The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-02-27

certifcates-big brothers of the War Savings
stamps-and they therefore have to their credit
more than $553OO0 of patriotic securities, while
their freewill donations to the Red Cross have
passed the $4,000 mark.
And the Rosebud Sioux, mind you, are the same
Sioux who little more than generation ago
boosted themselves Lords of the Plains"-an
equestrian nation of nOmad warriors and BUFFALO,
hunters whose trail from frontier days up to 1890
was red with paleface blood
Beginning with 1857 the record of Sioux wars,
uprisings and massacres contains items like
these: 1851 Spirit Lake massacre the Mime
sofa Iowa border; 1862 minnesota massacre" in
which 1000 pioneers lost their lives 1923, prac-
tically continuous with the whites; 1866, mas
sacre of Fettermans command of 100 men at
Fort Kearney, Neb.; 1857, wiping out of Clusters
command of 277 men at Little Big Horn by Sitting
Bull and 5000 warriors; 1901, uprising which re-
suited in the death of Sitting Bull and the killing
of 300 Sioux at Wounded Knee.
Today with the world in turmoil, with anarchy
leaping at the throats of civilization and with
patriotism at premium, these Indians loom as a
Gibraltar of loyalty and devotion to the nation.
In May, 1918, the Germans marching to-
ward Paris and the fate of the world was in the
balance. Columbia had unsheathed her sword
and was making daring dash at rescue. The
Indians, with excuses aplenty to make them OPP
perfume pacifsts, at least conscientious objec-
tors might have obscured themselves, but they
didn't In this month the Rosebud agency. having
sent it's bronzed braves to the front, held Red
Cross auction the records of which should go into
the archives of the government The Indians had
learned the aims and aspirations of the Red Cross
To man they for it, And so over the hills
they came from the five counties of their agency,
Todd Mellette, Trip, Gregory and Lyman The
Red Cross sale was held one bright spring morn
ing on the spacious lawn in front of the agency
buildings. One is assured that it was pic
turesuue. Sacrifices laid the auction block
included steers hogs, chickens, grain maple sugar,
beets, potatoes, apples preserves and cooked
foods a violin, mandolin Filipino hat, Chinese
scarf and nnumerable articles of Indian handi-
craft. Eggs were selling at 40 cents dozen, but
! dozen deviled were worth $3.50 to the Indians
| when bought In the name Of the Red Cross. A
| cake-just cake, that's all-sOld for $40.
| "Happy" sleek steer donated by the Rosebud
| school, headed the grand Red Cross pageant. He
! was decorated like unto circus elephant. They
| bid Happy" up to $40. before the auctioneer
| shouted "Sold!' beaded dress, made by one of
| the four or five widows of Spotted Tail, who
| brought about permanent peace between the Sioux
and the whites, caused spirited bidding and was
| sold for 500. A pair of beaded moccasins made
by Tacanknon, ninety-year-old squaw, Melted
the Red Cross another $500.
When the scheduled articles had all been sold
an Indian caught two cats running across the lawn
and turned them to the auctioneer, who
promptly sold them at dollar each. During the
progress of the sale one Of the donated hens
proved her patriotism by laying an egg. This egg
went up for sale and finally was awarded to an
Indian for So amid gale of laughter.
So far as the Rosebud agency is concerned, the
Indians are anything but vanishing race There
are more than $500 Indians on this agency, the
last five years showing an increase despite 1856
deaths in the 1918 influenza epidemic
The world war had great influence the In
dams, proving a liberal education to the young
men and giving those at home new ideas as to the
| need Of agricultural activity and general thrift