Year: 1879

/ Auftth ~ SR0ttt0


to the Bad Lands an


Campfire Greas sum Dance.


Correspondence OF The Standard.


RosE BUp, Dakota, June 80, 1879.


At seven o'clock Monday morning,
in company with DIR. Miller. OF the ar
my, set out from the surveyors camp
on the Rosebud to witness the great
sun dance of tho Sioux Indians. We
we're mounted on good horses and rode
first to Maj. Newells Agency, where
we expected to join some half-breeds
who were also going out to the sun
dance. Just as we rode into the Agen-
cy they were starting out. After mail
ing some letters we started and caught
the half-breeds and rode with them to
the Indian camp, which was 20 miles
from the Agency. On the way we
crossed the sunfork OF White river and
several places where the Indians had
been camped. At one OF their old
camps we found the body Of an Indian
stuck up on a platform supported by
four sticks. Our guide informed us
that the dead body was the victim OF a
tragedy of the day previous; that an
Infatuated Indian was beating his
squaw in terrible manner, when their
son iDtervened for his mother, but the
old man continued his pounding. The
young brave picked up a rifle and
struck his father SO hard blow that
the gun-stock was broken, but unfor-
tunately for the young fellow the piece
discharged, the load entering his breast,
causing ghastly wound which result
ed in death during the night.


We soon arrived IN sight OF the In
dian camp, which covered large plain,
through which flowed the Black Pine
creek, about miles from the White
river. The camp was the largest ]
ever saw, and the largest number OF
Indians were gathered together than
had been congregated for a sun dance
since 1865, when the big sun dance was
held on the Platte. All of Spotted
Tails Indians were present, about half
OF Red Clouds (that chief himself,
however, did not appear, all of the
Lower Brules, and many of the Yank-
ton from the Missouri river who were
visitors, and other peaceable tribes
from Minnesota were represented
Some emissaries from Sitting Bulls
camp were also in and succeeded in in
ducing some few of Spotted Tails
young men and some Cheyenne war
riors. who had left their Agency to visit
the sun dance without permission, to
join them and go northwest.


The Indian camp. as viewed by us
from a hill, presented an interesting
sight to the eye of civilized man. The
lodges were ranged in circle nearly a
mile in diameter. They were not IN
regular form, but were scattered so
that some parts of this immense circle
of Indian lodges was one-fourth OF mile
wide. We first obtained a full view OF
tho camp from the distance Of about
two miles, aud could see that some
thing Was going on, for immense
crowds were to be seen moving about
The number of Indians estimated as
being present was from 1900 TO 49,
900, but consider the lower estimate
nearer correct. Our half-breed guide
became excited as he gazed on the
large assemblage of people, aud said
to us, "Come, we better hurry and see
the big charge. See all those Indian
on pony" So we hurried our pace
and galloped toward the camp. with
feeling OF curiosity, mingled with a
that of awe and respect for the large
number OF sayages there gathered, for
We felt that we were in the presence of
men who had been at war with the
whites for years, and who were peace
able and quiet now, not because they
had been conquered, but because they
were being fed and clothed and were
receiving presents from the govern
ment. We also knew tAat there was
much dissatisfaction among some OF
them, and that many of them disbe-
lieved IN the power Of the hand that
sought to purchase their friendship by
feeding them, and that few words Of
bad counsel from their head men would
cause an outbreak.


We neared the camp and our half
breed friend informed us that we had
better keep out Of the way, as a crowd
Of the young men would consider IL
very good sport TO "charge" on us. IL
seemed as though the whole Sioux na.
tion was mounted and riding like mad
so We Immediately reined into shelter
behind some lodges where We would not
be carried away in the charge and yet
could witness the scene. We found that
a body of about twenty-five head men,
headed 10y Spotted Tail, was Just start
ing out to discover or select the pole
for the sun dance They passed near
us in single file, their ponies trotting
at a slow pace and they riding in a
quiet dignitied manner, contrasting
strangely 20 the crowds that escorted
them to the limit OF the circle. Nc
one was permitted TO leave the inside
of the circle Of lodges while the head
men were ont searching for the pole. -
We now proceeded to the center Of the
circle, where an immense crowd was
gathered on horses, ponies, yearlings.
mules, in wagons aud all sorts Of vehi-
cles, while many were on foot. The
crowd was formed in a semi-circle,
awaiting the return Of the pole discov-
erers. They were soon seen coming
over the brow OF a hill and a general
charge was made by every Indian so
fortunate as 10 be mounted, and there
we're many, for ponies were plenty, and
probably one-third Of the camp was
astride some beast. The crowd then
returned headed by the pole hunters
and rode into the center Of the camp
as fast as their ponies would carry
them. After some speeches by the
head men which we could neither hear
nor understand. the multitude dispers-
ed 10 their respective lodges.


We we're invited to Lone Elk's lodge.
He is a son-in-law Of Spotted Tail, and
the lodge was occupied by Lone Elk
and wife, Spotted Tail, it,, aud wife
and Chas. Tackett, a half-breed son in
law Of old Spots, and his wife. We
had brought no provisions, as Maj.
DeRussy was 20 leaye camp after mus
ter aud come out with his team aud
spring wagon, aud our bedding and
-four was TO come with the Major. But
noon came, and no Major. and we were
sitting around in the lodge Wondering
what we would do for grub TO eat,
when two fne-looking squaws entered