The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-04-27

the other. None were in greater danger than
these unhappy people, who, through no fauli
of their own, were the victims of so much mis-
fortune; whose pathetic cry had been "All the
white folks think we are all bad !" and who too
fully realized the hostile taunt, "The white
man knows no difference-you might as we'll
join in the fight; showing again that lack
of discrimination would mete out common
fate to all.
When the moving mass had settled, dead
calm fell upon the Agency-the tense suspense
was relaxed.
Ny knowledge of the Indians made me
especially soicitous at this time. The white
man excels in power, the Indian in subtlety;
and both say, "Ail is fair in war" / was
anxious to go down into the camp and learn
by observation and question the exact situa-
ton.
One of my former pupils offered to escort
me. The horses had been brought, and | start
ed in search of my companion. On my way
/ was struck with the desertion of the streets.
Few people were in sight, except here and
there a group of Indians, the majority of whom
were opposite Headquarters, which were sepa-
rated from them by common fenced in from
the road Passing hurriedly along, my atten-
ton was attracted by mOvement-the raising
of rifle to take aim. Following the direction
of the aim, / saw Gen. Miles sitting upon the
veranda of Headquarters, listening to the music
of the military band.
The terrible consequences of single shot
flashed over me. With the hope that / might
prevent his action without arousing his suspi-
cion that l mistrusted him, went to him and
asked him if he had seen Marshall (my escort).
Instinctively, as had hoped, he leaned TO hear
my errand, dropping his gun upon his arm, the
others also bending over to listen. His small
stock OF English and my limited Sioux afforded
pretext for gaining time and attracted the at
teution of those around US.
An unarmed soldier standing near, listening
to the band, turned and came towards US.
/ do not know exactly what said but sent
a message requesting Gen. Miles for an inter
view in his office, telling the soldier l would
wait his return. He must have been impressed
with sense of the Importance of his errand
as he hurried away. l have become hardened
to danger in many forms, but pre-eminent in
my memory will always be those terrible
moments when / stood there awaiting the
movements of soldier or Indian. Before me
stretched the overhanging ridges, ominous with
threatening cannon and Gatlihg gun. crowded
with thousands of armed men, ready for instant
action. Below them, camped along the creek,
were the Indians, az at Wounded Knee many
were there, We knew, desperate, reckless, eager
for bloodshed.
As l stood waiting Capt. Ewers rode by. /
motioned to him. he dismounted and ap-
preached me- l asked him who the men were,
telling what I had seen. He saw the relative
position of the Indian and General. The SOL
der had delivered his message; my ruse was
successful Gen. Miles was leaving the perch.
Capt Ewers went toward the Indians, bat
they put spurs to their horses and were soon out
of sight. l believe that they thought that |
had sent the soldier upon the quest L had
sought of them, and were waiting for me to
pass on. May l never again be called to endure
such moments when / stood there facing
the Indian with the thought that thousands of
lives depended upon my absolute sef-contrOl.
The pages of Indian warfare are filled with
battles precpitated in this way. History has
just recorded milar conflict from which the
smoke had scarcely died away-the combat
ants emerging with renewed hatred and ven-
geance and were now again confronting one
another-the one with power, the other with
subtlety.
When the soldiers returned and I went to
Gen. Miles's office. could not trust myself to
tell him the circumstances-it WAS still too
vivid for words. / made my proposed visit to
the camp the subject of my call. With my
escort l went among the hostiles and had OPP
portunity for observation.
This was the last afternoon of the outbreak.
Conciliatory measures were used to restore
peace and although the brutal murder of Few
Tails by white men, and the bringing in of his
wounded wife, gave just cause for grievance,
the kind treatment she had received at the
hands of the soldiers paliated the wrong.
Within two weeks the soldiers had been Or
dered to their distant homes, the customary
delegation of Indians was sent to Washington
under the management of an Agent of the
Bureau, who knew nothing of the parts taken
by the individuals in the outbreak" except
as he depended upon others for information.
and consequently at this crisis " the greatest
obstacle in the way of peace" lin the future)
was the "lack of discrimination between the
hostile and the we'll disposed"