The record-union., 1891-02-12
Turning Hawk and Other Indians
Before the Commissioner.
SERIOUS CHARGES MADE AGAINST
THE TROOPS.
The Indians Accuse the Seventh Cav
airy With Shooting Down Inno-
cent Women, While They Were
Standing Under Flag of Truce,
and With Showing No Mercy to
Little Boys.
Special to the REconp-US1oS.


WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-THE Indian
conference closed to-day, and the Indians
viii start home on Friday. The feature
OF to-day's talk was the story of the fight
at Wounded Knee. Turning Hawk said
that at given time, when the men had
delivered up their guns, they were sepa-
rated from their families and taken to a
certain spot. A crazy man, a young
man OF bad influence, fired his gun, kill
lug an officer. Other Indians began draw
ing knives, although they were exhorted
lfom ali sides to desist, and firing began
Immediately on the part of the soldiers.
All the men, who We're in a bunch, were
killed right there, and those who escaped
that first fire got into a ravine, and as
they went along the ravine for long dis
lance, they were pursued on all sides by
soldiers and shot down. The women had
no firearms to fight with. They were
standing off at different place, and
when the firing began those of the men
VINO escaped the first volley went in one
direction up the ravine, and the women
went IN different direction through an
open held, but met the same fate as the
men.
American Horse said that when the
flring began the people who were stand
ing Immediately around the young man
who fired the first shot were killed. and
then the soldiers turned their guns on the
women who were in the lodges, standing
there under the flag of truce. Of course,
as soon as they were fired upon they fed.
There was u woman with an infant in her
arms Killed as she almost touched the
nag OF truce. Right near the flag another
was shot down. Her child, not knowing
that its mother was dead, was still nurs-
ing. and that was very sad sight
Ihe women, as they were fleeing with
babies on their backs, were killed to-
gether, and women heavy with child were
also Killed: After most of the Indians
had been killed, a cry was made that all
those not killed or wounded should come
forth and they would be safe. Little bows
who were not wounded came out of their
places OF refuge, and as soon as they came
in sight number of soldiers surrounded
and butchered them.
Commissioners Morgan said to the in
terpreter: Il wish you would say to him
that those are very serious charges to
make against the army. / do not want
any statements that are not absolutely
true, and want anyone here that feels
that the statements are too strong, to COR
rect them"
American Horse replied: ''Of course it
would have been all right if only the men
We're killed, but the fact of the killing of
lne women and more especially the
young boys, and girls, who are to make
up the future strength of the Indian peo-
pie, we feel very sorely."
Commissioner-''Does American Horse
know these things of his own personal
knowledge, or has he been told them?"
American Horse-''I was not there be-
fore the burial of the bodies, but did 90
there with some Indian police, and many
people from the agency, and we went
through the battlefield and saw where
the bodies We're from the tracks of blood"
Rev. Mr.. Cook, a Sioux half-breed.
pastor OF the Episcopal Church at Pine
Ridge Agency, among other things, said:
Much has been said about the good
spirit with which the members of the
Seventh Cavalry went into that action.
1t has been said that desire to avenge
Clusters death was entirely absent from
their mind. In coming toward Chicago.
IN company with General Miles, talked
with one OF his own scouts, who was
almost killed because he was compelled
to fly with the Indians, being fred upon
Dy men whom he tried to serve and help.
He told me that after he recovered from
ms fright he succeeded in getting among
the soldiers. After they ali got in from
Killing the Indians, an officer of high
rank-he did not know who-came to
him and said: Now we have avenged
Clusters DEATH and this scout said to
him, Yes, but you had every cause to
fight for your lives that day. These
poor Indian people did not have that
opportunity to protect and fight for them
selves"
After several others had spoken the
Commissioner declared the conference at
an end.