| The hostile Indians are called Rosebuds. Perhaps,
that is to make the soldiers more active in gathering them in. -[Philadelphia
*Bulletin*.
A short letter from George Means, now at Pine Ridge Agency, Dak., dated Thanksgiving day, says nothing about the troubles there. We have an idea that the troubles are mostly newspaper talk. The Messiah craze among the Indians may have been sprung upon those poor ignorant people by white men who are after their lands, or their money, or who want a war with the Indians so that they can rush into battle, kill them an thus win renown. What a shame and an outrage it is! What is the real reason for it all? Ignorance on the part of the Indians nothing else. Our boys and girls who have learned to read and reason, know better than to be led into trouble in that fashion. Thousands, perhaps of your people will suffer and many be killed before they get their eyes open. Dear boys and girls, if you were there you could not help them. Be content that you are where you can get the education that will save you from such a fearful mistake in the future. December 5, 1890 INDIAN HELPER |
| W. writes from the country what she thinks of the Messiah craze:
"I read in some of the papers that the Sioux are trying to get into trouble.
Oh, it makes me laugh when I saw in the paper, that they said some one
told them that they must kill all the whites and they are the ones going
to have the world for themselves. Poor Indians! They don't know what is
best for them. Dear! The idea they left their farms and houses and are
going to be turned into savage ways."
A recent letter from Edgar Fire Thunder, of Pine Ridge Agency, Dak., the seat of the present Indian troubles, says, "We haven't any trouble except some of the Indians had Ghost Dance, but I think they will stop now. Good many soldiers came here a few days ago, eight companies in all. The newspapers told that the Indians wanted to fight white men. That is all a mistake. They are going to have council with the soldiers." Edgar says his little baby is very fat and is walking. Edgar's many Carlisle friends are always glad to hear news from him. A letter from a Government official at Cheyenne Agency, Darlington, I.T., just received as we go to press, says: "The Indians are peaceable. They are holding Ghost dances at three points, but are not inclined to unruly. I do not apprehend any trouble. It would be a blessing if the Messiah or some other civilizing influence could strike them even in the shape of a "craze." This shows about how much we ought to rely upon the sensational western newspaper correspondent. December 12, 1890 INDIAN HELPER |
| Poor Sitting Bull is dead, and nobody weeps.
December 19, 1890 INDIAN HELPER |
| Frank Locke writes from the Rosebud Agency, Dak., in relation
to the Indian troubles in that country. He seems to think that an Indian
outbreak means a great deal more to newspaper men than to any other class
of people especially when they want to "finish out columns" and get pay
for them. He gives his reasons for the present "outbreak." The first difficulty
arose between the Rosebud and the Pine Ridge Indians in regard to the line
of their reservation. After the Rosebud Indians had improved their places,
built houses, plowed their farms and built fences around them, erected
churches and schoolhouses where the children could be taught all good things"
they did not want to move, as was stipulated they should by the last treaty.
Then came the Messiah craze, etc. The settlers were frightened and petitioned
to the Governor to be saved from being swept from the face of the
earth as the Indian Messiah claimed they would be. The soldiers surrounded
the Indian camps, the Indians fled, and thus the excitement grew from bad
to worse. We are glad to find that Frank, although in the midst of it,
takes a sensible view of the situation. When each Indian gets his eyes
open sufficiently to see that the sooner he learns to lead *himself* instead
of following the advice of ignorant chiefs the better it will be for him.
An interesting letter from Frank Twiss explains the Indian situation at Pine Ridge Agency, Dak., very much as Frank Locke does. He blames the newspapers for much of the excitement, but he thinks there *are* some bad Indians in the Sioux tribe. December 26, 1890 INDIAN HELPER |
| CHRISTMAS AT THE CARLISLE INDIAN SCHOOL.
........ But our readers will never know how we enjoyed the pleasures of the week if we do not tell something about the happy doings of our regiment of Indian boys and girls from 48 different tribes. Pleasure was mingled with grief, however, when we thought of the hundreds of our own flesh and blood who, in the cold North West were suffering the cruelties and hardships of war, brought upon them by misunderstandings and misinterpretations on account of their great ignorance and superstition. January 9, 1891 INDIAN HELPER |
| Carlisle Pupils at the
Seat of War.
Mrs. James F. Cross, Missionary at Rosebud Agency, Dak, in a letter just received, says: "We are in a bad shape out here. I do not know how matters could be worse, and I do not know when and how they are to become better. I had my plans about matured for changing my place of work, but this confusion and disorder came. The state of affairs has become worse since it seemed sure that the peaceful settlement would be reached. Now no one can tell when the matter will be settled. Rosebud is at present out of danger, but no telling when a party will endeavor to wipe us off the earth. Intense prejudice will arise against Indians as a whole, so I have tabled my plan to leave and shall push on anew for their welfare. So far as I have been able to find out the Carlisle students have done good work in keeping friends and parents quiet and at home." But the army of Carlisle pupils who have remained quietly at home and done the good work above referred to by Mr. Cross will never be heard from. If there be a possible one or two, however, who have been over persuaded by their parents to join the hostiles, the fact is spread abroad, while a small circle of pessimists sit back in their comfortable chairs and sneer at the whole system of education of Indian youth. Had there been an hundred times as many Sioux boys and girls educated away from their tribes as there have been in the past ten years - a plan which was strongly urged by Senator Teller when he was Secretary of the Interior and with which the present honorable Secretary is in full sympathy, the disgraceful war now being enacted in the North West, never could have occurred. A letter from Rosebud Agency, Dak, brings the sad news of the death of Paul Eagle Star, who was killed in a fight with the soldiers. The sad news come through letters from Pine Ridge Agency, Dak, that White Horse, Little Bull and Mack Kutepi have been killed, and that Clayton Brave is wounded. The letter does not state upon which side these Carlisle pupils were engaged whether with the hostile or friendly Indians. January 16, 1891 INDIAN HELPER |
|
PINE RIDGE AGENCY, SO. DAK.
CAPT. R. H. PRATT, January 24th 1891. CARLISLE, PA., RESPECTED SIR: - It is with pleasure I write this letter to inform you of the excitement at this point. As far as I know there have been killed about two hundred Indians in all, and about forty or fifty wounded. There may be more, but I don't know of any more. In regard to the soldiers, I don't know how many were killed or wounded. The Police and Agency force were attacked by a few hostiles. In this attack three of the hostiles were killed and two wounded. A great many head of cattle were killed, houses ruined, and horses stolen by the hostiles. They have been giving in their arms for the last week or over. They have come to their right senses and have come in and made peace with the military, but how long they will remain so is hard to tell. Ota Chief Eagle, Charlie Bird, Alex Yellow Wolf, Moses Red Kettle, several returned pupils, and myself carried a rifle for two days. In last week's HELPER I read that Paul EagleStar, Mack Kutepi, Clayton Brave, were killed. Paul Eagle Star came here from Rosebud, but did not take part in the fight. He was one of the friendly ones. Clayton got wounded, and Mack is still living. Eleven of the returned Carlisle boys are working in Agency and one of the trader's stores. The Rosebud Indians will probably be sent back to their Agency. I have told about all I know, so I will close. Hoping to hear from you again, I remain, as ever, your friend, GEORGE W. MEANS. |
| EXCERPTS TO BE ADDED AS THEY'RE TRANSCRIBED. |
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