Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-12
BLOODY WAR IMMINENT.
The Situation Explained by Gentleman
Who Is Thoroughly Posted.

Who Is Thoroughly Posted.
ST.. LOUIS, January ll.-R. III. Hand,
mining engineer of Silver City, n. NJ,
who has been spending several mon this
with relatives at Yankton, Oak, is at
the Southern Hotel with his wife and
mother. He vas seen tonight by a
Republic reporter, and in answer to
inquiry respecting the Indian stu
alton in Dakota, said: 81 was
raised among these Indians and have
no hesitation in stating that the gravity
of the Indian situation is very much un-
derestimated. ! know the temperament
os these savages, their dense Ignorance
of the power they are undertaking TO
oppose and the blind fanaticism OF their
religious belief, and know that If a
skirmish occurs in which the SOL
diers get in the least degree worsted
there will be an uprising and
Indian massacre In Nebraska and Dako-
Ia such as tie Northwest has not seen
since it's earliest history. This opinion
is shared by large proportion OF the
settlers of that region, and alarm over
the situation is becoming general. IL
is generally felt that the friendly
Indians are not TO be depended
upon. and their movements are being
closely watched The Yankton and
Sauntee Indians, who have never before
been hostile, are known to have enter
tanned emiSsaries from the hostiles ana
many of the younger braves from these
tribes are said TO have left their reserva-
tions and Joined the crusaders. There
are a good many troops scattered
throughout the threatened district, and
.hey are well generated and equipped;
but they are divided into small dctach-
ments. stationed at long distances from
each other, and in case OF general
uprising much damage could be done
by the Indians before effective conceh-
tration could be accomplished. There
are about 600 troops stationed at the
Pine Ridge Agency among great herd
of nomimaly friendly Indians. who are
known to be in sympathy with the hos
tiles and need only the encouragement
of Il temporary success on the part oil
their brethren to spring To arms ana
ioin in the work Of massacre.
at seems absurd to many that a little
hand of savages should think them
selves capable OF contending success
fully against a power like that OF the
United States, but | have mixed and
talked with these people enough TO
know that such is their confidence. IL
is the Younger Indians who are pushing
this warfare on. They have never
tested the glory of good castigation
and the parrulous yarns of the old war
riors about the nun ber OF white men
they have slain in battle have
excited them to emulation, Then
they are under the influence OF a
religious craze, and while not exactly
yearning for death, they believe that1i
they fall in battle with the white man
they will go straight to the happy
hunting ground. This ! know from
conversations have had with numbers
of the Younger Indians Of that region.
They are as certain OF salvation as the
Turks and as sef-coniident as the Mex
leans, and the sting OF their recent de-
feat adds to their other motives the in
centive of revenge.
1.-The Indians are armed as well as
the troops; better than the cavalry,who
have only carbines, while the Indians
have improved Winchester rifles. They
have been saving up ammunition and
are we'll prepared to do good execution
in case of a general outbreak. They
moreover keep themselves Informed
through their scouts Of every movement
of the troops. and it will be very hard to
surprise or hem them into a corner. 1t
is the impression in Dakota that biS
fight is imminent.