Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-21
. WARRIOR OF OTHER DAYS
"Reminiscences of Red Cloud as an
Agency Indian.
LAUDED AS A GREAT CHIEFTAIN
Intellectual and Cunnine Character
istics shown on Many Occasions
How an Agent sub
dued Him.

since the last flicker of indian warfare
was snuffed out at wounde Knee, De-
cember 20, 1890. A span Of more than
forty years reaches back to the troublous
times when Red Cloud and his followers
we're open foes Of the paleface. The
drubbing which followed the Fetterman
tragedy and later drastic measures con-
WINGED the chief that the red mar was
hopelessly outclassed in the race for SUI
premacy. But while outwardly at peace
the heart OF the warrior throbbed for the
blood Of the invaders land his hands itched
for scalps. Shrewd, tricky, unreconciled
to conditions he could not change, the
subdued warrior maintained an outward
show Of peace and counseled warning
braves in methods Of warfare. No white
warrior Of the west knew the avage cun-
ming Of Red Cloud as did General George
Crook. When the Rosebud campaign of
1876 began one of the first moves of Cen
eral Crook was to clip Red Clouds wings
by stampeding all the ponies of his tribe,
a maneuver which prevented Red Clouds
active participation in that campaign.
The death of Red Cloud calls forth much
Interesting comment and "reminiscences Of
his times in the west. Newspaper obitu-
aries of the old chief class him as the
noblest Roman Of them ALL" a past master
VI liuldu Cullllub duu an INTELLECTUAL
giant of a vanishing race" The Spring
field Mass) Republican puts him on a
pedestal with Brant, Red Jacket and
Oceola, chose who have been statesmen
and warriors in the long strife with the
white invaders and despoilers Of their
country" The Baltimore American lifts
him to the level of King Philip and Te-
cumseh, "as one of the Indian immortals."
RED Cloud" says the New York World,
was a willy but an honorable foe, a
good fighter, but a man or mis- word when
the tomahawk was buried" He had
something of military genius" according
to the Chicago Post, "and with a COM
mand that was only half armed he fought
we'll and valiantly for the country that
belonged to him"
When He Prayed.
An Instance Of his mental alertness in
counci is related by General Howard in
a sketch Of Red Cloud in his book. ia
nous Indian Chiefs 1 have known" There
was a big talk on between Indians and
government representatives at an army
post. "A Christian gentleman" relates
General Howard, Opened the talk with a
prayer. and when he finished, Red Cloud
said that the Indians prayed to the Great
Spirit, so he too would pray. Then ne
asked the Great Spirit to forbid the white
man taking away the Indians land and
from wickedly destroying their homes,
where they and their fathers had lived for
years and years. 1t was a wonderful
prayer. and when Red CLOUD sat down.,
every one kept very still, for they did
not know what to say"
Indian White House.
The enforced absence of Red Cloud from
the theater Of war in '76 and as indirect
compensation for the ponies stampeded by
General Crook, induced the government
later on to build the warrior a substantial
two-story frame house at Pine Ridge, and
painted 1t white. 1t was the most preten-
tious dwelling at the agency. standing
near White Clay creek, and at the foot of
a long range Of buttes.
Red Cloud watched the construction Of
his house with satisfied curiosity. He
figured that it was a sort Of payment for
his ponies, for which he had never re-
ceived a penny. This bit Of robbery, as
he called 1t, ranked in the breast of the
old fellow. Always a bitter enemy of the
whites, this wholesale swoop on his herd
sealed his hatred. When the house was
finished the carpenters erected a pole in
front of the house and holsted the Amer
lean flag. The spectacle of the emblem
flying above his own abode so angered
Red Cloud that he cut the halyard and tore
the flag into strips as soon as 1t fell flut-
tering to the ground. The staff stood in
front of the house, but no one again tried
to float the emblem from it's towering
peak.
One day many years ago Red Cloud was
missing from the reservation. Not one of
his family or followers knew whittier he
had gone. At least they said SO. Runners
were sent here and there, but no trace of
the old fellow could be found. Days
passed, when finally the agent received a
telegram from Washington to the effect
that Red Cloud, dressed In a rSady-made
suit of clothes, had called at the White
House to see the president on his own
hook. Later it was learned that the ag-
> grieved traveller informed the executive
, that the agent was a baby, that his people
I were getting piekaxes instead of beans fol-
2 rations and that, above all other things
- he had not yet been paid for the ponies
the troops had taken from him. A week
y later Red Cloud appeared on the reserya-
ton as Unexpectedly as he had disap
e peared. He had made the long trip with
$ out escort or permit and had made his ap-
peal s~ingle-handed and without the pres
: ence OF a ueleHallOH Oh MS llbeSHHeht
n custom which he held in contempt.
; RED Cloud and McGnIicuddy.
OF all the agents at Pine Ridge RED
: Cloud held but one in respect This wal
DR.. McGillicuddy, He held the post fo
seven years, from 1879 to 1856, and acquires
a thorough knowledge Of Indian character
soon after he took charge of the reserva
ton Red Cloud attempted to hold the Off
4 GERS in contempt. He even went so far a
to laugh at the doctors slender physIqu
and to pooh-pOoh the way affairs wer
y being conducted in the agency office.
One day Red Cloud was particularly OF
~fensive. McGillicuddy, who was not court
ing trouble, but who is not afraid of til
devil himself, took the pompous, c~onceite
" leader OF the Ogalialas and pulled his bi
Or Roman nose and swatted him hip an
Ig thigh AS Red Cloud emerged from tn
office door he was kicked in the mos
- ample part OF his royal carcass and sen
ne SPRAYING upon the walk. From that tim
at until McGillicuddy left the agency he an
be Red Cloud were the best OF friends. S
much did the Indian think OF the dootol
a in fact, that he bestowed upon him III
ay name Of Observation-Disclosures. observing
g. Il is supposed, the hoarse voice OF the doc
r a. n,a uFghf Rad Cloud WAS g0ral