, 1891-01-11
A NerllabIe slaughter.

BosToS, Mass, Jan. lO.-A private
letter from DR.. Charles A. Eastman, a
iull-blooded Sioux Indian, who graduated
with hoDors at the Boston Medical school
last summer. to a friend in this city. gives
horrible details OF the massacre at
Wounded Knee a week g last Monday.
The liter is dated Jan. 3 and was mailed
at the Pine Ridge agency. 1t was evi
IDENTIFY written in a great hurry. The fol.
lowing is the text OF the letter:
Dear Mr.. Wood will send you a
short letter. Thursday morning | visited
the field Of battle, where all those Indians
were killed on the Wounded Knee. last
Monday. l went there to get the
wounded, some who were lett out.
The soldiers brought with them
about twenty-five, aud | found eleven
who were still living. Among them were
two babies about 3 months old and an old
woman, who is totally blind. who WAS lett
for dead. Four of them were found out
in a fisld in tho storm. which was very
severe. They were half buried IN the
snow. II was a terrible and horrible sight
to see women and children lying in groups,
d. al. 1 suppose they were of one family.
Some of the young girls wrapped their
heads with shawls and buried their faces
IN their hands. | suppose they did that
so that they you'd not see the soldiers
come up TO shoot them. AT one place
there were two little children, one about
year old, the other about 8, living on their
faces, dad, and about thirty yards from
them a woman lay on her face, dead.
These were away from the camp about an
eighth of a mile.
In front OF the tents, which were III a
semi-circle, lay dead most Ut the men.
This was right by one OF the soldiers
tents. Those who were still living told
me THAI that was where the Indians were
ordered to hold a council with the sol
diers The account OF the battle by the
Indian, were simple and confirmed one
another, that the soldiers ordered them
to 90 into camp. for they we're moving
them, and told them that they would
give them provisions. Having done this
they 1.-THE Indians were asked to give up
their arms. which was complied with by
most of them, in fact all the old men, but
many of the younge men did not comply,
because they either had no arms or con-
cealed them in their blankets. Then n
order was given TO search their persons and
Their tents as well, and when a search
was made of a wretch of an Indian, VITO
was known As Good-tor- hing.
he fred the first shot, and killed
one OF the soldiers. They fired
upon the Indians iDstautaueously. Shells
were thrown among the women and
children. 30 that they mutilated Them
most horribly. | tried 20 20 to the field
the next day with some Indians. but ] was
not allowed to. | think. 1t was a wise
thing not to go so early. Even Thursday
| thought I would be shot. Some Of the
Indians (friend;yl found their relations
lying dead. They waited and began 10
pull out their guns. My friend, Louis de
Coteau, was with me. but left me when
they acted in this manner. Before he
left me the hostiles appeared. We did
not take in all the wounded. Those WI
could not carry AVA we lett 10 a log
house aud gave them food. | am busy in
taking care of the wounded. l shall
write in a day or so again. My love II
AL. Affectionately your,
CHAs. A. EASTMAN