The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-01-07
One Hundred Rowing Marauders
Intent on Pillage are Re-
pulsed by Troops.
They Scatter at First Sight Of
Soldiers, but Renew the
Battle.
Cunning Plan tn Massacre the Inhabitants
Of Pine Ridge Sunday Night
Timely Discovery.

PlsE krDaY AGENCY, Jan. g. Special. J.
Capt. Baldwin, Col. Carr and Mai. Whit e.
side baye been appointed rs board OF in
qniry TO sit in the case OF Col. Forsythe,
suspended pending an investigation into
the fight Mt Wounded Knee. Word has
been received through scouts that Short
Bull, one Of tho most determined and i'm
placable foes Of the whites, has taken com
mand OF tho main body Of hostiles and in
tends TO make descent on the agency.
Az there are only about xix hundred soldiers
here the gravest apprehensions are felt.
Jack Red Cloud and number OF Indians
claiming to be friendly came to the agency
from the hostile camp this afternoon and
asked that the Indians at the agency be sent
back with them to assist the Indians who
fled from the agency at tho time of battle
on Wounded Knee creek in getting away
from the hostile camp. The request ia
looked upon with great suspicion and will
not be complied with.
Yesterday n detachment of thirty men
was sent out from the camp to meet
wagon train with supplies for the camp,
and when ten miles ont the wagons were
found besieged by band of 100 Indiens,
Tn seeing the troops approaching the red
skins scattered, but Immediately returned
the attack on finding the small number of
men in the detachment. courier was
sent back to camp for reinforce.
ments, but in the meantime m inces-
SAINT fire WAS kept up on both sides, result
ing in the wounding of one soldier and the
killing and wounding Of several Indians.
the exect number of which has not been as
certained, as the reds carried their dying
and wounded away. About three hours
after the courier's departure troops were
seen coming at full gallop to the rescue.
The Indians scattered in all directions and
the wagon train was escorted to camp safe.
ly.
Sunday night will never be forgotten by
any one who spent it at Pine Ridge. In
dians have always been permitted to come
III and during the day and evening wander
around the agency as they pleased, carry
ing guns in their hands. by the excited
actions Of halfbreeds and squaw men it was
soon learned that there was plan to take
advantage of this leniency and gather
in the town late in the evening and "A
a given signal for each Indian TO pick out
bis man and kill him On the spot. The
success OF such plan WIS self-evident
There are less than ZOO soldiers here and
they are on the far outskirts of the village
at their earthworks. Such force with
their cannon wonld keep large number Of
Indians at distance in the day time. but
at night, the picket line is necessarily
weakened and drawn out into too
long line to hold back any rush, while
cannon are useless. The hostiles were to
be close at hand and as soon az firing began
they were to rush in. Finally the half
breeds told certain Indians that the whites
were on to the scheme and told the bucks
to light ont or the soldiers would make it
warm for them. In an hour there was not
an Indian in camp, except uniformed scouts
and police.
Jack Red Cloud is still at the agency.
he applied at the post Office to-day for his
fathers mail ana all The late papers. He
did not receive them. The earthworks
around the agency are growing steadily.
Gen: Miles will probobly succeed in draw
ing in lot of hostiles. but there are three
or four hundred who are as crazy ms Big
foots men and nothing can be done but
fight them. They say they want to die and
are going to die. and it is only question
of how many will stay with them.