The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-04-11
INDIANS BACK
FROM washington
RED MEN WHO FOUGHT UNDER
CUSTER CREATED GREAT IN.
TEREsT IN THE EAST.

Bismarck, N. D., April 11.-Chiefs
Enemy Heart and Red Bear, accom-
panied by Alfred Bear, who accom-
panied them as interpreter, arrived in
the capital city from washington, d.
| c., where they went to visit with the
| Great Father to see about securiag a
pension for services rendered to the
United States army during the frontier
day when they were employed as scouts
| by the government troops.
Chiefs Enemy Heart and Red Rear
are members of the Airkara tribe. They
were Indian scouts stationed at old
Fort Abraham Lincoln under Custer.
When Custer and the other forces
started on the memorable expedition
up the Yellowstone which resulted In
the massacre on the banks Of the Lit
tie Big Horn, Enemy Heart remained
at Fort Lincoln to aid the troops
which were left( there to garrison
the post
Red Bear, however. went along with
the expedition and was one OF the
scouts who discovered the camp Of the
Sioux. They notified Custer Of the
camp, and he babe them to remain
where they were while he prepared
to sail right in and clean them up
without waiting for any reinforce
ments. 1t is the opinion of the In
| dian scouts that had Custer taken
them along with him there would have
been a different story to tell. There
were between eighty-five and ninety OF
the scouts and they knew how to take
advantage of all articles Of cover, such
as rocks, etc, and could have gotten to
the cover Of the timber However.
Custer did not take them and met his
death with all Of his command on the
slope of hill that bordered the Little
Big Horn.
The three Indians were very much
interested In the east. They were
more than surprised as well as pleased
TO see the large and elegant buildings.
They did not stop at Chicago but went
right through both on their way down
and on their return. While in Wash
ington they were source of a great
deal Of interest and attracted a great
deal of attention, especially when IL
became known that they had seen serv-
ice in early days under Custer.
The pension commissioner whom
they saw was very much interested in
liSIRl anu AoShiIAB up the army RECORDS
found that they had been enrolled as
scouts. He said there was no doubt
but what they deserved to be pension
ed. However, they had left their dis
charge papers and other documents at
their homes on the Fort Berthold res
eryation and they will send them down
TO washington SO that the proper
papers may be made out.
1 The commissioner also assured them
that In case their papers did not war;
rant classifying them under any one OF
the three classes covered by the gem
eral pension law that he would see that
a special bill was introduced in con-
gress providing for pension for them.
The party went through the white
House, the national capitol, the con-
gressional library. the mint and other
public buildings. The Indians were
extremely surprised at their visit ia
! the mint where they watched the
clerks and employees handling mill
| lions Of dollars of money and with
such great speed and accuracy. DUR
ing their stay they did not have an