Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-07-25
Their Own Page

, who have their lodges in the ground and
know nothing
"Black-robe. come and set up your
lodge with us. We have bad hearts. but
those who bring the good word have
never got as far as to us. Come and we
will listen and our young men will learn
to have sense"
Father De smets greatest service 70
Nebraska and the west occurred In 1855.
For several years a bloody war had ragged
along the Sioux border. A peace com
mission had been sent from washington
to Fort Laramie with General Sherman
at It's head. Red Cloud. Sitting Bull and
other hostile chiefs had gone with sew
eral thousand followers into the wild
region northwest of the Black Hills. Al
the request OF the United states. Father
De Smet left his home at st. Louie and
journeyed by steamboat up the Missouri
river TO Fort Rice, near the mouth Of
Cannonball river In North Dakota From
here he set out alone with an interpreter
and escort Of Indians for the camp Of
the hostiles. He found these near the
junction Of the Powder and Yellowstone
rivers. He was received joyfully by
them. and here on June n he held a
great council with 5000 hostile Sioux
Father De smet was given a seat in the
center near the two head chiefs, -Four
Horns and Black Moon. His large white
banner of peace was placed beside him.
His own account says:
The council was opened with songs
and dances, noisy Joyful and very wild,
in which the warriors alone took part.
Then -Four Horns lighted his calumet
of peace; he presented It first solemnly
to the Great Spirit. impioring his light
and favor, and then offered It TO the
four cardinal points, to the sun and the
earth as witnesses to the action OF the
council. Then he himself passed the
calumet from mouth TO mouth. 1 was
the first TO receive It, with my inter-
prefer. and every chief was placed &C
cording to the rank he held in the tribe.
Each one took few puffs. When the
ceremony of the calumet was finished.
the head chief addressed me, saying,
Speak. Black-robe, my ears are open to
hear your words"
The white haired missionary was then
81 years old. with a face calm, mild and
peaceful. which all loved to look upon.
He spoke to the fierce Indians as to chill
dren, told them the terms Of peace he
brought them and pointed out the dan
ger and folly of fighting the white man.
At the close of his speech Chief Black
Moon said:
I'VE understand the words the Black
robe has spoken. They are good and full
of truth. This land is ours Here our
fathers were born and are buried. We
wish, like them, TO live and be buried
here, We have been forced to hate the
whites. Let them treat US as brothers
and the war will cease. Let them stay at
home. We will never 30 10 trouble
them. Thou, messenger of peace, hast
given us a glimpse of a, better future.
Let US throw veil over the past and let
1t be forgotten. Some OF our warriors
will go with you to Fort Rice to hear
the words Of the Great Fathers COM
missioners. II they are acceptable peace
shall be made"
The other chiefs spoke in the same
spirit and the second great treaty of
Fort Laramie. that OF 1868, was con-
cluded.
Father De smet died May Is 1878. at
st. Louis. In his death the west lost a
great missionary and explorer. and the
Indians lost their best friend.