The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1921-04-01
The Tragedy
ofSittiEg Bull
(By Charles N. Hereby

In the picturesque valley OF the
Grand River, In the west-of-the
Missouri river country Of South Da-
kota, on the 18th day OF September,
1920, at one o'clock in the afte.-
noon, stood on the exact spot
where Sitting Bull fell when he was
murdered at daybreak on the Is day
Of December. 1890.
| It was beautiful autumn day
warm, calm and clear. with only a
few white clouds floating, almost
m0ti0nless, over the historic camp
ing ground of q once turbulent tribe
Of the Sioux
The ground clearly corroborated
the fact that here once stood the
log house. the home OF this remark
able leader among his people. Near
by were the neglected graves of the
seven innocent victims. who were
shot during the brief struggle be-
tween the Indian police and the fol-
lowers Of Sitting Bull. This was his
home. This was their village.
The 16th-the first day OF the
hunting season had been s'a perfect
day. for Ed. M. Hall, ex-mayor of
Aberdeen. Chas. Van Dusen OF Iowa.
and this writer. who were the guests
Of Hon. G. H. Hartung, Corson coun-
| TVS prominent citizen, at his beauti-
ful summer home, one OF the most
enhancing spots in this state, "Ths
Log Cabine" on Oak Greek near Nc
Laughlin.
Eager to see the famous Indian
country. we proceeded by auto 90
the Indian village. Bull Head, where
hundreds of Indians for ten days
had been holding a conference con-
sidering serious grievances and
claims against the government. We
saw them adjourn" break camp
and depart for their homes.
At Bull Head on invitation of Mr..
Hartung. Robert High Eagle and
Antoine De Rockbraine, two Of the
most prominent Indians ON this re-
servation, college graduates and
fine gentlemen, Joined our expedi-
ton together with Thomas, q son
Of Antoine, young man recently
home from France where he dis
tinguished himself for bravery in
the battles Of the Argonne.
The trail follows the Grand river,
which we had to ford several times.
After travelling few miles our
guides stopped US and told US we
were then in fine grouse country,
but, hunters tho we were, we all
agreed to continue swiftly to our
destination.
Sitting Bulls famous camp was
located about ten. miles below the
present village" of Bull Head. AT
ter carefully viewing the place we
selected spot for our campfire and
ate our lunch among the big trees
on the banks of the river whose
ripping current hurrying towards
the Missouri, disturbed the all pre-
vading silence of the lndian-summer
day.
Against the green leaves Of the
big cottonwood trees stood the gor-
geous yellow ash, and the brilliant
woodbine was everywhere in great
profusion. The masses of autumn
flowers and gorgeous foliage of the
shrubs and brush harmonized beau
tifully in the sunlight with the 81
lent shimmering sentinels guarding
the seven graves of the aborigines.
Here our Indian friends pictured
\ the tragedy enacted in the early,
cold, gray morning of the winter day
thirty years ago.
The restlessness OF all the Dako-
ia Indians was giving the govern
ment some uneasiness. The Messiah
"craze" was spreading with the APP
proach of winter and famine. In
the domain of Sitting Bull there
were between four hundred and five
hundred people but the resistance
of the Chief to the new gospel war
weakening with the growing dis.
tress.
Sitting Bull had been ordered tc
appear at the Standing Rock Agen.
cy.-a two days Journey. which he
neglected or refused to take. The
|agent. Major Mclaughlin, universal.
~ respected by all Indians. had
his own ideas for managing q criti.
cal situation, delicate and possibly
dangerous. but ct this stage the mil.
itary authorities assumed control
and proceeded to arrest the CHIEF
who had neglected to obey orders
Buffalo Bill Cody. Who va on hi.
way to see his old friend and pef.
lssade him e 80 70 the sssssy. ",
s.x.-@-s. y d