Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1911-05-04
Chief JOHN
GRASS SPEAKS
TO MEMBERS OF SENATE AT CO.
WAN TRIAL
Indians at the State Capitol ON Coun-
ty Seat Business

ty Seat Business
Bismarck, May 2nd.-Chief John
Grass of the Sioux indians of North
Dakota and judge of the people on his
reservation, was introduced to the
members of the senate during the
afternoon by President Burdick and
he made a brief address to the court
of Impeachment.
The great chief, close friend of
Red Tomahawk, who killed Sitting
Bull, spoke in his native tongue, and
his remarks were translated by his
official Interpreter.
The talk of Chief Grass had no
bearing whatever on the impeach-
ment case, but were merely compli-
mentary. He referred to trip to
Washington, where he paid his re-
spects to the president, and also men
toned his efforts in behalf of the edu-
cation of the children of the tribe.
His comments ON his clothes and
the times he used to ride over the
hills where the capitol now stands,
caused much interest and considera-
BILE laughter was provoked by several
of his witticims. The great brave
was given warm ovation at the con-
clusion of his address, all the sena-
tors appreciating his visit and the
fact of his desire to speak before
them.
Among the Indians in Bismarck
who came to interview the governor
regarding the location of the county
seat of Sioux county, was Red Toma-
hawk, who was with the delegation
from Selfridge, one of the aspiring
towns for the county seat. Red
Tomahawk was the Indian policeman
who shot down Sitting Bull when the
latter had disobeyed the orders Of
the federal authorities.
Red Tomahawk does not speak
very much English and when seen
was interviewed through an inter-
prefer. In speaking of the Sitting
Bull incident he said: ......
eat the time of the death of Sit
ting Bull I was second lieutenant
of the Indian police at Fort Yates.
Sitting Bull had become sullen be-
cause of some action of the govern
ment's and had gone out onto the
reservation with band of Indians.
The Indian police were ordered to go
out and bring him into the agency
dead or alive. We found him with
about 500 men out on the banks of
the Grand river, about thirty miles
from Fort Yates. The Indians in
the party we're holding ghost dance,
which the government had prohibited.
The Indian police went over to where
the camp was and told them to stop
the dance but they did not do so.
Captain Bull Head, Sergeant Shave
head and myself went over and
and stood beside Sitting Bull and I
grasped Sitting Bulls arm an dheld
him. One of Sitting Bulls men fred
and shot Bull Head. When I saw
him sinking to the ground drew my
revolver and shot Sitting Bull twice,
once through the left side and once
through the head. We broke up the
dance and Sitting Bull was taken
back to the agency dead.
Red .Tomahawk has son attend
ing the Bismarck Indian school and
he went out to the school Friday ev-
ening and visited with him. He will
be in the city until Monday evening.
A dispatch from Mandan says that
O. L. Zimmerman of that city has
received telegram from Thos. Coop
er of the Northern Pacific road stat
ing that II Fort Yates was named as
the county seat of Sioux county that
the road would at once extend their
line to Fort Yates.
This one of the propositions over
which the governor has been holding
back and now that this assurance
comes from the Northern Pacific
there should be no question q to the
advisability Of making Fort Yates the
county seat.
Unless this assurance had come,
however, Selfridge would have con-
tinued to have IN important, advan-
tage over Fort Yates, but. with this
promise on the part Of the Northern
Pacific the county seat not only; from
the standpoint Of the connty itseif
but also due to its availability to
other portions of the stats.
It is understood that those Inter
ested in seeing Fort Yates mads the
county seat have circulated petitions
and now have ovsr s1lao sisners and q