RELEASED 197 



ment should briug influence to bear on the governor of Texas to redeem 

 its promise. The prisoners, accompanied by Governor Davis of Texas 

 and the Indian Coinuiissioner, were at hist brought to Fort Sill, where 

 a council was held with the Kiowa in October. At the opening of the 

 council the governor of Texas made a number of hard demands as pre- 

 liminary to tlie surrender of the chiefs, although the government had 

 ah'eady promised their unconditional release in consideration of the 

 good conduct of the tribe during the last year. Some of these condi- 

 tions were practically impossible, and for a time it seemed as if the 

 whole purpose of the negotiations would be defeated, Kicking-bird, 

 the loader of the friendly element, declaring that the government had 

 lied and that the white man was no longer his friend, while Lone- wolf 

 threatened war even though it should mean the destruction of their 

 Ijeople. It became evident that there would be a desperate encounter 

 if the chiefs were not now set free as promised, and on the earnest 

 representations of the Indian Commissioner the governor finally yielded 

 in his demands, and Set-t'ainte and liig-tree were released from custody 

 on October 8, 1873, subject, however, to rearrest by the state of Texas 

 whenever it should appear that any of the Kiowa had again been raid- 

 ing there. Although this condition was in violation of the promises 

 made by the government, the Indians were compelled to be satisfied. 

 An unsuccessful attempt was made by the governor to force the 

 Comanche, by the delivery of hostages, to similar conditions. To show 

 their good will, however, a ])arty of Comanche volunteered to assist a 

 detachment of troops in bringing in any of their young men who might 

 then be raiding in Texas. During their absence on this errand a party 

 of Texans visited the reservation and ran oft" two hundred horses and 

 mules [Report, 32; Battey, 1). 



Tlie Quaker teacher, Battey, who was present during the council, 

 thus describes the release of the chiefs : 



Satanta and Big Tree, after embracing the governor, proceeded to eralirace the 

 chiefs present, and immediately returned with them to the agent's office, from whence 

 they went to their rude home in their camps. The reunion of these chiefs with 

 their tribe and families was impressive and aftecting in the extreme. ,Ioy beamed 

 upon every countenance, and their happiuess was exhibited, as might be expected, 

 in the most wild and natural manner. 



Reports continued to fill the newspapers of renewed raids into Texas 

 by Set-t'ainte and Big-tree, when, Battey asserts — 



To ray certain knowledge the latter was at home, sick in his lodge, and the former 

 enjoying, after two years' coufiueiiient in prison, the pleasures of the huftalo chase, 

 ou territory assigned for the purpose (Biittfii, 2). 



HAWORTH'S , ADMINISTRATION — 1873-78 



At this time the various agencies were in charge of agents nominated 

 by different religious bodies in accordance with the "peace policy" 

 inaugurated by President Grant. The agent for the Kiowa, Comanche, 

 and Apache was J. M. Haworth, nominated by the Society of Friends, 



