210 



RECREATION. 



A feeling of terrible uncertainty 

 had spread over the western portion 

 of the Dakotas, north and south, 

 and the settlers in isolated farm- 

 houses were terror-stricken. 



A detachment of cavalry, sent out 

 from the post across the river, brought 

 back startling reports. The Messiah 

 story was known all over the land, 

 and the Sioux grew bolderand bolder, 

 intimidating and threatening the 

 whites. They told the farmers, among 

 other things, that their houses and 

 fields all would belong to the In- 

 dians in the spring, when they, the 

 whites, were killed. The cavalry had 

 met many families of whites on the 

 roads, fleeing from their little homes 

 and carrying their goods with them. 



By the second week of December, 

 Sitting Bull's band had reached the 

 limit of Government endurance, in 

 disobedience of orders and in defi- 

 ance of all laws. A number of Sioux 

 who were in Government service, as 

 policemen on the reservation, were 

 ordered to carefully watch Bull's 

 movements. Suddenly, one morning, 

 they discovered that he was prepar- 

 ing for flight to the south, to join the 

 Indians of the lower Dakota agencies, 

 who were also making ready for war. 

 He realized that his work of exciting 

 the Sioux to the breaking of laws 

 would no longer be tolerated, and he 

 had decided to quit his village before 

 being arrested. Couriers carried this 

 news to the fort and to the agency. 

 For a week past the post-commander, 

 a wise and careful soldier and officer, 

 had had orders to secure the person 

 of Sitting Bull. The plan had been 

 to quietly arrest him in his village 

 the next ration day, while many of 

 his band would be at the agency 

 drawing supplies; but when the news 

 reached the post that he intended 

 flight, it was decided to take him at 

 once. Lieutenant-Colonel Drum, 

 commander of the post, and Indian 

 Agent James McLaughlin, planned 

 to have Sitting Bull arrested by the 

 Indian police, hoping this course 

 would cause less alarm among his 

 followers than sending the cavalry to 

 make the arrest; though later devel- 



opments showed that perhaps it 

 would have been better to have sent 

 the troops, as the hostiles doubtless 

 would have allowed Sitting Bull to 

 be taken peaceably by them rather 

 than precipitate a fight. 



A body of Indian policemen was 

 dispatched from the agency at night- 

 fall to join those patrolling the old 

 chief's land at Grand River, with 

 orders for his arrest. The cavalry 

 was ordered to march at midnight, 

 meet the policemen when returning 

 after the arrest, receive Sitting Bull 

 from them and bring him to the 

 agency — this, to prevent his rescue, 

 should such an attempt be made. 





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Ill N ■ w 



m 







RED TOMAHAWK, WHO KILLED SITTING BULL. 

 Photo, by Scott. 



The greatest secrecy was observed, 

 lest Bull should hear of the move- 

 ment. The policemen arrived at 

 Bull's house at early dawn and 

 arrested him in the name of the 

 United States Government. He agreed 

 to go with them. Then they let him 

 dress, aided by his two wives. A 

 great deal of time was thus con- 

 sumed. Suddenly one of his sons, 

 who was in the room, a deaf and 

 dumb boy subject to epileptic fits, 

 uttered one of his strange cries. This 

 aroused Bull's followers, who were 



