indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第28节
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Missouri River； where the sanitary conditions made havoc with them。
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Those who did not die were then taken to the Indian Territory； where the
health situation was even worse。 Joseph appealed to the government
again and again； and at last by the help of Bishops Whipple and Hare he
was moved to the Colville reservation in Washington。 Here the land was
very poor； unlike their own fertile valley。 General Miles said to the chief
that he had recommended and urged that their agreement be kept； but the
politicians and the people who occupied the Indians' land declared they
were afraid if he returned he would break out again and murder innocent
white settlers！ What irony！
The great Chief Joseph died broken…spirited and broken…hearted。 He
did not hate the whites； for there was nothing small about him； and when
he laid down his weapons he would not fight on with his mind。 But he
was profoundly disappointed in the claims of a Christian civilization。 I
call him great because he was simple and honest。 Without education or
special training he demonstrated his ability to lead and to fight when
justice demanded。 He outgeneraled the best and most experienced
commanders in the army of the United States； although their troops were
well provisioned； well armed； and above all unencumbered。 He was
great finally； because he never boasted of his remarkable feat。 I am
proud of him； because he was a true American。
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
LITTLE WOLF
If any people ever fought for liberty and justice； it was the Cheyennes。
If any ever demonstrated their physical and moral courage beyond cavil； it
was this race of purely American heroes； among whom Little Wolf was a
leader。
I knew the chief personally very well。 As a young doctor； I was sent
to the Pine Ridge agency in 1890； as government physician to the Sioux
and the Northern Cheyennes。 While I heard from his own lips of that
gallant dash of his people from their southern exile to their northern home；
I prefer that Americans should read of it in Doctor George Bird Grinnell's
book； 〃The Fighting Cheyennes。〃 No account could be clearer or simpler；
and then too； the author cannot be charged with a bias in favor of his own
race。
At the time that I knew him； Little Wolf was a handsome man； with the
native dignity and gentleness； musical voice； and pleasant address of so
many brave leaders of his people。 One day when he was dining with us
at our home on the reservation； I asked him； as I had a habit of doing； for
some reminiscences of his early life。 He was rather reluctant to speak；
but a friend who was present contributed the following：
〃Perhaps I can tell you why it is that he has been a lucky man all his
life。 When quite a small boy； the tribe was one winter in want of food；
and his good mother had saved a small piece of buffalo meat； which she
solemnly brought forth and placed before him with the remark： 'My son
must be patient； for when he grows up he will know even harder times
than this。'
〃He had eaten nothing all day and was pretty hungry； but before he
could lay hands on the meat a starving dog snatched it and bolted from the
teepee。 The mother ran after the dog and brought him back for
punishment。 She tied him to a post and was about to whip him when the
boy interfered。 'Don't hurt him； mother！' he cried； 'he took the meat
because he was hungrier than I am！'〃
I was told of another kind act of his under trying circumstances。
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While still a youth； he was caught out with a party of buffalo hunters in a
blinding blizzard。 They were compelled to lie down side by side in the
snowdrifts； and it was a day and a night before they could get out。 The
weather turned very cold； and when the men arose they were in danger of
freezing。 Little Wolf pressed his fine buffalo robe upon an old man who
was shaking with a chill and himself took the other's thin blanket。
As a full…grown young man； he was attracted by a maiden of his tribe；
and according to the custom then in vogue the pair disappeared。 When
they returned to the camp as man and wife； behold！ there was great
excitement over the affair。 It seemed that a certain chief had given many
presents and paid unmistakable court to the maid with the intention of
marrying her； and her parents had accepted the presents； which meant
consent so far as they were concerned。 But the girl herself had not given
consent。
The resentment of the disappointed suitor was great。 It was reported
in the village that he had openly declared that the young man who defied
and insulted him must expect to be punished。 As soon as Little Wolf
heard of the threats； he told his father and friends that he had done only
what it is every man's privilege to do。
〃Tell the chief；〃 said he； 〃to come out with any weapon he pleases； and
I will meet him within the circle of lodges。 He shall either do this or eat
his words。 The woman is not his。 Her people accepted his gifts against
her wishes。 Her heart is mine。〃
The chief apologized； and thus avoided the inevitable duel； which
would have been a fight to the death。
The early life of Little Wolf offered many examples of the dashing
bravery characteristic of the Cheyennes； and inspired the younger men to
win laurels for themselves。 He was still a young man； perhaps thirty…five；
when the most trying crisis in the history of his people came upon them。
As I know and as Doctor Grinnell's book amply corroborates； he was the
general who largely guided and defended them in that tragic flight from
the Indian Territory to their northern home。 I will not discuss the justice
of their cause： I prefer to quote Doctor Grinnell； lest it appear that I am in
any way exaggerating the facts。
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〃They had come；〃 he writes； 〃from the high； dry country of Montana
and North Dakota to the hot and humid Indian Territory。 They had come
from a country where buffalo and other game were still plentiful to a land
where the game had been exterminated。 Immediately on their arrival
they were attacked by fever and ague； a disease wholly new to them。
Food was scanty； and they began to starve。 The agent testified before a
committee of the Senate that he never received supplies to subsist the
Indians for more than nine months in each year。 These people were
meat…eaters； but the beef furnished them by the government inspectors was
no more than skin and bone。 The agent in describing their sufferings said：
'They have lived and that is about all。'
〃The Indians endured this for about a year； and then their patience
gave out。 They left the agency to which they had been sent and started
north。 Though troops were camped close to them； they attempted no
concealment of their purpose。 Instead； they openly announced that they
intended to return to their own country。
We have heard much in past years of the march of the Nez Perces
under Chief Joseph； but little is remembered of the Dull Knife outbreak
and the march to the north led by Little Wolf。 The story of the journey
has not been told； but in the traditions of the old army this campaign was
notable； and old men who were stationed on the plains forty years ago are
apt to tell you； if you ask them； that there never was such another journey
since the Greeks marched to the sea。 。 。 。
〃The fugitives pressed constantly
