The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1890-12-05
SITUATION IS SERIOUS.
Gen. Miles 10 Alarmed -He Says the
Seriousness - tho Situation Is NOt

Gen. Miles 10 Alarmed -He Says the
Seriousness u the Situation is Not
Exaggerated.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3-Gen. Miles has
left for CkiAeo. He believes that danger
from Indians is imminent. "The serious
ness of the situaL ion," he says, "has not
been exaggerated. The dissatisfaction is
more widespread than it has been at any
time for years. It is more coinprehen-
sive plot than anything ever inspired by
the prophet Tecumseh or even Pontiac.
The causes of this difficulty are easy of To-
cation. Insufficient food supplies. relig-
ious delusion and the innate dispositions
of the savage to go to war must be held
responsible. Troops and supplies are en-
route and will be available very speedily.
All that is possible is being done to en-
courage the loyal and reduce the number
and Influence Of the hostile and in this
way an outbreak may be averted. sim
cerely hope there will be no hostilities,
for general uprising would be a most
serious affair.
Altogether there are in the northwest
about 30 600 vino are affected by the Mes
siah craze; that means fully 5000 fighting
men. OF this number at least one-thrd
would not go on the warpath, so that
leaves us with about 1000 adversaries.
There are 5000 other Indians in Indian
Territory who will need to be watched if
active operations take place. Four thou
sand Indians can make an immense
amount Of trouble. But 1.-THE of that
number were concerned in the Minnesota
massacre, yet they killed more than 500
Sc: tiers in very briei space of time"
Gen. Miles said there was great neces-
sity for more cavalry. Altogether" he
said. I'VE have about 1000 mounted men.
We have plenty of infantry. but you cam
not catch mounted Indians with white
foot-soldiers. The infantry had one or
two good fights in 1876 and 1877, but such
engagements are rare in frontier warfare.
The Indians are better armed now than
they ever were. and their supply of..horses is
all that could be desired. Every buck has
use it. . They can live on cattle just as
we'll as they used to on buffalo, and the
numerous horse ranches will furnish them
fresh stock when cold and starvat on ruin
their mounts. The northern Indian is
hardy and can suffer great deal. These
hostiles have been starved into lighting,
and they will prefer to die fighting rather
than starve Peacefully.
II hope the problem may be solved
without bio dshed, but such happy end
ing to the trouble seems improFa...yie. An
Outbre * would cost the ves of Il great
many brave men and the destruction Of
hundreds of homes in the northwest. IL
peace is possible we will have it,"
A Report OF 0uietness.
PIERRE, s. D., Dec. 3.-Letters have
been received and published from Capt.
A. P. MCGOWAN of Fort Sully and Lieut..
D. A. Mccarthy of Fort Bennett, COM
at each post, stating that the
Indian frontier so far MS that country is
co 'cerncd. is perfectly s,fe. he la ter
officer, accompanied by ALelt Palmer,
have just returne / from d Ier,onal visit
to Humps an Big Foot's camps OH
Cherry Cr elk, and that the cold weather
and snow have driven the Indians in from
tie ghust dances.