New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-18
FEARS OF AN UPRISING.
SECRETARY PROCTOR AND GENERAL MILES
DISCUSS THE INDIAN SITUATION.
ARMY TROOPS TO BE KEPT READY FOR ALL
POSSIBLE DIsTURBASCEs-sITTING BULL
STIRRING UP THE RED MEN.
fRY TELEGnAPn TO THE TniBUHEl

Chicago, Nov. 17.-Gcneral Miles and the Army
officers here fear that there may bc Indian up
rising In the Northwest the like Of which has never
been known in this country Ii Is their opinion that
the situation is low particularly favorable to the
Indians, who we'll mounted and well equipped with
ammunition and supplies. The salvation Of the settlers
in the Dakotas will be "Norther7 Of the 1erccst
kind. which might disperse the redskins.
An important consultation held In st. Louis yes
terday between the Secretary Of War; Redfed Proctor
and General Miles. The latter laid before his superior
all the detailed information at hand consisting Of full
reports from the commanders of frontier posts, show
ing the number Of the Indians, the of their
leaders ard the location of their mountain strong
holds, as we'll as the truth concerning the singular
"Ghost Dance.' The result Of the conference was
resolution on the part Of Secretary Proctor to keep the
troops In constant readiness to resist any attack tho
Indians may make and to protect any settlers who
may be threatened. General Miles was accompanied
to ST. Louis by LieutenantColonel Henry c. Corbin,
Assistant AujutantGcneral of the Department of the
Missouri. They returned to this city to-day, and Gen
eral Miles authorized Colonel Corbn to make state
ment to the press. Colonel C0rhin said
The possibilities are that we Will have In tn, North
west this winter the boodicst Indian fought.
Understand, say possibilities. The probabilities are
that the threatened danger will be averted by the
cold winter storms, which are expected now. Re-
member, we have already had Indian war ia
the midst Of a hard winter: we NAV have another.
The Indians were desperate then, and they are
desperate now. The situation on the reservations Is
most peculiar. Indians are always hafprepared for
war, for they always have motive In the conduct Of
the whites, who constantly imposing on them.
Just they wrought up the Ghost Dance.
We must believe that many Of the bucks have really
seen who comes to them calling himself q
Messiah Who this man is We do not know, but arc
making every effort to find ont. lie may be some
leader OF o band OF wandering Mormons and perhaps
cowboy full OF pranks. One thing Is certain: who
ever the fellow is he is able TO speak to several diff
fcrent tribes in their own languages, which naturally
gives the Indians confidence In him. They believe
him when lie says that they have but to fight for them
selves litte he will the earth to open and
swallow the whites, and Will bring back from the
happy hunting grounds all the bufaloes and dead In
dans. This Is pretty picture, and wonder 1t i'm
presses the ignorant and halfc,ilized red man.
I'VE all know that the hartestfought and the long
est-drawnout wars have always been the result Of
sors, religious excitement. This Ghost Dance that
produces such an effect tho Indians is more
than a religious excitement il is a religious fever.
There are 10000 Indians In that country, and there
Is no question that they can make great havoc, II
they once get started before the Army can head them
off, But it is contrary to Indian tradition for the
braves to take the warpath in winter
Bismarck n. d., Nov. 1.-THE superstition OF the
indians regarding the new Messiah and the promised
serious hold thcm and for the first time in his lie
Major Mclaughlin agent at Standing Rock, finds him.
self unable to govern them. Sitting Bull and others
have told the agent frankly that they have no further
use for the whites and that they firmly believe II only
a question Of short time when tho whites Will dis
appear from the Of the earth. Yesterday courcrs
from the agency arrived In Mandan with Information
that an uprising Of the Indians had already begun ana
n ne plessan, weather continued the uprising would
he general IL was also learned that the Indians have
been buying ammunition for some time past, nearly the
whole supply at Mandan having been purchased. The
dealers did not realize until yesterday that selling TO
Indians was unlawful.
The troops at Forts Yates and Lincoln have been
ordered 10 be in readiness for marching orders at
moments notice There is much uneaslness among
the settlers west of the Missouri River and some fam
flies have moved up the Mandan and across the river
old frontlesmen declare. however, tat general up
rising this late In the fan is not probable .
A s-Ineetng of citizens WAS held In Mandan TO-
rict 10 discuss the Indian situation. The cltizons
have organized for protection. Governor Miller was
tceoraphed TO for arms and ammunition ana ne mas
given Instructions to the AdjutantGeneal t. use MS
discretion All sorts Of rumOrs are ahoat Tciegrams
10 standing Rock are unanswered, and tne latest
rImor Is that band OF armed Indians LETT their nuts
on the Agency at 10 O'Clock this morning.