Year: 1879

white Eagles Account or she Woes OF Rfs
Tribe.


The following are extracts from let
ter from Khe-thaska (White Eagle).
head chief of the Poncss, written to Mr..
T. 81. Tibbles, and dated Indian Terri
tory, May 20, 1879:


"In the spring of 1876 we were all
living quietly on our farms, when sud
denly there came to our reserve white
man, who professed to have come from
the president. He called us all to the
church and we went. We had seen this
man before, and he appeared to be a
good friend of ours. He said to us:
The president has sent me with mes
sage to you. He bas sent me to tell
you that you must pack up and remove
to the Indian Territory I replied:
Friend, thought that when the presi-
dent desired to transact business with
people he would consult with them first.
This has come on suddenly Give us
time to think about it. want to know
and zee for myself what I had better do


"He jumped to his feet and said:
'The president told me to take you to
the Indian Territory, and I have both
hands full Of money, which it will
require to move you down there. When
! the president says anything it must be
done. Everything is settled, and it is
just as though you were there already.
~ answered: | have never broken
any of my treaties with the government.
What does the president want to take
my land away from me for? The presi.
dent told me to work, and have done
it. He told me not to so on the war
path, even if the white men took away
| my horses and cattle or killed my peo-
pie. I promised would not, and have
performed my promises. My people
have lived and died on this land as far
back as We can member. l have sowed
wheat and planted corn, and have per-
formed all my promises, and now ii
seems as if the government was trying
to drown me when it takes my land
away. The land is our own. We dc
| not want to part with it. do no
think ] shall let the president have it
I have broken no treaties, and the pres
ident has no right to take it from me.
This man arose and said, Stop you,
talking. Don't say any more. The
president has told me to remove you a.
soon as I get here. The president il
going to send all the Indians to Indian
Territory. You can do nothing. Whar
the president has said will be done.'"
After relating further refusal to
leave the land, White Eagle says the
soldiers were sent there and this man
sent for him again, and proceeds as fol-
! lows:


"I gave the treaty to the officer and
said to him: 4 have never done any
wrong against the white people. I have
never broken any treaties. Now, what
have I done that your soldiers stand
here all around against meS I have
done that which I thought my duty.
now, show me what have done ths,
you stand here with your soldiers in
arms against me9 I have helped your
soldiers. / have helped the white peo-
pie who live around here. When the
Sioux carried off your cattle and
horses I have had them returned to you,
if it was in my power. Why do you
stand here armed against me! I had
always believed that your government
had ordered your soldiers to protect
those who were peaceful, and to bear
arms against those who committed
crimes. Have pity on the tears of these
helpless women and childlen. We
would rather die here on our own land
than be forced to 60. Kill us all on our
own land now, 30 shat in the future
when men shall ask, why have these
died it shall be answered, they dice
rather than be forced to leave thei,
land they died to maintain their rights,
and perhaps there will be found some to
pity as, and say they did that which
was right.


This man answered, if blood is
ahe |, you only will be the cause.'"


After describing IN detail the forced
removal to the Indian territory, the
loss by sickness of nearly one>fourth of
the tribe, and of hearing of the suit to
release Standing Bear and his party, he
says: =, Il


"When a people lose all they hold
dear to them the heart cries all the time.
I speak now to your lawyers who have
helped Standing Bear. We have thought
there was none to take pity on us and
none to help us. We thought all the
white people hated us. But now w
have seem you take pity on Standin.
Bear when you heard bis story, and it
may be that you knew nothing
our wrongs and did not help us. II
thank you in the name of my tribe for
what you have done for Standing
Bear, and I ask you to 60 still further
in your Kindness and help us regain our
land. My heart thinks all the time of |
our dead / cry day and night for the |
men, women and children who have
been killed by this land, but when I |
heard of your kindness to soraa Of INV |