Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-12-06

Tho Daily Press and Dakotaian
EvERr EVENING noEr1rNa SUNDAYS
TDnns OF SUBSCRIPTION
FER Week, 2scts Per Month. 81; Per Year, 30
PRoTnoTroN FOR THE BLACK
HILLS.

ing serious aspect and the situation il on.
to excite lively apprehensions. Even a
this season Of the year the three freigh,
lines which supply the Hills with goods an
thronsed with freigh.ers and teams, all o1
which are without protection exespt thai
which arises from the weak reals ance Of .
fsw poorly armed men,, The ranches and
outlying settlements in the foothills are also
completely as the mercy Of the redekins and
the bsst their occupants can do is to seek
safss, By a'sht to the hiding places which
the rocks and wooded gulches of the Hills
afford. A large force Of military has been
ordered from the river to the scene Of
trouble. At least ten days' march lies
before them and in that time the Indiana
may per1orm their bloody work and Be far
from the scenes of their depredaiions. Du-
ring the winter the movement of troops
scruss the prairie is hazardons, uncertain
and extremely slow. The storms of the
plains are sone obstacle to encounter
than the savages they pulsue and We canno,
zee that there ia any possible hope that dds
quste military protection will be afforded
the exposed settlers and freigh,ers now CALI
ing 90 earnes " for aid. Ten days ago .
company Of cavalry was in camp At sulphur
creek, the alleged scene of one Of the
late Indian raids. but it had probably
moved to. the Missouri. in the
absence Of any reliable knowledge Of In
dian movements Storms and the constant
danger Of, stormss absolutely prohibit scout.
ing operations and the presencs Of band
of Indians is only known when they de-
scend With rifle volleys and blood -curdline
yells upon their unsuspecting victims. Un-
der the obligations of the treaty compsct
between the authorities and the Sioux. and
under oil the laws Of humanity and civili-
zation. the government is bound to protect
the pioneers who ars hazarding life and
property in their efforts to extend the pub.
lie deaain-&o develop . country valsabls
TO the whole world. This can only be done
by the establishment Of military post a,
some convenient point in the foothills,
manned by military force of sufficient
numbers and equipment to give the Indians
to understand that their raids will only end
in disaster to themselves. A force of this
sort, acting in conjunction with the river
garrisons. would furnish immunity from
danger, which would restore perfect safety
to the Inhabitants of the Hills and the trav.
elers over the various roads leading thereto
Until some such step is taken and 80 long
as warlike Sioux exist there will be seasons
of serious trouble In western Dakota.
The telegraphic reports ofthe investment
Of Deadwood by Indians We place no con.
fidence in. Indian courage meyer yet wen,
90 far as to provoke an attack upon com.
munity Of eight thousand people. 1t is the
outlying settlements-Spe nfish city, Crook
city, Rapid city, and others, which are in
real danger They are weak innu nbers and
30 much exposed that the wonder il tha,
they have not before been subjected to In;
dian attacks. The isolated ranches scattered
about among the foohills and on the prairie
adjacent thereto also offer special induce.
ments, in their unprotected condition, to the
lawles savages who infest that region. II
the government is Is human a our educa-
tion has led us to believe it to be, there will
be no delay in providing protection to the
important portion Of its people who occupy
western Dakota.
President Hayes 6sst message is received