This transcription was created by the Harvard-Diggins Library
from original document held by MHS (#SC 1274)

( ) Original page numbers
Edited for readability

Rock Creek, South Dakota
June 28, 1897

My own true loving little wife,

I got here last eve came with a half breed and am stopping with him in his house. He has an Indian store here all his customers are Indians there is only one white man here and he has a wife who has Indian blood in her, where I am stopping they have a squaw for a cook and she (2) cooks well. This place is in a beautiful valley Sitting Bull’s stomping grounds. He was killed 8 miles from here where he had his last battle. I sleep on the floor in the store. A half breed brother in law of the man am stopping with sleeps in the same room with me. They are very nice people full of fun and have nice children. They all speak just as good Sioux as English. you ought to see the Indians here, the whole valley is dotted with Tipis. As soon as I arrived here saw the (3) Indian interpreter who is a Sioux and asked him to send for “Rain-in-the-face” who got here just ahead of me. He lives eighteen miles from here and was I anxious for him to stay over here until got through with me. Pretty soon “Rain-in-the-face” came on horseback. He is a cripple and uses crutches. He shot himself in the knee shooting at buffalo. The interpreter told him go on top of the hill as he didn’t want the Indian to hear what he had to say. I had a long talk with “Rain-in-the-face” he is a fine looking man 46 years old. He said he wouldn’t sit for 25 cents an hour but wanted 50 cents. Told him if (4) he would paint his face, put feathers in his hair and fix up would give him 50 cents. You ought to of heard him laugh. He says, my fellow I have given up all Indian ways, have had my hair cut short and I have no more war bonnet or Indian clothes. Says, you will have to paint me as I am. So I started on him this morning, have been with him all day in an old log house, will have the picture finished tomorrow. I’m awfully disappointed in the Sioux Indians in their clothes (5) not a single one of them wears Indian clothes except moccasins, all the rest of their clothes are white man’s and they look like thunder. They don’t paint their faces any more at all but they say at the Pine Ridge Agency they do, which is over 200 miles from here, will go there later on. Ever since the Sitting Bull fight here the Indians have toned down a great deal, before that they wore feathers and painted their faces. The people here have got a young tame deer in their yard and a coyote which bites, came near biting me, I was petting him. (6) He is about the size of a cat. This is an awfully quiet place, no stage or mail comes here at all, but they say someone is to come from Ft. Yates tomorrow and hope I will hear from you. You had better address your letter to Cannon Ball, North Dakota, my dear, as I will go there after I get through here. Don’t know how long will be here probably a week. One Bull (Sitting Bull’s nephew) just came up to me and took off his hat and shook hands with me. Am trying to have him sit for me, he is to (7) let me know tomorrow. Hope he will sit as he has a fine face, fine profile but he has his hair cut short. At Ft. Sill very seldom you see an Indian with his hair cut. I probably will be in Cannon Ball a week then will go straight to Billings, Montana. I am getting as dark as an Indian, never was so dark before. The climate and winds and out doors so much make it. Today is beef issue here for the Indians and there has been a thousand of them here. You ought to see them eat the liver and kidney raw. I saw one (8) Indian while he was eating the raw liver stick his knife in a part of the innards and some staff run out and he would dip the raw liver in it and eat it and would look at me and smack his lips. Wish I had my wheel here as the roads are fine. You ought to see the Indian boys from 4 to 10 years old ride ponies. They race up and down as tight as they can go, hollering all the time. Well darling, I must close now as am tired. Good night darling.

Your own true loving husband.
Lots of love, hugs & kisses.
Elbridge