The Bismarck tribune., 1931-08-10
WHITES AND INDIANS
| GATHER AT BIER OF
FAMOUS n. D. indian
Services at CannonbaIl Are
Read Both in Indian and
White Mans Tongues
MAY BE BURIED IN CAPITAL
Board Of Administration Con-
sidering Interment on
State.owned Ground

1nOldn ana WnlCe man, IN WHOSE
councils he had stood as an influen-
tial figure for more than q half CEN
tury, were at Cannonball by the hun
dreds Sunday to do final homage to
Red Tomahawk. reputed slayer of
Sitting Bull, famous Indian medicine
man.
Funeral services were read both In
the language of his fathers and In the
tongue Of the people whose customs
he had adopted.
The body will be held at Cannon.
ball until Tuesday, pending outcome
OF a movement to bury Tomahawk
on the state capitol grounds here.
Burial will take place at Cannonball
should plans to inter the body at the
capitol fail to materialize.
The state board Of administration
has been asked for permission to bury
Red Tomahawk, on the capitol
grounds. A decision from the board
is expected by Tuesday.
Captain I. P. Baker, Bismarck,
close friend Of the old Indian for
nearly half a century, Is in charge
Of arrangements for bringing the body
here.
His death, at the age Of 50 removed
one of the most colorful figures on the
Standing Rock reservation where in
1890 he was among the Indian police
who sought to arrest Sitting Bull.
Red Tomahawk claimed to have fired
the shot which killed the noted chief.
Born In Montana
Ta-can-rpi-luta, as Tomahawk was
known to the Sioux, was born in Mon
tana territory in 1849 and as youth
developed a reputation as q fighter
Of Indians hostile to his tribe. He
came with his tribe to the reservation
here and became sergeant In the In
dian police.
To Frank Zatn, interpreter on the
Standing Rock reservation. Red Tom
ahawk recounted his version OF the
battle In which Sitting Bull was
killed only q few years ago, after a
silence Of almost 20 years.
The old Indian, for whom Zahn
acted as interpreter In his many deal
ings with federal authorities, claimed
that two shots were fired at Sitting
Bull. Tomahawk entered Sitting
Bulls log house. ordered him to dress
and to submit to arrest.
Sitting Bull, unarmed, called to his
followers to kill leaders Of the Indian
police. Lieutenant Bull Head, leader
of the detachment, fired at the chief,
wounding him In the chest. Toma-
hawk, firing simultaneously, struck
Sitting Bull In the cheek, and claimed
his bullet caused death.
Tomahawk Took Charge
Catch-the-Bear, one Of Sitting
Bulls followers, shot Lieutenant Bull
Head. and other officers In the police
detail were subsequently killed, leav-
ing Tomahawk to take charge.
Living his peaceful life In later
years, Red Tomahawk's word carried
great weight on the reservation. He
assumed the role Of q recruiter during
the World war and many young In
dian braves went to war at his behest.
Many notables were adopted into
the Sioux tribe at ceremonies over
which he presided. In 1924, Marshal
Foch of France smoked the pipe OF
peace with the Indian leader and was
given q war bonnet, the symbol OF
adoption in the tribe.
Others adopted were Queen Marie
in 1927, Secretary Of War Hurley IN
1880, the late Brigadier General
Charles E. Hyatt, in 1924 and General
G. p. Summerall.
Red Tomahawk presented to Presi-
dent Hoover and Vice President Curtis
q tobacco pouch and pipe. and in 1928
on q visit to Washington he and In
terpreter Zahn dined with the presi-
dent and vice president. Back In
1878, Red Tomahawk was presented to
President Grant and In 1902 to Presi-
dent Roosevelt. The Indians profile
is borne on state highway markers
throughout North Dakota.