Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-09-04
Red Cross History For
Sioux County Continued
Chief John Grass Aesspt' Honorary Craftsmanship
Short Biosraphy---B enehe: Established Through
Out The County
CONTINUED from last weekly

Continued from last week
Speaking thru the interpreter, 1.
said that / had just returned from
Fargo, and had brought 4 messa6s.
from the Hon. N. G. Young, heaia
Of the Red Cross fro North Daka
ia, asking the chief to accept the
honorary craftsmanship Of the Red
Cross chapter Of Sioux county I
carefully explained the nature Of
the work, and the vast amount Of
relief work the society is called upon
to do.
He listened gravely while the in
terpreter translated, the muscles Of
his wonderful face remaining i'm
mutable during the process. When
it was accomplished, he voiced the
great Sioux expression OF approval:
mo hecetu." And as / left him I
bore his promise to aid the work
among the Indians with all the
power his languishing body would
permit.
Death Of Chief .Iohn C,.a4
(Chief John Grass died May 10,
1918. In his youth he was preen,i-
nently a prince, for his father was
a great chief. He was born in 1845
and at the time Of his death was %
years old. He was never very an
tagonistic toward the whites and
took no part in the hostiiities Of
Sitting Bull. He was a counselor
Of his people and an authority on
treaties
The last descendent Of the origin.
al Grass line was Albert Grass. He
was about % years Of age, and. was
the only living son of Chief Grass.
He enlisted in the summer Of 1917
in the Bimark company of the 2nd
North Dakota regiment, of which
A. b. WEIGH, adopted son of John
Grass, was captain. Albert Grass
was killed in France, August 1918,
by machine gun fire while raiding
a German trench. His heroic
death was in keeping with the rep
ulation his fathers bore, and his
memory will be kept green for all
time by those who survived the in
tense fighting Of that day. So far
as known, Albert Grass was the
first Standing Rock Indian to lose
his life action.
Interest is Aroused
As preliminary to the establish
ment of branches throughout the
county, it was necessary that those
interested should assume a leading
role in their communities, and Mrs.
E, F. Underhill. at Cannon Ball, E.
s. johnson, at Solen, A. W. Mer-
chant, at Selfridge, and L. w. Cole.
bank, at swastika, began the. SOL
icitation Of membership and the
distribution Of yarn and other ma
terial for the making Of garments.
The introduction of Red Cross ac-
tivities in the county was Of such an
order that the interest Of the people
as whole was hardSto rouse. As
in all communities there were man
y who could not; understand why
the United States wiss at war or why
there was such a thing ae a Red
Cross Society. Until every one en-.
tered heartily into the work results
were slow in attainment, and there
were times when the outlook seemed
discouraging.
Fair Helps
Through the courtesy of the
Standing Rock Fair Association, a
booth was donated for the period Of
the fair that was held Sept. 9th,
18th, and Goth, 1917. The ladies'
worked in shifts Of three, changing
three times day, and when in
need Of masculine help it was always
available in the gentlemen members
Of the society. The Hokanson- -Tur-
per and Carisnan stores furnished