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Image provided by: South Dakota State Historical Society – State Archives
Newspaper Page Text
^^»THE OGLALA LiaHT^^ Northward again through the lands of the Utes and Piutes,—a worthless lot, as a rule,—we come to a band whose occupancy of the Lava Beds at the western edge of Nevada enabled them to inflict sad losses on the troops sent to conquer them. Their leader was called Captain Jack, but his name was Kientpooz ("Man of few words.") Finding his people almost surrounded, he asked for a parley with the peace commissioners, among whom, like Doctor Thomas, were some of the warmest friends the Indians ever had. General Can by went with them, all of them unarmed, unguarded, and with villainous treachery Jack and his fellows murdered them on the spot. He was hanged for it, but what was his life for those he de stroyed? It is comfort to turn from the deeds of such as Jack, Victorio and the satanic Kiowas—from the bloody trail of Dull Knife and Rain-In-The-Face—to speak of two noble spirits whom the nation well may honor—Washakie of the Shoshone tribe and Joseph of the Nez Perces. Ninety years the former dwelt in the beautiful Wind River Valley east of the Three Tetons and north of Fremont's Peak. Early he became the friend of the whites, and to his dying day he and his people kept the faith. They were scouts for us when we fought the Sioux in 1876. They were scouts for General Merritt's column the following year. Washakie became a Christian, and when he died of old age, in 1900, was buried with military honors in the cemetery of the fort that bears his name. There should be a fort named for Joseph, for all he fought us so hard when finally driven to it. But Joseph never was his name. His is the grandest of all: "Rolling Thunder In The Mountains" (Hin-mah-to-iya-lat-kit) his people reverently called him, and when ho spoke they listened as to a prophet. Their lands were along the borders of Idaho, Oregon and Wash ington. Many of them had been reared in the Catholic faith. They had long been our friends, but trouble came between them and dissolute traders. Had General Crook, whose word they swore by, been there to counsel them, there would have been no war but he was not, and at the last they took the war-path, as they vowed, in self-defense Backing away before our troops, they smote them hard in White Bird Canon. General Howard, with a strong column, chased them through Idaho to the Yellowstone, bit at their heels, but never held them. General Gibbon, with the Seventh Infantry, assailed them in Big Hole Pass, and after heavy loss on both sides, as glad to let them go.