The New York herald., 1877-10-14
SITTING BULL.
The Country in Which He
Has Taken Refuge.
HIS FLIGHT A ROUT.
Accounts from Scouts and
Half-BreedS.
THE INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION.
TURTLE MOUNTAIN, D. T., Oct !. 1877. |
via PxMBINA, d. T., Oct. 7, 1877.

TURTLE MouSrAs, D. T., Oct I. 1s77,(
via pEMBISA, d. T., Oct 7, 1877.
In longitude 100 dog west from Greenwich, latitude
% deg. NORTH s the Turtle Mountain Seven degrees
Iurther west on tho parallel is the ''Wood Noun
lain, the present homo and encampment OF Sitting
Bull, fugitive from justice, &c, &c. Tho surveyors
have Il that according rule the shortest distance
between two points is the straight limo which joins
them Now that straight line is that described as tho
Boundary Commission trail, OF, in other words, the
International line, or the forty-nnth parallel The
sCouvention Of London" established this line IN 1871,
and IL commences at the northwest anglo OF the Lake
OF Woods about longitude 95 dog 80 min east OF
Greenwich ana ends with the shores OF the Pacific
Refugees and iugiIives from justice from either side
generally halt In the vicinity of the line. mile
north south OF II answers ovory purpose OF tho
fugitive so that tho 'line eventually becomes set
tled by which has little regard fer any thing but
their own purposea
Tho Chief of the "Tetons' proftcd by the circum-
stances which shield the ordinary reugee When hc
6ed last spring before tho avengng forces OF General
Miles Sitting Bull with his remnant of warriors and his
noncombatants northwardly, In the direction OF
Fort Peck, crossed the Missouri point whero the
Milk River enters that stream, and, continuing his
hasy tramp further northward, entered Canadian ter
ritory At point where the Poplar River inersects
the boundary line, In about longitude 106 deg west
from Greenwich.
Details of that fight they furnished by half
breed eye-wtnesses do not to confirm the opin-
ION that Sitting Bull and hts forces their escape
the line flushed with victory and bearing groat
spois or much plunder.
THE FLIGHT SITTING BULL
Old and reliable worthy half-breeds and whites gvc
sircumsantia accounts Of the scenes which thoy wit
messed at the time when the rrepressble Indian out
law pursued by Miles, command, crossed the troach-
erous ice OF the Missouri in tho month
OF April and sought refuge under tho Brit
sh flag. Witnesses to that fight DO not de-
scribe band of savages flushed with victory, retiring
"n order before superior iorce but their accounts
con1rm the statements that q few hundred savages,
composed OF men, women and children, without order,
in tho Indian sense In tho dead OF night in
the spring. In hclter skelter ion, without any
pther purpose reach the country OF the "Long
Knives" (the Englsh), scampered throughout daylight
and darkness, through swamp and over mountain,
ravine and river to escape the swift footed
though unsuccessful forces of Unclc Sam. Whatever
may have been General Miles, want OF skilled success
In that campaign s beyond doubt that the flight OF
Sitting Bull ana his savage orce was hasty retreat
wild, dsordery race from United States territory to
soil which has not only protected him, but which in
vited him.
BRITISH PROTECTION.
II s curious, but nevertheless atrue circumstance
that alter the 'Custer massacre' cmssarIes
from the Canadian mounted police at Fort Mcleod
sured Sitting Bull that his peouliar
relations with the United States government the
event Of hts wanting an asylum In the Dominion ho
would easily find II he wished II These assur-
ances whether authorized not exercised consider
able influence the irrepressible chief He was
taught TO believe, and did believe that matter what
happened him in United States territory could al
ways find a homo and an asylum in the Dominion. No
mattor who fcll undor his savage ferocty. matter
how many squads Of Yankee soldiers scalped and
mutiated by this Indian Bluebcard, when ne wanted
safe from the avengng minister he would find
Il In Canadian territory, and the Mounted Police
under the amiable Major Walsh, would receive
him with guard OF honorl That was not only held
out inducemont to go ahead, but 1t after
ward faithfully carried out by those who now nnd tho
Same ferocious savage be white elephant their
hands
SITTING BULLS DoMicILE
Perhaps tho relative position Of The present encamp-
mont OF Sitting Bull with certain familiar points cast
and south ought to bo indicated here Taking Penn
bina, D. T., as an eastern point. tho shortest ana
quickest route, and tho most direct ono
to Sitting Bulbs camp is the Traders
trail, which begins at Pcmbina and terminates in the
heart Of the buffalo country at Wood Mountain. the
a formidable savage host This trail does
incide with the Boundary Com MISSION trail the
boundary line, but practically It is nearly identical
with It For years 1t has been the route OF the half
breed traders OF ST. Joe and the central road to the
Plains the great buffalo region OF the Gros ventres
Pegans, Bloods, Backeet and Roser Grow Indians to
say nothing OF the Crees and Sioux, with their
numerous bands and tribes. II pcnetrates the very
heart of tho buffalo Indian country and is the very
thn
scribod. And It is in every trail. Leaving
Pembna 1t winds tine Pembina Mountain inter-
scots numerous small rivers and creeks passes tho
northern end ofTurte Mountain in longitude 100 deg
oo MIN, thence IN ts WESTWARD course crosses
the Mouse River, thence ior a long distance
It bounds the Plateau de Coteau du Mis-
Mouse River, and finally II terminates at the settle
ment in Wood Mountain, Canadian territory, in about
latitude 40 deg. 60 min. longitude lo6 deg 20 min
west iron Greenwich That is about the latitude and
longitude OF Sitting Bulls present encampment. by
the trail from PemDina to Wood Mountain, whore tho
outlaw is encamped, the experienced haii-breed will
accomplish the distance In ordinary Red River cart
IN sixteen days. As a scout the ha-breed has been
known 10 accomplish u In loss than ten days
THE ROUTE COMMISSIONERS.
WHAT matter of surprise IS the roundabout way
the International Commission has undertaken to
reach its destination. This Is perhaps, moro surpris
ing with respect to the United states Commissioners
tnap u Is with regard 10 the Canadians put with our
people be a selIled fact that the only way
to reach Sitting Bull Is via tho Missouri, no mat
ter where ho aIigns. While General Terry aud his
HshoCiates nave OeeH ueNiouo .oui'o VI
the Missouri and waiting for chances and escorts TO
reach their destination, the Canuck Commissioners
had arrived at Wood Mountain the 10th OF
September, where They would probably have 10 wait |
the arrival OF their coadJutors many days Had Gen.
oral Terry followed the boundary line trail and over
taken his escort at any point north Of Buiord or
Peck II would have been great stroke OF economy as
we'll Of good sense; but II Is well, doubtless, that
the longest route should DO chosen, Tor the
that the arrival OF the rrucc Commissioners" would
be as long delayed matter as circumstances would
permit; besides, u would give SITTING Bull great
chances 10 prepare himself and conceal the many
United States relics which grmly set oil his half-nakcd
followers
THE INDIAN sEiGHnoRHooD.
Tho popular impression that the country along the
boundary line due west OF PemDna Is terra incognttd
mdupdise fcrre, is great ailacy. Many believe
that the Rcd River Valley is always safe from Indian
invasion from the west because no hostile force
sustain Itself on the great Plains oil the Turtle
Mountain and stretching away TO the present neigh
borhood OF sitting Bull ana his despondent forces.
That notion IS foolish one. Instead VI the country
through which the Traders trail the International