The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-06
THE MILITIA ALL OUT.
The Nebraska National Guard
Protects the Border.
BUFFALO BILL TO THE FRONT.
Colonel Forsythe, the Squaw-Killer, Re-
lieved From Communicable Day
Passes without Fighting.

LINCOLN, Neb.. Jan. 5.--Governor Thayer
today received telegram from Secretary
of War Proctor saying that at the govern
ment's request rations viii be issued for
the time being for the people who have
been Obliged by Indian troubles to leave
their homes. This, of course, is only for
an emergency. They should be provided
for otherwise as soon as possible.
Directions have been given for the issue
Of any arms that can be spared from Fort
Robinson. The governor also is in receipt
of a registered letter from Special Relief
Commander Martin at Rushville, saying
that the settlers for miles around have
hocked to the fort, fearing an attack by
Indians. The settlements are menaced.
Tomorrow practically ali of the state mill
tia will be concentrated on the borders.
Colonel Cody buffalo Bill will leave to-
morrow morning on an important mission
among the Indians, being sent by Governor
Thayer. The latter declines at present to
make known the mission.
KANSAS CRY, Jan. 5.--The Associated
Press correspondent at Guthrie, Oklahoma,
telegraphs about the situation among the
Indians that the news of Sitting Bulls
death and of the tight at Wounded Knee,
the Indians believed to be mas
sacre of Sioux squaws and children,
has caused considerable connection among
the Indians. A ghost dance is to be held
on Red creek, at point sixty miles north.
The Cheyennes and Arapahoes have re-
to disarm them. 1t is not known whether
there is amp truth in the report, but
it has greatly disturbed them A
friendly kiowa Indian in Guthrie
said that the Cheyennes and Ara
pahoes would resist disarmament.
The military officers here would not con-
flrm or deny the report, but said some
thing would be done soon. Settlers in the
vicinity of Guthrie are not disturbed over
the situation.
WASHINGTON CRY, Jan. 5.-A dispatch
received by General Schoiield from Gener-
al Miles at 6:35 this evening indicates that
there has been no battle with the Indians
ceivee up to midnight. The COM
missioner of Indian affairs says
that to the best of his knowledge
and belief the Sioux Indians of South Ia
kota are not starving, and that he has
reason to think that the statements re-
garding their restitution are grossly ex-
aggerated. 1t is true. he says. that con-
gress has greatly reduced the appropria-
| rion for the Sioux and other tribes, and
| that the agreements made with them
have been only partially fulnlled,
Whose fault it was he could not say. The
outbreak was, he thought, partially due to
| the reason above stated, the failure of
crops and the religious craze. He was OPP
| posed to the transfer of control of the In
| dians to the war department.
| The following table shows the amount
| by which the estimates of the Indian bur-
eau have been reduced by congress, from
| and including 1879: 1879, $lO5, 900; 1880,
$275, 900; 1884. $275, 900; 1885, 1876, 600; 1885,
| $50 600; 1887, $500, 900; 1883, 500 900; 1889,
| no reduction; 1890, 500, 900; and 1891, $780,
| 600.
| There was today laid before the House
| letter from the commissioner of Indian
| affairs to the secretary of the interior,
| giving information as to what relief funds
| should be furnished by congress so as to
enable the department tic assist all Indians
| who require aid this winter, not only with
| food, but also in the purchase of
| seeds and other articles required
for planting in the spring, and
| to grant immediate assistance when re-
| quired. He submits the draft of an item
| TO be inserted in the Indian appropriation
bill, proposing an appropriation of $l50, 900
| for the purpose mentioned. The tribes
| appealing to the government for help
| are principally the Yankton Sioux
| of South Dakota; Arickarees, Gros Ventres
W
North Dakota; the Northern Arapahoes,
| of Wyoming, and the Sisseton and Devils
| Lake Indians in the north or South
| Dakota.
| Gen. Morgan, commissioner of Indian
| affairs, says he is ready TO go to Dakota to
| treat with the Indians if the president and
| the secretary OF the interior desire him to
| do so.
The report of the relieving of Colonel
| Forsythe of the command of the Seventh
| cavalry by General Miles was confirmed at
! the war department today. The officials,
however, show decided disinclination to
| tolk about the matter.
| General Schofield said it had been sug-
| gested. by whom he cannot mention, that
| it would be well to look into the matter of
| the fight at Wounded Knee creek the other
| day, inasmuch as reports state that several
| Indian women and children were killed.
| Accordingly General Miles, at the sug-
| gestion from here, relieved Colonel For
| sythe of his command pending an investi-
| CATION of the circumstances of that light,
| which investigation is now probably being
| made by General Miles.
| The general management of the fight is
| also to be looked into, but the particular
| point in question is the death of the women
| and children.
Considerable criticism against Col For
| sythe's suspension is heard in the war de-
| partment. 1t seems to be directed against
| the policy of relieving an officer during the
| progress of a campaign instead of waiting
| until after the trouble is settled As to
| the charge that Col. Forsythe allowed his
| men TO kill women and children, it is
| stated that it would be impossible in the
! hurry and confusion of an unexpected nght
and the subsequent stampede and pursuit,
| to detect the sex of the Sioux. One Off
| Ger remarked:
Ii is preposterous TO say that ii is necessary in
a. InG Sl-i 10 sta firm
| what sort'3f an Indian you are shooting at. The
| blanket costume, and the former are quite as
| fierce fighters as the men. The sioux squaw Is
! as bad an enemy as the buck at times. Little
| boys, too, can shoot quite well as their
! fathers, aud what spectacle it would be for
soldier, on seeing a 10-yearold pointing a
/ loaded gun at him, with as true an aim as the
best maTksmen 10 the army, to stop his adj
/ vance and cry out MY son, you must drop that
| gun. for you are minor and are not allowed to
/ use il.
| Another officer said
| At this rate the Sioux troubles will grow to be
just as bad the events of the first three wears
| OF the war, when every officer with an indie
pendent command had not only an enemy in
| front OF him but eourrsmariial behind him
| Still another officer said it was a grave
| error 10 order the relief of Col Forsvthe at
/ this stage of proceedings, and this should
/ hold up warning hnger TO every coioneiin
| the little army around Pine Ridge to tell
| them that the death of each Sioux must be
| explained
1 Secretary Noble was questioned as to
| what action had been taken on the recon-
| mendation of General Miles that the In
| dian agents of the South Dakota agencies
I be relieved from further, duty, and that
/ their places be Illed with military officers.
| The secretary says he is not authorized to
I make q statement further than that the