The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-17
Sad Scenes Among the Captives-The
SquawS and Children.
SUFFERING IN SILENCE.
A Child's Rag Doll Made from a
Blood Stained Blanket.
THE PRISON AFTER THE FLIGHT
Red Clouds Chiefs Demand the Captured
Women-Trouble Feared.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD. ]

rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
CAMP ROBINSON. Neb Jan. 16. 1872
There is settling down here from the extraordi-
nary condition of things brought about by the sud-
den onslaught of the Cheyenne Indian prisoners
upon the troops and their subsequent escape. The
order of the day now is investigation and Leuten-
ant Schuyler Of General Crooks staff, has been busy
all day in examining where the blame lies for the out
break and subsequent successful escape Of the sup
posed helpless and unarmed savages.
REVIEW OF THE OUTBREAK.
For the purpose Of obtaining the most reliable in
formation these points have sought out the best
attainable sources Of information, with the follow
ing results The Cheyenne outbreak originated in
positive and unalterabe determination of the cap
tves not to go back to the Indian Territory and this
though at the expense Of their lives and that Of
their families. Since their capture and con-
hnement here. extending o period
of more than ten weeks. the question Of their ult
mate disposition has been agitated by the authorities
at Washington both civil and military. The Cover
nor Of Kansas is understood to have made demand
that they be sent to Fort Leavenworth in order that
those guilty OF murders in that State might be den
tilted and punished Until recently but one or two
companies at this post and it was not thought
advisable to attempt the removal ordered by the War
Department and scquesced in by the Secretary Of
the Interior until stronger forcc could be had.
MORE DETAILS THE OUTBREAK.
Other companies of the Third cavalry were ordered
here until they numbered we in ALL and in the early
part Of last week determined to take decisive
steps. Captain H. W. Vessels notified Wild Hog one
Of their principal warriors Of the decision of the
With his people, to 60 with the military escort. Old
Grow accompanied him from the barracks to the ad-
jutant's Office. Wild Hog refused to make the
quired preparations. and after desperate resistance
was there put irons. Old Crow and moved of
to the old site of former camp. half q mile away
where some dozen Of his people afterward Joined
him. Meantime Dull Knife. with whom parley had
taken place. but who would not leave the barracks,
said that he would not out and that 1t was the
voice Of all his people to die where they rather
COLD AND HUNGER ALLIES
Thereupon Captain Vessels considered as he says
all the surroundings of the situation and privately
resolved that rather than lose the lives of his men,
which would inevitably follow an attack upon the
Indians, he would try to reduce them to
submission by withholding their supplies of
food and fuel. This, he considered was the
cheapest way to make them yield but the
experiment q failure. Though nothing was
given to feed them for Ave days the defiant
savages still held out. Captain VESSELS moved by
q sense of humanity, asked to have the women and
children sent out to him to be fed and then to be
turned but this also Indignantly rejected by
the unconquered redskins. Meantime they were
making the preparations, heretofore recounted in
these dispatches. behind the small earthworks
thrown up inside the barracks
DETERMINATION INDIANS
It had been frequently said to the officers that the
Cheyennes had resolved to do all sorts Of desperate
things rather than be taken south again. They
would cut themselves to pieces murder one another
and. in fact die where they were before accedng
to the measure These things were reported by
the interpreter and visiting Indian friends who had
unwisely been allowed free access to them The
good words of counsel given them by RCD Cloud and
his fellow Sioux chiefs were in vain. and had been
characterized the naughty cheyennes throughout
VESSELS PLUMBERS
On the day Of the outbreak and before a. Canta;n
Vessels was informed that the Indians had deter
mined to make an attempt at escape and would
break out at night. This reported to him by
Lieutenant Chase. who had received the information
direct from Will Hog. then a captive in his
charge. The interpreter, James Rowland. was a
witness to the statement, and says also that
80 strongly he convinced of the truth of Wild
Hogs information and the certainty of its reliability
that he at moved out Of his quarters in the end
Of the barracks for safety. Here tho first mis-
take Of the commanding officer Captain wcs-
sells, from which resulted all the dread
full scenes which followed, and which has
been relieved since only by the gallant things done
by him the way of persistent pursuit and soldicry
endurance. Not only was this clear and emphatic
warning of Wild Hog ignored an idle threat Of the
Cheyenncs and regarded repetition of those often
made before but there appears TO have been an alb
scncc of even that ordinary prccauton necessary with
80 reckless and dissatisfied set Of prisoners. A
comparatively insignificant guard was placed over
them; each relief had posts. and the three
details gave total of twenty.onc men to guard more
than hundred infurated savsges, exasperatcd and
made desperate by hunger until they were little
different from wild beasts ready TO spring from their
cages whenever opportunity Afforded. II camc at
last and 1t ten O'Clock, just the IAN 10 we'll" was