1896 Delegations
President in 1896:
Grover Cleveland (1893-1897)
Commissioner of Indian Affairs in 1896:
Daniel M. Browning (1893-1897)
Feb. 24, 1896: Omaha World Herald: [Dakota]
Sioux Indians On The Way.
Will Visit the Great Father and Relate Their Troubles.
Special Dispatch to the World-Herald.
Rushville, Neb. Feb. 23.—The five Indian Sioux chiefs, the delegates who are en route for Washington, are in Rushville tonight, and will leave for the east at 12 o’clock. Little Wound heads the delegation, while Thunder Bear, an Indian policeman, accompanies it. The others of the delegation include such noted chiefs as Fire Thunder, Kicking Bear and George Thunder Bear. They will go via St. Paul, as the delegates are anxious to have an interview in that city with one of the men who knows something about the original treaty with the Sioux in the Black Hills country. Other noted Indians, who came over from Pine Ridge today to see the delegation off, are Red Cloud, Turning Hawk, Long Dog and Spotted Elk. Just before dark the citizens turned out en masse to witness an Omaha council in front of the depot, which, although not of a warlike nature, resembled the dog soup council recently held at Wounded Knee. There is no trouble feared here over the outcome of the delegation’s visit to Washington.
Feb. 28, 1896: Patriot [Harrisburg, Pa.]: [Dakota]
Big Chiefs In Town.
Five of the prominent chiefs of the great Sioux tribe of Indians were in the city last evening on their way to the Carlisle Indian school commencement. They spent some time at Union station before leaving and walked up and down Market street with picturesque blankets about their shoulders.
The party was in charge of Scout Wells, a frontiersman who participated in the battle of Wounded Knee, and consisted of Little Wound, hereditary chief of the Sioux, Kicking Bear, Little Thunder and Big Thunder, the latter a prominent captain of the Indian police.
Feb. 28, 1896: Evening Star: [Dakota]
Big Sioux Here.
Pine Ridge Indians Come to see the Great Father.
Delegate Officially Chosen
Some Noted Warriors of the Nation Included.
Their Many Grievances
A task of greater magnitude than that to which the delegation of Sioux Indians now in the city is applying itself could not easily be imagined. There are but five members of the delegation, yet they hope to persuade both the legislative and executive branches of the government that the proper thing for the government to do would be to live up to all the treaty provisions which have at various times and for various reasons been formulated by representatives of the United States. The delegation, which arrived yesterday evening over the Pennsylvania railroad, and is located at the Hotel La Fetra, consists of Little Wound, Kicking Bear, George Fire Thunder, Capt. Thunder Bear and Philip F. Wells, the latter being the interpreter. Little Wound is an Ogallala, and an unquestioned chief of high rank in the Sioux nation; in his younger days he was a good deal of a fighter, and has not yet reached the age when he might be regarded as an easy mark for an adversary; his facial resemblance to Bishop John P. Newman is remarkable. Kicking Bear is a Brule, and was a leader of the younger element which made things so very interesting in the vicinity of Pine Ridge six years ago. George Fire Thunder—who speaks English fairly well—is a catechist in the Episcopal Church; he represents some of the best elements among the young men. Capt. Thunder Bear is chief of police at Pine Ridge; he has done some fighting on his own account in days gone by, and was a first sergeant of scouts in the Sioux campaign of 1890-91. Philip Wells is an interpreter of the first rank. The party is being chaperoned by Col. James G. George, who for several years past has been engaged in attending to certain legal matters in which a number of the Sioux are deeply interested.
The delegation is said to be truly representative, it having been selected after a struggle at the polls, which was quite as interesting as any white man’s election. It is customary for the agent to select delegations, but, as the present crowd comes at the expense of the Indians, and not of the government, so, for the first time, the Pine Ridge Sioux exercised the privilege of franchise. After the election a big council was held, and the delegates were duly instructed. The sum of $800 was subscribed by the Indians to defray the expenses of their representatives.
What They Want.
A summary of the things which the government will be asked to do would include, the delegates say, about 50 per cent of the things promised in the many treaties that have been made, but the delegates are going to be satisfied if they can establish their claim to that large section of what is now northern Nebraska, which was clipped off the southern edge of the Sioux reservation without the knowledge or consent of those whom the United States acknowledged were owners of the soil in question. The testimony to be presented is almost unanimously on the Indian side of the case. Then there are a great many minor matters to e considered. [Long list of subjects the Indians want to address – edited out here]. These matters are a great many others will be discussed in talks with the commissioner of Indian affairs and the Secretary of the Interior, members of the Indian committees of both houses, and other public officials.
Going About Town.
Early this morning the delegation, in charge of Colonel George, took a walk about town, seeing the sights of the city, which, to an Indian, are always more wonderful than to the ordinary stranger within the gates. Among the first calls which were made was one to the Indian office, where Commissioner Browning gave them a most cordial reception and they spent a pleasant half hour conversing with the leading officers of the bureau, to whom by name and reputation the chiefs were very well known. Among others whom they met was Mr. George H. Holtzman, one of the veteran officials of the Indian service, who acted as clerk of the commission that made the treaty of 1868. As soon as Little Wound and Kicking Bear learned that Mr. Holtzman took part in the negotiations leading up to that treaty they became very much interested in him and again shook hands with him in the most deferential manner. He told them that now, at the age of seventy-eight, he had served continuously forty-five years in the Indian service and was familiar with all that had been done for their welfare and advancement, which he heartily wished might continue.
Meeting Old Friends.
From the Indian office the delegation went to the interior Department and called upon the Acting Secretary of the Interior, Judge Simms, who, through the interpreter, Philip Wells, held a short consultation with the chiefs and assured them that the government would listen to their errand with attention and patience, and that in all things pertaining to their progress no one connected with the department desired for the Sioux anything less than the fullest opportunity to improve the condition of themselves and their families, both in their homes, their pursuits, their schools, their churches, and in every means available to them for their advancement. They also called on J. C. Clements, who has been for twenty-five years a clerk in charge of Indian affairs attached to the Secretary’s office, and later went to see Judge Wright of the land office, who was a member of the commission appointed under the Dawes’ bill in 1888 or the cession of a large part of the Sioux reservation. Little Wound recognized the judge at once and expressed pleasure at meeting him.
They Like Photographs.
Wherever the Indians went they were greatly interested in the large group photographs hanging in the various offices of the Indian bureau and the Interior Department, and Little Wound succeeded in picking out his own face in several of them. There is nothing an Indian likes better than to have his photograph taken, and he will sit as still as a post in front of the camera. Several times during the day Little Wound expressed his desire to have his picture taken again, and it was arranged that a call should be made at the geological survey for that purpose. One of the peculiar incidents of the day was Little Wound picking out in a large photograph made in 1888 a number of his old friends who are now dead. The delegation also called at the War Department to see Gen. Stanton, who is an old acquaintance and friend of most of the leading chiefs of the Sioux.
Some time next week the delegation will pay their respects formally to President Cleveland and also visit the Capitol and say “How” to the members of the Indian committees at each end of the building. As their errand in the city is one which cannot be hurried, they will make themselves at home and see all there is to see.
Feb. 29, 1896: Evening Star: [Dakota]
Chiefs at the Navy Yard.
Little Wound, Kicking Bear, George Firethunder [sic] and Capt. Thunderbear [sic], the Sioux delegation here from Pine Ridge, were visitors at the Capitol today, where they were the observed of all observers. They met the members of the Indian committee and looked about the Capitol until they were tired. After lunch they went to the navy yard to see the big funs there. Little Wound was much interested in the moniter weapons, and suggested that one be sent to Pine Ridge to call the tribe in on ration day.
Feb. 29, 1896: Omaha World Herald: [Dakota]
Chiefs Little Wound, Kicking Bear, George Fire Thunder, Chief Interpreter Phillip Wells, and Captain Thunder Bear were at the capitol today. They were shown over the building and called upon representative Pickler of South Dakota, and also upon Senator Kyle. They all are from Wounded Knee agency in South Dakota.
March 5, 1896: Evening Star; [Dakota; Kickapoo]
Hearing Indian Delegations.
The delegation of Sioux from Pine Ridge, headed by little Wound, had a hearing at the Indian office before Commissioner Browning yesterday. The Indians said they wanted their grazing lands protected from trespass by white cattlemen; they wanted their own trading stores and their own herders. The commissioner assured the Indians that their requests should have fair consideration.
Hearing was also given to a delegation of Kickapoos, who had complaints to make as to disposition of their lands.
March 12, 1896: Evening Star: [Dakota]
Two members of the tribe of Sioux Indians, who are here on a visit to see the President, were found under the influence of liquor yesterday by the police. They were helplessly intoxicated and had caused no trouble. The police sent them to the hotel where they are stopping.
March 13, 1896: Evening Star: [Dakota]
The Sioux Delegation.
The members of the Sioux delegation from Pine Ridge, now in the city, are naturally indignant because of newspaper assertion [by the Evening Star!] that two members of the party were arrested Wednesday for intoxication. That two Indians were arrested is undoubtedly the case, but that they were not Sioux Indians is certain, for at the time when the drunken red men were being gathered into the first precinct station the Pine Ridge delegation was engaged in attending to the official business, which brought them to Washington. Those who have had to do with Little Wound, Kicking Bear, apt. Thunder Bear, George Fire Thunder and the interpreter, Philip Wells, are unanimous in declaring that no body of Indians or white men ever behaved more circumspectly in this city than have these representatives of the Pine Ridge Sioux. The delegation itself and its friends in Washington regret very much that the misconduct of other Indians who are here at this time should result in an accusation of drunkenness against the Sioux,
Last evening a reception was tendered the delegates at the residence of Mr. Allison Nailor. During the evening a number of Washingtonians made the acquaintance of the Indians at Mr. Nailor’s home, and at the Hotel La Fetra, where the Indians have had quarters during their stay in this city.
Having succeeded in doing some of the business which brought them to Washington, the
delegates propose to leave for the west tomorrow morning.
March 16, 1896: Evening Star: [Dakota]
Getting Indian Talent.
Major John M. Burke, the general manager of Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, is in Washington, his errand being to secure the permission of the Interior Department for the continuance of the Indians with the Wild West show. While in the city Major Burke met and renewed old acquaintances in Kicking Bear, Little Wound, Thunder Bear, George Fire Thunder and Phillip Wells, who are old friends of his, the Indians having been with the show for a number of years.
March 19, 1896: Evening Star: [Kickapoo]
A delegation of Kickapoo chiefs, gorgeous in colored blankets, feathers and paint, had a brief pow-wow with the President at the White House today in opposition to the proposed division of their lands into severalty.
March 21, 1896: Evening Star: [Dakota: Oglala]
A member of the Indian delegation which recently visited Washington is to be immortalized in bronze. Mato-wanahtake, or Kicking Bear, who is an Ogalalla from Pine Ridge, and who counts among his experiences a tour with Buffalo Bill’s “Wild West Show,” had a case made from life during his stay in the city. This is to be case in bronze, under the superintendence of the bureau of ethnology, and will doubtless be a fine presentment of an Indian type.
April 5, 1896: Daily Nonpareil [Council Bluffs, Iowa]: [Dakota]
Pine Ridge Indian Delegation Returns From Washington.
Chadron, Neb., April 4.—The delegates from the Pine Ridge reservation to Washington have returned and in a few days another big powwow will be held, that George Farthunder [sic], little Wound, Kicking Bear and Captain Thunder Bear, the delegates, may inform the various bands of their reception and results of the trip. [summary of topics, edited out here]
Dec. 25, 1896: Evening Star: [Dakota, Miami, Passamaquoddy, Sac and Fox]
Sioux Indians Here.
A delegation of Sioux Indians arrived in this city yesterday from Crow Creek, to hold a conference with Indian Commissioner Brown, for the purpose of securing a portion of the $187,000 appropriated by Congress some time ago to pay for lands taken in the curtailment of their reservation in 1880. There are two in the party, White Ghost, the principal chief of the Sioux Indians at Crow Creek, and Wizi, the next chief in importance, and they are stopping at the residence of Charles Beveridge, 224 3rd street northwest. The conference with Commissioner Browning will take place tomorrow morning, and Dr. F. Treon, the Indian agent at Crow Ridge, who is in charge of the party, will act as the interpreter.
Besides these there are at Mr. Beveridge’s house four members of the Fox and Sac tribe, one Miami and one Passamaquoddy, from Maine, all of whom have claims to settle with the government.
Dec. 31, 1896: Evening Star: [Dakota]
The Crow Creek Sioux Will Receive Their Interest.
White Ghost and Wizi, the Sioux chieftains, with their interpreter and Agent Treon, had a final conference with Commissioner of Indian Affairs Browning yesterday in regard to the $187,000 due their tribe. They recited the circumstances leading up to the Sioux treaty of 1890, by which they gave up certain lands and for which an act was passed giving them $187,000. Commissioner Browning explained that the money is now in the treasury drawing 4 per cent interest and that payment must be authorized by legislation by Congress, and then, ordinarily, only upon a representation that the Indians need the money. He suggested that there is little time left in the present session and that the matter be dropped for the time being. Payment of one-half of the $9,000 interest now due them on the principal, the other half being reserved by law for educational and similar purposes, was offered and accepted. This gives about $5 per capita. The delegation will leave for their reservation Saturday [Jan. 2], and the tribe will petition the next Congress for the payment of the principal.