New Ulm review., 1922-06-28
INDIANS WIN IN
'$386,597 SUIT.
LAST SUIT GREW OUT OF THE
PACT WHICH CAUSED
'62 MASSACRE.
RED MEN CAN NOW COLLECT ON
CLAIMS WHICH HAVE BEEN
IGNORED FOR YEARS.

The United States court Of claims,
has rendered judgment of 1886, ,597
against the United States and in favor
Of the M'Dewekantonwan and Wah-
paykootay Sioux Indians, otherwise
known as the "Santee Sioux." The
controversy arose out of certain treaty
between the Government and the In
dians and the Indian depredations Of
1862.
In that year, the court, in its opin-
ion, says, IAN outbreak Of the Sioux
Indians occurred in which they COM
mitted terrible outrages and depreda-
tions upon the settlers of Minnesota,
constituting one Of the darkest pages
/ in the history of Indian warfare
During this outbreak a large number
OF white settlers were massacred and
a vast amount of property was de-
stroyed and in consequence thereof
Congress annulled all treaties between
the Indians and the United States
and the funds therefor devoted to the
Indians were diverted to the reimburse
ment of the damages suffered by the
settlers. The Indians brought their
suit under an act of Congress passed
March 6, 1917, and obtained the judg-
ment described.
| The treaty involved in this deci-
sion of the United States court of
claims is historically known as the
| "Mendota Treaty which was signed
in August, 1851, by 60 chiefs, including
Little Crow, and by Colonel Lee and
Governor Ramsey.
Under the terms of this treaty, the
Indians released all their lands in the
territory of Minnesota and the state
of Iowa except a reservation 10 miles
wide on either side Of the Minnesota
River from Yellow Medicine River on
the west TO Little Rock River on the
east. 5s
| Yearly Payments SO. Years.
In consideration OF this cession Of
land the Government agreed to pay
the ], Indians $22O,OOO to help them
move, and in addition yearly payments
Of 100000 for buildings, $4,000 for
civilization, $4,000 for education,
$40, 900 for food. and $40, 900 cash,
making. q total Of $88, ,0O0sa year which
the government agreed to pay annually
for 50years.
Cede IS Million Acres. III
| The Indians gave over something
like 35 million acres Of land by this
treaty, Including six million acres in
the: state of Iowa. *g
/ 1t was out of this treaty that several
quarrels developed between the In
dians and whites which finally culmi-
mated in the outbreak of 1862.
y 800 Butchered. ii
More people were killed in Mime
sofa and more property destroyed in
this outbreak than in all: the Indian
outbreaks in the United States that
preceded it. Over 800 white men,
!! women and children were butchered
j land over 5000 homes destroyed. The
Indian Monument on Center Street
by the Court House briefly tells the
story Of New Ulm's part in this mem
orable outbreak, the two bloody
battles in the victorious defense O
j New Ulm, the seven; day siege by the
Indians, the evacuation Of New Uln
the defenders retiring to Mankato ant
Of the hanging Of SO Indians at Man
kato on December 28 that year TO
\ their crimes.
u One Of the defenders Of New Uln
f at that time was old Dick Pfeferle
) now 81 years old, then 20. He ar
: rived at New Ulm on the first day tn
Indians attacked the town and stage,
: till the town was evacuated.
Dishonest Agents Caused Trouble
Mr.. Pfeferle is Of the opinion tha
j dishonest agents were the main caus
y Of the outbreak It seems that tn
i Indians were often cheated in variou
~ x,yoSyc I,1, tho ooonfos yyhoy1 no yy,,,o,,f