Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-12-26
MONDAYS FIGHT.

MONDAYS FIGHT.
Particulars of the Battle Which Re.ulte,,
in the Death of Sitting Eull-Biocraph-
ical Sketch OF the Red Devil.
ST. PAUL. Dec. 17.-Advices from
Standing Rock are to the effect that
the arrest of Sitting Bull was de-
cided upon by Agent Mclaughlin,
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 u long time and
there would be much hard fighting be-
fore any of the hostiles could be taken
or starved out. Therefore, the orders
were given to the police and they set out
Sunday night, the troops following. BY
early morning the police had reached
the camp, 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, placed under ar.
rest. but not bound, and the police quickly
started for the agency. But the follow
ers of the old man soon got over their
surprise and sharp fire was at once
opened on the police. The police re-
sponded in kind and several fell from
their horses, among the number Sitting
Bull and his son. Black Bird, an old
medicine man, had tried to direct matters
for a time by loudly shouted orders, but
his fall upset the hostles. They at once
rallied, however, and surrounded the DO
lice, who fought bravely and we'll, 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 were fighting hand to hand, but
sight Of the soldiers and the roar of the
machine guns alarmed the hostiles and
they fled up Grand river. The cavalry
followed but a short distance and then
returned to the camp and took posses
sion of the bodies of Sitting Bull and
his son. Four policemen were killed
and three wounded, and it is thought
that altogether eight of the
hostiles were killed. Crow
Foot, the 12-year-old son of Sitting Bull
and number of others We're wounded.
Sitting Bulls followers, when they fed
up the 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
red skins 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
| farther south, while others will seek 30
escape to the north. However, there is
| little chance for them in any direction.
The soldiers are located all around the
bad lands, and the Indians will have
little chance to get at the few ranchers
that are located in that district Even
if they attempt to go on small raids, the
soldiers are so placed as to head them off.
The effect of the death of Sitting Bull is
problematical. He was not chief in
the sense of being leader in battle,
and never had been addressed as chief,
but the willy, ambitious old rascal,
had more of the politician in him
than is ordinarily credited to the
savage. By working on the supersti-
tions 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 avenge his death. Still he had
gained considerable following among
the ghost dancers, and these may attempt
something in revenge. The people
| around Bismarck and in the neighbor-
hood of Standing Rock agency are greatly
wrought up over the killing and express
fears for the outcome. They think the
followers that he had ut the time of his
death will attack the scattered settlers
along the frontier and kill whom they
can. The scene at the agency to-day is
indescribable. The death of the Indian
policemen, the flower of the tribe, will be
mourned by the squaws for weeks and
the old warriors will join in the mourn
ing. 1t will be grand Indian funeral
these policemen will have, the death
song will continue for weeks.
Tatanka-e-o-Tocha, .sThe Bull Sitting
| Down. euphonized and abbreviated into
s'Sitting Bull" was of the tribe of the I'm
capapa Sioux, the most warlike division of
the entire nation and the last to give in to
the supremacy of the whites. Bull, accord
ing to his own account, was between So and
l So years of age, and died as he lived-a
| hostile, a rccalcitrant and an irreconcilable.
Early in life, according to the most gener-
| ally accepted story, while but a lad in years,
intact, he killed a half-grown buffalo. He
dragged the carcass many weary miles to
within o short distance of his fathers tepee
| when he sank to his knees exhausted, the
| head and four legs of his prey dangling over
his shoulders. Hence the name Sitting
Bull, given, as all indian names are. on the
spur Of the moment and with some note
| worthy occurrence as u basis.
Sitting Bull was not hereditary chief.
but he early became Lender not only in
| the chase but at the council. When but 16
years old he endured the horrible tortures
Of the sun dance, and as late as 1876 again
submitted his sinews to the knife and his
muscles to the cord. He was dark. even
| for an Indian, medium in stature but heavy
| in build. saturnine and cynical except
| elouuence and bitter dtatribe
He was first seen around Grand river on
the Standing Rock agency in the '70s, and
he bitterly resented the encroachments of
the whites. He opposed the Stanley expe-
ditfon in 1873 and the Custer expedition of
1874. It was in May. 1876. that he gained
recognition as q chief and gathered around