The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-17
Likely to Have a Good Effect on
the Indians.
FIFTEEN coRPsEs BROUGHT IN.
The Other Sioux Indians Had No Love
for Colonel Bull.
The Old Politician VIII Not Be Avenged
His Warriors Scattered and Can Do
No Harm-Hostiles, Hemmed in BY
Soldiers, Must Soon Surrender.

has just received from Standing Rock agency, by
courier to Bismarck, the first authentic account
OF yesterday battle that has been received.
The facts regarding the trip of the police and
soldiers have been already given. The police
were in camp over night near Sitting Bulls
camp, and in the morning, under the command
OF Bull Head, lieutenant, and Shave Head first
sergeant, went in and made the arrest. Sitting
Bun expressed his willingness to go with them,
but said he wanted to get ready first. The two
leaders went with him into his tent, after he
had ordered his horse TO be gotten ready.
While the old chief was getting ready two
bucks, wrapped in blankets, entered the tepee,
and throwing OFF their blankets opened fire on
the police Sitting Bulls wife set up howl
outside, which seems to have been the signal
for the assault.
In the fight which followed Red Tomahawk
killed Sitting Bull. Many of Sitting Bulls fol-
towers were killed, and Bull Head and Shave
Head wounded and will undoubtedly die
The police were now surrounded, but the
military arrived and after an hour aud half of
hot skirmishing the Indians took to fight and
disappeared in the timber.
-Four of the police were killed and two
mortally wounded. Seven Of the hos.iles were
killed at least.
BISMARCK, y. D., Dec 16.--But little word is
obtainable from Standing Rock today or tonight.
The ironclad non-intercourse rule of the mill
tary holds even over the military telegraph. All
newspapers are cut of from any communication
by wire with the agency 4 mail driver from
Winona this evening knew nothing more than
was published this afternoon.
The bodies OF those slain in Yesterdays en-
gagement, fifteen in all, were brought to the
post today and viewed by large crowd.
Two troops OF cavalry from Fort Lincoln, with
three days rations, started for the crossing OF
the government trail over the Cannon Ball
river, about ifty-fve miles southwest of here,
and established camp there. number of
teamsters and wagons were sent from here this
afternoon to follow them with supplies.
ST. PAUL, Dec. 16-Today's advices from
Standing Rock to the effect that the arrest of
Sitting Bull was decided upon by Agent Me-
Laughlin when he heard on Sunday that the
willy old chief and his followers were about TO
set out for the Bad Lands Once there it would
be long time and there would be much hard
fighting before any of the hostiles could be
taken OF starved out, therefore orders were given
the police and they set out Sunday night, the
troops following. By early morning the police
had reached the camp, with the cavalry three
miles in the rear, and the infantry much farther
away On reaching the camp the police found
the campers almost ready to move.
Sitting Bull was seized and placed under ar
rest, but not bound, and the police quickly
started for the agency. The followers of the old
man soon got over their surprise. and a sharp
fire was ut once opened on the police The po-
lice responded in kind, and several fell from
their horses, among the number sitting Bull and
his son Blackbird. The old medicine man had
tried to direct matters for time by loudly shout
ing his orders, but bis fall upset the hostilties
They at once rallied, however, and surrounded
the police, who fought bravely and well, but
would soon have been overpowered had not the
cavalry, who had been sent for, arrived ON the
scene. The police were at that time almost out
of ammunition, and fighting handto-hand, but
10, ~fek 1t - IL =.
machine guns alarmed the hostiles, and they fed
up Grand river. The cavalry followed for short
distance, and then returned 10 camp and took
possession of the bodies of sitting Bull and his
son. -Four police were killed and three wounded,
and 1t is thought altogether eight of the hostiles
were killed. Crow Foot, the 1o-year-old son of
Sitting Bull, and a number CT others were
wounded. Sitting Bulls followers, when they
fed up Grand river, left behind them all their
tents and families, which will be turned over to
the agency. After going short distance up the
river, the fleeing redskins scattered and went
off in all directions through the country
toward the Bad Lands. Some of them
may try TO reach the Indians of Two Strikes
band, fErther south, while others will seek es-
cape to the north. However, there is little
chance for them in any direction Soldiers are
located all around the Bad Lands, and the
Indians will have little chance TO get a few
rancbers that are located in that district. Even
IL they attempt 10 go on small raids, the soldiers
are placed so as to head them off.
The effect of the death OF Sitting Bull is prob
lematic. He was not chief in sense of being a
leader in battle, and had never been addressed
as chief, but was an ambitious old rascal. with
more of the politician in him than is ordinarily
credited TO the savage By working on the
superstitions and fears of the Indians he gained
whatever prestige he had, and just how those
who survive him will take his death cannot be
estimated.
The other leaders, who hated him. will surely
not seek to ayenge his DEATH still, he had
gained considerable following among the
ghost dancers, and these may attempt some
thing in revenge.
People around Bismarck and in the neighbor-
| hood of Standing Rock agency are greatly
wrought up over the killing, and express fear
for the outcome. They think the followers
Sitting Bull had at the time OF his death viii at
tack scattered settlers along the frontier and kill
whom they can.
The scene at the agency today was indescrib-
able The death OF the Indian policemen, the
flower of the tribe, viii be mourned by the
sauaws for weeks. and the old warriors viii
ioin in the mourning for the present II will be
a great Indian funeral these policemen viii
have, aud the death song will continue for
weeks.
CHICAGO. Dec l6.-speaking of the death Of
Sitting Bull, Ajutsnt-Gcneral CorbAn said to an
Associated Press reporter that il was most prob
ably the beginning of the end of the trouble. He
said that as Sitting Bull is dead the Indians,
who had great faith in him as medicine man,
would come to the agency within the next two
or three days when they hear OF his death. II
they do not. General Brooke has things il shape
TO make short work of them. They are penned
I'D in the Bad Lands, where nobody lives, and
where they can do no damage. 'If the Indians
should insist on fghting,' added Colonel Cor
hin. sit viii last few days. There are very few
ranches in the vicinity Of the Bad Lands, so it
viii be impossible for the hostsles to make raids
General Miles has left 81 Paul and viii be at
Standing Rock tomorrow. No more outbreaks
| are looked for by the officers. except, perhaps,
| fighting with remnants OF Sitting Bulls band.
| During the week the commanding officers az the
| different agencies will be instructed 70 ask the
surrender OF all hostile Indians. Sitting Bull
I was able to keep the young bucks excited with
| the Messiah craze, but now that he Is dead
| Colonel Corbin believes that hostihties will
! soon stop.
STARVING ALASKAN INDIANS.