Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-10-13
THE PROJECTED MASSACRE.
A Full Account by an Eye. w isncss Of
The Oesigns Of the Indians On the
Black Hills Comm sslOn.

Correspondence OF the Chicago Tribunc,l
RED CLOUD AGENCY, Sept. 20 Tho
safety OF the entire Sioux Commission
rested to-day, for few moments, on
the GOODNESS and good judgment OF one
Indian Chief, and the promptness Of
bis aids in carrying out his orders.
What might have been
REPETITION OF THE MoDoc MASSACRE
was happily averted, and possibly
turned TO profit. This was the third
day of the Council in session. and was
attended by all the tribes. Atthe first
Council all the principal chiefs but
Red Cloud were present, and they
took seats near to those Of the Com
mission. They were all very friendly
and seemed in an excellent mood for
the work. AT the second Council a
postpOnement was made on account OF
the absence of the Brules-Spotted
Tail being their great chief. They
we're in council on the subject OF
the treaty. and therefore could not
come. But they promised to be on
hand at tho next, and they were, in
full force and feather. Spotted Tail
to-day looked more like one Of the
ss ROMANTIC RED CHIEFS
that we only read OF in Fennimore
Cooper's works, than any man among
tue thousands present, and was in his
usual amiable mood. The first tribes
to reach the grounds were the Cgalal.
labs, headed by Red Cloud and Young
Man.. Afraid. of His. Horses. They
rA M /; m houIa - to,,n Su,n~a:n.t -
fitties. nearly all armed. and all well
mounted. They took up position on
the right OF the Council tents, the
younger and more turbulent portion
swinging lower down on the right to-
wards the brush on tho banks OF the
White Earth. Tho Chcyennes and
ArApahoes came In tho samc manner,
and these three tribes Joined the circle
that WAS started Some seventy feet
away from tho awnings that had been
erected in front of the tents, About
200 Chiefs, hcad-men and head soldiers
formed that portion of tho circle on
tho right. The Vncpapas, Minnecon-
jous, Two Kettles, Blackfect, Saus-
Arcs, and othcrs, formed tho other half
of the circle but between the ends, in
the centre, there was vacant space of
more than 100 fcct just outside of
the circle, and directly in front of tho
Commissioners, was gathered a crowd
ofabout 300 painted warriors, the most
OF whom wcre young mon, and very
violent. The Uncpapas, on coming
into limo in tho circle, asked permis-
sion to remain mounted, and gave as
their reason that some Of the Young
men
PROPOSED TO DO GREAT MISCHIEF;
hence they wanted to be ready for any
thing that might turn up-and also to
leave tho field. The Commissioners
requested them to dismount; some
did, but tho majority remained mount
ed with their guns in hand.
AT no time could any Of the Indians
be got to fill up the strange vacancy in
the Conncil-ring just in front of the
Commission, neither could any of the
leading chiefs be induced to take the
seats specially provided for them in
mediately in front of the Commission.
The seata vera covered with aas avn.
Tow ifd Inc outer Indians. This avn
ing was removed by request of the In
dams. 80 that they could see the Com
mission better-to use their own ex-
cuse for IL. AT about 2 O'Clock, Bull
Eagle, Minneconjou, took up the re-
marks of American Horse, who had
called attention to tho fact that the
whites were not accustomed to being
surrounded by men with arms in their
hands, and that IL would look better ii
they were lett outside OF the circle
Bull Eagle called out loudly that the
whites had been the first to bring SOL
diers GU the field, aud that they must
abide by the result. American Horse,
who is an Ogalaiis, retorted that Bull
Eagle was fool, and
MUST SHUT ur OR HE WOULD MALEHid.
The irate MinEeconjou then with
drew. and was now seen converting
with Little Big Man, one of the most
iiendish faces in the whole gathering.
and whose record is one of blood and
brutality. Not long after. these mobiles
of the plains were found sneAking
among the young men, being generally
and unnecessarily very active. Ii
should be remembered that many of
the young men OF all the bands, save
some OF the river tribes, arc bitterly
opposed TO making any disposal what
cvor of the Black Hills, and, in the
slang of the street, may be set down
as very much "on their ear" about the
steps proposed by their Chiefs aud
headInen. Having threatened mis-
chief, they were ready to fall in at the
fret opportunity, which they did to
the number of over 200. Save the
right flank of tho cavalry force in at
tendancc-CApt. Egan's and Capt.
Mills companies of the Second, under
the command of the latter--was cover
by Indians, and the number increased
every moment. so that, in a few min
utes, moro than half Of the force was
HEAVILY COVERED ny WINCHESTER,
sHARr's AND REMINGTON RIFLES,
at not more than ten to fifteen PAGES.
Mills company was on tho right, and
completely double-covered. They
were becoming already too thick for
Egan, when he complained, and an in-
terpreter was sent out to order them
back. They only doubled up on Mills.
Things were becoming "scary" at this