St. Paul daily globe., 1891-01-25
CHIPPEWAS DANCING.
Conflicting Rumors Anent Ee-
centpicities Of Red Lake
Indians.
Farmers Call On Gov. Merriam
for Relays Of State MI
litia.
The Light Fantastic Said to
Be Only Tripped in Friend
ly Mood,
Sidney Arnold, Of South Da-
kota, Finds Life Too Heavy
a Burden.

Special to the Globe
ST. HILAIRE, Minn., Jan. 24.-The
settlers living on the border of the Red
Lake Indian reservation have been
greatly excited for the last day or two
on account of the dancing of the In
dams. Rumors have been flying thick
and fast, and the whole country is ex-
cited. Several days ago the citizens of
Thief River Falls wrote the governor
that there was liable to be danger, and
yesterday j. f.. WickstrOm, Norwe-
gian farmer living on the border of the
reservation, telegraphed the governor
that the settlers were IN danger. For
the past two days farmers and their
families have been moving into town.
and all are greatly frightened. They
claim that for the last three or four
nights the Indians have been dancing
all night, and they have heard the beat
ing of their drums and the yells OF
the savages during the greater part of
tie night. They also claim that the In
dianS have boaSted that before spring
every house i'll that vicinity would be
burned and every settler driven away
or killed. To-day at noon
Adjt. Gen. Mullen
and Col. Chantler, of st. Paul. arrived
to look the situation over. Gen. Mullen
Immediately telegraphed for 100 rifles
and 1900 rounds of ammunition. Re-
ports here have varied greatly, some
claiming that a band of Sioux from Da-
kota were on the reservation. and were
Initiating the Chippewas into the mvS-
teries of the ghost dance. Also that a
large band of Canadian Indians and
large number of the Cross Lakers, of
Red Lake were on hand, and were in
dulging in a genuine ghost dance.
Your correspondent was at Thief River
Falls to-day, and found that these
rumors are all false. | interviewed
Casper FaIk, an old Indian trader, a
man who knows every Indian on the
reservation, and he is of the opinion
that there is no danger whatever.
He says that he has not heard of any
Sioux Indians or Canadian Indians be-
ing on the reservation, and also stated
that there were very few Indians in
dulging in the dances. He is sure that
they mean no harm and are only having
a good time. | also had an interview
with Chief Moosedung, the chief of the
Indians Of this part of the reservation.
He said that there were
No Sioux Indians
or Canadian Indians among his band,
and that there was not to exceed sew
enty-five Indians, including papooses
and squaws. on this part of this reSer-
walton. He seemed greatly amused
when asked why they were dancing, and
said that they were dancing-for fun.
He also said that they did not want
IN Ont info trnuhIa with tha whites aS the
ChippewaS had been friendly since the
days of their grandfathers, and that
they would not fight unless compelled
to do so. | am sure that there will he
no trouble and that the settlers will re-
turn to their farms, and all will be quiet
in a day or two, without any outside
help. The farmers on the border of the
reservation have been stealing some
timber lately, and hear that the In
dians have been trying to stop them,
and may have made some threats. which
may have caused the present scare.
Gen. Mullen is still here, and is fully
convinced there will be no trouble, but
will take necessary precautions to make
the people feel safe.
FERGUS FALLS, Minn., Jan. "a
Company f, Minnesota National guard,
received orders TO-DAY to be in readiness
to move at a moments notice. and the
boys have spent the day in fearful fare
wells to friends and preparations for
campaign in midWinter. 1t is under
stood that If ordered out the company
will go to Red Lake to help put down
the threatened trouble among the Chip
pewas. Tonight the company is ready
to start Immediately upon receipt of
orders.