River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-01-08
THE INDIAN WAR.

Another Fight with the HostiIes Re-
ported-No Lives Lost-Some Startling
Rumors.
OMAHA, Neb., Jan. Specials from
Gordon, Neb., say that two scouts just
arrived there confirm the report of
battle Saturday. The first reports
were to the effect that battle was
raging about ten miles northeast of
Gordon. The booming of cannon
could be heard distinctly. Every
body is under arms and the
widest excitement exists. The fight
was between the Indians and a de-
tachment sent out by General Miles
from Rosebud agency to bury the dead
Indians killed at Wounded Knee battle
on December 20. The hostile Sioux
objected to the burial of their dead by
the pale-faced foe and opened fire.
After desperate and sharp firing of the
lotchkiss gun they We're forced to re-
turn to the protection of the friendly
ravines. No deaths were reported.
PINE RIDGE, S. D., via Rushville,
Neb., Jan. 5.-Ihe Indian army is
working itself into fury dancing the
ghost dance and preparing for big
battle. Hundreds are crazy in their ex-
element and ready for any thing.
General Miles letter was burned and
answer sent that they did not want
to hear any peace talk, but were
ready and anxious to fight. Their host
numbers over 1900, a large proper
ton belonging TO other agencies. The
Pine Ridge Indians are more friendly
than any of the rest. Shots were fired
by the picl1ets at intervals all Saturday
night. Two fire arrows were thrown
into yards from adjoining ravines, but
no damage done. Peace talk will ac-
complish nothing with these frenzied
dancers. They will fight to the death
Half-breeds and squaw-men are leaving
for the railroad, saying that they know
what is coming and don't propose to re-
main. This War will not be ended ex-
cept by one of the bloodiest in the his
tory of Indian warfare.
LINCOLN, Neb., Jan. 5.-Specials to
the Journal from Pine Ridge confirm
the report of an engagement between
General Carr's command and the In
dams on White river. 1t is believed no
one was killed, though several Indians
were wounded. An Indian courier
brings message from the
hostile camp, the substance of which
is demand that all soldiers withdraw
from the locality, and further that they
will treat with no one for peace but the
Vice-President of the United States or
the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
This message came direct from the
hitherto supposed friendly Chief Red
(1n,.1 l..
the country in the vicinity of Pine
Ridge. A man named Miller, formerly
Government herder, was found five
miles from the agency, his body rid
died with bullets. Many persons COM
ing in tell of narrow escapes. The In
dian training school at Pine Ridge
burned Friday night, no loss of life re.
sulting.
The refugees admit that the number
of Indians killed in the White Clay bat
tie of Tuesday was large. The effect of
the ghost-dance delusion is seen in the
fact that the Indians make no attempt
to remove their dead from the battle
field or to care for the wounded. Their
idea is that every one who is killed or
dies from his wound is in big luck and
will turn into buffalo, etc.
STANDING Rock AGENCY, II. D., Jan.
5.-On the issue of rations Saturday il
was discovered that large number OF
the bucks who received their supplies
here had disappeared. and on close
questioning of the friendly In
dians the fact came out that
they had gathered together what
rations they could conveniently
carry on their ponies and moved south
ward toward the several hostile bands
making stand in the Bad Lands. 1t
can not be learned how many have
deserted the agency, but a count of
those in for rations indicates that there
are from 5000 to $4,000 of them
armed with Winchesters and knives.
A movement is already ON foot
to round them up before they join the
Southern bands, but it is believed they
have sufficient start to be in the hostile
camp before the cavalry can overtake
them. The savages know the Hills
country thoroughly, and doubtless have
guides from the camp of Two Strike
and Short Bull.
The Indians here openly charge the
whites with treachery in the killing of
Sitting Bull and say they would as
soon be shot down on the battlefield
as slaughtered in peace. Even the In
dams who have professed the greatest
friendship for the Great Father are
becoming restless and il is hourly
feared that they will go to war in
body, which would be serious matter
for the agency, as there are now very
few soldiers at Fort Yates to protect
the whites in this vicinity.
PINE RIDGE, Jan. 5.-General Miles
has recommended that Agent Hoyer be |
removed and Captain Doughtery of the |
First Infantry placed in charge. Gen. |
Miles has also asked the President |
TO remove the agents at the |
Cheyenne, Standing Rock and |
Rosebud agencies. Captain E. =.
Ewens of the Fifth, Captain j. NJ. Lee |
of the Ninth and Captain L. f. Pierce |
of the First are recommended for these |
places respectively. General Miles |
thinks this will restore peace and har-
mony. The Indians are slowly starv
ing to death but an army officer could |
soon supply food.
OMAHA, Neb., Jan. 5.-Three COM
panies of militia from interior towns
were sent Saturday morning to defend
the towns near the Sioux Indian reser-
vation