Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-11-28
Everything is Quiet at Pine Ridge,
and the Indians Draw Their
RatiOns.
At Fort Bennett Very Few of Them
Come in For Their
RatiOnS.
Gen. Miles Continues Moving Infan-
try, Cavalry and Artillery to the
Indian Country.
Found the Messiah,

CHICAGO, Nov. 2s-The Indian Messiah
has been found. A letter received to- day
by General Miles from an army officer at
Los Angeles, California, tells the particu-
lars. The letter said: II know it will be
surprising when | say to you that have
founl the Messiah and the story of my
finding is as follows: Last spring an IN
dian called and said he would like to speak
to the commanding general. y messenger
introduced him to me and | turned him
over to another officer for that purpose,
but in a few moments he was turned over
to me again. took him in a room and he
gave this story of himself: He said his
name was johnson Sides; that he was
known as the peacemaker among all the
Indians and whites OF Nevada. where he
lived" This man he believes to be the
Messiah and gives these reasons for his
belief. The officer continues: "He has no
doubt delivered the story of ChriSt'S sec
Ond coming in its true light and the In
dianS, who are telling the story, have
warped and woven it according to their
understanding. johnson Sides is well
known to all the people along the tine OF
of Reno and Winnemucca, Nevada.' Gen
eral Miles, after reading this letter. seemed
impressed with the idea that johnson
Sides was the same identical Indian who
is referred to III the letter OF Capt. lIuggins
from Poplar Creek agency Few days ago.
Whether this explanation OF The craze he
the true one or not VIII, however, not alter
in the least the plans OF the general for
promptly repres>ing the threatened wide
spread outbreak.
ANTICIPATING AN OUTBREAK.
.k,,I
army headquarters 10 day was busy. Tel
egrams were being constantly received
from posts over the wet. and Gen. Miles
was sending replies and directing move.
ments of troops. \ large force, larger
than has been mustered in the west since
Ride by Wednesday. Reinforcvments are
sent by reason of adviceS received from
Gen Brooke. who is disposed to take avery
serious view of the situation. Troops at
every fort or army station in Missouri, Ne
brasha, Dakota, Minnesota, Montana and
detachlnents of the army are under orders
to hold themselves in readiness. Appar-
ei.ily General Miles believes that if the
paign against them will be DrOtracted
one, for he is moving field artillery, large
quantities OF ammunition and supplies as
we'll as cavalry and infantry. Notwilh-
standing sensational kilograms, the army
will not take the offensive. bur is under
orders not 10 attack braves Until they do
something more Warlike than dancing.
Instructions are 10 prevent trouble if pos
sible by porsuading Indians to return to
the agency. Gen. SchOfeld has instructed
Gen. Miles to find out if the cause of the
present dissatisfaction among the Indians
is due more to lack of ratiOns than to tn 'ir
belief in the coming of the new Messiah.
There are plenty OF reports on that
subject already in the hands of the
war department, and all of them declare
that the Indians have Oeen unpaid and
also that their petitions for rations have
been diSregardtd by the Indian Bureau.
In accordance with instr uctions, Col. Heyl,
inspector general, left for the west this af-
ternoon and will visit all the army posts
and most or the agency stations. He is
accompanied by an amanurnsis, who will
take verbatim reDurtS. General Miles at
taches little importance tU reports OF the
plot to aSSaSsinate General Brooke. Or
ders given to officers regarding the sup
preston of the ghost dance arc largely
discretionary. Their mission is to restore
confidence among the Indians and allay
their own Judgment as 10 the best means
for accomplishing that end. II it is con-
sidered better policy to suppress these
dances at once. the officers have means for
so doing. However. they may deem it
better policy to employ less harsh meas
ureS." 5.s..a -
THE WAR DEPARTMENT.. =, .s-
WASHINGTON, Nov. 24-The war de-
partment is giving every assistance IN
its power to General Miles. In addition to
the military force in his division, ten
troops Of cavalry, stationed in Arizona
New Mexico and Texas, and large force
from Fort Riley, including two light bat
tpres nf artillery, have been forwarded t.
Pine Ridge agency to reinforce his com.
mand. All of these movements have been
sanctioned by the president, who is deeply
interested in ths Indian situation. IS
RATION DAY AT PIERRE.
PIERRE, s.. d., Nov. There are M