Year: 1875

Cloud Agency. At old deserted ranch Ash
Creek we stopped 10 and quaT some hot coffee.
Starting again overtaken by an Indian, who
was perfectly naked and painted in a very peculiar
manner He was covered by black stripes, crescent in
FORM and rode pony with nothing but larat and
black blanket on him. This pony, he said, had be-
longed to relative who had recently been killed
encounter with soldiers The animal had been cap
tured and he had made a vow to
it. AS he riding along in
pany il suddenly flashed upon me there
a singular resemblance between this pony
and my own, which had left in charge Of Williams,
our guide TO lead forward to the end Of the Journey


satisfied myself that 1t really my property and
then came To the mental query Of what be done
This Indian told tragic story of his wrongs He
probably belonged TO Of the wild bands of the North
so feared by the whites unwilling to submit TO
his claim without protest and puzzled to account
for his having induced Williams TO relinqush the horse
had purchased 1t in the Black Hills knew it to have
been previously procured from the Indians and feared
that the naked warrior, who said that he had many
young in his band might have told the truth and
contemplated not only reclamation, but vengeance
After much gesticulatng he appeared exceedingly
wroth and finally turned to ride back whence he
had come Williams at least mile IN the
rear. The Indian sped away amid cloud of dust My
heart sank within me with the certainty that Sioux





spondent of the New YORK HERALD Our surprise and
amusement a few minutes later at miscomprehen-
sion of the Indian, when, looking back Will
iams still leading pony, extreme When he ap-
preached and joined the joke became apparent. The
naked warrior had desired to give his pony for
mine, which was much inferior, transaction that
would heartily have approved. He considered that
Williams the owner, and learning OF my claim
concocted lie about the killing of his relative, for
whom he mourning When he had ridden back
to Williams he had remounted his pony and sur
rendered mine


COMMISSION EMBARRASSED.


Near Crow Buttes met Major Howard, agent for
the Brules, his way to bring the Indians in his
charge the Red Cloud Agency for the holding OF the
Council in its vicinity. You have already learned by
telegraph OF the feeling OF Spotted Tail against going so
far from his agency to meet the Commissioners. IL
has delayed the opening of TIE actual negotiations
fully a week. According to rumor this has been
brought about secret way by Major Howard who,
it said has nursed the petty jealousy of the
numerous neighboring band that troubles Spotted
! Tails breast Major Howard Tuesday received
| positive orders from the Commissioners to in
duce his people to meet them at Crow Buttes,
six miles from this agency. On my arrival
here l Immediately sought the opinions of the
Commissioners the issue of the negotiations and
found them much embarrassed by the unexpected stub
bornness of Spotted Tail They reached this agency
September 4 and have since been endeavorng TO
pete the preliminary arrangements of the Waka Tonka
quickly possible. They have made but slow pro-
gress The Indian is mentally very inert and has little


idea of organization. On Wednesday council
held at which Red Cloud Two Strike, Two Bear, Blue
Horse Yellow Breast, Rock Red Dog and others were
present The only question considered the place of
pitching the great Council lodge and it finally and
n 10 n
Red Cloud made impressive and manly
speech, assuring the Commissioners that he would
look after their safety. Red Dog visits the
commission most frequently and talks the most He is
able Indian, but impairs his usefulness and import
by garruty. Man Afraid of His Horses the elder
with his son, the present hereditary chief, also
present and gave expression to much good will toward
the government


NORTHERN


The Sioux have very recently had practical evidence
of their utter dependence upon Tonkasia, the
| Great Father impressed upon them Eighty
of the Sioux and Cheyennes travelled about
$50 miles to the north under Young Man
Afraid of His Horses and accompanied by Louis
Richards, to visit their Mnneconjou cousins


the Powder River country and to ask them to help


in the treaty deliberations They found game what
ever their route and their return march the Com
missioners obliged to forward to them supply of
beef they unable TO obtain any wild meat by
the chase. Louis found the northern band Rosebud
Creek OF the Big Horn Mountains, the Kshkah-
Rha) Here he encountered Crazy Horse inveterate
wild chief who has always refused to consent to any
treaty making with the pale faces Crazy Horse
has an ancient hatred for Louis Richards and
at this meeting threatened TO kill him. Man
Afraid Of His Horses, however, assured Crazy Horse
that if there to be any killing he would be there
and would avenge it. Louis undoubtedly owed to this
speech the preservation of his life The result of the
visit Rosebud Creek the accession of lodges
Minneconlous to the council under Lone Horn of the
North The number representing each of the various
bands and tribes which will be gathered here cannot
yet be accurately stated. Arapahoes encamped at the
! agency number about 1900 Eight thousand Yanck-
tons Yancktonais, Lower Brules Ohenopas Rawboxas,
Sans Arcs, Sauees and Cheyennes
in the neighborhood of Bordeaux Creek and
will move wherever Spotted Tail goes with
| his councilmen. Crazy Horse and Black
| Twin have refused to to the Council, but Little
Big Man. who shares the authority of chief in his band
with Crazy Horse has arrived here with many Of his
! warriors. Crazy Horse empowered HIM to represent
him in the negotiations Sitting Bull of the North one
of the most dreaded of the chiefs of the wild Indians
has said that he will any treaty made by the
other chiefs Of the Sioux but added that he might per-
haps into the Council 'when the leaves begin
fall" he ala not ABOUT treating with the whites.
He only desired let alone by them and he in return
| would let them alone


| INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COMAIIS-
SIONERS.


| WASHINGTON, Sept II, 1875


The following is the letter of instructions issued by
the Indian Commissioner to the members of the CON-
mission to negotiate with the Sioux concerning the
! sion of the Black Hills


| LETTER oP COMMISSIONER SMITH


DEPARTMENT INTERIOR,
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
| WASHINGTON, d. G., June IS, 1875.
GBSTLEMEN-You have been appointed by the honor
able Secretary the Interior under the direction