Memorial Of Sioux Indians, In Council Assembled On The Pine Ridge Reservation, In South Dakota, Relative To Indians Employed And Taken From The Reservation To Accompany Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show

MR. PETTIGREW

Publication: Government Printing Office, 1897, Washington

First Edition. Separate. Self-Wrappers. 4pp. Senate. 55th Congress, 1st Session. Document No. 90. A request for investigation into unfair and/or illegal practices occurring on the Pine Ridge Reservation. "For many years a number of our people have been employed and taken from the reservation to accompany Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show for exhibition purposes throughout the United States and Europe. A plan was inaugurated to allow the Indians to trade out one month's salary at Rushville, Nebr., before boarding the cars. James F. Asay, a white man, who was expelled from the Pine Ridge Reservation for misconduct in 1891, has a deep-rooted scheme, and the Indians are coerced and it is made compulsory for them to trade at Asay's store in Rushville, Nebr., and pay for goods they purchase the most outrageous charges or lose their position with the show. Upon the return of the Indians to the agency this man Asay is permitted to be present and collect bills against the Indians while final payment is being made, and in some instances Asay handles the cash and presides over the payment." The Memorial itself is issued by Red Cloud, American Horse, Clarence T. Stars, and Patrick H. Star. Unfortunately, a classic reservation issue that persisted for decades. A few closed-tears to edges and a small piece of the blank margin on the fore-edge of pages 3 & 4 is missing. Good-very good. A scarce document.

Inventory Number: 52529