The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1909-12-31

book, Famous Indian Chiefs | Have
Known" There was big talk" on
between Indians and government rep
resentatives at an army post. "a
Christian gentleman" relates General
Howard, Opened the talk with a pray
er, and when he finished, Red Cloud
said that the Indians prayed to the
Great Spirit, so he too would pray.
Then he asked the Great Spirit to for.
bid the white man taking away the
Indians land and from wickedly de-
stroying their homes, where they and
their fathers had lived for years and
years 1t was 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 pretentious
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 1t was sort of pay
ment for his ponies, for which he had
never received 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 whole
sale swoop on his herd sealed his
hatred. When the house was finished
the carpenters erected pole In front
of the house and hoisted the American
| 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 futtering to the ground. The staff
stood in front of the house, but no one
| 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 telegram
| from Washington to the effect that
Red Cloud. dressed in ready-made
suit of clothes, had called at the white
house to see the president on his own
hook. Later it was learned that the
| aggrieved traveller informed the execu-
tive that the agent was baby, that
| his people were getting pickaxes in
stead OF beans for rations and that,
above all other things, he had not yet
been paid for the ponies the troops had
taken from him. A week later Red
Cloud appeared on the reservation as
unexpectedly as he had disappeared.
He had made the long trip without es-
cort or permit and had made his ap-
peal single-handed and without the
presence of a delegation of his tribes
men, a custom which he held in con-
tempt.
Red Cloud and McGiIlicuddy.
or all the agents at Pine Ridge Red
Cloud held but one in respect. This
was DR.. McGillicuddy. He held the
post for seven years, from 1879 to
1886, and acquired a thorough knowl-
edge of Indian character. Soon after
he took charge of the reservation Red
Cloud attempted to hold the officers in
contempt. He even went so far as to
laugh at the doctors slender physique
and to pooh-pooh the way affairs were
being conducted in the agency office.
| One day Red Cloud was particularly
offensive. McGillicuddy, who was not
counting trouble, but who is not afraid
of the devil himself, took the pompous,
conceited leader of the Ogallalas and
pulled his big Roman nose and swat
ted him hip and thigh AS Red Cloud
emerged from the Office door he was
kicked in the most ample part of his
royal carcass and sent sprawling upon
the walk. From that time until Nc.
Gillicuddy left the agency he and Red
Cloud were the best of friends. So
much did the Indian think OF the doc.
tor, in fact, that he bestowed upon him
the name of Thunder-in-His-Neck, OBJ
serving, 1t is supposed, the hoarse
voice OF tne QOCIOT. One HlSnL Reu
Cloud was sorely troubled with an
obdurate liver. He called at the agen-
cy and told McGillicuddy by means of
signs and an interpreter that he was
ill. Two doses of calomel were given
the red man. who swallowed the pow.
ders and proceeded to make payment.
When he was told that the medicine
was free he demanded two more doses,
which he tossed into his mouth. Later
that night there were wild bowls and
grunts from the white house by the
creek and it was nearly week before
"Old Red" appeared for duty. His face
then looked like an old russell apple
so wrinkled and shriveled it was. So
profoundly weak was he that he could
smile but feebly to DR.. McGillicuddy
who found the old man squatting on
a knoll above the agency and gazing
wistfully at the setting sun.
At one time, in the Omaha council
Red Cloud openly abused the agent
and berated the government of the