The Diaries of John Gregory Bourke Volume 4: July 3, 1880--May 22, 1881

13. The Dakota Poncas Speak

234 Chapter 13 ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ ✦ The Dakota Poncas Speak T owards noon, Standing Bear and others came over to our Hotel ; there they met Cheyenne, Hairy Bear and Peter Primand. When Standing Bear met the two old men, they kissed each other warmly but when it came to Primand’s turn, the young man did not venture upon a kiss, but simply pressed his cheek against the old man’s cheek in a very respectful manner. At 2 P.M., the Ponca Commission assembled in the Academy of Music. There were Present Brigadier General Crook, U.S. Army. Brigadier General Nelson A. Miles, U.S. Army. Mr. William Stickney, Washington, D.C. Mr. Walter Allen, Newton, Mass. Major C. S. Roberts, A.D.C., Lt. John G. Bourke, A.D.C. And Capt. E. L. Huggins. Revd. Mr. Dorsey and David Le Clair, as interpreters. The following Chiefs present: Standing Bear, Little Ice, Bird Head, Smoke-maker, Cries for War, Broken Jaw, Black Elk, Buffalo Chips, Missouri Timber and a full delegation of Standing Bear’s band. A number of civilians present. The Dakota Poncas Speak 235 General Crook. Mr. Dorsey, explain to them that we come here by order of the President, to find out their situation. We have just been down to Indian Territory and seen that part of the Band and now we have come here to see them & learn from themselves their condition and to satisfy ourselves as far we can what is for their best interests; and we want them to answer all questions as put to them unreservedly and they can rest assured that we are their friends and that they can speak freely. (Revd. Mr. Dorsey read & translated to them the President’s letter of instructions to the Commission, which can be seen on [167–68]. State to them that we have heard the story of their removal so often that we don’t care to hear it again but want them to give us the story from the time they left Indian Territory up to the present time. We want their story in as few words as possible, so as to save time. Standing Bear (dressed in civilian garb.) I do not think that we have made this day but I think that God has caused it, and my heart is glad to see you all here. Why should I tell you a different word? I have told to God my troubles and why should I deceive Him? I have told my troubles to Him. Whatever God does is good, I think; even if a thing happens which may not suit us or which may be unfortunate, still God causes it, I think. If a man gets by accident or puts himself into a bad place, or gets frightened, he remembers God and asks Him to help him. You have seen that land, my friends: God made us there, my friends, and He made you too, but I have been very weak. You have driven me from the East to this place and I have been here two thousands years or more. (David—The oldest man here cannot recollect when our people came here.) I don’t know how it came about that I encountered misfortune. My friends, they spoke of carrying me away. I was unwilling. “My friends, if you took me away from this land, it would be very hard for me. I wish to die in this land. I wish to be a very old man here”. As I was unwilling they fastened me and made a person of me and carried me to the Fort—(Fort Randall.)1 When I came back, the soldiers came with their guns and bayonets. The aimed their guns at us and our people and our children were crying. This was a very 1. Standing Bear refers to his arrest and detention at Fort Randall in 1876, where he was held for ten days. See Robinson, General Crook, 233; Mathes and Lowitt, Standing Bear Controversy, 29–30; Greene, Fort Randall, 120–22. 236 The Ponca Question Continues different thing that was done to me. I had hoped the Great Father had not done this thing to me, forcing me to leave this land. They took me and carried me without stopping: they travelled all day until night came, and they carried me down to Baxter Springs. (David. Where there are rocks and lead mines...