Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-01-07
THE INDIAN SLAUGHTER.

THE latest dispatches confirm the
suspicion that the so-called streach-
erous attack'' Of the Indians at
Wounded Knee was in reality a
massacre OF bucks, squaws anu pa
pocses by the soliiery. 1t also
comes to light that some Of the troops
killed were slain by the artillery of
their own regiment injudiciously
handled.
General Miles withheld a telegram
Of congratulation to the Seventh
Cavalry, sent 10y General Schofield,
in consequences Of the discovery OF
the facts here mentioned. General
Miles himself deprecates the course
of the colonel commanding and
states that not only were ga large
numhar OF soldiers killed and
wounded by the fire of their own
ranks, 4" but ''very large number
of women aud children were killed
in HuNlliOu " lnt ulcl.
& In consequence of this, instead of
congratulations being conveyed 10
xhe troops for their F'bravery, )" their
commanding officer is relieved OF
his post md q committee of investi-
cation has been osdsksa--At-A.S.~-1
ready been established that eighty
two bucks and sixty women and
Children were buried on the field OF
the slaughter.
- Considerable fun is being poked at
the Administration and those who
find fault with this butchery OF
squaws aud papooses. 1t is argued
that soldier cannot stop to discrim'
innate bet ween a man and a woman,
blanketed alike and both fighting,
That is all very well. II squaws and
bucks are engaged in warfare they
must take equal chances, and 1t il
necessary to treat them alike in
battle.
But that is only begging the ques
ton. The facts show that the Indians
had surrendered that in theii
number there We're many more wo.
men and children than men; that
an attack was made upon them fol
some cause not yet fully explained
in which the men, women and
children were Unfortunately
slaughtered.
Ii is claimed that while disarming
the men the soldiers were attacked
by both bucks and squaws, and the
shocking affair that has aroused the
country was the result. But this il
not reasonable. Indians always
find a safe place of retreat for theiI
women and children when on the
war path. 1t is evident from the
presence Of the large number o.
squaws and papoOses in Big Foot'i
band that the surrender was genu
inc, and it is almost certain thai
some such policy as that adopted il
the Sitting Bull murder was resorte,
to in this instance, for the purpOs'
Of melting the Indians and fran
ing an excuse for their massacre.
When such an Indian fighter a
General Miles sees in this sIaughte
of women and children a reason TO
relieving the officer in charge of hi
command. the Apologies for thi'
blood work shouiG' .nause before
thr, proceed further in their at
temPIs al IIs Qualification.
We do not believe there was the
slightest reason for making an In
dfsn disturbance out Of the ''ghost-
daheing'' of the religious enthusi-
asts who engaged in il. We believe
Sh1ing Balls death was murder.
We believe the ''bsttle' at Wound
ed Knee was a shameful massacre;
and we believe that this whole
camQaign against the redskins has
beent worked up on insufficient
grounds.
a congressional investigation is
ordered in regard to the killing of
Sitting-Bull. A military committee
is inquiring into the affair at
Wounded Knee. We hope the
whole matter will be probed into
ami the facts brought to light. And
We feel assured, from the indica-
tons which point from numberless
directions, that these examinations
willshow that one more deep red
blot has been maize upon the already
blood-bespattered record Of the In
dian policy of the United States.