The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-12-27


tier somehow about It. Sub-tOtals came
i'll readily enough from the villages.
Sections far from even these little CEN
tiers relayed reports into Solcn by tele
phone, working in roundabout ways
when wires were reported down at
the usual connecting points. And then.
regardless Of the freezing cold, the
knife-edged winds that swept the great
open spaces. or the snow that covered
field and roadway, the Sioux messcn-
gers. riding ponies, or, as happened in
ut least one instance, coming undaunt-
eddy ufoot. brought to SOlen the word
of the roll caH in the little. lonely, out
| lying places. And it is these figures.
added together. that show the IS per
cent Of the Indian population enrolled.
The Answer Of the Sioux.
IT is the answer of the Sioux to the
piliful wordless plea Of the stricken
millions across the seas. 1t is the
reply of the red men to the cry Of his
white brothers in the far-off lands.
And more than all. it is the great
hearted American response to these de-
sccndants of the very first Americans
to this latest call Of their America.
This record made by the Sioux
said Mr.. Wilbur this morning, Eek
ceeds that of every North Dakota coun-
ty reported in thus far except Nelson.
land it approximately equals that. 1t
is more than double the average for
the state as a whole. Because felt
that the inspiration of it should be
sent to Red Cross workers everywhere,
am sending a special report on it to
division headquarters for transmission
to Washington. and thence in due time
for transmission overseas. ! have also
asked Mr.. Johnson to furnish Il rather
detailed report later on this roll call
among the Sioux"
Tho story Of the Red Cross among
the Sioux on the Standing Rock reser-
Walton is one of unusual interest in
| many avs and Of peculiar significance.
1t began. so the records in the state
Red Cross headquarters show. nearly
IS months ago when State Director n.
{. Young sent Frank Fiske. reservation
photographer at Fort Yates, to the late
Chief John Grass with instructions to
explain to him the work Of the Red
Cross. convey the greetings Of the
state officers. and ask his approval and
support
"Ho Heeetu" Says Chief.
Mr.. Fishes report. on file in the
Headquarters hero. tells of his visit to
the old chief toward sunset on one
Of the long days of the Dakota sum-
mer. In accord with the immemorial
custom, Chief Grass received his Wis
itor in silence and then. after long
wait, sisnalled him to state his mis-
sion. The war was new to America
then. and little of it had reached the
men and women out there on the res
crvation. Patiently Fiske, who later
enlisted as a soldier for America. told
the story of the war. of the Red Cross.
of the dire need, and Of the great task
ahead Of America.
AS, he finished. the face of the old
man. who had listened gravely and i'll
unbroken silence, lighted. He stood
erect and uttered the great Sioux word
of approval:
"Ho hecetu." ~
He agreed to serve as vice chairman
of the Sioux county chapter and his
name appears ON the records as one
of the IS charter members certified TO
headquarters.
war Fund RECORD.
Steadily. as the old chief explained
the work and the war to his people,
the Red Cros membership increased
The Junior Red Cross was organized
and photographs began to come out Of
the reservation showing the Indian
children ut their Red Cross work while
the products of their fingers began to
90 overseas to the men lighting there
for America.
The story of the war was no longer
a strange one on the reservation. The
Red Cross told part of it. The young
men Of the Sioux began to leave for
the training camps and the battle front,
and the grim earnestness Of it all came
home. Albert Grass. grandson of the
old chief, was one Of those who early
! answered the call for fighting men.
The first real test of the Sioux cOun-
ty chapter came with the second Red
Cross war fund drive last May. Re-
ports from authentic sources reached
the state headquarters that it was\ I
poor time to make financial demand
on the people Of the county. State Di-
rector Young and Secretary Wilbur
heSitated long before making the ap-
portionment, but ultimately elected to
make it Oh the same principles and
basis as governed the appOrtioning gen
orally. They asked Sioux county to
raise 1000. All things considered, it
was a heavy apportionment.
Chairman Fiske was installed as
campaign manager Chief Grass took
told Of the work among the Indians
as far as his failing health would per-
| nit. When the drive ended. Sioux
| county had raised in cash and pledges
Il total Of 1862. or better than 100
per cent on its appOrtionment. Much
of it was cash. realized frem the auc-
| tioning Of horses. cattle. and othe:
property donated by the Indians.
The Roll Cali Campaign.
! Changes came as the weeks and
months went Ny. Chief Grass left the
reservation and his people forever. his
| spirit journeying to the land Of tho
Great Spirit where the war lodges ara
closed forever. Later, only a few weens
ago. came the letter from Capt. WEIGH
Of Bismarck. telling that Albert Grass
had been killed in action while clean
ing out machine gun nest. Twenty
four Huns. he wrote. had fallen before
the old chiefs grandson before bull
let ended the war for him. The fight
4 ing proves Of the Sioux had been
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