The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-04-29
SOUIX WAR CHIEFS SURVIVE
A FULL DOZEN SAVAGE RELICS
OF THE PAST REMAIN.

Are on reservations in the DakotaS.
Names That Were Familiar in the
Pioneer Days of the West.
Most of the old war chiefs of
the Sioux Indians are dead, and near
ly all of those still living are recon-
ciled to the new order, casting the
weight of their influence in favor of
peace, education and the adoption of
the manner of life followed by the
white conquerors. The surviving
war chiefs, therefore, are interest
ing relics of the past, reminding us
of what the Indian has been rather
than indicating what he will be in
the future. The days of the Indian
wars already seem SO remote that it
gives one a shock of surprise to learn
that the roll call of the living war
chiefs is still so long. On the Stand
! ing Rock reservation, North Dakota,
there are six, known by the names OF
Grasse, Mad Bear, Chiaka, No Heart,
Black Bull and White Bull. On the
Pine Ridge reservation, South Da-
| kota, there are also six, belonging to
the great Ogalala division of the
Sioux nation. Their names are Red
| Cloud, American Horse, Short Bull,
Bad Wound, Rocky Bear and Yellow
| Bear. These are the last of the red
commanders whose savage warriors
used to terrorize the plains and raw
age the settlements east of the Rock
les. Most of them were only sub
chiefs, whose voices were OF minor
Importance around the council fires.
Red Cloud alone ever attained the
dignity of head chieftainship over
all the Sioux.
Although Red Cloud lived to see
his fame eclipsed by that of Rain-in-
the Face, Crazy Horse and Sitting
Bull he doubtless receives consola-
ton from the fact that he has seen
them all buried.
Northumberland died September
~, 1905, at his home on the Stand
ing Rock reservation, confessing on
his deathbed that he had slain Gem
eral Custer with his own hand-an
evil distinction that had long been
accorded to Sitting Bull. That noto-
rious old fakir took part in the Min
nesota massacre of 1852, and spent
his life looking for trouble. He was
one of the leaders of the Sioux war
of 1875, and was the cause OF the
latest serious outbreak of his people,
starting the Messiah craze OF 1890,
which came to an end with his death
at the hands of the Indian police De-
cember Is, 1890.
OF Sitting Bulls sub-chiefs John
Grasse and White Bull are the most
noted survivors. Both participated
in the campaign against General
Crook in 1875, and in the troubles
of 1890. White Bulls chief claim
to fame, however, rests upon the
fact that he was the only man VINO
ever gave Sitting Bull a thrashing.
He was once soft-hearted enough TO
rescue a white woman and several
children from his savage fellow
tribesmen, taking them in safety to
Fort Sully. For this display OF mer-
CIV he was reproached by Sitting Bull
who called him an old woman. He
retaliated by giving his dread COM
mander a good horse-whipping. From
that day to this he has received the
respect and consideration the req
men always pay TO unquestioned
bravery.
No Heart, like Sitting Bull, is
medicine man, owing his influence
over his fellow-tribesmen to the hold
he gained upon their superstitions'
He. Iron Star and Wa-pa-ha-win are
inveterate war dancers, clinging TO
the old tribal customs, and setting
their faces like flint against educa-
ton. work and the REIMBURSEMENT
of the long hair, war bonnets, blan-
kets and other distinctive features
in the makeup of the Sioux braves
of the old days.
Of the chiefs on the Pine Ridge
reservation Short Bull was the last
to give particular trouble. He was
one of the leaders in the Sioux war
of 1890, and was the very last OF
- ob;oFe m surrender