Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-01-19
INDIAN UPRISING.
VIVA. IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN II MILES HAD
PALTERED.
The MOrmons Are Said TO Have Been Back Of the
Savagss Inciting Them 10 RsyOlt-Ths Plot
Revealed Were TO Rsysl
in Pillags and Murder.

Observation-Disclosures Were 10 Reye
in Pillags and Murder.
PINE RIDGE AGENCY, S. d., January
lls.-Gen. Miles is OF the opinion, from
his own observations and conversations
he has had with old scouts and Indians,
that a'general uprising in the spring
was contemplated by the 10,O 900 redskins
in the Northwest. The ghost dance, as
IL is now generally known, was merely
a cloak for grievances which the In
dianS have suffered during the past 10
years, and the Messiah idea was the
creation OF meddlesome Mormons in
Utah and Nevada.
Combining their dance with false
teachings of the Mormons, the leaders
in the plot hoped to inilame every In
dian in the Northwest with religious
fanaticism, so that when spring came
and the grass was green they would be
sufficiently excited 90 join in revolt,
which was TO extend from the British
line to the Indian Nation, ard from the
Missouri river TO California. 1t was the
teaching of the Mormons that when all
was ready the followers OF the Messiah
would have only to stamp their feet and
the earth would open and swallow up
the whites.
The Indians were well prepared for
the revolt. They were poorly clad and
half-starved through the mismanage-
ment of their affairs by the Interior De-
partment at Washington, and in this
condition they were greedy TO accept
any belief that promised them the return
of their buffalos.
Shrewd old fellows like Sitting Bull
had been working for years for an up
heaval. which would involve all the In
dians in the Northwest. Their young
men had been buying guns and saving
their ammunition for the trouble which
was TO come at vaguely liked date IN
the future. So industriously did the
savages prepare themselves for war that
Pine Ridge Indians were frequently
caught digging bullets out OF butteS at
Oelrich, where Captain Wells and his
two companies Of soldiers were spend
ing the summer in rife practice.
Enough information has been gained
TO show that the Indians who were TO
take prominent part in the upheaval
were Sioux, Arapahoes, Shoshones,
Cheyennes and Crows. The Utes, Pi-
utes and Nez PerceS were TO take the
Warmth during the excitement. This
fact is proved to some extent by the
gradual spread of the ghost dance to all
these tribes during the present winter.
The leaders of this stupendous plot
meant murder and pillage throughout
the Northwest. With all their people
inflamed with religious fanatacism,
they could command a well armed war
rior for every soldier in the United
States Army.
They were the irreconclable sayages
of the Western Indians, who have done
all in their power TO stop the advance
of civilization and who have been cm-
bittered by the harsh treatment OF the
Indian Bureau. The younger and more
progressive element in the tribes could
not be influenced into revolt by mere
lharangues for war II was for this
reason therefore, that the Messiah craze
was started
The natural superstition of the red
skins soon absorbed the teachings OF
the willy old fellows, and when the snow
came even the staunchest friends OF the
Government among the Indians were
dancing with insane vigor. The killing
of Sitting Bull, however, upset every
thing. for a time at least. The Indians
became divided among themselves, and
then disconnected at the rapidity with
which troops were concentrated, it be-
came evident to them that death was
snre to follow any demonstration on
their part.
In the turmoil which existed in the
great Sioux Nation, many of the Indians
of the Northern agencies stampeded lor
Pine Ridge, which seemed to them TO
be the possible theater for the crash.
Some of them came all the way from
the Chow country, while others repre-
scented Standing Rock and the Cheyenne
river agencies. Still others came from
the Missouri river.
Big Foot happened to get into the
crater lust when it was not. There was
an explosion, and Big Foot and his 200
neople were wiped out. This conflict
DESTROYED whatever life there yet re-
mained in the plot. Sitting Bulls sister
is prisoner at Pine Bidge. In an In
terview with a correspondent to-day
she admitted that the Indians had con-
templated an upheaval in the spring
and that if it had not been crushed by
the masterly work of General Miles and
his subordinateS, the extreme Northwest
would have been pillaged from end TO
end.
There is some doubt, however, as to
whether the trouble is all over. There
are still thousands of Savages in rest
less condition. They are stunned for
the moment by the terrific blow the
army has struck, but there are many
who believe that as soon as the grass
Gets grown revolt will break out in
another quarter.
The 10000 Indians who are here al
Pine Ridge are also to surrender thelr
arms. They have had is hours III
which to turn in their rifles, but up
to noon to-day only few weapons had
been handed to Agent Price. With few
exceptions, the guns antedate Daniel
Boone.
The Indians in the hostile camp had
= council all last night. The Brules
want to remain here with the Ogallallas,
bnt IL now seems probable that they
will he separated, the Brules being es-
corted back to their old reservation by
Cantain Taylor's scouts, or by detach-
ment of military. There is possibility
Of trouble If this step is taken, as the
Rrules say they are willing TO do every
thing General Miles orders. provided
they are permitted to remain mere
The Sioux from the northern agencies
will be weeded out of the hostile VII
age and given new camping grounds
nreparatory to their transfer TO ther
homes. ,,,,..
So firmly convinced is General Miles
that the war is over, that preparations
are beinr made to send the troops back.
The rarrisons at Ft. Robinson, tt.
Niobrara and Ft. Mckinney Will be
strengthened for service during the
winter. The famous Sixth Cavalry, oi
Now Mexico. has been assigned TO the
Denartment of the Platte, and Will De
stationed at TT. Mckinney and IT.
Niobrara. General Carr, who com
manded this regiment, will have ms
headouarters at the latter Tort. ftS'
Robinson. Niobrara and Mckinney
commanded the great Pine Ridge
Agency. The Seventh Infantry from
Fl Logan will be ordered home: Inc
living Ninth Cavalry will probably re-
turn to Fl. Robinson.
) The Seventh Cavalry, whose home Is
, Fl Riley. in Kansas, will, it is said, be
ordered to New Mexico. 1t is probable
that a regiment of infantry Will be KEPT
At the agency during the winter. Every