polit-
zeal status, but so far nothing has been
done for their relief. There are about $50
OF these Indians. They all reside at Fort
Clark, by permission OF the war depart
ment, and are under the control Of the
post commander. They are reputed to be
peaceable and honest, live in nuts and
houses, cultivate some ground, raise a lit
tie stock and support themselves by their
own labor, Twenty of them are enlisted
| scouts. eight at Fort Clark and twelve at
Fort Ringgold. Tex, and as such, it If
reported, render excellent service. Theft
history in brief appears as follows:
They were originally with the Seminole
Indians In Florida. About lS49 their an
cestors emigrated to Mexico. Corporal Tib-
bits, a survivor of these movements, the
oldest man among them, and who claims
TO have been born in the Indian territory,
says: I'VE remained in Mexico until 1870,
then recrossed into United States at Eagle
Pass, Tex, (old Fort Duncan. A number
Of us then enlisted as scouts. About forty
Of these scouts. with their families, came
to Fort Clark in 1876" He claims that
some kind Of "a treaty paper" which was
accidentally burned, promised them homes
back In the Indian nation Qnoiaa terri
tory.
II seems that by a ruling OF the inter-
Tor department they are not beneficiaries
in any respect under the Seminole treaty
Of 1866.
General McKibbin, in his annual report
for 1900, said regarding these people:
Having forfeited their rights TO resi-
dence and citizenship in Mexico, and being
neither citizens Of the United States nor
recognized by the Seminoles as part of
their people, some action should be taken
whereby the status of these people may be
defined. 1t is respectfully recommended
that the attention of congress be called
10 these people"
General Grant stated in his annual re-
port of 1903, that many, IL not all, Of the
male adults have been at one time or an
other enlisted IL the army as scouts, so
that at the present time the entire adult
male population NAV be regarded, more
or less, as discharged veterans; In some
instances the grandfather, father and son
In a family having all served as scouts
in the regular army"
IL is. however, they are an interesting
tribe of monRrel Americans, and depend
ent as they are upon the mercy and man
agement Of the military at Fort Clark.
they are nothing more than wards OF the
military department.
I'm the final consideration of the status
OF these people with the view TO deter
mine what shall be done with them said
General Grant, II recommend that the
| government purchase or secure in the In
dian territory a tract of land sufficient
and suitable for the support of these So
called Seminole negroes, and that they be
located thereon, with fun permanent title
| and some immediate help to start them as
farmers"
General Lee, the present commander of
the department of Texas, has just made a
special report to the war department re-
garding these Indians IN which he in
dorses the recommendations of Generals
McKiboin and Grant. that suitable provis-
ion be made for them. General Lee speaks
OF the Indians as deserving people and
says that they have rendered most faith
full and efficient service as scouts and
merit generous treatment" He concurs in
the recommendation that they may be
given a home In the Indian territory, IF
this should be impracticable,' says he,
lit is suggested that they be permitted TO
remain on the Fort Clark military reser-
walton as now: and In the event of the
abandonment of the reservation. a suit
able portion of the same be allotted to
them for homes. In recognition
Of their past excellent services and their
present usefulness along the border, as
required, ii Is recommended that their en-
listment and re-enlistment as scouts be
continued without reduction"