The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1910-06-23

The village may be preserved, but
soon the last Of the leaders Of the
Alandans, Gros-Ventres and Arickar-
ees VIII be gone. Bear en- the Water
has gone. They buried him the Oldest
Of The Mandans, about four years ago.
lie was the best runner in the whole
Missouri Valley, and was accustomed
to hunt and catch antelope on foot.
Once, pursuing buffalo on foot, he
overlook and shot it, and won great
fame among his people. Others WHO
made Indian history, have gone too.
Poor Wolf There Vet.
But two uncommonly interesting
chefs remain to see the white men
invade the lands on which they have
been secure from Interference for
many years. One of them, Poor Wolf,
Gros-Ventre chief, has passed his
Goth year, and is distressed by the
ways in which his children and chill
drens' children are living. The other
day he wrote out this message for
the young braves Of his tribe:
" 81 am very old and am waiting to
go above, but you are young, perse-
we're in the ways Of God. So many Of
Vur young men are given up to dances
and vices" - &!,
Z From An Indians Autobiography.
He is a distinguished chieftain.
Poor, Wolf, for aside from his tribal
fame {he has written an autobiogrAr
ply! The history Of himself, labor
iously written in the late years Of his
life, gives an interesting intimate pic
,, ture Of hss distant youth. He writes
in one place: ~; ..> !'S'tfA
when I ives child Of five winters,
perhaps only four, prayed to the
spirits Of animals, the stars, the sun
and the moon. MY words were not
many, but I prayed. was afraid
of the enemy, Of The dark: My father
had heard of the white mans God
through trader, but nothing clearly.
We sometimes prayed to the white
mans God, who made us and who
could make US grow. We had female
divinities above and we prayed to the
! four winds and to the earth that
makes the corn grow. There are
many songs concerning these things.
Some Of the songs speak Of the DIFF
ferent colored flowers. These things
were taught by great prince, by
the priests of the tribe. ,
when was II years OF age, had
the smallpox. l was left alone In q
lodge, helpless and my eyes were near
ly closed. A bear came in and walk
ed up to where was lying. He saa
down with his back pressed against
me and began to scratch his breast
with his forepaws. By and by he got
up and walked out of the lodge. Wa,
dreaming or had it really happened!
While l was thinking Of it, the beal
!, returned, and while trembled with
fear, went through the same mouoni
again, and then went off, leaving me
unharmed. I thought surely the beal
had mercy on me. When my father
returned again we talked it over ant
agreed that the bear pitied me. Aftel
that worshipped the bear, and II
the dance, wore anklets Of bears
teeth
A Mighty Hunter and Friend Of tht
White Man.
Poor Wolf was Almighty good huntsl
not according to his autobiography
though some Of the conquests IN
modestly related, but according Il
other Indians who knew him. Onl
day he caught twelve eagles, and nkl
a successful Indian hunter, he obssfv
ed the inviolable rule Of bringing hil
eagles back crying. One Of the war
riors dubbed him Poor Wolf, because
he had given the warrior succor. Tit
warrior dreamed that q lean woli
came to him and told him that q lonl
life awaited him. Poor Wolf was tht
Indian that saved him from starvation
Hence the name; for the Gros-Ventrl
chief had made . prophecy and Il
had come true.
| This literary chieftain hAs AWAY
been tho white name friend.
| II rsmsmber." 10 writes. 'myi1g Il
!my father. ~Wm I - . w1its maj
now3 A1a NJ 1leAss ~. 'Yss.
1TAaa W. 0ovoney1ovso yooD -
.sass sa7s s iissa,a93