The Washburn leader., 1891-01-03

terday's fight at Wounded Knee creek, in
which he says twenty-five soldiers were
killed, thirty.five wounded and about $50
Indians were killed and thirty wounded
and captured. Special Agent Cooper's
telegram also states that the Indians at
tackled the Ninth cavalry wagon train this
Tuesday morning, two miles north of
the agency, killing one soldier of the ad-
vance.
Further Details of Mondays Battle.
OMAHA. Dec. 9O.-The Bees correspond
ent at Camp on Wounded Knee creek tele-
graphs as follows concerning yesterdays
battle: In the morning, as soon as the Or
dinary military work of early day was
done, Major Whitesides determined upon
disarming the Indians at once, and at
o'clock the camp of Big Foot was sur
rounded by the Seventh cavalry and Tay-
lor's scouts. The Indians were sitting in
half circle. Four Hotchkiss guns were
were placed upon the hill about 200 yards
distant. Every preparation was made, not
especially to fight, but to show the Indians
the futility of resistance. They seemed to
recognize this fact, and when Major
Whitesides ordered them to come up,
twenty at a time, and give up their arms,
they came, but not with their guns in sight.
OF the trst twenty but two or three dis
played arms. These they gave up sullen-
ly, and observing the futility of that
method of procedure Major Whitesides
0p@n 80 II
troops, on foot, to enter the tepees and
search them. This work had hardly been
entered upon when
120 DESPERATE INDIANS
turned upon the soldiers, who were gath.
cred closely about the tepees, and immedi-
ately storm Of firing was poured upon
the military. 1t was as though the order
to search had been signal. The latter,
not anticipating any such action, had been
gathered in very closely, and the first fir
ing was terribly disastrous to them. The
reply was immediate, however, and in an
instant it seemed as if the draw in which
the Indian camp was set was a sunken
Vesuvius. The soldiers. maddened at the
sight Of their falling comrades, hardly
awaited the command, and in a moment
the whole front was sheet of fire. above
which the smoke rolled, obscuring the cen
tral scene from view. Through this horri-
Bile curtain, single Indians could be seen at
times flying before the fire, but after the
first discharge from the carbines of the
troopers, there were but few of them left.
They
FELL ON ALL SIDES LIKE GRAIN
in the course of scythe. Indians and
soldiers lay together, and the wounded
fought on the ground. OFF through the
draw toward the bluffs the few remaining
warriors fled, turning occasionally to fire,
but now evidently caring more for escape
than battle. Only the wounded Indians
seemed possessed of the courage of devils.
From the ground where they had fallen
they continued to fire until their ammuni.
ti0n was gone, or until killed by soldiers.
Both sides forgot everything excepting
only the loading and discharging of guns
1t was only in the early part OF the affray
that hand-to-hand fighting was seen. Car
bines were clubbed,
| SABRES CLEANED AND WAR-CLUBS
CIRCLED
in the air and came down like thunder
bolts. But this was only for a short time.
The Indians could not stand that storm
from the soldiers they had hoped to. 1t
was only stroke of life before death. The
remnant fled and the battle became hunt.
1t was now that the artillery was called
into requisition. Before. the fighting was
so close that guns could not be trained
without danger OF death to the soldiers.
Now, with Indians flying where they
might, it was easier to reach them. Cat
tling and Hotchkiss guns were trained and
then began heavy firing, which lasted a
half hour, with frequent heavy volleys of
musketry and cannon. 1t was war of
determination now with the troopers. 1t
was difficult to restrain the troops. Tao
tics were almost abandoned. About the
only tactic was to kill while it could be
done. Wherever an Indian could be seen
down into the creek and up over bare hills
they were followed by artillery and mus
kerry fire and for several minutes the en-
gagement went on until not live Indian
was in sight.
ANOTHER ENCOUNTER.
OMAHA, Dec. 90.-The Bees special from
Rushville, Neb., says: Advices from the
seat Of war give the news of another en-
counter between troops and Indians at .
point within four miles of the agency.
The Seventh and Ninth cavalry we're just
coming in from yesterdays battlefield,
followed at some distance by their provis-
ion train. On reaching the point named,
large band of Indians, headed by Chief
Two Strike, dashed suddenly upon the
train, captured it and were making off
towards the Bad Lands, when the cavalry
wheeled and gave pursuit. In the battle
which Followed, over thirty Indians were
wounded, but no soldiers we're killed. Ac-
cdfding to the latest reports, Two Strikes
Indians had yesterday been considered
peaceable and subdued, but their. sudden
change Of mind
CAUSED THE GRAvEsT FEARS
here that perhaps none Of the so-called
friendlies can be relied on. However,
word from General Brooke to settlers to-
day is somewhat reassuring, it being TO the
effect that great body of savages have re-