Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1890-08-07
SITTING BULL.
He was not the header in the Sioux
Victory Over Custer.

Sitting Bull, says Captain King in
Harper's Magazine, was not the inspira-
ton of the great victory won by the
Sioux. Up to this time he had no real
claims as war chief. Eleven days before
the fight there was a "sun dance'' His
own people has since told us these
particulars, and the best story-teller
among them was the bright-faced squaw
of Tatonka-he 6 le-ska Spotted Horn
BulD who accompanied the party ON their
Eastern trip. She is own cousin to Sit
ting Bull, who knows whereof she speaks.
The chief had a trance and vision.
Solemnly he assured his people that with
in few days they would be attacked by
| vast force of white soldiers, but that
and when the Crows and Crooks COM
mand appeared on the 18th, it was o
partial redemption of his promise.
Wary scouts saw Reno's column turning
back down the Rosebud after discovering
the trail, and nothing they Judged,
would come from that quarter All
around Crooks camp on Goose Creek
the indications were that the "Gray Fox"
was simply waiting for more soldiers
before he would again venture forth.
Sitting Bull had no thought of new
attack for days to come, when, early on
the morning of the 25th, two Cheyenne
Indians who had started eastward at
dawn came dashIng back to the bluffs,
and waving their blankets, signalled,
''White soldiers-heaps coming quick"
Instantly all was uproar and confusion.
Of course women and children had to
be hurried away, the great herds of ponies
gathered in, and the warriors assembled
to meet the coming foe. Even as the
chiefs were fastening to the council lodge
there came crash of rapid volleys from
the south. 1t was Reno's attack-an at
tack from new and utterly unexpected
quarter-and this, with the news that
Long Hair was laundering down the
ravine across the stream, was too much
for Sitting Bull. Hurriedly gathering
his household about him, he lashed his
pony to the top OF his speed, and fled
westward for safety Miles he galloped
before he dare stop for breath. Behind
him he could hear the roar of battle, and
on he would have sped but for the sudden
discovery that one of his twin children
was missing. Turning, he was surprised
to find the firing dying away, soon ceas-
ing altogether. In half an hour more he
managed to get back to camp, where the
missing child was found, but the battle
had been won without him. Without
him the Blackfeet and Uncapapas had
repelled Reno and penned him on the
bluffs. Without him the Ogalallas,
Brules and Cheyennes had turned back
Clusters daring assault, then rushed forth
and completed the ath-gripping circle
in which he was held. Again had Crazy
Horse been foremost in the fray, riding
in and Draining the bewildered soldiers
with his heavy war club. Fully had his
vision been realized, but-Sitting Bull
was not there.
For long time it was claimed for him
by certain sycophantic followers that
from the council lodge he directed the
battle; but it would not do. When the
old sinner was finally starved out of her
Maiesty's territory, and came in to accept
the terms accorded him, even his own
people could not keep straight faces
when questioned as to the cause of the
odd names given those twins-"T "The-One-
that-was taken" and "IHe- One-that aOaS-
leT." Finally it all leaked out, and now
'none so poor as to do him reverence"
OF course it was his role to assume all the
airs of a conqueror, to be insolent and
defiant to the ''IIigh Joint Commission,
sent the following winter to beg him to
come home and be good; but the claims
of Tatonka-e- Yotanka to the leadership
in the greatest victory his people ever won
are mere va2orings, to be classed with
the boastings of dozens of chiefs who
were scattered over the Northern reser-
vations during the next few years. Rain
in-the-Face used to brag by the hour
that he killed Custer with his own hand,
but the other Indians laughed at him.
Gall, of the Uncapapas, Spotted Eagle,
Kill Eagle, Lame Deer, Lone Wolf, and
all the varieties of Bears and Bulls were
probably leading spirits in the battle, but
the man who more than all others seems
to have won the admiration of his fellows
for skill and daring throughout that STIR
ring campaign, and especially on that
bloody day, is he who so soon after met
his death in desperate effort to escape
from Crooks guards, the warrior Crazy
Horse.