, 1891-01-10
THE INDIAN SITUATION
What Some Returned Soldiers Have
to Say of IT.
According to Them the troops Are
in a Bad Way.
The Indians, Well Fed by the Gov
ernment, Ready for the Fray.
Some Facts Which Will Give a
Clearer Idea of the Matter.


left the White river camp on the G. Both
we're recently discharged from the United
States service and glad enough they are
of the fact. Mr.. Elliott talks Interestingly
of the Indian situation. he says there
are enough hostiles and hat they are
well enough equipped TO swoop down on
any one OF the camps of troops and clean
them out before tho rest OF the army
could be concentrated. In that event
asked the LEADER man what is to hinder
the Sioux from going further to the north
west and killing a large number of set
tlers?'
Nothing. only there are no settlers to
kilP' replied Mr.. Elliott. I'm our march
down Spring creek from Hermosa we saw
no settlers except one grevhaired man
who said he was old enough to die, and
would hold down his claim to the last and
die there if necessary"
The situation is anything but pleasant
or encouraging. The Sioux number about
1000. The principal hostile camp. OF
1900 warriors, is located on White Clay
creek. about four miles above its junction
with White river. At Pine Ridge. IF
teen miles southeast Of the hostile camp.
there are about 500 soldiers Four miles
west OF the hostile camp Col. Ofiey's
command of only about 300 men is en-
camped. About seventeen north, at the
mouth of Rapid creek, Is Gen. Cars
command of about 500 men. Col. San
ford's command Is located, between that
CARTS snd Ofiey's, aud numbers about
$50 men. Besides the camp of hostiles
spoken of there are other small bands.
One band. Mr.. Elliott says. made their
escape to the west during a binding
snowstorm. aud are now somewhere in the
rear OF Col Ofiey. During the armistice.
which expires today. the Indians, as well
as the soldiers, have been preparing
for the coming contest, which cannot
be much longer delayed. The Indians
are well fortified in their present position.
Breastworks have been thrown Ut aud
they are apparently ready 10 stand on the
defensive. On the other hand. should
they make a break IN any direction the
troops in pursuit would be in danger of
being deceived and massacred. while what
few settlers CHANGED to be in their path
could scarcely hope to escape. Even If
the Indians are brought to terms without
further bloodshed the losses of the poor
sa,,lo,s s,rrornd;nn ,ho ro,or,o,ion can
-, h. as,;.,.,aa
NJ -, u.;A r. ,h.m
have svorl al years m nossoss thew nav
Aed from in terror leaving behind i've
stock. farming implements. household
fprn;tprc. etc +, he destroved hv the
Indians mr. stolen bv u-nscrnpnlous wb;te
men. While their homes are being nil
LACED and their stack STOLEN the interest
on the mortgages held by their creditors
fseven tentbs of the farms and claims are
mortpaoedl is a~ccnmulatinV and many
will have m homes In return IN in the
snrinu while the noble red man will re-.
turn to the agency for a fresh supnlv of
increased ratiops.
Since the above was written the posi-
t;ons of the different commands have
been somewhat changed according tn the
Assoc,ated Press dispatches, Gen. Carr
having crossed the bad lands to the
mouth Of Wounded Knee. but the siua.
tion remains the same
Special Correspondence.
Headquarters battalion 18th infantry,
four miles from mouth OF White Clay
creek, Jan. 5.-Nothipg of importance
has happened since Can't. Kerr's fight
with the Indians on Jan. l, a full
description OF which 1 mailed you tho day
after. | have since learned that four
Indians were killed and several ponies
captured. Capt, Kerr lost but one horse.
No wounded.
Our camp is assuming quite a war-like
appearance breastTorks are thrown up
on all sides oil us. Tickets are posted on
nigh points on each side OF camps com
mandlng a full view OF the count for
miles around Col omey has placed
MAI Egoert In command OF pickets and
camp guard. A better othcer could not
have been selected. lie Is thoroughly