The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-07
Gen. Miles May Mean to Starve
Them Into Submission.
DIssENTIoN IN THEIR CAMP,
The Army and the Interior Depart-
ment Disagree Sharply.
Col. Forsythe's Removal Unauthorized,
and Army Oficers VIII Not Be Given
Indian Agencies-Dead squaws and
Pappooses at Wounded Knee.

SAAeA"O, JGu o---Al lf(fT-OfSu1t s Pine Ridge
special says: Jack Red Cloud is still at the
agency. He applied at the postofice today for
his fathers mail and all the late papers He
oid not receive them. The earthworks around the
agency are growing steadily. General Miles
would probably succeed in drawing in lot OF
hotties, but there 500 or 400 who are as crazy
as Big Foof's men, aud nothing can be done but
night them. They say they want to die and are
going to die, and 1t is only question OF how
many viii stay with them
OMAHA, Jan. ia special from Pine Ridge
says: That the search for the dead was not con-
elusive was proved today, when an Indian
brought into the agency the body OF Private
francis Chotte of Troop G, Seventh cavalry
Ine body was found in a ravine six miles
from the battlefield, to the north. The unfor-
tunate soldier had been mutilated in horrible
manner. Every bone in his body was broken
ana Dis scalp removed. Chotte was probably
Killed in one of the skirmishes and overlooked
He was buried today with military honors.
sixty-fve squaws, with about the same num-
DER OF papooses, came in from the hostile
camp, about six miles away, today, and are be-
ing taken care of. There is great suffering
among the hostiles on account of the scarcity OF
food and shelter
NO movement of troops seems to be projected.
1t is stated that Colonel Forsythe is to be rein
stated until the close of the campaign.
OMAHA, Jan. GA special from Crawford,
Neb., says: Captain 0'Connell, of the First
infantry, arrived here tonight with the Indian
chief, Young -Man-Afraid of His Horse, accom-
panied by three other Indians. They will pro-
ceed TO Pine River agency tomorrow, where
they will use their influence to quell the present
troubles.
DENVER, Jan. "a Ne,rs special from Pine
Ridge says: Sunday night will never be forgot
ten by any one who spent it at Pine Ridge The
Indians have always been permitted to come in
q lay md
the agency as they pleased, carrying guns in
their hands. By the excited actions of the half
breeds and squaw-m it was soon learned that
there was a plan to take advantage of this
leniency and gather in the town late in the
evening and at given signal each Indian was
TO pick out his man and kill him on the spot.
The success of such a plan was
selfevident There are less than
500 soldiers here, and they are on
the far outskirts of the village at their earth
works Such force, with their cannon. would
keep large number of Indians at distance in
the daytime but at night the picket line is
necessarily weakened and drawn out into too
long line to hold back any rush, while the
cannon are useless. The hostiles were to be
close at hand, and as soon as the firing began
they were TO rush In. Finally the half-breeds
told certain Indians they were onto the scheme
and told the bucks to slight out or the soldiers
would make warm for them. In an hour
there was not an Indian in camp except uni
formed scouts and police.
WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. Especial lit is
an open secret that the last two cabinet meet
ings, at which Indian affairs were discussed,
were not 80 harmonious as the president might
desire. There have been marked differences of
opinion, and to this fact more than any other
perhaps, is due the publication today of the cor
respondence that has passed between the war
and interior departments, the White House and
l7f0P dn0 Crs.nn he .1~tks
the Indian reservations to the war department
assumed shape, Secretaries Proctor and Noble
have had many spirited arguments that have
not lett them in the best of humor and the fact
that the president seems to share the views of
Mr.. Noble does not improve matters.
The demand of General Miles that the Sioux
Indian agents be summarily dismissed and
supplanted by military officers acted like red
flag IN bull pen, and today's cabinet meeting
was not dull for lack of something to discuss
Both sides Claim that the present deplorabio
condition of things in South Dakota could have
been obviated but for the interference of the
other. Buffalo Bills interrupted mission to
capture Sitting Bull without bloodshed, was
war department plan, but 1t nliscarried, and
Cody was called back, it is charged, because
Secretary Noble prevailed upon the president to
counterrnand the order, and instead send the
Indian police to capture the great chief. The
war department now points to the tragic death
of Sitting Bull as result of the interference by
the Indian bureau.
To add to the general confusion, so unfortu-
nate at this time, the removal OF Colonel For
sythe has led to another controversy that will be
heard OF long after the war is ended. The first
telegraphic accounts intimased that the
officers suspension was due to the
killing of children and sauaws by
the soldiers, and that President Harrison and
Secretary Proctor had ordered 1t. This brought
down a storm of indignation upon the admins
tratiOn's head, and army officers vigorously as
serted that the removal should not have oc-
CURED until the war was ended and an investi-
cation had been made. Both the president and
Mr. Proctor, in dispatches sent TO General Miles
today, disclaim the sending of any such orders,
and the inference Is plain that General Miles
exceeded his instructions, and, moreover, that
the suggestion for an investigation into Colonel
Forsythe's behavior first came from General
Miles on the ground that that officer had posted
his men SO that they killed each other by cross
firing.
Then the story came up today that General
Miles alleged antipathy TO Colonel Forsythe
was matter OF long standing, and that the gal
liant Seventh did not stand well in his eyes The
story Is revived that once before, in a previous
war when the Seventh was in action, General
Miles sent in report in which the regiment
and its officers were totally ignored, and the re-
port was sent back 10 him with instructions to
give credit to those who deserved it.
All this misunderstanding is depIored at this
critical juncture. The only cheerful person con-
nected with the Indian affairs appears to be
Chief Morgan, of the Indian bureau, who In an
open letter to Secretary Noble says he is that
either President Harrison or himself could end
the war by personal consultation with the In
diaus, and he volunteers 20 undertake the task.
Mr. Morgan is strongly opposed 10 the transfer
OF the reservations TO the military authorities
because II would destroy the eivilizing infu-
ences that have been thrown around the Sioux
by the interior department He thinks more
can be accomplished with the little red school
house than by Secretary Proctors methods.
which appear to be TO send the whole standing
army and several train-loads OF ammunition to
Pine Ridge and preserve the peace.
The commissioner OF Indian affairs has re-
eeiyed the following telegram, dated Pine Ridge:
Chief Herder Hugh has returned with 300 cattle
We have no information as 10 whether any more
are scattered over the range Hugh says he
thinks the hestiles burned the ranch after be
left These 800 head are all that have been re-
covered from the original herd of about 300
head driven off by the hostiles.
The following correspondence in regard to
Colonel Forsythe's case was made pubic today
Under date OF December 81, General sehofeld
telegraphed General Miles expressing the belief
that he would soon be master Of the situation,
and asking that his thanks be given TO the brave
Seventh cavalry for their splendid conduct.
Under date of January | General Miles tele-
rTaphed TO General schofield ss follows 'sfour
telegram. congratulating the seventh cavalry,
received but as the action of the colonel COM
rnauding will be matter for serious eonsidera-
ton and VIII undoubtedly be the subject OF an