Omaha daily bee., 1890-12-13
FRIENDLY INDIANS SENT OUT.
Departure ofa Armed Band Of Braves From
Pine Ridge.
THEY ARE GOING AFTER THE HosTILES.
Ynnkton Charley's Story ofa Fight in
the Bad Lands Confirmed
Great Excitement at
Rapid City.

PINE RIDGE, s. D., via Rushville, Neb.,)
Dec. Especial Telegram to The BEE.l-
Although everything, even to the saddling OF
the pack mules, seems In readiness for the
military to move on the hostiles, yet the or
der to start has not been given. Why this
order Is withheld nobody knows but General
Brooke, and of course he will not tell That
the mysterious sending out toward the bad
lands OF large number OF the supposedly
friendly Indians from this agency, all fully
armed and supplied with rations and camp
ing outfits, this forenoon, is forerunner of
battle can scarcely be doubted. There were
possibly some two hundred more or less, in the
band, and they were all in strictly Indian
garb, notwithstanding many were recognized
as those who usually go about the agency IN
civilized attire. None of them were agency
police and few had ever before been enlisted
in the service Of the government. I asked
Agent Roger If he had sent them out and he
said no. Then asked Special Agent Cooper,
and he, too, replied no. Next went to Gen
eral Brooke.
~ have sent out 10 armed Indians" he an
swered.
"Who did, then 2" asked.
"Wcll, didn't"
'That is singular"
"What Is singularl" asked the general.
'That big party of armed Indians, fully
equipped for long march, should leave here
without orders from an v Of those in author
ity."
AT this the general moved uneasily in his
chair, and after strokng his forehead several
times, said
II gave my permission for them to go out"
"Who provided them with arms, etc2''
81 gave them no arms"
"Who did 20
"That Is another matter"
"Can you refer me to the person who will
tell me!'
~ gave them no arms and do not think
best to talk about the matter"
"Where are they going'" next asked.
"Did you see them starts' asked he in re-
ply.
"Ycs, sir. They started toward the bad
lands''
'You are sure OF thutr
81 am"
"All right, then"
Did they 90 to the bad lands!" urged.
'How should | know" said the general,
"since did not send theml"
From what have been able to CLEAN out
side of official circles, it seems that the idea
is that II this body of Indians go to the bad
lands, fight the hostiles and get whipped,
then the soldiers, very large proportion of
whom have been fairly aching to be turned
loose on the rebels, will perhaps be given an
opportunity to show what they can do.
Little Bat, as he is most widely known, an
other of the scouts sent back with the hostile
chiefs VINO came IN and had the council with
General Brooke last Saturday, has re-
f,r nd sn&o,
brought in yesterday by Yankton Char
ley, That the Indians had big fight
among themselves over the question of ceas-
ing hOstilites He says that while some
may be able to make their escape from the
hostile camp, yet many are bound to remain
and meet the troops in battle.
Later-Since writing the above l have
made another sklrmish to discover who is
responsible for sending out that body of
friendly Indians armed, and TO ascertain
definitely whether or no they Were going to
the bad lands. II is said that by order of
General Brooke the friendly chiefs that are
here held a secret council yesterday at re-
mote point from the agency, and were told by
ascout direct from the general that the lat
ter wanted them to have their young men go
out to the bad lands and bring in the hostiles.
The chiefs complied with General Brooke's
request, and the result was the departure
this morniug of the armed company of young
friendes. They go to bring them in, if not
in one way then in another.
The peril which is anticipated as attending
the important errand had, it Is thought by
many a great deal to do with the secrecy
maintained in regard to the matter
William Steele one Of the farm superin-
tendents of this agency, has Just arrived from
Rapid City and brings intelligence that two
companies of cavalry and $50 armed citizens
left Rapid City yesterday for the bad lands.
He says the people there are much excited
&. II. G..
NoUe mo TO nf' h, GixtI,