Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-01-08
ENCIRCLED.
A Gordon of Troops Surrounding
the Hostiles.
BRAVES FANATICALLY DESPERATE.
They VIII Glory in Death Fighting White
Msn-Fire Arrows Shot az the Agency
Colonel Forsyths Re
Ieved.

OMAHA, Neb., Jan. 5.-Specials from
Pine Ridge say: There is a circle
drawn around the hostile Indians now,
it being completed by the departure of
Captain Grossly of the Seventh cavalry
with four troops for Beaver creek, seven
miles away. The circle is drawn to the
north and east from there to Colonel
Henry's command; from thence to Col
onel Wheaton's; from thence to Colonel
Stanford's; thence to Colonel Willis;
thence to Colonel Ofiey's; thence to
General Carr's; thence to Colonel Whit
ney's on the Wounded Knee battle
ground, and there back to the agency.
By this arrangement the Indians are
practically hemmed in. At the princi-
pal railway stations along the edge of
the reservation state troops are quar-
tered.
General Miles says two Indians were
killed at the hostile camp in a fight
among themselves. The camp is nine
miles away. Some wanted to surren-
der, but the young men refused to per-
NIT it A general closing in will be
made this week, and there may be
trouble. The line is drawn between the
Indians and the Bad Lands.
The Indians now surrounded num-
Der over 4, 900 men, women and children,
most of them from the upper Dakota
reservations. Hundreds of the crowd
are crazy from ghost dancing and will
fight like Big Foot's men fought.
Shots were fired by the pickets
nearly every hour last night, banishing
sleep from all eyes. Fire arrows were
thrown into the agency about midnight
from ravine near by, but fortunately
fell harmlessly. Half breeds and squaw
men are leaving for the railroads, say
ing they know what is coming and do
not propose to remain.
The friendly spies all say that there
are large number of warriors in the
enemy's camp who have worked them
selves up to a condition of frenzy similar
to those who committed suicide at
Wounded Knee. They say they want
to die and are going to die while killing
white men. 1t is also said that two
bucks escaped alive from the Wounded
Knee fight who swore that they will set
the agency on fire and kill the agent
themselves.
General Miles has his troops all
around the enemy and could throw all
in a day and have tremendous battle
but could not prevent small bands
escaping here and there, which would
place the lives of many settlers
in danger. By holding his troops until
a much larger force can be thrown
around the Indians, the trouble can be
confined to the reserve. The end can
not be reached without one or more
battles-and bloody ones-as there are
too many of the crazy who want to fol-
low the example of their Big Foot rela-
tives
General Miles sent out a letter yes
terday asking for hearing The In
dians tore the letter to fragments and
threw them into the fire, saying: 1--WE
want no treaty; we are here to fight"
A delegation of friendlies ask that
large party be sent out at once to aid
those who desire to escape from the
hostile camp. They claim that 7CO to
500 warriors wish to return; that they
either fed through fright at first or were
forced to go with the rest. To let the
friendlies go would undoubtedly precip-
itate a fight and consume several days
of valuable time. No decision on the
matter has been made yet.
Yesterday afternoon in accordance
with instructions telegraphed from
Washington, Colonel Forsythe was re-
lieved of his command of the Seventh
cavalry, pending investigation of the
Wounded Knee affair. Major White
sides succeeds to the command of the
regiment. Major Whitesides says the
| affair was an accident, that few mo-
ments before fighting began the squaws
were merrily pelting the searching
parties with bundles of rags. The ac-
cepted reason for General Forsythe's
relief is the manner in which his troops
were placed in the fight.
Two troops of the Ninth cavalry and
two of the Eighth infantry reached the
battle field at Wounded Knee Fridsy af-
ternoon. on the way to this place from
the Rosebud agency, but will camp at
Wounded Knee for a couple of days to
protect burial party that left the post
yesterday morning. The Indians will
be buried at Government expense in
| long trench.
An Indian courier brought a message
from the hostile camp last night, the
| substance of which was demand that
all soldiers withdraw from the locality
and that the Indians would treat with
no one for peace but the Vice-President
of the United States and the Commits
sioner of Indian Affairs.
Captain Taylor's soldier scouts with a
large body of friendlies leave here early
in the morning for the enemy's camp.
The Ninth cavalry and General Brooke's
forces will make diversion on the west
by attacking the Indian pickets, while
the scouts and friendlies endeavor to
rescue all the Pine Ridge Indians who
desire peace. Every effort will be made
to evade general engagement, but this
may lead to a general engagement of
the troops. Fortifcations are being
strengthened at Pine Ridge in anticipa-
ton Of a storm.