The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-01-01
WILL DIE FIGHTING"
SITTING BULLS DECLARATIONS
PROVED TRUE TO THE LETTER.

the Lives of the Famous Chief, of Seven
of His Followers and of FIVE Of Tho In
dian Police.
STANDING Rock AGENCY, n. Oak,
Dec. 17.-"God Almighty made me;
God Almighty did not make me IN
agency Indian, and I'll fight and die
fighting before any white man can
make me an agency Indian"
This was the declaration made by
Sitting Bull to General Miles on the
occasion of their first meeting, and the
detailed reports Of tho great medicine
mans death which began arriving ut
the agency yesterday gave to the de-
claratiOn the full force of u pronhecy.
All eyeWitneSSeS agree as to the facts
that every circumstance considered,
make the final tragedy involving the
determination of probably the BRAIN
lest Indian that ever lived one of the
most picturesque and characteristic
incidents Of American history.
The expedition which started from
this agency for Sitting Bulls camp for
ty miles distant, to take him dead or
alive, with the chances ten to one Of
his death, was no haphaZard foray of
scmisavage Indian police and ill-advis-
ed army subordinates. 1t is conceded
that the operation against Sitting
Bulls personality was suggested by the
effectual Quclling produced hy the re-
moval of Medicine Arrow, the great
Cheyenne leader, when the Cheyennes
threatened an unprecedented uprising.
Sitting Bulls promise to die lighting
had much to do also in shaping the
determlnation for sudden, decisive
result, as well as the old chiefs oft-eX-
pressed wish to be remembered as the
last Indian on the continent to give up
his rifle. When General Miles left
Chicago headed in this direction 1t was
the beginning Of the end.
Simultaneous with the General step
ping quietly aboard the train at the big
railroad depot at Chicago the cXpedl-
ton, which had been with equal quiet
ude under preparation ut Fort Yates,
which forms part of the agency. was
also ready to move. Almost at the
same moment that General Miles's car
giideu out for the Northwest the mein
hers of his llltle command here silently
took their departure and were quietly
lost in the darkness that cnveloped the
wilderness stretching to the camp OF
Sitting Ball, on the banks Of the Grand
River.
The van was led hy men Of Sitting
Bulls own Mood. Superhly mounted
and accoutred, every one wore the
bright urazen buttons and showy blue
cloth uniforms of Uncle Sans service.
This was no mere coincidence. 1t was
TO be part of the great object lesson to
tho ghost dancers and a demonstration
Of the value of General Miles's new
method OF solving the Indian problem
by turning the Indians Wholesale into
soldiers. One thing is certain, the band
OF wellfed, warmly clad, copper faced
athletes that led the way for the white
soldiers bent on mission Of utility,
was striking contrast to the starving,
ragged, crazy WretcheS that formed
such menace in the Grand River
camp.
Close behind the bluc-coatcd Indian
| horsemen's hardy ponies, but taking Il
slower pace on the frozen trail, came
Capt. FOuchet's cavalry command.
The cavalry were encountered with two
pieces Of modern light artillery, ma
chine guns similar to those which SO
speedily settled the fate Of Louis RiePs
half~Dreed followers, when his noted
Lieut.. Gabriel Dumont made stand
against Gen. Middleton I'm the British
Northwest outbreak. TO the rear of
FouchetS cavalry, and at times taking
a double quick step forward, for the
night was bitterly cold, the infantry
cammand Of Col. Drum swung along in
the darkness. y weary difficult march
it was.
The distance and the capabilities of
the troops to Withstand the fatigucS of
such journey had been figured out
nicely and when the first faint light of
dawn appeared the expedition was
within easy distance Of It's destination.
The broken order of a triple separation
of forces had been carefully preserved,
and the Indian police were the first to
sight the huddled cluster of ugly-look-
Ing tepecs on the river bank.
Despite the early hour all was astir
IN the village where. on evey hand, was
evidence that hurried exodus was |
contemplated. The ponies of the po-
lice were pushed for all they were |
worth, and before Sitting Bulls dazed |
adherents had half chance to realize |
the situation a dozen of the police had
pulled their painting animals up short |
Oh all sides of the chiefs abode. No |
time was wasted in ceremony. The |
proud Old medicine man was hustled |
out, hOlSted on a waiting horse and in |
IA trice faced toward civilization. He
raved and Sputtered in Il fury of rage |
for a moment and then Strengthening |
up, shouted hoarsely, not for help, but |
Il command to his followers. Despite
the threatening Of the police and Win
chcstcrs alternately directed at his head |
and those of his kinSnen, the old mcdi
Hne man retained his presence of mind,
and with powerful voice continued to |
direct his own rescue. Suddenly there
was puff of smoke beside a tepee and |
the sharp crack of Il Winchester The
policeman at Sitting Bulls right,
grasping the chiefs bride, reeled in
the saddle and topplcd over and was
trampled under The hoots OF the ponies |
now IN the mad heller skelter of retreat |
from the village.
The shot was instantly answered by
Il volley from the police at their blank
eted tribesmen, many of whom were
already mounted and in frenzied rur-
suit. The police volley told with dead
ly effect, and the firing in moment
was general on both sides.
Sitting Bull could be neard in the
confusion still attempting, though
captive, to. direct the fight. Raising
his gaunt form be was beclkoning his