New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-12
THE FIGHT AT WOUNDED KNEE
STORY OF THE SIOUX IN WASHINGTON.
CHARGING THAT WOMEN WERE SHOT DOWN IN
THE PRESENCE OF FLAG OF TRUCE
DID THE 7TH CAVALRY SEEK TO
AVFNGE CUSTER'S DEATH

Washington Feb. 1.-THE Sioux Indian conference
ended to day, AID the Indians will tomorrow or
Friday start for home going by way of Philadelphia
and Carlisle. The feature Of todays meeting was
tho story Of the fight at Wounded Knee, which was
told BY Turning Hawk and American Horse. Turn
ing Hawk told how fiehe0 ed at the approach Of the
soldiers and hearing all manner Of Uimors as 10 what
the soldiers going T. do with them they fed into
the Bad Lands Their friends and relatives left he
hind n the agency became anxious about them and
sent parties to them 10 try and induce them TO return
Finally they succeeded. Turning Hawk then con
tinucd: "Whc1 people. who had been frightened
away were returning to Pine Ridge. and when they
had amOs: reached the Agency they were met by the
soldier; and surrounded and finally taken 10 the
Wounded Knee Creek. and there at given time their
guns were demanded. and when they had deliVcrch'
them up the separated from their families
from their tcpces ard taken T. a certain spot when
he guns were thus token and the thus separated
there wa, a crazy man, Young man Of bad influence.
in that bunch Of Indians who fired his gun and OF
course the firing Of gun must have been the breaking
Of military rule Of sort. for Immediately the sol
Gcrs returned the fire. and the ndiscrimnate kUing
followed
Commi,sioner-In this fight did the women take
any part1
Tuning IIawk-They had no firearms to fight with.
Ccmm.sionrr-The statement has been made In the
nuhlc pre,s that the women fought with butcher
knives and this has been given as a reason why the
women were shot.
Turning IIawk-The were standing at
different place from thai where the men were sta
toned and when the firing BEGAN those Of the men
who escaped the first onslaught went In one direction
up tho lavne and then the women, who were bunched
together AT another place went entirely In different
direction through an open field, and the women Jared
the same fatc the men who went up the deep
ravinc.
American IIorse.-When the ar n bcCn OF coursa the
people who standing Immediately around the
young man who fired tho first shot were killed right
together and then they turned their guns. lotfhElss
guns etc. upon the women who were in the lodges
standing there under fty Of truce. and OF course
AS soon a. they were fired upon they fed, the men
fleeing In one direction and the women running in
two different directions. 20 that there were three
general directions In which they took flight
Commits sioner-Do you mean 10 LAY that there was
a white flag In sight over the women when they werc
fired upon
American Horse-Ycs, sir. they were fired upon, and
there was a woman with her infant In her arms who
was killed as she almost touched the nag Of truce and
the women and children, Of course, were strcwn all
along the circular village until they we're dispatched
Right near the faS Of truce another was shot down
with her infant The women, they fleeing
with their babes on their backs, killed together.
shot right through. and the women who were heavy
with child were also killed. All the Indians fed I'm
these three directions after most OF them had all been
killed a cry was made that all those who were not
Killed or wounded should come forth and they would
be safe and little boys who were rot wounded came
out of their places Of refuge and as soon as they
in sight number Of soldiers surrounded them and
butchccd them there.
Commissioner Ito the intcrprctcr)-I wish you would
saw 10 him that these serious charges 10 make
against the United states Army. ! do not want any
statements made that are not absolutely true. and
want any here who feels that the statements arc
too strong 90 correct them.
American Horse-Of course, we all feel sad about.
this affair. / stood loyal 10 the Government all
through those troublesome days, and my diSappoint-
mcnt was strong 1t would have been all right If Only
the men were killed But the fact Of the killing Of
the women and more especially the killing Of the
voung bows and girls, who are To go to make up the
future strength OF the Indian people, Is the sd1dest
mart of the whole affair
The Commissloner-Docs American Horse know these
things of his knowledge has he been told them
American IIorse-I was not there at the time before
the burial bodies. but did there with
Of the police and the Indian doctor and great many
OF the people.
The Rev Mr. Cook, Sioux halfbreed, pastor Of an
FpiscoDal church at Pine Ridge, who has at times
acted as Interpreter during the conference, and
said
Much has been said about the good spirit with
which the members Of the 9TH Cavalry went TO that
scene of action 1t has been said that the desire to
avenge Clusters death entirely absent from their
minds
In coming toward Chicago in company with General
Mile. 1 talked with OF his scouts. who almost
killed lie told me that after he recovered and sue
cccdcd in getting the soldiers after they all
lo i'm from killing the Indians, an officer OF high rank
he did not know who h waS-came - him and said
Nov we have avenged Clusters death and this scout
said TO him Yes but you hal every chance TO fight for
your lives that day.' These poor Indian people did
not have that opportunity to protect and fight for
themselves II that IS Indication Of the spirit Of
a number OF the men in that company. am sure the
eth Cavalry cannot be free from any charge OF going
there with the kndest OF motives, simply 10 bring these
poor people back
After several Others had spoken the Commissioner
declared the conference at an end.