Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-08
LIEUT.. CASEY'S DEATH.
Two kilograms From Gen. Miles Received 1t
the War Department Today.
THE GALLANT OFFICER WAS BRUrAILY MURDERED.
FOR THERE WAS NO FIGHTING GOING oN-wHAr
SECRETARY PROCTOR SAYS OF HM-A sURREN-
DER WHICH MAY BE TRICK

Two kilograms from Gen. Miles to Gen. Scho-
field were received this morning at the War
Department, both of them being dated at Pine
Ridge agency last night. One of them de-
tailed the circumstances of the killing of Lieut.
Casey by the Indians, az follows: Reports
from Gen. Brooke state that Lieut.. z. W. Casey,
twenty-second infantry. was killed today.
There has been fighting and diminishing
on that part of the line for
several days. Lieut.. Casey was out with his
scouts watching the hostile camp, and with one
Cheyenne met two Indians, an Ogallalla and a
Brule. The Ogallalla warned Lieut.. Casey that
the Brules were bad and would shoot. As Ii ut.
Casey turned to go away the Brule fired. strik-
ing him in the back of the head and killing him
instantly. Lieut. Casey was one of the most
brilliant and beloved officers of the service
There is a report of heavy firing in or near the
hostile camp that may be between the two ele-
ments Of the Indian camp"
SEVENTY INDIANS COME IN.
The other telegram was follows: Seventy
Indians came in from hostile camp today and
the reports from them are that Red Cloud. Lit
tie Wound. Two Strike and Big Road and others
will come in tomorrow"
LIEUT.. CASEY BnUrAI.LY MURDERED
In regard to Lieut.. Casey's death Secretary
Proctor said to STAR reporter this morning:
Il do not know when have heard anything
that has shocked me more than the news of
Lieut.. Casey's death. He was here in the
spring and grew very fond of him, he seemed
SO bright and energetic and enthusiastic. and
he had such excellent plans and ideas about
the Indian troubles. He gave me a num-
Der of photographs, which have here, show
ing his methods of work with his
to build their little camp near Fort Keogh. 1
regarded him one Of the most promising
men in the service. He seems to have been
brutally murdered. for there was no fighting 60
ing on where he was killed. An Indian took ad-
vantage of conversation with him and shot
him from behind. His remains will be sent
east for interment in Rhode Island"
HIS EXCELLENT REPUTATION.
Lieut. Casey was a brother of Gen. Thos. L.
Casey, the chief engineer of the army, and was
about forty years of age. He has been in COM
mand Of troop OF Cheyenne scouts for about
a year and was working earnestly in the inter-
est of the Indians themselves. He had a repu-
tation in the army of possessing an unusually
accurate knowledge of the Indian character.
The second dispatch might indicate that the
Indian camp is disintegrating were it not for
the fact that the Indians mentioned have gem
orally been peaceably inclined. The seventy
Indians reported TO have come in are. it is be-
lieved at the War Department, very likely the
friendiies who were swept out to the hostile
camp by the others when the last rush took
place. or the chiefs named Two Strike is the
only one who has ever exhibited much Of a
hostile temper, and even he has been inclined
to listen to peace talk. 1t is understood that
his two sons, who we're educated at the Car
Isle school, have been endeavoring to get their
father to return to the agency. and it is prob
able through their efforts that he is thinking of
a surrender.
IT MAY BE TRICK.
1t was suggested by an old army officer this
morning that this return of the Indians to the
agency in small bands is possibly trick of the
hostiles to get the white camp filed with red
men and then make an attack that would be
aided by their friends inside. This theory,
however, does not find many believers, as it is
thought that Gen. Miles is too cautious to allow
such game to be played. STILL suggested the
officer referred to, it would by no means be at all
surprising if it were found that these so-called
friendlies induced to return to the agency
we're in reality the worst of enemies playing
possum," for such trick would be quite in
harmony with the Indians idea of war. In
deed. the massacre at Wounded Knee creek was
brought on by just such plan on the part of
the lndians, who first pretended to surrender
and then made q sudden attack.
The Indians gratitude is said by officers hav-
ing had experience on the plains to be q good
deal like that of the African savages, described
by Stanley in his book a. being like the case of
q bulldog whose rush, with gaping jaws, for
your leg, is stopped only by Q piece Of meat
which you throw at him.