The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-05
A Band OF Indians From Pine Ridge
Agency Murder Four Cow
boys.
Conflicting Reports as to the
Causes Leading up to tho
Crime.
Tho COwboys Said to Hnvo MistrcatSd
Two sttcks-1hs Latter Accused
Of Killing Cattle,

/ OMAHA. Feb. 4 News hns been received
here Of another Indian outbreak at the
Pine Ridge ngency. Five men are reported
killed by Two Stcks' band. Nsva Of tho
Indian difficulty was conveyed to oniciala
of the department of the Platte by "A fes re
porter this afternoon. Gan, McCool
thought there conld bs no foundation for
tho rumors Of a general outbreak. He SAID
Two stcks and his band belonged at
Rosebud and not at Pine Ridge. One Of
the loading officers at the department said
1t is the wrong time OF vear for an out
break. II it were month later thero
might be mole likelihood of un uprising.
Inquiry al to the forces OF the army in
the vicinity of Pine Ridge agency olicited
the statement to the effect that the officers
felt we'll able to contend with anything that
may come UP. At Fort Robinson there are
six troops of cavalry and two companies OF
infantry. At Fort Niobrara tho same force
is stationed, both gsrriaons being we'll sup
piled with Gstling and Hotchkiss guns. IL
necessary, fonr troops of cavalry could
easily be brought down from Fort Meade
and other troops could be brought in very
quickly. Thete are sixty Indian policemen
at Pine Ridge agency and about the same
number at Rosebud.
Dr. McGillicuddy, who for a long time
was agent at Pine Ridge, and who, in the
past, has made some very interesting state
msnts regarding the Indian situation to the
press, said to Bse reporter:
while there is no open ghost dancing,
there is quiet discussion of tho topic all
the time. and it is fact thata promise
the messiah would como after two springs
which would bring the time to 1893, is be-
ing carefully watched by the Indians. Tho
g overnment recently paid the Indians at
Pine Ridge $50, 900 ana this ia used as an
a'Runent that the Great Father fears his
red sons. else why should he seek to buy
them! The return from Camp Sheridan of
Short BuNsand Kicking Bear has added a
disturbing element to the situation. These
fellows ure big men among tho Brues, who
are turbulent lot. hard to keep III bounds
end who really do not belong to Pine Ridge
agenev, where they settled after the & touble
OF 1891. 4 he fellows fgnte taat the con-
cessions which resulted in their being al
lowed to remain the instead of being
sent back to Rosebud is sign that they
oan secure q eater favors bv demanding
them, and they have leaders who carefully
foster this idea.
III be most significant thing. however is
the fact that there has been Communication
between various Indian tribes all during
the past year, OF secret and apparently
M important nature. There is also line OF
communication well established and CON
stant!y uasd between the Indian territory
and Eritish America, and Indians all nlonQ
the iine understand that the bands nre
ksrt posted on the movement. One trouble
at Pine Ridge is that Captain Brown of the
Eleventh infantry, who is now there. ls not
the permanent agent. and the Indians are
inclined to act on the possibility of HIS
being taken away at any time. Cartalp
Brown has the affairs Of the agency in good
shape, but IL would not take much OF
mistake to start II wo'se outbreak in the
spring thsn the one two years ago
Bee special from Pine Ridge agency
tonight says shat Firsh Sergeant Joe Bush
of the Indian volice. in charge of the de-
tachmcnt sent ont this morning by Agent
Brown returned this afternoon and told "A
story OF ovettaking the murderers lie was
instructed by Agent Brown to ptins them
in. whether they resisted OF not. he said
,1s Ms..,,s men v were camp sanped near No
came up the nurde,srs at once opened
fire and the police returned the hte.
They killed three of the party. Two Sticks
and one OF his boys got away. 1t is thought
that Two Sticks was seriously wounded.
The Indian police wers highly compli-
nsuheu Ny SSFts' Drown anu Slsney. capt.
Brown has another squad OF men ont after
the missing tive with instructions to bring
them IN. Capt Brown ana Inspector Cs-
ney, OF the interior department, do not an
tcipsts further trouble.
The story of the trouble Leading to tho
killing of the whites. as near as can be
learned is: On Thu sdRy number of
coubovs belonging Mt the beef camp of
Isaac Hum nphrey, Rovernmens contractor,
on White river, nb the mouth of White CLAW
creek, twenty-five miles north of Pine
Ridge. returned from town drunk Durlug
the evening they mistrsated IN indian
named Two Sticks, finally driving him from
camp and firing their rsvolvs q at him.
Two Strikes returned later a. night with
number Of friends and commenced
deadly fite on the cowboy camp. killing
three and mortslly woundlng the fourth
man, who has since died.