Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1931-04-09

up the money Of ours.
MY friends and relations, the corn
of ours is all over your lands and also
tobacco is smoked all over, every
where, and at this time your gov
eminent should pay me now.
My friends and my relations, the
| stone of Red Pipe, as your people have
worked at it already for many years,
and at this time the government
| should pay me now. All the things that
you have worked and found, such as
precious stones Of all kinds, at this
time all l ask is / want to get my pay.
Your white people understand that we
got together to hold our hands to
hand"
Charles Tall Bull appends a note
to the manuscript, saying. Il try my
best to translate into ineligible, my
self, and not much educations."
With such a background and pos
! sessed of an intimate knowledge of
the broken fortunes of his people on
his mothers side, Willis Rowland was
witness of and a participant IN the
removal of the approximately two
thousand Indian prisoners from Fort
Keogh to the Standing Rock agency
in the spring of 1880. General Miles
removed the Indians from the prison
camp on the west bank of the Tongue
river some distance up the stream to a
point Just above the fort buildings.
Land had been plowed up for them
upon which they were set to work, and
where during the previous summer
they raised good crops. 1t was Miles
belief the Indians could be made self
supporting if given the proper en-
couragement. The war department de-
creed otherwise, and the order for their
removal to an established reservation
followed.
Willis Rowland stood at one boat,
called the u. S., when the Sioux In
dian prisoners were loaded. Soldiers
stood at the gang plank. Each Indian
was carefully searched before embark
ing. All knives, particularly, were
taken. A box was standing convent
emily by into which the cutlery was
dropped. 1t was nearly filled as the
boat was loaded.
After the manner of the Sioux tribe
many of the old warriors who had
seen service and endured hardShipS on
the march and in open warfare against
the whites went aboard the boats sing
ing their wal songs. They sang tc
cover their chagrin. There were, In
instances, evidences of hesitation be-
cause they were afraid, as Rowland
describes the scene, afraid of being
taken plumb out of the country" Some
trouble arose before the boats were
loaded. One group of Sioux made a
show OF fight, but the soldiers quickly
quelled the incipent riot.
Most of the younger bucks we're not
taken aboard. James Rowland, brother
to Willis, gathered together about *
to 30 Of the younger men when they
rounded up the horses belonging t.
the Indians and went overland with
them to the reservation. He returned
to Fort Keogh in about ten days.
Willis Rowland's father was also a.
boat. as was Col. H. G. Thompson
The embarkation required considerable
time. When it was ascertained that tn,
prisoners were all aboard, the boat.
swung from their mOOrings into thu
swiftly flowing waters of the Yellow
stone river outward bound toward tn,
east. An Indian woman on the U. S
boat guarded by Rowland kept up
m%onotonous wall and expressing fea,
she was being taken out of the coun,
try. When the boat had proceeded
down stream for a distance she triet
to jump overheard. A knife was fount
IN her person when she waS seached
1t a hidden in her clothes and takel
from her to prevent any attempt a
suicide.
The boats reached Fort Buford tn
first night. Unrest on the part of thu
Sioux became prominent. The mani
feStatiOnS became menacing as the,
proceeded down the river towart
Standing Rock landing. The disturb
ance became particularly distressing OF
the boat in which Rowland was rid
ing. He sought the captain.
Can you find a drum for me?" aske,
Rowland. The officer complied.
Rowland took the bucks up on tn
upper deck. He ordered that tn
women be left below. BY the constan
beating of the drum and leading il
the singing OF Indian songs he man
aged to keep the distressed bucks quiet
After the prisoners had been quiete'
and we're inclined to be more restfu'
one Of the bucks approached Rowland
and asked about their knives.
I'VE can't eat without our knives,
said the emissary.
Rowland went to the captain an
informed him of the request of tn
Indians for their knives. The Office
stated that the Indians could hav
their knives If they promised to return
them in the morning. They replied II
the Affirmative. Taking them at thei
word, they were allowed to get thei
cutlery and became quite satisfied. TIL
declaration at Standing Rock wa
without incident.
With the successful removal of tn
Sioux to their reservation, the furthe
disposition OF the Cheyenne, also he'll