Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-11-27
Reported Scheme to Ambush the
Troops.
EHAT A RANCHMAE OVERHEARD.
ne Sioux Suddenly Strike Camp-TrooPs
Continue to Arriye-Scouts Increased
An Alarming But Improbable
Rumor.

Ac0aa, formerly an Indian scout and
now wealthy ranchman living in the
vicinity of Buffalo Gap
McGsa was travelling on horseback
and alone. He enjoys wide friendship
among the Indians generally and Sat
srdsy night stayed at one Of the lodges
sbout midway between this point and
Buffalo Gap He had placed very little
dependence on the reported scare and
therefore felt no fear in going to sleep
In Q tepee full of Indians, though he
ooticed that they were all fully armed.
h little curiosity, however, prompted
him to feign sleep and keep his ears
open during the early part Of the night
The result was that he secured informa-
sion as startling as it was valuable.
After he had been in bed some little
dne-two hours or mOre--one of the
redskins bent over McGaa to discover
whether he was asleep To all appear
Ances he was. Then he heard them get
up and begin whispered consultation
For the first time in his life, he says,
he almost doubted his own ears The
Indians were delibera tely plotting to
lead General Brooke and his soldiers
into an ambush and shoot them down.
Their plan, as McGaa heard from their
own lips, is to continue the ghost dance
until the troops try to stop It The
place selected to carry out their mur-
oerous design is sixteen miles and
half north of here, and more advan-
tAgeous locality for the deed prob
Sbly does not exist anywhere
IN l.
where the White Horse creek empties
into the Wounded Knee and lies in
something of an ampitheater shape.
The only practical way leading to the
spot is road that follows along the
bank Of White Horse creek. Upon
either side of this road and creek are
dense clumps of trees, almost forming
wall on either side of the approach.
The plot is to have ghost dance in the
center Of this ampitheater, and have
woods on either side of the road full of
Indians when the soldiers come up TO
stop the dance, and they would be
easily shot down by the Indians in
ambush on either side. By lining the
road with their Winchesters for the
distance of a mile and letting the troops
get wen into the ampitheater the In
Aians calculated that they could wipe
out every soldier that came
Short Bull and Jack Red Cloud, who
have been leaders of the ghost dancing
st Rosebud, deny any hostile intentions
snd say that the dancing has been
stopped. The dancers came into the
agency yesterday in squads preparing
70 draw their rations to-day. Much
loud talk heard but the Indians
mainly disc. aimed any hostile inten-
lions
This attitude, however, does not sat-
isfy either General Brooke or Agent
Rover.
The fear is now that many of the
dancers will decline to come to the
sgency for rations to-day, but will
prefer to organize incursions into the
country bordering on the reservations
In order that this phase of the question
may be properly met General Brooke
has ordered large body of troops to
Rushville. Yesterday companies F, G and
b Of the Second infantry, commanded
By Captains Ames, Keller and Clarke,
left Omaha on two special trains and
D.
Companies A, c, E and G of the Twenty
6rstinfantry from Fort Sidney command
ID by Lieutenant Brooke and Captains
Ebstein, Duncan and Boyer, the whole in
charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Poland,
are now en- route by special train from
Columbus Neh, to Rushville Colonel
Guy V. Henry with one troop Of the
Ninth cavalry from Fort Mckinney is
also on his way there. The other troops
in the department of the Platte are un-
der marching orders and can soon be
eSntered at the scene of the trouble.
This move is intended, first, to cut of
Isiding parties If any leave the reserva-
tion, and. second, to support Major But
ler's command at Pine Ridge should he
need reinforcementS General Brooke's
headq quarters will continue at Pine
Ridge.
The danger of the Indians camping
in circle about the agency became so
apparent that orders were issued for
them to move to barren, sandy plain
ct the foot Of the buttes to the north
and along Wolf creek. In these places
they will all be in a bunch and their
great village will be within the range
Of the Gatling and Hotchkiss guns
About noon the criers of the different
bands called out to the Indians to strike
their tents and round up their horses and
move to their new camping ground The
change was made in an hour and a half
Then it was discovered that nearly
every tepee sheltered carbine or a
Winchester, but no effort was made to
conhscate these arms Agent Roger
had also received authority from Wash |
ington to hire 100 scouts The camp
for miles around is now patrolled night
and day by Sioux policemen, who are |
armed with Winchesters and who are
watching the movements Of the hos
tiles
Over "a. 600 rounds of ammunition /
have come for the troops of the Ninth /
cavalry, and 90, 600 for tie Calling and i
Hotchkiss guns Ex-Agent McGilli-
euddy came here yesterday in response
70 an urgentrequest of General Brooke.
He has the record of being one Of the /
most fearless agents ever in the employ /
Of the Government The two men were /
IN conference all day. It is reported /
that McGillicuddy is in favor of crush
4ag the Indians without any unnecess
Ssry delay.
SENSATIONAL RUMoR
ST. PAUL, Mimi, Nov. 24.-The Pho Il
neer Press has the following somewhat
improbable special from Washburn, n.
D.: 1T is reported that band of Indian
warriors, mostly Sioux, numbering about &
5000, has cut loose from the reservation 3
below and is heading westward"
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