201

LO! THE POOR INDIAN.

YE FIERCE REPORTER AND YE GENTLE
SAVAGE.

A MODEL INTERVIEW - UNTUTORED CHILDREN
OF THE FOREST - WHAT THEY THINK OF CIVILIZATION -
A SCOUT'S OPINION OF THE INDIAN
CAMPAIGN.

When a representative of The American was yesterday
informed that he was expected to interview two
real Sioux Indian Chiefs, he felt some slight hesitation
in complying with the request. He had at various
times subjected himself both to danger and inconvenience
in the interests of journalism. He had been
at meetings in the Seventeenth ward, had sat unflinchingly
through a lecture by Eli Perkins without
smiling, had listened to Sergeant Bates' story of his
flag and its travels, and had been forced to read letters
written by Private Dalzell; but the thought of being
compelled to visit, alone and unarmed, two savages,
struck terror to his soul. Had time admitted he
would gladly have telegraphed for some of those New
York and Philadelphia editors who have over and over
again shown how easily General Howard might have
annihilated the Nez Perces, but the order was imperative
and he was forced to obey. The only consolation
he experienced was that he was bald headed, and
that the playful chiefs, if on scalping thoughts intent,
might find some difficulty in depriving him of his
scalp, and that even if they did, there might be some
modern Pocahontas who, struck by his manly beauty,
would interpose in his behalf, and bear him away to

"A lodge in some vast wilderness,
Some boundless contiguity of shade."

Besides this, his knowledge of Indians had principally
been confined to those very friendly and quiet
ones who stand like sentinels at the doors of cigar
stores and he concluded that at last there was an opportunity
of distinguishing himself and lording it
over his less favored brethren of the quill. With
these thoughts passing through his mind he screwed
his courage to the sticking point and slowly wended
his way to Guy's Hotel, where the noble red men had
set up their wigwam. Arriving there he was ushered
into the presence of Mr. W. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill),
the famous Indian scout, and made known his errand
to him. That gentleman expressed his willingness to
gratify the reporter, and bidding him follow, started
for the room which his wards occupied. Upon entering
the newspaper mas was first introduced to the
interpreter, Mr. John Y. Nelson, or in the Indian
language, Cha-aha-cha-o-pogeo, and by him in turn
introduced to the Two-Bears, the elder, and Man-who-c
arries-the-sword, the younger of the two Chiefs. The
former is wiry, keen eyed Indian, with a restless
look and an abundance of characteristic gesture. The
latter is tall, well formed, with a pleasant, almost
frank countenance, a well-shaped, aquiline nose, and
an eye as keen as that of an eagle, seating himself

LO! THE POOR INDIAN.

YE FIERCE REPORTER AND YE GENTLE SAVAGE.

A MODEL INTERVIEW - UNTUTORED CHILDREN OF THE FOREST - WHAT THEY THINK OF CIVILIZATION - A SCOUT'S OPINION OF THE INDIAN CAMPAIGN.

When a representative of The American was yesterday informed that he was expected to interview two real Sioux Indian Chiefs, he felt some slight hesitation in complying with the request. He had at various times subjected himself both to danger and inconvenience in the interests of journalism. He had been at meetings in the Seventeenth ward, had sat unflinchingly through a lecture by Eli Perkins without smiling, had listened to Sergeant Bates' story of his flag and its travels, and had been forced to read letters written by Private Dalzell; but the thought of being compelled to visit, alone and unarmed, two savages, struck terror to his soul. Had time admitted he would gladly have telegraphed for some of thous New York and Philadelphia editors who have over and over again shown how easily General Howard might have annihilated the [?] Forces, but the order was imperative and he was forced to obey. The only consolation he experienced was that he was bald headed, and that the playful chiefs, if on scalping thoughts intent, might find some difficulty in depriving him of his scalp, and that even if they did, there might be some modern Pocahontas who, struck by his manly beauty, would interpose in his behalf, and bear him away to

"A lodge in some vast wilderness,
Some boundless contiguity of shade."

Besides this, his knowledge of Indians had principally been confined to those very friendly and quiet ones who stand like sentinels at the doors of cigar stores and he concluded that at last there was an opportunity of distinguishing himself and [?]lording it over his less favored brethren of the quill. With these thoughts passing through his mind he screwed his courage to the sticking point and slowly wended his way to Guy's Hotel, where the noble red men had set up their wigwam. Arriving there he was ushered into the presence of Mr. W. F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), the famous Indian scout, and made known his errand to him. That gentleman expressed his willingness to gratify the reporter, and bidding him follow, started for the room which his wards occupied. Upon entering the newspaper mas was first introduced to the interpreter, Mr. John Y. Nelson, or in the Indian language, Cha-aha-cha-o-pogeo, and by him in turn introduced to the Two-Bears, the elder, and Man-who-carries-the-sword, the younger of the two Chiefs. The former is wiry, keen eyed Indian, with a restless look and an abundance of characteristic gesture. The latter is tall, well formed, with a pleasant, almost frank countenance, a well-shaped, aquiline nose, and an eye as keen as that of an eagle, seating himself