The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-01-22
SEVERE ON THE SEVENTH.

SEVERE ON THE SEVENTH.
Miss Elaine Goodale Scores Custers Old
Regiment In Her Report ON the
Slaughter Of Wounded Kneo-O -OgaIlalas
snd Brulcs Hold Powwow In the In
terests Of Harmony Between tho Tribes.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17.-The Commits
sioner of Indian Affairs has received
from Miss Elaine Goodale, supervisor Of
education, the following letter dated
Pine Ridge, January ~:
yours of the 7th inst. askingfor q report Of
the battle at Wounded Knee Is received Iwas
not an eyewitness OF the fight and my informs-
tion has been obtained chiefly from Indian pris.
oners who were engaged In IL, half-breeds who
were present and from parties who visited the
battlefield several days after the encounter.
THE testimony OF the survivors OF Big Foot's
band Is unanimous on one important point
namely. that the Indians did not deliberately
party. according to their statements (which !
believe to be true), but . party intending to
visit the agency at the invitation Of Red Cloud
The Indians say that many OF the men were
unarmed When they met the troops they an
ticipRted no trouble. There was-> onsequentlv
friendly intercourse between the oldiers and
the Indians, women even shakin hands with
the officers and men.
The demand for their arms was surprise to
the redskins but the great majority Of them
chose TO submit quietly. The tepees had a.
ready been searched and . large number Of
guns. knives and hatchets confiscated. when the
searching OF the persons Of the men was begun.
The women say that they, too. were searched
and their knives (which they always
cory for domestic purposes) taken from
them number OF the men had surrendered
their rifles and cartridge belts. WREN one young
man. who Is described by the Indians as .
good.for nothing young fellow, fred single
shot. This called forth volley from the troops
and tn firing and confusion became general.
do not credit the statement which has been
made by some that the women carried arms and
participated actively In the fight. The weight OF
testimony is overwhelmingly against this sup
position. There may have been one or two
Isolated cases Of this kind, but there IL no
doubt that the great majority Of the women
and children, as well Is many unarmed men
and youths had no thought OF any thing but
flight. They we're pursued uD the ravines and
shot down Unfortunately by the soldiers.
1T Is reported that one Of the officers called
out: Don't shoot the squaws.' but the men
were doubtless too much excited to obey. The
killing OF the women and children was in part
unavoidable, owing to the confusion, but ]
think there Is no doubt that 1t was In many
cases deliberate and intentional. The Seventh
Cavalry Clusters old command) had m old
grudge to repay.
'.The party Of scouts who buried the dead 70.
port elgh;y-four bodies of men and boys forty.
were carried OF by the hOstiles. A number OF
prisoners, mostly women, have since died Of
their wounds and more will soon follow. The
party which visited the battle field January |
to rescue any wounded who might
have been abandoned and brought In seven, re.
ports that nearly all the bodies OF the men were
lying close about Big Foot's tent while the
women and children we're scattered along q
distance OF two miles from the scene Of the en-.
counter.
''The main reflection which occurs to me In
connection with this most unfortunate affair Is
that the same thing should not be allowed tc
happen again. The irresponsible action of one
hot. headed youth should not be the signal for q
general and indiscriminate slaughter OF the un
armed and helpless"
PINE RIDGE AGENCY, s. D., Jan. IT,
The question which seems uppermost
In the mind of every body around the
agency is whether or not General Miles
will insist upon the complete disarma.
ment of the Indians. 1t is reported on
good authority that General Miles has
ordered civilians to keep out of the hos
tile camp because he intends to disarn
the Indians if he has to shell Their
camp to accomplish his purpose. The
General could not be seen to substan
tiate this. Adiutant-General Corbir
was asked if General Miles had ISSUED
, such an order, but he would neither ad
init nor deny the report. He claimed
that SO long as the arms were beine
surrendered by the Indians there wa.
no necessity of using force to compe
more speed.
Friday afternoon a significant effor
to promote harmony among the Indians
was made. A gathering took place q
the instance of the Ogallalas and wa.
held in what is known. as 'Loafers
camp in the vicinity of the friendlies
quarters. Six hundred Brules were
present. The Ogallalas had pre-
pared a feast of hot coffee ant
boiled dog and the braves squat
ted in circle, in the center o
which steamed the viands. The onl,
white man present was Lieutenant Tay
lor, Ninth Cavalry, commander of tn,
famous Ogallala scouts. Among tn,
Ogallalas present were Chiefs Standin,
Soldier, American Horse, Standin,
Bear, Fast Thunder, Spotted Horse
White Bird and Bad Wound
Among the Brules were Chief
Short Bull, Kicking Bear, Higl
Pipe, Tres Bull, Turning Bear and Tw,
Strike. American Horse reviewed the
circumstances which had led to tn,
present difficulty and had impelled Gen
eral Miles to issue his order disarmin,
the Indians. He said the order ough
to be complied with and that the,
| should return to their homes and brinI
their young men to respect their goot
white friends, dissuade them from vic
lence and compel the children to return
to school.
Short Bull said that great many O
the Rosebud Indians wanted to come +
the Pine Ridge agency because the
knew they would be treated bette
there. High Pipe and Two Strike ais
spoke.
Lieutenant Taylor was asked t
speak, and said that he knew yer
many Ogallalas and was satisfied tina
they were friendly. He did not kno,
the Brules SO well, but felt that ther
were many good and brave men anon
them who would listen to reason. Th
trouble was now over, and if the
wished to remain in peace all they ha
to do was to comply with the order Z
General Miles. He closed by sayin
that their rights would be recognize
by the present officers who had bee
placed over them. The council close
in the best possible humor.
END OF THE BASEBALL WAF
Two Leagues Are Fo med, the Player
| Are Absorbed.
| New YORK, Jan. 17.-The base-ba
war Is at an end and the prospects for
successful season in 1891 are excellen
Friday night the National League, tt
American Association and the remnal
of the Players League, in joint session
formed into two leagues. absorbin
the Players and admitting the Westel
/ Association to the new National ACRE