Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1915-12-17
25th Anniversary
Sitting Bull Fight
Frank Fiske Writes Interesting Article
on 25th Anniversary Of the Death
of Chief Sitting Bull

AS all the world knows, Sitting
Bull was Sioux chief and medi-
cine man. His fame has reached
to the furthermost parts of the earth.
Esthetic, spiritualistic, Individuals
tic, dogmatic and ambitious, he
held his people loyal by these char
acteristics. He was not q great
warrior like Gail or Crazy Horse,
but gained his power through the
making Of medicine, that is, by
going off by himself while a fight
was on, and praving to the Great
Spirit, and interpreting his impress
sions thus gained in a way that was
sure to appeal to the superstitious
nature Of his people. In this way
he assumed full credit for the defeat
of Custer, and when, in 1890, an
Indian from distant tribe came to
him with a wondrous story Of the
coming Of the Messiah, through
whom the redmen would regain the
old time freedom, and the whites be
banished from the earth, he grasped
the idea with enthusiasm which all
the advice and warnings of the gov
ernment officials could not dispe].
He gathered about him at his
camp on the Grand River, about
800 of his tribe, and began a ghost
dancing series that for originality
q movement and extent of exhaust
ing duration has never been equal
led. 1t was q religious affair, to
them, and a performance whereby
they believed they could commune
cate with the souls of those who had
preceded them to the Happy Hunt
ing Grounds. They danced until
overcome by the exertion, and drop
ping to the ground, were carried to
Sitting Bulbs tent where he pretend
ed to interpret their dreams for the
edification of the credulous.
During the beautiful fall months
this affair went on while the settlers
for many miles around dug refuge
cellars and trenches about their
homes, and sent out scouts to watch
for the impending outbreak. Sta
toned at Fort Yates were 2 troops
Of cavalry and 8 companies Of in
fantry, while Indian Agent james,
Mclaughlin had a well diciplined-
force of Indian police. J. n. Car
ignan was stationed at a day school
about two miles from the camp of
Sitting Bull, and he acted as inter-
for the Indians and Major
Mclaughlin. On December 18th
he sent in word that the hostiles
we're about to break camp and join
their friends in the bad lands of
South Dakota, and in this respect
It must be added that the Indians
of several other reservations to the
,outh had also been aroused by the
Messiah idea and were preparing |
or the great event. Therefore it
vas deemed expedient to take ac-
ion at once. The police were Or
Tered to arrest Sitting Bull, and
hey would be supported by the
cavalry from Fort Yates
They carried out instructions with
, fidelity rare, and when, in the
yray dawn Of the 18th, the troops
,ame upon the hill in sight Of the
camp, they found fierce battle in |
progress in which five brave police
nan and Sitting Bull and several
If his followers were killed. Throw
ing out skirmish line the soldiers
fred one volly in the direction Of
he camp, by which they succeeded
in killing an old red bull that was
grazing nearby, and soaring the
nostiles into instant flight up the !
river. The police displayed a white
flag, and the fight was over.
Sitting Bulls body was buried in |
The post cemetery, and the police
entered in the Catholic cemetery at
Fort Yates. And now that 25 years
have rolled around with great chang
ps in the life of the Standing Rock
Sioux, it seems incredible that such
a thing could have ever occurred
these peacefully inclined
people.
Sitting Rull and all the heliefs
and customs of his time have passed
away, and new and better condi-
lions have taken their place. At
least we hone and imagine that thew
are hetter, because we must accent !
the inevitable advance that civiliza-
lion has brought.
Frank Fiske. /
Dies In Iowa CITY
Charles IT. Rates, who was chair
nan Of the hoard that annraised the