New-York tribune., 1897-06-20
A JOKE STARTED 4 WAR SCARE
GENERAL MILES MOVED HIS SOLDIERS ON
THE DOUBLE QUICK.
Redfed Is d. correspondence of The Chicago


THE DOUBLE QUICK
Redheld Is d. correspondence of The Chicago
sitting Bull m ali his boodthirsty campaigns
greater degree than did a practical joker who
caused the name OF the dreaded chief to figure In
a general alarm throughout three counties of South
Dakota" said a pioneer telegraphef to Record
ernment during most of the Indian outbreaks and
especially when sitting Bull was in the heyday Of
The Custer massacre took place on June m 25
break of ISL when Genera! Miles drove Sitting
Bull over the British line Later or he was brought
Missouri River The newspapers were full of the
deeds incident 10 the chase. capture ana return oi
the vilianous redskin AT that tine was doing
occasiona! service at a station on the Jim River
division OF the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad
the name under which the station was then known
It was new country and II nad MED up win an
intelligent; law-abidlng people lttle used 10 @ tne
break. report OF one, would occasion the great
est excitement and concern
PRACTICAL JOKERS LOOKING FOR LAND
Settlers we're moving in rapidly. and exploring
parties were Of almost daily occurrence a party
made up Of land men and armed guards would dake @
gone sometimes week or ed more. - ,oo,,o
et ReSed for the purpose OF looking over the
broad, fertile acres Of Fauk County IN which at
noticed that the expedition was in charge of a set
OF fellows who managed TO extract large measure
q
rollicking. jolly party and they set out in high
feather ,n ,,o. ,,o ooror,rro =, ,bs marty
was making my way eisurely to the depot. when
I noticed away down the railroad track streak
figured out In the distance train. which seemed
to be a caboose hitched TO an engine There was
no train due nj that hour. and az specials were
rarely run In those days, began TO wonder. soon
discovered By pair Of geer d hags displayed d,SG on
up to the platform the first man to aliSht was
the superintendent OF the division. who at once
1a,1 from y.lR ALI
STORY OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
".No.' said J. What kind of news? What do
"Then the railroad official took me to one side
telling me that he did not wish to occasion any
unnecessary alarm. but that he had been receiving
continued reports that an expedition OF land-seek-
ton and had been literally annhated; that the dcs-
perado chief. Sitting Bull. had again broken loose.
Missouri and was making his way toward Redheld,
in which 1t feared he would cut a wide and
Now don't create any unnecessary alarm said
the superintendent; expect TO get at the founda-
tion OF this rumor shortly and VIII communicate
I'VE went into the station and called up Red
field The information that was ticked back to us
ing train with the words to the engineer Make
Redheld quick The train shot on! Of the depot
and up the track like n fash. and hurried of
to the household where / was making nv home.
/ quietly informed the head OF the house to
what seemed likely 10 occur ana then went back 10
the sounder getting out OF earshot OF It for
the next three hours
GENERAL MILES ISSUES ORDERS.
The wires getting hotter and hotter and
I knew they were having great excitement not
only at Redfeld but at other points along the line
where the rumor had spread. Finally j heard
dispatch to General Miles In 81. Paul. who was
then In command OF the Army Of the Yellowstone.
acquainting MIN with the situation Then came his
reply. Later messages flashed 10 the com
mandants at Forts Bennett and Yates ordering out
scouting parties 10 round up all Indians whom they
might find improperly away from the reservation.
Later word came from the superintendent to alarm
the town. and II was done. Our people. though
some Of them felt thnt they were about to be
slaughtered by Sitting Bull and his tribe OF war
riors. were wonderfully cool and deliberate. and