The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-02-05
VIEWED AT OMAHA.
The Number of Troops Available and in
the Vicinity of Pine Ridge.

The Number of Troops Available and in
the Vicinity of Pine Ridge.
OMAHA, Feb. 4.-News of the Indian
difficulty was conveyed to officials OF the
department of the Platte by a Bee reporter
this afternoon. General McCook thought
there could be no foundation tor the
rumor of q general outbreak. He said
Two Sticks and his band belonged at
Rosebud and not at Pine Ridge. One OF
the leading officers at the department said
it is the wrong time of theyear for an out
break, if 1t were a month later there
might be more likelihood of an uprising.
Inquiry as to forces of the army now in
the vicinity of Pine Ridge agency elected
q statement to the effect that the officers
feel well 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 NiobTara
the same force is stationed, both garrisons
being well supplied with Calling and
Hotchkiss guns. If necessary four troops
of cavalry could easily be brought down
from Fort Meade and other troops could
be brought in very quickly. There are
sixty Indian policemen at Pine Ridge
agency and about the same number at
Rosebud.
DR.. McGillicuddy, who for long time
past has made some very interesting state
ments regarding the Indian situation to
the press, said TO a Bee reporter: 'While
there is no open ghost dancing, there is
quite discussion of topics all the time,
and the fact that the promise was that the
Messiah would come after two springs,
which would bring the time to 1898, is
being carefully watched by the Indians.
The government recently paid the Indians
at Pine Ridge $50, COO, and this is used as
an argument that the great father fears
his red SONS, else why should he seek to
buy them. The return from Camp Sheri-
dan of Short Bull and Kicking Bear has
added disturbing element to the situa-
ton. These fellows are big men among
the Brules. who are turbulent lot, hard
to keep in bounds and who really do not
belong to Pine Ridge agency, where they
settled after the trouble of 1890.
The fellows figure that concessions
which resulted in their being allowed to
remain there instead of being sent back
to Rose Bud is sign that they can secure
greater favors by demanding them and
I have leaders who carefully foster this
| idea. The most significant thing, how
ever, is the fact that there have been
communications between the various In
dian tribes all during the past year of a
secret and apparently important nature.
There is also line of communication
well established and constantly used be-
tween the Indian Territory and British
America and Indians all along the line
understand that other bands are kept
posted on the movement.
Zone trouble at Pine Ridge is that Cap
tain Brown OF the Eleventh infantry 4.
who is now there is not the permanent
agent and the Indians are inclined to
build on the possibility of his being taken
away at any time. Captain Brown has
the affairs of the agency in good shape,
said DR.. McGillicuddy, but it would not
take much of mistake to start worse
outbreak in the spring than the ore Of
\ two years ago.