The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1875-04-15
INDIAN PRISONERS ESCAPE.
Sixteen Soldiers Wounded Two
Fatally.
Five Indians Killed.

News up from Cheyenne Agency last Thurs
day brought reliable intelligence Of the escape
Of the Cheyenne prisoners, three hundred In
number, arrested and held as hostages for the
murder Of part of the German family, and
the torture and outrages perpetrated upon the
German girls, reserved for worse fate than
the tomahawk. Our information comes from
an eyewitness OF the affair, and does not diff
fer from Gen. Neips report, except in the
number Of Indians killed, which Gen. Neil
puts at three instead OF five, probably owing
to q mistake on the part Of the operator, who
mistook figure five for a figure three. The
outbreak occurred at O'Clock p. IN. Tuesday.
the 9th, and upon the very afternoon the thir-
ty Indian prisoners in irons, en- route from
Sill to Wichita, were due at the agency. The
previous day the Indian prisoners had all been
searched for arms and nothing was found ex-
cept few old guns, these were taken by the
guard, it being precautionary measure
against trouble during the next days ironing
process, The object failed, as the very next
afternoon, upon the outbreak, nearly every
Indian had side arms and plenty of ammuni-
ton; the first indian 1t was attempted TO put
irons upon, demonstrated this fact and brought
into requistion upon the soldiers, mere
handful, opposing three hundred blood-thirs-
ty savages, overwhelming in numbers, well
armed for the attack. A young Cheyenne
warrior, noted for his dash and mischief-creat-
ing proclivities was selected out from the rest,
the irons got ready, and while the party de-
tailed for this work were approaching to per-
form their duty, the young Indian broke aud
ran from the stockade, and was Immediately
fired upon and killed by the guard. This was
the signal for general fight, the savages mass
ed upon the few soldiers, but were held in
check until company NJ, sixth cayadry was
brought upon the scene, when the Indi-
ans fell back ard ran TO the Sand hills, about
quarter of mile away. Here the soldiers
came upon them and found to their astonish-
ment that rifle pits had been made, and that
every Indian took from the sand gun OF the
best pattern, and all the ammunition they
needed for protracted fight. The Indians
held the rifle pits, woundiDg sixteen soldiers,
four inortally, while five Indians were killed
and left on the field. How many were wound
ed cannot be told. as they carried the wound
ed with them. The fight Taste from O'Clock
till 10 o'clock p. IN. During tue night the err
tire body Of Indians, barring the dead ones,
escaped under cover Of the Sand hills, and the
next morning company Of cavalry was sent
in pursuit, since which time neither have been
heard Of, except by unfounded rumor from
Larncd, that nearly three hundred Cheyennes
had passed that post late Thursday night, go
ing north.
There is still something strange in the faci
that the thirty prisoners due from Fort Sill, in
charge OF two companies OF cavalry and one
of infantry, have not yet arrived at Cheyenne.
for this point, thence to Lcayenworth, though
due last Friday. That the rise was precon-
certed and the arms concealed by others of the
tribe, there is no room for doubt. That it was
the intent, after collaboration, to rescue the
Indian prisoners due that afternoon, as part
of the general plan, is alike apparent.
What action will be taken by the govern
mcnt remains to be seem That the Indian.
have been petted until they are spoiled is a
fact patent to every white man on the frontier,
many whites have, under the present
policy, been made to pay for their
confidence in government and Indian promise.
with the forfeit of their lives. Hundreds OF
innocent women and children have been bru-
tally murdered without mercy. because of too
much mercy.