Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1891 — BLOODSHED! [ARTICLE]

BLOODSHED!

Gew. -Shermak Is correct in saying l that the idea of supporting the Indians in idleness, while white men have to iwork for a living, is a reproach to the •Government; and it is to be hoped (that Congress will turn over a new leaf la that respect. Dciujsg the month of November the fees of the pension attorneys aggregated $196,600, or at the rate of $2,1560.000 a year. This is just so much deducted from the money voted to the soldiers, and some way should be devised to put a stop to such an unjust aud unfair practice. The bill toproviilj for a thorough exploration of central Alaska ought to pass. From the reports of hunters and traders there are immense and unsuspected natural resources in that region, and the people have a right to learn officially and authoritatively the exact situation in this respect. ThE silver half dollar is so unpopular a coin that $17,000,000 worth of Ihdm mnaba piled up in the Treasury vaults, and can not be got into circulatidfj. The Director of the Mint suggests that they be recoined into dimes and quarters, and asks 'or an appropriation for that purpose.

The rapidity with which work on the Nicaragua Canal 13 being conducted, as shown report of the com.--pany engaged in the construction, will give pleasure to the country. This is mn American enterprise to the ox tent that the corporation at the head of : t has an American charter, receives its chief support from American capital and, when finished, will furnish imjportant aid to American commerce (The original engineers’ estimi te of the cost of construction was $64,000,030, and the time required to do the work waa put at between five and six years. Experiences with other enterprises of the kind suggests the likelihood that in neither particular will expectation be completely realised. But even with a moderate advance in each case, the canal must ultimately be a paying investment

It is hardly worth while to bother about, the imagined excitement and Injury to business which would result from the throwing of the next Presidential contest in the House of Representatives. In the first pla'ie there is not the shadow of a 6hance that this thing will happen, and in the 6ecood place, if it should happen, the big Democratic majority which will bs in Ihe House at that time will render the election of the Democratic candidate so certain that no suspense or auxietv whatever will be caused. The election of a President by ths House would not be an entirely unprecedented occurrence. And if it should take place there would be none of the element of danger in the situation which were present in 1800, when that body sent Jefferson to the Presideooy. or - in 1824. when it was decided in favor of the second Adams. Those of the Australian colonists who are seeking to turn their huge Island into an Independent republic ate not likety to succeed, accoi ding to a colonist now in this city, who say-. *••1116 Australians are proud that thei: country forms a link in the imperial chain of British possessions that encircle the globe. We ga<n great advantages by belonging io tbo Queen's empire. Our commerco is the.eby * promoted, and the free > change of goods between England and Australia is thus established. The Borne authorities encourage the settlement of British colonists among us. We have an impartial court of last resor* in London for the adjuitment of any dispute between the five colonies of Australia. We have a gigantic a*-m of defence in the Britisn array and navy, if any assault should ever be made up. on us by any adversary, and we stand secure under the shield of the British Government If we were separated from the motherland we would be liable to many dangers and disturbances from which we are now safe. We could not enjoy more freedom as a Republic than we now have under tLe new colonial system. Our laws are made by our own legislatures; our railroads are public property controlled by the State, and it is evident that our workmen have the right to strike, for we have just settled the biggest strike ever known in the world. The secession party in Australis is too small to be seen there. The Australians will appere to the British Japire, and are ready to do battle for its defence against any adorsary.”

SKIRMISH CAUSED BY INDIAN TREACHER^, Flt« Solrtl-r* and Fifrjr IniHau Kill'd—--FaWiif th«Tritachnoai Krda Elvapt— Chplain Waltaca Among the Killed. ’ " . i ■ " .. ' A special from Wounded Knee creek, S. D,, oa lbo2sth, say«: Bright and early were the troops up this morning. At S o'clock they were ordered to be in readiness to move. At that hour the cavalry aud dismounted troops were massed about the Indian viliage, the Hotchkiss guns overlooking the camp not jtifty yards away. Col. Forsyth ordered all Che Indians to come forward away from the tents. They came and sat in a half-circle until cou-.ted. The dismounted troops were then thrown around them, Company" K, Ca'ptaiu Wallace, and Company B, Captain Vacuum. The order was then given to twenty Indians to go and get their guns. U~sn returning it was seen that only two guns were had. A detachment at once began to search the vitiate, resulting in thir-far-eight guns being found; As "this task was aboutcompleted the Indians surrounded by Companies K aud B began to move. Adi of a sudden they threw their hands to the ground and be gfifi <lrinp rapidly at the troops, not twenty foot away. The troops were at a great disadvantage, fearing Bhooting thei own comrades. All the Indian men, wo.men arid children ran to the south, thehattery tiring rapidly as they ran. Soon the maunted troops were after them, shooting them down on every sideThe engagement lasted fully au hour acd a half. To the south many took refuge in a ravine, from which it was difficult todis*odge them. It is estimated that the soldiers killed and wounded number about fiity. Just now it is impossible to state the exact number of dead Indians. There are many more than fifty, however, killed outright. All the soldiers are shootiHg the Indians down wherever found, no quarter being given by any one. * Captain Wallace K troop, with cavalry, was killed, and Lieutenant Darlington, of A.rctio fame was shot through the arm at the elbow All the troops are still firing from the camp, and pursuing tha enemy in every direction.

To say it was a most daring feat, 120 Indians attacking 500 cavalry, expresses the situation but faintly. It-eould only have been insanity which prompted such a deed. U isdoubted if before night either a buck or a squaw out of all Big Foot s band of 150 bucks and 250 squaws and children, will be left to toll the tale of this day’s treachery. The members of the Seventh Cavalry have once more shown themselves to be heroes in deeds of daring. Singlehanded conflicts were seen all over the field. The death of Captain Wallace causes much regret. The poor fellow met his death by a blow on the head from a war club. Full particulars cau not be giv* en'as yet. The reports of the engagement are fully eonflrmed by dispatches from General Miles. He says: Colonel Forsythe reports that while disarming Big Foot’s band a fight occurred. Captain Wallace and a few soldiers were killed, Lieutenant Garlington and fifteen men wounded. This again complicates the sun-ender of all the Indians, which would have taken place iu a short time had this not occurred. Forsythe had two battalions and Hotchkiss guns. Quite a large number of young warriors had been away from the camp, who were going from the Bad Lanas. Also quite a number of Two Strike’s baud are going towards Forsythe. The troops are iu close proximity.

A telegram from Rushville, Neb., says: When the news of to-day’s fight at Wounded Knee creek reached the agency at Pine Kidge, pandemonium broke loose among the five thousand Indians gathered there, and a largo number of these broke away. The friendly Indians, including Red Cloud, joined the army forces under General Brooke. At sundown fighting had commenced within three miles of the agency buildings, and a determined effort was being made by the reds to reach and burn the agency. An Indian village of friendlies, in plain sight of the agency, was seen to go-up in flames just before dark. These facts were from an official courier, who was an eye-witness to the trouble that occurred 0 at and near the agency. He came here by order of the agency authorities, bringing special dispatches, and to warn the settlers everywhere to bo on the guard. The captain of the Rushville Home Guards received official notice from the agency, Saturday afternoon, to make every possible preparation for defending the town and to see that adjacent settler* were notified. Soon the terrified people came in, and before midnight the town was crowded. It is thought by all cooler heads that no dans ger, however, or at least no immediate danger, threatens the railroad townsSunday’s battle has made it almost certain that a bloody war will follow. A largo number of warriors who favored peace, have gone to the Bad Lands, and now, with a strong force of fighting bucks, it will be a difficult matter to dislodge Kicking Bear. Two Strike’s band was coming toward the agency, but.lt is now certain they will turn back.

Si An eye-witness telegraphs as follows: The tepees having been gone through, an order was given to search the warriors All thought of trouble was evidently wholly out of iniud with the soldiers. About a dozen of the warriors had been searched, when like a flash all the rest of them jerked guns from under the.r blankets aQd began pouring bullets into the ranks of soldiers, who, a few minutes before, had moved up within almost gun length. Those Indians who had no gun* rushed on the soldiers with tomahawk in one hand and scalping* knife in the other. Oh, it was demoniac, a hellishly horrible rush! With General Forsythe -and Major Whiteside I stood when the firing started within j touching distance of the death dealing devils. The only thing that saved all throb of us from instant death was that the Indians had their backs turne d to us when tbdy began firing. Their first volley was almost as one man, so that they must have fired a hundred ahota before the soldiers fired one, but, oh, how they were slaughtered after their first volley 1 “Gome, however, suooeeded in getting away to the assail hills to the southwest

I The bring lasted a half hour, and even m l write these words I hear that Hotchkiss pouring sbptinto the gulle.vs to the north, where a few of the devils have taken refuge. The Commissioner of Indian Affairs on the 80th received the following dispatch from agent D, F. Royer, dated Pine Ridge Indian Agency, Dec. 29: “On Wounded Knee creek this morning, while the sols diers were disarming Big Foot "and his band after their surrender, a fight took place which resulted in the killing of shout 300 Indians and several of the soldiers, including Captain Wallace, with a number wbunded. •‘Two Strike and his party, who were camped on White Clay creek just below Red Cloud’s house, opened * fire on the agency from the hill top opposite the board, ing school, wounding two soldiers. The police returned the fire, killing two of the Indians ana wounding two others. Two Strike and his band have retreated in a northwesterly direction from the agency, and it is supposed he is tryingto make his way back to the Bad Lands. Up to this time the Pine Ridge Indiana have taken no active part in the war, but Big Foot, Slow Bear, Kicking Bear and the Two Strike band have been and are active in the disturbance.”

A SECOND BATTLE WITH THE HFDB. Advices to Rushville, on the 30, give the news of another encounter between the troops and Indians at a point within four mil'es of the The Seventh and Ninth Cavalry were just coming in from Monday’s battle field, followed at some distance by their provision train. On reaching the point named a large hand of Indians, beaded cby Chief Two Strike’ dashed suddenly upon the train, captured it and were 'making off toward the Bad Lands, when the cavalry wheeled and gave pursuit. In the battle which followed over thirty Indians were wounded, but no soldiers were killed According to the latest reports Two Strike’s Indians had, Monday, been considered peaceable and subdued, but tneir sudden change of mind causes the gravest fears that perhaps none of the so-called friendlies can be relied on. However, word from General Brooke to the settlers is somewhat reassuring, it being to the effect that the great body of the savages have remained loyal all the while and that nearly all the 'rebels are dead. He further says the settlers there are not now in danger.

Reliable news is also at hand that Col. Henry- is now approaching the agency with 700 Indians captured in the Bad LandsThis is believed to include all the remnant of the rebels on their reservation, aud "hopes are entertained of a speedy settlement. It has cost the lives of about 250 Indians and twenty-live or thirty soldiers killed to effect this result, if, indeed, it may bo said that peace is yet estaolished. The bcdy'of gallant Captain Wallace and the other dead soldiers arrived al noon from the agency', and wiil be shipped to Fort Robinson, the nearest military post Rushville is crowded with settlers. Alj public rooms are thrown open and no effort is being spared to make the refugees comfortable. They are here, as previously reported, on the advice of Gen. Brooke. They are not only ready to defend their homes,but many are anxious to enlist with the regulars if further fighting should occur. The number of killed in the first battle is known to be twenty-five soldiers and not less than 250 Indians. A vivid description of the battle is given as follows:

The work of disarming had hardly been entered upon when the 120 desperate Indians turned upon the soldiers, who were gathered closely abouUthe tepees, and immediately a storm of firing was poured upon the military, it was as though the order to search had been, a signal. The soldiers, not anticipating any such action, had been gathered in very closely and the first firiug was terribly disastrous to them. The reply whs immediate, however, and in an instant the ground on which the Indian camp was set was a sunken Vesuvius. The soldiers, maddened at the sight of their falling comrades, hardly awaited the command, and in a moment the whole front was a sheet of fire above which the smoke rolled, obscuring the central scene from view. Through this horrible curtain single Indians could bo.seen at times flying before the fire, but after the first discharge from the carbines of the troopers there were few of them left. They fell on ail sides like grain in the course of a scythe, Inuiaus and soldiers lay together and, wounded, fought on the ground. Off through the draw toward the bluffs the few remaining warriors fled, turning occasionally to fire, but now evidently caring more for escape than battle. Only the wounded Indians seemed possessed of the courage of devils. Prom the ground whore they had fallen they continued to fireuut i their ammunition was gone or until killed by the soldiers. Both sides forgot everything excepting only the loading and discharging of guns. It was only in the early part of the affray that hand to hand fighting was seen. Carbines were clubbed, sabers gleamed and war clubs circled in the air and came down like thunderbolts. But this was only for a short time; the Indians could not stand that storm from the soldiers; they had not hoped to. It was only the last struggle before death. The remnant fled, and the battle became a hunt. It was now that the artillery was called into requisition. Before the fighting was so close that the guns could not be trained without danger of death to the soldiers. Now, with the Indians flying, it was easier to reach them. Gatling and Hotchkiss guns were trained, and then began a heavy firing which lasted half an hour, with fre queut heavy volleys of musketry. It was a war of extermination now with the troops. It was difficult to restrain them. ! Tactics were almost abandoned. About the 1 only tactics was to kill while it couli be done wherever an Indian could be seen | Down in the creek and up over the banhills they were followed by artillery and j musketry, and for several minutes the on gagement went on, until not a living Indian was iu sight, FIGHTING ALL ALONG THE LINE. * A special on the 81st from Pine Ridge, referring to Wednesday's fight, says word . was brought in by courier that the Catholic Mission boil tings had been fired by tLa

-heetiles, and the inmates were being man*) sacred The weary cavalrymen were aft once in the saddle again started fee the scene. They found it was a school house which had been fired, and not the mission buildings, which were fully a mile away. There were over eighteen hundred bucks in the vicinity when the troops came up. But few would show themselves at a time, the intention evidently being to draw the troops on. Col. Forsythe suspected the trap laid, and be* ing greatly outnumbered began a retreat. Then the Indians started an attempt to surround his force of the SevenUi Cavalry aud almost completed the cordon, when the Ninth Cavalry came up from the agency and caused the Indians to- retire. Half an hour more and the massacre of 1870 would have been repeated. The combined forces of cavalry were still greatly out-' numbered and returned to the agency after a sharp skirmish. Most of the firing was done at long range, the cannon doing destructive work among the Indians. Only one soldier was killed. Lieutenant Mann, of Company K, Seventh Cavalry, was wounded, and four privates of the Seventh were also wounded. Two Strike, Little Wound, Short Bull and other chiefs ran away from the agency

Monday night, after hearing of the Wounded Knee fight,' taking with them hundreds of.warriorg. They also compelled the old chief Red Cloud to accompany them under threat or death. It is these Indians who located the supply train, Wednesday morning, ar.d is the afternoon raided the Catholic mission. A blinding snow storm, which is fast assuming the proportions of a blizzards, has been raging here since 9 o’clock Thursday morning. A desultory fight was kept up nearly all night at the late battle ground, within a few miles of the agency, until by reason of the suspicious actions of the alleged friendly Indians in camp near the agency., the troops were called in from the field. It transpired late Wednesday evening that the large camp of friendlies located south of the agency is made up almos t entirely of old men, squaws and children. The question is, what is become of the sup. posedly large number of friendly buck* located there until Wednesday. A half breed courier who was through that camp reports that nearly every able bodied Indian in this friendly outfit had quietly slipped away after dark aud joined the hostile forces. At Pine Ridge now, he says, are principally squaws and those not able to fight. Tuesday night was one of terror at Pine Ridge. Lieutenant Benham, commanding the Indian police, received word through his scouts that an attack was to be made on the agency about 9 o’clock, before the' moon appeared. It was the intention of the hostiles to make a dash in the dark, shoot fire arrows and burn all they could and then make their escape. Foliowing on the events of the two previous days this re* port had the effect of causing a veritable panic among the inhabitants. Pandemonium reigned supreme for two hours. Every living thing seemed infected. Women and children were wailing, a hundred mules braying, herses neighing and dog fights ealore. It is enough to say that never such a night was p: ssed in Pine Ridge. Happily the rumor proved incorrect, though about thehour numedVbody of nearly one huns dred appeared on the hill, firod a few shots and then retired. The Catholic mission near Chadronwas burned by Indians Wednesday morningGen. Brooke has ordered a detachment there to guard the town. It is noiv snowing on the reservation and a blizzard is setting in. Ranchers are leaving their homes and flocking into Chadron. Loss of life aud property is great. It is rumored that three thousand Indians have broken away from the agency and gone on the war path. Bi-igadier General Stanley, who has spent eight years among the Sioux, thinks a wa f will follow the fight at Wounded Knee, ai it only required bloodshed to arouse the Indians.

A special on the 3d from Pina Ridgosays “A scout just in from the hostiles says that fourteen cavalry horses, with saddles and other equipments on, were brought into the hostile camp by young wariors. The scout heard the hoatiles make the remark that there were fourteen less soldiers to fight, and the hostiles lost only two w. ( t-iors in getting the fourteen oavaltj hordes, etc. Gen. Schofield, Friday morning, received a telegram from Geu. Miles, dated PineRidge agency, Jan. 1, saying that 3,000 T> . dians, men, women and children, and including about six hundred bucks, are now encamped in a section of the Bad Lands about fifteen miles from the Pina Ridge aeenev, and there is almost a cordon of troops around them. Geu. Miles announces that he hoped to be able to induce the h6stiles to surrender without a struggle. The spot where they were encamped he describes as somewhat like the lava beds of California, where the Modoc made their final fight. Itis an excellent position from an Indian standpoint, but th -re arc no avenues of escape, all having been clo<od by the troops. G©n. Miles says tbe Inuiaus t.ave gathered some cattle and provision - and appear to be determined to make their fight for supremacy at this point. He sa.\ s he will make another effort to get then, back to the ageucy without bloodshed and in order toad so he has estab.ished a regular siege around the stroovhoid.

Rev. William McCoy, of New Philadelphia. Washington coflnty, after a continuous pastorate extending over forty- sevet years of the Mill Creek. Baptist church near Salem, on the 2Sth preached his farewell sermon. His resignation was tendered one month ago, and was reluctantly ao cepted. Mr. McCoy is aged seventy-sir. and is a aative of Indiana, by birth, aj Sellersburg, in 1814. Ho was ordained K the miuistry in 1843, and he immediately took pastoral care of the churches at New Philadelphia aud Mill Creek, the latter the center of a wealthy farming community. He preached to each o’-e Sunday in each , u.'Rnth, and he was noted for ho fidelity with which hekeptgiis appointments. A sensational report from Pine Bluff Ark., has been received at Little Rock, to the effect that tbo negroes o Swan Lake and Greenback, in the southern part of the State, were up in arms, which is unfounded, and was caused by a fight between two neg roe , in wh'ch one of them waa killed.