St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-12-20
WAS BULL MURDERED?
Corporal Gums Thrilling
Story Of the Sieken-
ing Tragedy.
Positive Testi mony that the
Old Man Was Fully AS
saSSinated.
Warming Letters From Mrs.
Weldon Found Among
His Effects.
Romantic Account Of Bulls
Life With a Brook
lyn Lady.
Special to the Globe.

Speclai TO the GlODe.
BISMARCK, N. D.. Dec. 19.-Corporal
Gum, of G troop, Eighth cavalry, who
was up from Fort Yates to-day on fur
Tough, gave to your correspondent a
story of Mondays tragedy which diff
fers widely from any reports yet sent
out. He 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, troops were not or
dered to follow the Indian police, to be
in readiness in case the latter were sur
prised by the enemy. At in the even-
ing the police started for Grand river,
the troops following three hours later,
headed for Oak creek, where they were
instructed to receive news or couriers
from the police, posting them as to the
latter's movements. Not finding any,
Capt. Fechet ordered his mer on to
Grand river, fearing something was
wrong. Before. they mad galloped two
miles they were met by "Red Toma-
hawk" one of the police. who was
greatly excited. and brought the news
that Sitting Bull and four of the police
were killed. He was riding Sitting
Bulls horse. Capt. Fechet
Doubted His Story,
but was treasured when Tomahawk
implored him to go on. saying: Hurry
up quick, or they will all be killed"
When the soldiers arrived at the scene.
everything was quiet. Thirteen dead
bodies lay on the grouud; nine of the
hostiles, including Sitting Bull,and four
Indian police. The police had taken
refuge in Sitting BULBS house, and the
hostiles were ambuShed in thick will
lows near by. Every pane of glass in
the house was shot out. Capt. Fechet
formed skirmish line around the
thicket and pourei in shot. Cries and
whoops could be heard. A great many
more hostiles are believed to have been
killed than reported. The story of Sit
ting Bulls death. says Corporal Gum,
is told by an Intelligent half-breed:
"Bull Head, lieutenant of Indian po-
lice. came to Sitting Bulls. house with
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 surround
ed by police, gave the cry of alarm.
Without hesitating momentum Head
fired at Sitting Bull. the ball striking
his breast over the left nipple, killing
him instantly. While reeling, Sitting
Bull managed to draw a revolver, which
exploded just as he fell, the bullet enter
ing Bull Heads thigh. Bull Head died
two days later from its effect. A ter
rife handto-hand fight ensued.
Sitting Bulls Followers.
swarmed around the police in great
numbers. Guns were clubbed and the
GROUND was strcwn with broken stocks
and bent barrels. The police, number
ing thirty. were getting the worst of it,
and retreated into Bulbs house. The
hostiies retired to an ambush, having
learned of the soldiers coming. The
dead and wounded were carried back to
the post. Bodies were frightfully mutt
lated. One Indian policeman lifted
Sitting Bulls scalp. The old chiefs
body was sickening sight; an Indian
battered his face into q jelly after death
with a plank. After firing of this deV-
ilish sport, he balanced the plank on his
nose and left it there with maniacal
glee. The few remaining hairs in his
head were clipped off, ana his mecca
sins and most of his clothing were car
ried away for relics. Among his per-
sonal effects were found letters from
Mrs. Weldon, Of New York, warning
him to flee from the agency, as the gov
ernment was about to have him killed.
Sitting Bull was prepared to depart
when surprised by the Indian police.