The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-01-01
81 WILL DIE FIGHTING" )"
SITTING BULLS DECLARATIONS
PROVED TRUE TO THE LETTER.

the Lives of the Famous Chief, of Seven
of His Followers and of FIVE Of The In
dian Police.
STANDING Rock AGENCY, n. Dak.,
Dec. 17.-"God Almighty made me;
God Almighty 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 on the
occasion Of their first meeting, and the
detailed reports Of the great medicine
mans death which began arriving at
the agency yesterday gave to tho de-
claratiOn the full force of Il prophecy.
All eyewitneSses agree as to the facts
that every circumstance considered
make the final tragedy involving the
determination Of probably the BRAIN
lest Indian that ever lived one of the
most picturesque and characteristic
incidents Of American history.
The expedition which started from
this agency for Sitting Bulls camp for
ty miles distant, to take him dead or
alive, with the chances ten to one Of
his death, was no haphaZard forav of
lll-d(lNlS-
ed army oubordinates. 1t is conceded
that the operation against Sitting
Bulls personality was suggested by the
effectual quelling produced by the re-
mOval Of Medicine Arrow, the great
Cheyenne leader, when tho Cheyennes
threatened an unprecedented uprising.
Sitting Bulls promise to die lighting
had much to do also in shaping the
determination for Il sudden, decisive
result, as well as the old chiefs oft-rX-
pressed wish to he remembered as the
last Indian on the continent to give I'D
his rifle. When General Miles left
Chicago headed in this direction It was
the beginning Of the end.
Simultaneous with the General STEP
ping quietly aboard the train at the big
railroad depot ut Chicago the rXpetl-
ton, which had been with equal quiet
uIc under preparation at Fort Yates,
which forms part of the agency. was
also ready to move. Almost at the
same moment that General Miless ear
glided out for the Northwest the mem
herS OF his little command here silently
took their departure and were quietly
lost in the darkness that envelOped the
wilderness stretching to the camp OF
Sitting Bull, on the banks of the Grand
River.
The van was led 10y men Of Sitting
Bulls own blood. Superhly mounted
and accoutred, every one wore the
bright brazcn buttons and showy blue
cloth uniforms Of Uncle Sam service.
lhis was no mere coincidence. 1t was
70 be part of the great object lesson to
the ghost dancers and demonstration
OF the value Of General Miles's new
method Of solving the Indian problem
by turning the Indians wholesale into
soldiers. One thing is certain, the band
or WelIied, warmly clad. copper faced
athletes that led the way for the white
soldiers bent on mission Of utility,
was q striking contrast to the starving,
ragged, crazy wretches that formed
SNch menace in the Grand River
camp.
Close behind the blue-coatcd Indian
H@Tsemen'S : hardy ponies, but taking a
S.1Wer pace on the frozen trail. came
CAPT. f0uEhet'S cavalry command.
The cavalry were encountered with two
pieces Of modern light artillery. ma
Cline guns similar to those which so
speedily settled the fate of Louis R!el'S
kalt-breed followers, when his noted
Lieut.. Gabriel Dumont made stand
against Gen. Middleton In the British
Northwest outbreak. To the rear of
louchet's cavalry, and at times taking
double quick step forward, for the
night was bitterly cold. the infantry
calnmand OF Col. Drum swung alongin
the darkness. \ weary difficult march
it was.
The distance and the capabilities of
the troops TO withstand the fatigucs Of
such journey had been figured out
nicely and when the first faint light Of
dawn appeared the expedition was
within easy distance Of It's destination.
Tie broken order of triple separation
OF forces had been carefully preserved,
and the Indian police were the first to
sight the huddied cluster of ugly-lOok-
ing tepccS on the river bank.
Despite the early hour all was astir
In the village where, on eyey hand, was
evidence that hurried exodus was
contemplated. The ponies of the po-
lice were pushed for all they were
worth, and before Sitting Bulls dazcd
adhercnts had half a chance to realize
the situation a dozen of the police had
pulled their painting animals up short
OH all sides Of the chiefs abode. No
time was wasted in ceremony. The
proud Old medicine man was hustled
out, hoistcd on a waiting horse and in
a trice faced toward civilization. lie
raved and Sputtered in a fury Of rage
for moment and then strengthening
up, shouted hoarsely, not for help, but
command to his followers. Despite
the threatening of the police and Win
chcstcrs alternately directed at his head
and those of his kinSnen, the old mcdi
cane man retained his presence of mind
and with powerful voice continued to
direct his own rescue. Suddenly there
was a puff Of smoke beside tepee and
the sharp crack Of Il Winchester. The
policeman at Sitting Bulls right,
graSping the chiefs bride, reeled in
the saddle and topplcd over and was
trampled under the hoofs Of the ponies
now IN the mad helter SHELTER of retreat
from the village.
The shot was instantly answered by
vOllcy from the police at their blank
etcd tribesmen, many Of whom were
already mounted and in a frenZied pur-
suit. The police volley with dead
ly effect, and the firing IN moment
was general on both sides.
Sitting Bull could be neard in the
confusion still attempting, though
captive, to direct the light. Raising
his Qaunt form he was beck kOninp his