The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1890-11-29
Governor Mel,ette,s Appeal.

Governor Mellette of South Dakota, and
Immediately after perusing the same, said
Generals Ruger and Brooke were making
all preparations possible to protect lives
and property. The dispatch has been re-
peated to the war department at Washing
ton and also to Pine Ridge agency and st.
Paul, Mimi:
PIERRE, S. d., Nov. 90.
Nelson A. Miles, major general command
ing, Chicago, ILL.,:
Scotty Phillips, who has 1000 head Of
cattle and lives at the mouth of Grand
Stone Butte creek, thirty miles up Bad
river, with an Indian family since 1879,
and Waldron, a cattleman seven miles this
side of Phillips, left their PLACES at 2 p. m.
lips is a very cool. courageous man, and
was a good scout through the Sioux troub-
les of '75.6 and the Cheyenne troubles of
1879. He is a reliable man OF nerve, good
Judgment and good character. He reports
that he was never afraid of Indians before
soon, and bases his belief. as follows:
Eight days ago five lodges, containing
twelve bucks armed with Winchesters and
laden with ammunition, were going from
Rosebud to a large camp which is formed
on White river at the mouth Of Pass creek.
He talked with them an hour. They were
surly and defiant in manner. One said he
had seen the time when he used to beat
out the brains of children and drink
women's blood and that the time
is soon coming when they will
do it again. He said Phillips was raising
horses for the Indians to ride; that the
country vas just as good now as it was in
IN it. Phillips knew these Indians well,
Yellow Thigh being their leader,
White Field; a settler at the mouth of
Pass creek, on White river, had his house
broken open by Indians and all his goods
and horses stolen about ten days ago.
Three days ago, three bucks came to Wal,
had twenty cattle killed by Indians, and
Waldron's seven that they know of. Three
| half-breeds from White river stopped at
| Phillips house night before last, and they
| said they expected to find the settlements
destroyed when they got home. Threats
were made against the half-breeds and all
| Indians who will not join i'll the ghost
dance. Phillips says that everybody who
| has been among the Indians any length Of
time. without any exception. say there is
| going to be an uprising and that very
| quick. The Pass creek dance has been
running for months Phillips and Waldron
say It'll Short BULBS headquarters. and they
think it is the point fixed for concentrat-
ing all bands: They think there are now
1000 lodges and 1,5OO armed warriors there.
The Indians claim they will not give
up Short Bull and will fight when
soldiers try to arrest them. They say as
soon as the fight begins, hailstones will kill
the white soldiers. The indians say that
they have suits which are bullet proof.
This talk is from the Indian runners pass
ing Phillips place between Standing Rock
and the camp on Pass creek: They travel
day and night with Incredible swifthess.
l know Phillips we'll and would take his
judgment on the situation in preference
to anybody l know. II you deem this in
formation of any importance. / can send a
messenger to further Investigate. ur-
gently request however, that you establish rl
a post at Chamberlain and another at For
est City. Both points are reached by rail.
l have requested the secretary of war and
again make application through you for a
| Thousand guns and ammunition to be Ship
ped to me at Huron. Please answer
| whether 1 can serve you by getting further
information from Pass creek.
(Signed.) A. C. MELLETTE,
Governor of South Dakota