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



almost constantly, aud were very sullen and apparently very hostile. 

 After serious consideration of the matter, the task of securing Hump 

 was assigned to Captain E. I'. Ewers of the Fifth infantry, who had 

 had charge of this chief and his band for seven years and had their 

 full confidence and respect. He was then on duty in Texas, but was 

 ordered forward and reported soon alter at Fort Bennett on the border 

 of the reservation. So dangerous was Hump considered to be that the 

 civil agents did not think it possible even for the officer to communicate 

 with him. However, Captain Ewers, without troops and attended only 

 by Lieutenant Hale, at once left the fort and rode out CO miles to Hump's 

 camp. " Hump at the time was 20 miles away and a runner was sent 

 for him. Immediately upon hearing that Captain Ewers was in the 

 vicinity he came to him and was told that the division commander 

 desired him to take his people away from the hostiles and bring them 

 to the nearest military post. He replied that it General Miles sent for 

 him, he would do whatever he desired. He immediately brought his 

 people into Fort Bennett and complied with all the orders and instruc- 

 tions given him, and subsequently rendered valuable service for peace. 

 Thus an element regarded as among the most dangerous was removed." 

 After coming into the fort, Hump enlisted as a scout under Captain 

 Powers, and soon afterward, in connection with the. same Lieutenant 

 Hale, proved his loyalty by bringing about the surrender of the Sitting 

 Lull fugitives. Subsequently Captain Ewers further distinguished him- 

 self by conducting the northern Cheyenne — who were considered as 

 particularly dangerous, but who regarded Captain Ewers with abso- 

 lute affection — from Pine Ridge to Tongue river, Montana, a distance 

 of 300 miles, and in the most rigorous of the winter season, without an 

 escort of troops and without the loss of a single life or the commission 

 by an Indian of a single unlawful act. ( War, 1(>.) 



The Sitting Lull fugitives who had not come in at once had lied south- 

 ward toward their friends and near relatives of Cheyenne River reser- 

 vation, and were camped on Cherry creek a few miles above its juncl ion 

 with Cheyenne river at Cheyenne City. As their presence there could 

 serve only to increase the unrest among the other Indians in that 

 vicinity, and as there was great danger that they might attempt to join 

 those already in the Bad Lands, Captain Hurst, of the Twelfth infantry. 

 commanding at Fort Bennett, directed Lieutenant II. E. Hale on Decern 

 ber 18 to go out and bring them in. On arriving at Cheyenne City the 

 otlicer found it deserted, all the citizens excepting one man having lied 

 in alarm a short time before, on the report of a half-blood that the Sit- 

 ting Bull Indians were coming and had sworn to kill the first white 

 man they met. Having succeeded in frightening the whole population, 

 the half-blood himself. Narcisse Xarcclle. left at once for the fort. 



After some difficulty in finding anyone to assist him. Hale sent a 

 policeman to bring back Narcellc and sent out another Indian to learn 

 the situation and condition of the Indian camp. His only interpreter 



