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THE CANTON ASYLUM FOR INSANE INDIANS
South Dakota, 1902 - 1934
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The naked fugitive ran toward shelter, home, and sanity. Five men pursued him, one armed with a shotgun and one with a revolver. They scrabbled over miles of rough terrain, determined to bring the man back to the facility where he had been dragged against his will.
Unbelievably, this was not a scene from the
pre-Civil War South, but a
surreal image from the 20th century. These men were trying to capture a
runaway from an insane asylum for Native Americans in Canton, South
Dakota. The facility started as a simple pork barrel project, but
quickly became a convenient dumping ground for troublesome Indians.
Finally, the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians (1902 – 1934) reached a
tipping point of abuse and neglect that led to a bitter fight to shut
it down.
This description of events is from the July 7, 1905 issue of the Sioux Valley News.
I am writing a book about the Canton Asylum for Insane Indians, and I’d especially like to invite anyone who had family there—whether as a patient or staff member—Contact Me.
Want to learn more about this era, insanity, and asylums? I invite you to read my blog.
Photo of Indian Village, courtesy Library
of Congress
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