The Portland daily press., 1890-12-18
He WAS NOT AN AGENCY INDIAN
Sitting Bull Died as He said He Would
Meet Death.
= Dramatic Account Of the Sioux
cnleftaIn's Last Battle.
Another story, " not SO Thrilling,
May se the True one.

STANDING Rock AGENCY, ). D., Decem-
Der 17-"GOd Almighty made me, God Al
mighty did not make me an agency Indian,
and I'll fight and die fighting before any
white man can make me an agency Indian"
This was the declaration made by Sitting
Bull to General Miles. and the detailed re-
ports Of the Great Medicine Mans death
gave to the declaration the full force Of
prophecy. All eye witnesses agree as to the
facts that. all circumstances considered,
make the final tragedy involving the exteI-
minatlon Of probably the brainiest Indian
that ever lived one Of the most picturesque
and characteristic incidents Of American
history That the government authorities,
civil as we'll as military. preferred the death
OF the famous old savage to his capt-re
whole skinned few persons here doubt The
expedition which started from this agency
for Sitting Bulls camp, 40 miles distant, 10
take him dead or alive, was no haphazard
undertaking. On the contrary, there Is ev-
cry reason 10 believe that the whole affair
was carefully planned military manmuVre,
originating with General Miles and author
lied by President HarrisOn's Cabinet.
Almost at the same moment that General
Miles's car left Chicago for the Northwest
the members OF his command here silently
took their departure and were quickly lost
In the darkness that envrlOped the wilder
ness stretching to the camp OF Sitting Bull,
on the banks Of the Grand river. The van
was led by men Of Sitting Bulls own blood,
superDly mounted and aecOutred. Close be-
hind them came Captain FOuchet's cavalry
command, with two pieces OF light artillery.
To the rear of FOuchets cavalry was the In
fantry command Of Colonel Drum. The
distance and the capabilities OF the troops TO
Withstand the fatigues Of such a journey In
such an Intensely cold night had been figured
k..Nm 81.
dawn appeared the expedition was within
easy distance OF its destination. The Indian
police were the first to sight the huddled
cluster OF ugly looking tepees On the river
bank. Despite the early hour all was astir
IN the village, where on every hand was evil
dence that a hurried exodus was
contemplated. The ponies Of the
police were pushed for all they
were worth, and before Sitting Bulls
dazed adherents had chance to realize the
situation dozen Of the police had pulled
their animals up short on all sides OF the
chiefs abode. No time was wasted In cere-
m0ny. The proud old medicine man was
hustled out on waiting horse, and In q
trtce faced toward civilization. He ragged
and sputtered In fury Of rage for a mo-
ment then Strengthening up, shouted a
command to his followers. Suddenly there
was puff OF smoke beside a tepee and the
sharp crack of a Winchester. The police
man at Sitting Bulls right, grasping the
chiefs bride, reeled In the saddle and, top
pling over, was trampled under the hOofs Of
the ponies, now in the mad helter SHELTER of
retreat from the village. Tha shot was in
stantly answered by volley from the police
at their banketed tnbesmen, many OF
whom were already mounted and In fren-
zIed pursuit The police vOlley told with
deadly effect, and the firing In moment was
general on both sides Sitting Bull could be
heard In the confusion still attempting.
though captive, to direct the fight. Rails
ing his gaunt form, he was beckoniDg mis-
sons and warriors Cd, when, without warn
ing, his body Strengthened rigdly, then
dropped limp on the hard prairie. The DO
lice halted round the corpse, not knowing
for the moment but that II was a trick of the
willy old chief. The sudden movement and
the fall of Sitting Bull Disconnected the pur-
suers, who, remaining at distance, sudden
ly fired at intervals toward The police. The
latter held their ground, knowing the cayal-
ry, under Captain Fouchet, would
be at hand. To the surprise OF all, however,
the hostiles, who had been consulting among
themselves, began a movement TO cl SO In
from all places. The rattle of Winchesters
was now redoubled by both parties, the po.
lice using their p nies as protection. 1t was
at this critical iuncture that Captain FOu-
chefs men dashed up, and the machine guns
which had been put In position, opened on
the redskins. The latter were too dismayed
at this unexpected onslaught to stand for a
moment, and all bolted for the river. The
cavalry followed only a short distance,
deeming 1t better policy not 10 drive 10 des-
peratl0n the now leadelless mob.