Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-06-09
HANS IS "TERRORO OF THE SIOUX
When in Trouble with Indians, the Government Called on Film In.
stead of Troops

I the reservation and were threatening
an outbreak. These two daring spirits
went among the hosti:es and secured
their consent to return TO the agency
The Indians were afraid of beine
killed, but were promised immunity for
past deeds. Three of the band. how
ever, led by the medicine man, conn
seled fighting to the death and swore
they would never surrender. The band
started for the reservation and canned
for the night on Wounded Knee creeL&
several miles from the camp of the SOL
diers.
The following morning Hans went
over to the troops who were under
command OF Genera Forsythe. ana
told that officer that a fght would snre-
ly occur unless the medicine man ana
! his two supporters were arrested before
the troops came up. Forsythe did not
think so. and advanced with the resu-
lars. Captain Wallace, however. agreed
with Lone Star. n with the scout and
Little Bat, rode ahead OF the troops ana
went up TO the party of Indians. "a he.
near and to pacify the medicine man
in event trouble came on.
Suddenly n shrill. weird chant arose
from the medicine man. His two follow
ers joined III. Look OUT" yelled Hans
who knew that some ones death was
intended. That's the death song"
Hans, from his association with the
Sioux, could speak the language like a
native, and understood the meaning OF
the death song. From their positions
neither Lone Star nor Little Bat could
fire. Captain Wallace did not under
stand the deadly danger in which he
stood, ana advanced to meet the singing
trio. He held out his hand to the chief
medicine man. The Indian grasped it
with his left hand, and, like a fash Of
lightning, drew a tomahawk from beN
meath his blanket with his right. WITH
a mighty blow he split the head of the
brave captain through to the neck. AS
the stricken man dropped dead, Little
Bat put a bullet through the medicine
mans heart and started on a run for
the soldiers. This was the signal Tor a
fierce battle TO begin. The hostiles at
tempted 10 head off Little Bat and Kill
him; but as fast as an Indian would
run in front of the fieeting man, Hans
would shoot. Hans killed nine Indians
in less than as many minutes, and Lit
tie Bat escaped without q scratch.
The soldiers were so surprised at the
lightning curse of events that they
had taken no action up to this time. But
the inaction lasted only a moment. The
commanding officer ordered fire and
the deadly work began. There were
about $50 Indians in the band, and
lICSC tljuCdldlSl lOOh refuge III ARA
vine from whence the soldiers could not
drive them.
In the meantime General Forsythe
wrote an order for reinforcements and
handed it to Lone Star with instruc-
tions TO mak for the agency. fourteen
miles away. The scout made the ride
in thirty-five minutes, n General
Henry started his troops back without
giving them time to place saddles on
their horses. Hans rode the same
horse back to the battle, and arrived
before h troops. They reached the
scene one hour and twenty-eight min
utes after Forsythe wrote the order,
Hans covering twenty-eight miles in
that time. For this and the dashing
work in saving Little Bat the govern
ment CAV Hans a handsome medal.
The reinforcemeIts came up, the Cat
ling gun was trained up the ravine in
which the Indians had taken refuge,
and dozens of the redskins were killed.
The ravine has since been known as
Bloody Guleh."