The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-09-17
THE DEATH OF SITTING BULL.
THE STORY OF HOW THE NOTED
INDIAN WAS KILLED.

tenant of Police at Standing Rock
Agency-The Lieutenant's Name
Was Henry Bull Head, and He Was
in Sitting Bun Dead or AIive-A
Man Who Witnessed sitting Bull
Lead His Last Ghost Dance.
S. 4. Clover, in Chicago Times Herald.
Not by the white man. whom he hated
throughout his eventful life with a hatred
that was persistent, consistent and inn
placable, was Sitting Bull slain. 1t was
his fate to meet death at the hand of a
full-blooded Sioux, Henry Bull Head,
lieutenant of police at Standing Rock
reservation, who, with a squad of Indian
patrollers, had been detailed to bring him
into the agency. peaceably if possible,
forcibly if necessary.
The time was midwinter, the year 1890.
There had been much agitation among the
Sioux tribes due to the reported coming
Of an Indian messiah who was to extermi-
nate the whites, and restore to the Sioux
the entire country over which they once
roamed as masters. A red-skinned Vir
gin Mary had even appeared at the agency
who proclaimed with much earnestness
and junction that her son, the true mes
siah, was coming to redeem his people,
and for them TO prepare the way.
And Sitting Bull was his prophet! That
subtle schemer and cunning medicine
man, who for years had been held in great
repute by the poor, credulOus Indians
was keen to arouse in his followers an
enthusiasm that might stir them into ac-
ton against the whites. 1t was he who
devised the famous ghost dance, which
he led in persona weird mixture of mys-
ticism and fanaticism, in which he man
aged to lash his deluded adherents into
a mad frenzy that left many foaming in
helpless exhaustion outside the sacred
circle of dancers.
1t was my fortune to witness at his camp
on Grand river in North Dakota. forty
miles from the agency buildings, the last
ghost dance Sitting Bull conducted. My
escort thither was brave Lieut.. Bull Head,
who a few days later fired the shot that
gave the big medicine man his coup de
grace. For his services and for permission
to cross the reservation / was indebted to
Maj. Mclaughlin, then Indian agent at
Standing Rock
A few hours after left Fort Yates for
Grand river Col. Cody buffalo Bid
reached the post with an order from Gen.
Miles then division commander, to go to
Sitting Bulls camp, urge him to cease
dancing, drop the messiah craze and tenn
porarily to leave hisspeople.
Col. Drum, in command at Yates, had
good reasons for fearing that in his exalted
state of mind the gallant Cody might not
prove as discreet as the circumstances
demanded, and a hot wire was dispa tched
TO Washington TO that effect. Pending 4
reply, the younger officers at the post did
all they could to delay Codys start. But
the doughty colonel and his associate,
Pony Bob, finally broke away and headed
for Grand river whittier l had preceded
them some ten hours. 1 am abusing no
confidence when l state that my army
friends were decidedly nervous lest 1
should become involved in Cody's vague
plans for capturing Sitting Bull.
But their fears We're groundless, As
Bull Head and l rode up to Oak creek,
fourteen miles from Grand river, we sight
ed Cody and Pony Bob heading for Sitting
Bulls camp, which we had just left. Hard
ly had we greeted them when an orderly
from Col. Drum galloped up with a mes
sage for Buffalo Bill. 1t was from the
war department at Washington, perempto-
rily forbiddng Col. Cody from proceeding
further on his dangerous and ill-advised
mission. Greatly chagrined, Cody wasted
no time in returning, and with only short
halt at Fort Yates, continued on to Bis
marck, thence 90 St. Paul and Chicago
his starting point 1t is not unlikely that
the ghost dancers would have given Cody
and his associates far different recep-
ton from what they confidently expected
had they attempted to carry out their pro
gramme.
How to detach Sitting Bull from his peo-
pie without precipitating a revolt was the
all-important problem So long as he re-
NAMED at Grand River trouble was GER
tain to ensue. 1t was finally determined
that the intrepid Bull Head and the equal
ly brave Shave Head, together with a
squad of picked Indian police, should en-
deavor to coax Sitting Bull to visit the
agency, where, it was planned, he was
to be held until the messiah craze had
subsidized.
Maj Mclaughlin had fixed upon issue
day, Dec. 20 as the best time to accom-
plish his purpose. But a week prior TO
that date came message from Bull Head,
who was in camp near Grand river, to
THE effect that Sitting Bull with his
following was contemplating sudden fight
from the reservation, and that quick ac-
ton was necessary.
Couriers were returned to Bull Head
with instructions to make the arrest with
out loss of time and Dec. 10 at daybreak
was fixed upon. Capt (noW Maj) Fechet
of the Eighth Cavalry, with Troops f
and G., Calling gun and one Hotchkiss
brisk pace to support the. Indian police in
the discharge of their dangerous duty.
1t was first proposed to halt at Oak
creek, and there await the coming of Bull
Head with his prisoner. But in case of
resistance it was decided that nearer
approach was imperative, so the squadron
pushed on to within five miles of Grand
river. which point was reached soon after
daybreak.
Here the officers were presently startled
by seeing Hawkman, a noted Indian scout,
riding furiously toward them from the d-
rection of Grand river. His information
was thrilling enough. II was to the ef-
feet that Bull Head and his entire force
were penned in, and their death was inn
minent.
In short order "boots and saddles was
sounded, and the command moved forward.
AS the squadron neared the high bluffs
overlooking the valley where Sitting Bull
was encamped, brisk firing was heard.
From the brow of the hill good view vas
had of the scene below. In front of sit
ting Bulls shack lay number of dead
of bR