The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-11-29
GOVERNOR MELLETTE ALARMED.
He Sends a Long-Winded Telegram t,
General Miles on the Situation.

hAV SOAANAo - AOh6 AS ~
General Miles on the Situation.
CHICAGO, Nov. 26.-Last night Gen.
Miles received the following telegram
from Governor Mellette of South Dakota,
and Immediately after peruslng same
said that Generals Ruger and Brooks
were making all preparations possible to
protect lives and property. The dispatch
has been repeated to the war department
at Washington and also to Pine Ridge
agency and st. Paul, Mimi:
PIERRE, s. D., Nov. 6.-Nelson A.
Miles, Major General Commanding, Chi
cage, Ills: Scotty Phillips, who has a
thousand head of cattle and lives at the
mouth of Grand Stone Butte creek, 80
miles up Bed river, with an Indian fami-
Iy since 1879, and Waldrom, a cattleman,
seven miles this side of Phillips, left
their places at 2 p. M. yesterday to bring
me Intelligence. Phillips is a very cool,
courageous man, was a good scout through
the Sioux troubles Of 1856, ana the
Cheyenne troubles Of 10. He is a relia-
BILE man of nerve, good judgment and
good character. He reports that he was
never afraid of Indians before and thinks
there will be an uprising very soon, and
bases his belief as follows: Eight days
ago five lodges, containing IL bucks
armed with Winchesters and laden with
ammunition, were going from Rosebud
to a large camp which is formed on
White river at the mouth of. Pass creek.
He talked with them an hour. They
were surly and defiant in manner; one
said he had seen the, time when he used
to beat out the brains of children and
drink women's blood, and that the time
is coming when they will do 1T again.
He said Phillips was raising horses for
Indians to ride; that the country was
Just as good now as it was in buffalo
time, IS there were plenty of cattle in 1t.
Phillips knew these Indians we'll, Yellow
Thigh being their leader. White Field
a settler at the mouth of Pass creek on
| White river, had his house broken
open by the Indians and all his goods
and horses stolen about ten days ago.
Three days ago three bucks came to
| Waldron's' Phillips in the last few days
has had twenty cattle killed by Indians,
and Waldron seven that they know of.
Three half breeds from White river stop
ped at Phillips house night before last,
and they said they expected to find settle
ments destroyed when they got home.
Threats are against half-breeds and all
Indians who will not join the ghost dance.
Phillips says everybody who has been
among the Indians any length of time,
without any exception, say there is go
ing to be an uprising and that very quick.
Pass creek dance has been running for d
month. Phillips and Waldron say it is
Short Bulls headquarters, and
they think it is a point fixed for concen-
trating all bands. They think there are
now a thousand lodges and fifteen
hundred armed warriors there. Indians
clam they will not give up Short Bull.
and will fight when the soldiers try to
arrest them. They say as soon as the fight
begins, hailstorm will kill white
soldiers. Indians say they have
suits that are bullet proof.
This talk is from Indian runners passing
Phillips place between Standing Rock
and the campfon Pass creek. They travel
day and night with incredible swiftness.
l know Phillips we'll and would take his
Judgment on the situation in preference
to anybody I know. If you deem this in.
formation of any importance I can send
a messenger to further Investigate. l
urgently request, however, that you es-
tablish posts at Chamberlain and Forrest
City. Both points are reached by rail.
l have requested the secretary of war and
again make application through you for
a thousand guns and ammunition, to be
shipped to me ut Huron. Please answer
whether / car serve you by getting
further information from Pass creek.
(Signed.) A. G. MELLETTE,
Governor South Dakota.