INDIAN BOYS MUST NOT BE MALTREATED

Assistant Superintendent of the Educational Home Dismissed for Cruelty.

ACCUSED BY THE PUPILS.

For Minor Infraction of rules They Were Beaten With Cowhide - McEwan Ignores Chief's Caution.

Superintendent Charles Ebener, of the Educational Home for Indian Boys, at Forty-ninth street and Greenway avenue, has dismissed his assistant, EW.A. McEwen, on the complaints presented him by the boys of the Home. For some time the boys complained of the treatment they had received at the hands of Assistant McEwen. Often they were found in tears by the superintendent on his arrival home from the city. After an investigation of the matter Superintendent Ebener cautioned McEwen several times as to his acts, and stated that should any more complaints come to his ears he should act immediately. Assistant McEwen, however, was deaf to these repeated counsels of the superintendent, and as a result was dismissed. The Home now has about 100 boys, of whom twelve arrived a few weeks ago. Most of the boys have come from Indian reservations, and it is with some difficulty they can be brought into subjection and discipline. The free life they enjoy in the West is difficult to curb. Nevertheless, of all the boys now at the Home there are very few who are not orderly and obedient.

Beaten for talking at Meals.

Sometimes during the meal hour some of them are wont to talk or speak to one another, after the manner of boys. This was deemed a breach of the rules of the institution. For this petty offense Assistant McEwen, according ot the statement of the boys, punished them unmercifully, beating them with a cowhide. Some of the boys in fear refrained from speaking of the matter, and for a time Assistant McEwen, it is said, grew bold in his assaults. Then came the complaints, and then McEwen doubly paid the boys back for making complaint against him. He did not hesitate to use the lash with a vengeance, and those boys who had complained came in for a good share of the punishment.

The superintendent, seeing that his counsels and requests were not carried out, after denouncing McEwen's maltreatment of the boys discharged him.

Superintendent Ebener's Statement.

In speaking of the matter yesterday Superintendent Ebener said: "I have found no difficulty in controlling the boys. When I first came here, about six weeks ago, I told the boys plainly that I meant to be obeyed, and the boys have accordingly fallen in line. During Colonel Given's [sic] [Givin's] time there were numerous tales as to the boy having free parole. I don't know anything about it, nor do I wish to say anything of it. I came and found that when I said I meant the boys should obey I had not much difficulty after the start. When I heard of McEwen's abuse of the boys during my absence in the city I cautioned him and told him I would not permit it. It is necessary for me to be a good deal out in the city on the business of the Home, and I relied, therefore, on McEwen to conduct the work properly during my absence.

When I heard that he had not paid any attention to my orders or caution I at once dismissed him.

"I have now appointed Clarence Schultz, who gets along well with the boys for the few days he has had charge. I don't think there will be any more complaints. Should there be, I shall at once see that they are investigated and act promptly, if necessary."

Colonel Given [sic][Givin], who was the superintendent before Mr. Ebener, it was stated by the boys, allowed them out just when they wished, and did not have the same rule over them. They say, however, they alike Superintendent Ebener well.

Courtesy of the Philadelphia Times, 1899-08-21

Acknowledgements

Heidi Sproat discovered this newspaper clipping and transcribed it.

Document History

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