The morning news., 1891-01-06
A BIG FIGHT INEVITABLE.
IT WILL BE THE BLooDIEsT IN
INDIAN HISTORY.

o~NS SohhOAaAAnB again hSpOEb9Q
in Progress.
OMAHA, NEB., Jan. ga correspondent
OF the Bee telegraphs the following from
Pine Ridge Agency, South Dakota, via
Rushville Neb.: "As to the situation here,
considered in its entirety, the indications
that the greatest battle in Indian history is
almost at hand are increasing. The report
Of every scout adds new and strong
support to these indications, that
were only emphasized by the
bloody affair on Wounded Knee creek.
Gen. Miles believes exactly this and has
said so in strong words. The small handful
of Indian employees here affirm it. Before
the 'terrif1 clash comes they want to rescue
their relatives from the enemy's camp, and
are now interceding with the authorities for
permission, at the risk of their lives,
to make the attempt. The Indians in the
government employ also express the
hope that they can induce many
of those who were friendly befoIe the
Wounded Knee battle and were remaining
here according to instructions also to come
in and be saved from the certain annihila-
tion that awaits them within the ranks of
the hostiles.
DIGGING RIFLE PITS.
Extensive rife pits are reported being
dug twelve miles west of here by the hostiles,
and the report is of such a nature that the
authorities rely upon its truthfulness Last
night the hostiles burned many houses
belonging to settlers along the White river
and finisAed killing many of the great herd
of government cattle that they raided so
heavily about month ago, and have been
dra vufY1ey an axar eiona lNfkhntsk a{r{K
to make the situation particle darker than
1T really is-fog, God knows, the truth is
bad enough-everything oonstrains me to
say that the danger in which the Pine
Ridge agency's white people stand at this
hour, and must remain in until this crisis is
all over, is one OF the most fearful peril
that can well be imagined.
BLooDsHED CAN'T BE AVOIDED.
81 say this not for a moment forgetting
and knowing perfectly just what military
protection we have here since Gen. Miles
has arrived. He has received a most urgent
adm milton from the administration to
avoid further bloodshed. Further blood
shed. however, cannot be avoided, and be-
fore the light of another Sabbath the truth
of the assertion will have been proven.
"There is q rumor current in official
circles here that general call for volun-
teers to protect the adjacent territory will
be made.
"The shooting of an Indian war arrow
covered with pitch partially burned last
right created considerable comment. The
Indians have a superstition that II the first
fire arrow fired into an enemy's camp is
extinguiBhed in its flight 1t is evidence that
their Contemplated raid will be a failure.
The arrow that came in last night was shot
from the north and barely missed the head
of teamster who was uDhitching team a
few yards south of the hotel where the COR
respondents are quRrtered, which is near
the center of the agency"
HEAVY CANNoNADINa.
A special dispatch from Rushville, Neb.,
says: Heavy cannonading has been going
on north of here this morning, but no news
of the battle has yet been received. The
Omaha Guards, who volt nteered their
services, have been ordered to hold them
selves in readiness to move to the 'front.'
They are in fine form, and have GatLing
gun attached to the command"
TRANSFERRING THE WOUNDED.
The Bees Pine Ridge correspondent tele-
graphs that the wounded soldiers were
yesterday sent to Rushville under a strong
escort for transfer to Forts Omaha, Robin
son and Riley. Some risk attends the trans
fer, but less than is involved in keep
excitement and anxiety at the agency. The
correspondent gives list of fourteen physi-
clans gathered there, all Of whom were sum.
moned by telegraph within two days after
the battle from points between New Haven,
Conn, and San Francisco, and Fort Sill,
/. T., and Oswego, N. Y.
COL. FoRsYTHE RELIEVED.
WASHINGTON, Jan. GA report reached
here to-day through an unofficial source
that Col. Forsythe had been relieved from
his command Of troops at Pine Ridge. This
report was confirmed at the war
department to-day. The officials,
talk about the matter. Neither Secretary
Proctor nor Gen. Schofield is willing to say
very much on the subject, although both
practically admit that 3en. Miles did not
act entirely upon his own responsibility.
Neither OF them admits having ordered
Col. Forsythe's suspension from his COM
mand, but both say Gen. Miles probably
acted upon a suggestion from here. As
there is nobody here besides these two who
is in a position TO suggest anything
to Gen. Miles, excepting tine President,
the conclusion is reached that Col. Forsythe
was suspended by the President pending an
inquiry into the circumstances attending
the fight at Wounded Knee, last week, in
which so many lives were lost, both whites
and Indians.
Gen. Schofield this evening received dis
patches from Gen. Miles. There is no men
tion in any of them Of fighting between the
troops and hostiles to-day.
AN INQUIRY IN PROGRESS.
Gen. Schotield said that an investigation
Of the Wounded Knee fight is probably now
being conducted by Gen. Miles. The general
management of the fight is also to be looked
into, but the particular point in question is
the death of the women and children.
Considerable criticism against Col. For
sythe's suspension is heard in the war de-
partment. 1t seems to be directed against
the policy Of relieving an ofiioeA during
the progress Of q campaign, instead Of
waiting until after the troubles are settled.
As to the charge that Col. Forsythe allowed
his men to kill women and children, 1t is as
serted that it would be impossible, in the
hurry and confusion OF an unexpected fight
and the subsequent stampede and pursuit,
to detect the sex OF the Sioux.
AN OFFICERS COMMENTS.
One officer remarked that lit is prepos-
ferrous to say that it is necessary In an In
dian skirmish TO stop firing long enough to
find out lust whaS sort of an Indian you are
shooting at. The women and men look
very much alike in their blanket costume,
and the former are quite as fierce fighters
as the men. A sioux squaw is as
bad an enemy as buck, at times. Little
BOYS. too, can shoot quite as well as their
fathers. and what a spectacle Il would be
for soldier, on seeing 1Ceyear-old point
ing loaded gun at him, With as true an
aim as tho beet marksmen In the army, to