The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-07-30
Friend of Bismarck, He
Served as Agent at Fort
T0tten and Standing Rock
and Negotiated Some of the
Most Famous Treaties with
the Indians in the North.
west-AuthOr of Book Civ.
ing Account Of Custer Mas
sacre.

Major James Mclaughlin, 81 years
old--thc oldest cmploye in the Unit
ed States Bureau of Indian Affairs
and a true pioneer of North Dakota,
died at Washington, d. c. Satur-
day, according to information reach
ing here today.
Through all of the stirring days Of
carly Dakota Territory, when the In
dian problem was big one ard hos
tile bands roamed the country, Major
Mclaughlin served the government,
and his tact and diplomacy often
stood as a protection between hosti le
Indian tribes and the white settlers
of the scarcely broken country.
Year in and year out he diligently
pursued his task as u representative
of the government, first at Fort Tot
ten, near Devils Lake, later at Stand
ing Rock, and as a special replcsen-
tative travelling over the entire west.
Major Mclaughlin was a staunch
friend of Bismarck, and he first saw
the town when it was in its meager
frontier swadling clothes. He had
many warm friends in the city, among
them Capt. I. p. Baker, the late Mar
shall Jewell, publisher of The Tri-
bune for many years, and Mrs. Jewell.
Major Mclaughlin was in Bismarck
on June IL, and visited numerous
friends, being here on business trip
for the government. The town Of
Mclaughlin, South Dakota. was NAM
ed for him.
Engaged In Big Task
When here Major Mclaughlin was
engaged in big task for the govern
ment-alloting $347,0OO to between
1900 and 1000 Santee Sioux Indians,
scattered in Nebraska, South and
North Dakota and Minneapolis. He
was chosen for the difficult task be-
cause of his wide knowledge of Indian
affairs and his ability as an investi-
gator in difficult problems. The
award was made by the United States
Court Of claims and arose out of cam
celled benefits because Of the Mimi
esota Indian massacre of 1864.
Major Mclaughlin was held to be
the only man in the Indian service
who could properly solve the pro-
blems and although he was enfeebled
by advancing years he set out to do
it. He first went to Nebraska and
South Dakota, then stopped in Bis
marck and went on to Devils Lake
and thence to St. Paul where he was
engaged in the work for several
weeks. He had, it is believed, just
about completed the task on which
he was engaged when death claimed
him.
One of Major McLaughlin's friends
was Major General Hugh L. Scott,
famous United States Army leader,
who was young lieutenant at Fort
Totten, in 1871.
Agent. At Fort Totten
In 1881 Major Mclaughlin was
made agent at the Standing Rock re-
servation. During his period there
he met all Of the Indians notorious
in the Custer massacre. For five
years he was in daily contact with
the principals in the massacre, and
only after long period of contact
did they unfold to him the Indians
story Of the famous battle of the
Little Big Horn. Major Mclaughlin
wrote book entitled my Friend,
The Indian" and he gave what is be-
lieved to be the most accurate &C.
count of the Custer massacre ever
written from the standpoint of the
Indians knowledge of the fight.
While here in June, Major McLaugh-
lin took exception to statements re-
ported to have been made last win
ter in Chicago by A. MEG. Bede,
which indicated that General Custer
was q suicide. General Custer, Ma
jor Mclaughlin said, died with two
bullet wounds--one in the forehead
and one in the breast.
Among the Indians who held con-
fidenqe in Major Mclaughlin were
Chief John Grass, Red Cloud, Gall,
Grow King, Two Bears, Mad Bear.
Hump and Rain-In-The Face.
Among the accomplishments listed
by the Bureau Of Indians Affairs in
Continued on Page Three)
e - : q II