The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1891-01-07
GEN. FORSyTHE'S RECALL CONDEMNED.
Army Officers Believe They Should
not be Taken to Task for Kill
ing a few Worthless ..
Redskins.
Emma Abbott, the Actress, Dead
Her Estate is Valued at
Round Million Dollars.

is stated on definite authority that
of a serious nature are to lie
lodged against Indian Agent Mclaughlin,
who directed the killing of Sitting Bull.
were suggested in a mild
way by b number of army officers whom
Mr.. Porter visited. The sequel will
the Intense feeling which
has resulted from the Sitting Bull affair.
Agent McLaughlln's interference dis
turbed the cherished plans Of the de-
partment of the Missouri and hastened,
if 1t did not cause the present trouble.
is alleged there were improper motives
behind the killing. Charges against
Mclaughlin and other Indian agents
will be preferred by army officers who
are satisfied the Indian agents are re-
sponsible for the Indian outbreak. in
Lerviews with a number of army officers
are then given. Col. Corbin said: IL
positive that Gen. Miles has never
been given any official report of the
of Sitting Bull. Until the de-
partment is appraised Of all the circum-
in the case it would be unwise
to express any hasty criticism of action
which has led up to the present compli.
know that Gen. Miles has
been very anxious to learn the truth of
the Sitting Bull affair. Agent Nc
report may have been delayed
very good reasons, but some delay
has caused much annoyance to depart
Capt. Higgins said: "Of curse in the
light Of recent developments the killing
of Sitting Bull becomes of greater mo-
ment than was at first supposed. Yet
Agent Mclaughlin acted under instruc-
tons and has proper authority. The sit
uation throughout has been SO perplex-
ing tfat all official actions should be re-
garded with much charity of judgment.
l have no doubt the report has been cir
culated among the Indian agencies that
Big Foot's band was disarmed and mas
sacred and you can we'll imagine the in
cendiary effect OF such report. Rumors
in regard to McLaughlin's conduct in the
Sitting Bull affair may be equally false.
1t is simply another illustration of the
clash of authority between the war de-
partment and the department of the in
terror"
Col. E. M. He'll said: "The unexpected
action of Agent Mclaughlin ir the Sit
ting Bull matter completely upset the
campaign which Gen. Miles had planned.
1t was his wish to settle the disturbance
without %bloodshed. When the agent
with his police had killed the chief the
present trouble was precipitated. Of
course Mclaughlin acted under orders,
but these orders were given him either
at his W request or upon the repre-
sensations made in his reports. There
are many things in connection with this
matter which cannot be made public
now, but will develop in the investigation
to follow later"
PREPARING FOR A DANCE.
MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. "a special to the
Tribune from Pierre, S. d.. says: 1.-TWO
parties in from Bad river yesterday report
that the Indians all along the river are
preparing to hold a ghost dance. They
came from the Black Hills and made the
trip in two days and u half. They state
that the Indians at the forks Of the Bad
and White rivers are also showing signs
of fight. Settler in the vicinity say this
is the first time these Indians have
offered to take part in the outbreak"
FIv EMPTY CHAMBERS.
LEvENwoRTH, Kansas, Jan. GA letter
the Pine Ridge agency details some
hitherto unknown facts concerning the
death of Captain Wallace at Wounded
Knee. After the fight, the letter states
Captain Wallace was sound at the on
trance of IN Indian lodge with five dead
warriors lying near him, each Indian
corpse showing a bullet wound. Five
chambers in the Captains revolver
We're found empty, and from the position
in which the bodies lay, it is presumed
Wallace kill the five Indians before hi
was overcome.
THE WAR DEPARTMENT CRITICISED.
WASHINGTON. Jan. 5.-Considerablt
criticism against the suspension of Col
Forsythe on account of the killing o
the women and children in the Wounded
Knee Creek fight is heard in the wa
department. IL seems directed agains
the policy of relieving al officer durinl
the progress of a campaign, instead o
waiting until after the troubles are set
tied. As to the charge that Col. Forsyth
allowed his men to kill women ant
children 1t is asserted it would be i'm
possible, in the hurry and confusion o
IN unexpected fight and s%ubsequen
stampede and pursuit to detect the Sc,
of the Sioux. One Officer remarked
1t is preposterous to say 1t is necessary il
enough to find out just what sort of a
Indian you are shooting at. Women an
men look very much alike In tl,ei
blanket costume, and the former ar
quite as fierce fighters as the mel
Sioux squaw is as bad an enemy as tn
buck at times. Little boys, too, ca
shoot quite as we'll as. their fathers, an
what a spectacle it would b
for the soldiers ON seeing a ~ten-year-ol
pointing a loaded gun at him, wit
as true an aim as the best marksman i
the army, to stop his advance and CT
out. "My son, you must drop that gul
for you are a minor and | am not Above
to hurt YOU" Another officer said: "A
this rate the Sioux troubles will grow
be just as bad as the events of the fir,
three years Of the war, wien every office
with an independent command had n,
only an enemy in front of him but
court martial behind him." Still anoth,
officer said: "lt vas a grave error to 0
der the relief of Col. Forsythe at tn
stage of the proceedings and thus hoI
up a warning finger to every colonel
the little army around Pine Ridge to te
them the death of each Sioux m ust
explained"
Emma ABBOTT.