On the Border With Crook - ERBzine

428 ON THE BORDER WITH CROOK.offence in itself, but having been committed bya man whoseskin was wrinkled and red, and whose people had for generationsbeen the consistent friends of the white race, it was tantamountto felony.To make a long story short, some people in Omaha began talking about the peculiarities presented in this case of the Omahas,and wondering why they had been arrested by the militaryauthorities. Lieutenant W. L. Carpenter, Ninth Infantry, hadthem under his charge at Fort Omaha, and gave them an excellent character for sobriety and good behavior of every kind.Public sympathy became aroused; meetings were held, one ofthe first, if not the first, being that in the Presbyterian Church,conducted by the Rev. Mr. Harsha and Eev. Mr. Sherrill, andit was determined to bringthe matter before the United Statescourt upon a writ of habeas corpus to ascertain by what rightthese people were restrained of their liberty. Competent lawyerswere enlisted, and the case was taken, up by the Hon. A. J.Poppleton and Hon. J. L. Webster, two of the most prominentmembers of the bar in Nebraska. Dr. George L. Miller, inthe Herald, and Mr. Edward Rosewater, in the Bee, and suchcitizens as the late Judge Savage, Bishop O'Connor, Rev. JohnWilliams, and Bishop Clarkson brought much influence to bear ;and by the time that Judge Dundy's court had convened theattention of the people of the United States was to some extentconverged upon the trial, which was simply to determine themomentous question whether or not an American Indian whohad never been upon the war-path could sever his tribal relationsand go to work for his own living. Judge Dundy's decision wasto the effect that he could ;and the path of citizenship wasopened for the Indian.Mrs. " Bright Eyes" Tibbies, an Omaha Indian lady of excellent attainments and bright intellect, and her husband, Mr. J. H.Tibbies, editor of the Omaha Republican, took up the cudgels,and travelled through the Eastern and Middle States, addressinglarge concourses in all the principal towns and cities, and awakening an intelligent and potent interest in the advancement of thenative tribes which has not yet abated. President Hayes appointed a commission, to consist of General George Crook,General Nelson A. Miles, Messrs. Stickney and Walter Allen,and the Rev. J. Owen Dorsey, to look into the general sub-