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

MAJ. GEORGE SWORD, CHIEF OF POLICE.
mission. He came and in two hours talk
gave me full information of his grievance. /
could not and did not blame him for wanting to
fight but | told him that / was sure that he
would be more successful in gaining what he
wanted if he would let the white people know
of his trouble and work with them.
This he promised to do, and three weeks
later came to bid me good by as he was start
ing for his Montana home.
The summary of the whole situation was
that the friendly Indians were discouraged,
and the hostiles were determined to use this
opportunity to carry forward their plots.
Reductions of rations, poor crops, unwhOle-
some food, sickness failure of treaty payment.
had driven the progressive leaders to despera-
| ton, while the bloodthirsty, disorderly ele-
| ment had been given prominence.
The Messiah craze" and ghost dance songs
| had their influence, for organizing into COM
mon cause those who hoped for redress and
those who wished to crafty their spirit of re-
| venge or love of war.
The Brules at Rosebud Agency had been re-
districted by new survey throwing their
ration center at Pine Ridge. Their coming to
| Pine Ridge at time of restitution was resisted
by the Ogalalla pine Ridge Sioux, and amid
| the disorder which followed there were two
-fights-the flight of Agent Roger in terror for
| soldiers, and the fight of the Brules to the
Bad Lands"
The disorderly element, with the treachery
common to the worst of humanity (of both
races, offered their services as messengers and
| were accepted, demonstrating that the great
est difficulty in the way of peace was the lack
of discrimination between the hostile and the
| we'll disposed"
The Brules were told that the soldiers were
| going to attack them and the military were in
| formed that the Brules were going TO make
| raids upon the settlements. Soldiers were sent
80
| able labyrinth of the Bad Lands, where the
alkali turrets, varying from so to 500 feet,
| marked ravines that irregularly traversed the
country over an area of 100 by 40 miles.
On my next visit to Little Wounds camp,
| invited him to come to see me at the Agency.
/ He hesitated, and with evident suspicion, asked
| me why | wished him to come.
i told him that he could not possibly run
any greater risk i'll coming to see me than |
| had done in coming out unprotected, to his
| camp, but that had been willing to do it, to
bring help to his people Was he not willing to
| do as much as |? He yielded to this argument
| and came with his wife TO see me.
l had invited the Special Agent to meet him,
and during the two hours of his stay, Little
| Wound became convinced of the peaceable in
| tentions Of the Government returning to his
! camp treasured.
/ became so aroused to the danger threat
ening the Agency, that / went to report the
| matter WneTe l. was sure IL WOulu receive the
attention it demanded. A few days after
left, Little Wound came into the Special
| Agents Office aud volunteered to go to the
" Bad Lands" and bring back the Brules, ask
| ing for protection in case of trouble, saying that
he had gone on similar errend once before aud
had not been supported by the Government.
He went to the Bad Lands and was successful
in his mission, making the attack by the SOL
diers unnecessary, thus throwing his power
| into the balance of peace,
| Meanwhile preparations had been going on
to capture the Agency. Big Foot's band, com.
posed of the worst element of Standing Rock
Sitting Bulls remnant), Cheyenne River and
Rosebud Agencies were their way to Pine
Ridge to fight, as have learned fiom trust.
worthy sources.
When it was known that hostile band oil
Indians was at large each settlement felt that
it might be the point of attack. Farms and
ranches were deserted, all the inhabitant Is
budding together in the little towns in a most
pitiabe manner. Squads of soldiers were sent
in different directions to intercept and sur
round Big Foot's band.
| Maj Whiteside came upon them about &c
miles from the Agency, and, compelling them
to surrender, brought them down to Wounded
Knee Creek, where after supplying needed
tents, they encamped for the night; he had
sent for reinforcements who arrived about mid
night, keeping close guard over the willy hos.
tiles lest they again slip away.
In the morning they were sullcn and tact
turn. The command had been given to the