The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1920-02-28

certiicates-big brothers of the War Savings
stamps-and they therefore have to their credit
than $553,000 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 a 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 paeface blood.
Beginning with 1857 the record of Sioux wars,
uprsings and massacreS contains items ike
these 1857, Spirit Lake massacre on the Mime
sotaIowa border; 1862, Minnesota massacre" In
which 1000 pioneers lost their lives 1898 prac-
tically continuous war with the whites; 1885, mas
sacre of Fettermans command of 100 men at
Fort Kearney, Neb. 1867, 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
leapng at the threats of civilization and with
patriotism at premium, these Indians loom as
Gibraltar of loyalty and devotion to the nation.
In May, 1918, the Germans were marching to-
ward Paris and the fate of the world 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 pacfsts, or 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 a 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 were for 1t. 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
turesque Sacrifices laid the auction block
included steers hogs, chickens, grain, maple sugar,
beets, potatoes, apples, preserves and cooked
foods violin, mandolin, Filipino hat, Chinese
scarf and innumerable articles of Indian handi-
craft. Eggs were selling at 40 cents a dozen, but
a dozen deved worth $3.50 to the Indians
when bought in the name of the Red Cross.
cake-iust cake, that's all-sold for 500.
Happy" a 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 "SoldH' beaded dress, made by Of
the four or five widows of Spotted Tail, who
brought about permanent peace between the Sioux
and the whites caused spirited bidding and
sold for 500. pair of beaded moccasins made
by Tacanknoin. nnety-yearold squaw, netted
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 over 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 IS, amid gale of laughter.
SO far as the Rosebud agency is concerned the
Indians are anything but vanishing There
are more than $500 Indians this agency the
last five years showing an increase despite 355
deaths in the 1918 influenza epidemic.
The world war had great influence on the In
dians proving liberal education the young
men and giving those at home new ideas as to the
need of agricultural activity and general thrift.