854 THE GHOST-DANCE RELIGION [eth.ann.14 



7>., 33; L. i>., 3.) Such were the conditions on the opening of Decem- 

 ber, 1890. Everything seemed to be quieting down, and it was now 

 deemed a favorable time to forestall future disturbance by removing 

 the ringleaders. 



Agent McLaughlin at Standing Bock had notified the Department 

 some weeks before that it would be necessary to remove Sitting Bull 

 and several others at no distant day to put an end to their harmful 

 influence among the Sioux, but stated also that the matter should not 

 be precipitated, and that when the proper time came he could accom- 

 plish the undertaking with his Indian police without the aid of troops. 

 As soon as the War Department assumed control of the Sioux agen- 

 cies, it was determined to make an attempt to secure Sitting Bull by 

 military power. Accordingly, orders were given to the noted scout, 

 William F. Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill, who was well acquainted 

 with Sitting Bull and was believed to have influence with him, to pro- 

 ceed to Standing Bock agency to induce him to come in, with authority 

 to make such terms as might seem necessary, and, if unsuccessful, to 

 arrest him and remove him from his camp to the nearest post, Fort 

 Yates. Cody arrived at Fort Yates on November 28, and was about 

 to undertake the arrest, when his orders were countermanded at the 

 urgent remonstrance of Agent McLaughlin, who represented that such 

 a step at that particular time was unwise, as military interference was 

 liable to provoke a conflict, in which the Indians would have the advan- 

 tage, as the warm weather was in their favor. He insisted that there 

 was no immediate danger from the dancing, and tliat at the proper 

 time — when the weather grew colder — he could take care of Sitting 

 Bull and the other disturbers whose removal he advised with the aid 

 of the Indian police, whom, in all his years of service, he had always 

 found equal to the emergency. The attempt was accordingly post- 

 poned. In the meantime Sitting Bull had promised to come into the 

 agency to talk over the situation with the agent, but failed to keep his 

 engagement. A close watch was kept over his movements and the 

 agent was instructed to make no arrests except by authority from the 

 military or the Secretary of the Interior. (<!. />., 34.) 



There is no question that Sitting Bull was plotting mischief. His 

 previous record was one of irreconcilable hostility to the government, 

 and in every disturbance on the reservation his camp had been 

 the center of ferment. It was at his camp and on Ins invitation that 

 Kicking Bear had organized the first Ghost dance on the reservation, 

 and the dance had been kept up by Sitting Bull ever since in spite of 

 the repeated remonstrance of the agent. At the same time the turbulent 

 followers of the medicine-man took every opportunity to insult and 

 annoy the peaceable and progressive Indians who refused to join them 

 until these latter were forced to make complaint to the agent. In 

 October, while the dance was being organized at his camp, Sitting- 

 Bull had deliberately broken the '• pipe of peace" which he had kept 



