Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-12-25
SITTING BULLS DEATH.
Facts Gathered From Corporal Gum Who
Was With the Expeditions

Facts Gathered From Corporal Gum WhC
Was With the Expedition
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Dec. 20.-It i:
learned from gentleman just from
Standing Rock Agency that Sitting
Bulls body. when brought in from
| Grand river, was taken TO the military
hospital to be dissected. The Indians
at the agency, police and friendly In
dams, would have nothing to do with
the remains. It is said the morning
when they were to be buried couple
of soldiers took the box supposed to
contain the remains and dumped it in
an isolated grave away from the graves
of other Indians, and a guard was
placed around it. 1t is an open secret
that the box did not contain the re-
mains and that the guard was put on
the grave as blind. 1t is believed Sit
ting Bulls body is now in the dissecting
room and that in time the skeleton will
turn up.
Corporal Gum of G Troop, Eighth
cavalry, who was at Bismarck from
Fort Yates on furlough, gave the true
story of Mondays tragedy, which diff
fers widely from any reports yet sent
out. Gum was with the troops that
were dispatched to relieve the Indian
police. The press reports sent out
from Fort Yates are thought to have
been fixed In the first place the
| troops were not ordered to follow the
Indian police, to be in readiness in case
the latter were surprised by the enemy.
n -. Il L. h ii.
started for Grand river, the troops fol-
lowing three hours later headed for Oak
creek, where they were instructed to
receive news through carriers from the
police, posting them as to the latters
movements. Not finding any carriers,
Captain Fechet ordered his men on to
Grand river, fearing something was
wrong.
Before they had gallOped two miles
they were met by Red Tomahawl1, one
of the police, who brought the news
that Sitting Bull and four of the police
were killed. He was riding Sitting
Bulls horse. Captain Fechet doubted
his story, but was reassured when Tom
ahawk implored him to go on, saying:
Hurry up quick, or they will all be
killed" When the soldiers arrived at
the scene every thing was quiet Thir-
teen dead bodies lay on the ground,
nine of the hostiles, including Sitting
Bull, and four Indian police. The po-
lice had taken refuge in Sitting Bulls
house and the hostiles were ambushed
in the thick willows near by. Every
pane of glass in the house was shot out
Captain Fetchet formed a skirmish-line
around the thicket and poured shot in.
Cries and whoops could be heard. A
great many more hostiles are believed
to be killed than reported.
Here is the story of Sitting Bulls
death" said Corporal Gum, las told by
an intelligent half-breed:
Bull Head, lieutenant of police, came
to Sitting Bulls house with a warrant
for his arrest. No one but the old chief
and his two sons were there. Sitting
Bull opened the door and his son seeing
the house surrounded by police gave
the cry of alarm. Without hesitating a
moment Bull Head fired at Sitting Bull,
the ball striking the breast over the left
nipple, killing him almost instantly.
While reeling Sitting Bull managed to
draw revolver, which exploded Just
as he fell, the bullet entering
Bull Heads thigh. Bull Head died two
lays later from the effects. A terrific
hand-to-hand fight ensued. Sitting
Bulls folloYers swar1ned around the
police and guns were dubbed. The
ground was strewn with broken stocks
and bent barrels. The police, number
ing thirty, were getting the worst of it
and retreated into Sitting Bulls house.
The hostiles retreated into ambush,
having learned of the soldiers coming.
The dead and wounded were carried
back to the post. The bodies were
mutilated, one Indian po-
liceman lifting Sitting Bulls scalp.
The old chiefs body was a sick
ening sight. An Indian bat
tered his face into jelly with a plank.
After firing of this devilish sport, he
balanced the plank on his nose and left
1t there with maniacal glee. The few
remaining hairs in his head were
clipped off, his moccasins and most of
his clothing were carried away for rel
les. Among his personal effects were
found letters from Mrs. Weldon, of New
York, warning him to flee from the
agency, as the Government was about
to have him killed. Sitting Bull was
to depart when surprised by
the Indian police.