indian heroes and great chieftains(印第安英雄)-第19章
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too； they were followed by United States commissioners； headed by
General Terry； who endeavored to persuade him to return； promising
abundance of food and fair treatment； despite the fact that the exiles were
well aware of the miserable condition of the 〃good Indians〃 upon the
reservations。 He first refused to meet them at all； and only did so when
advised to that effect by Major Walsh of the Canadian mounted police。
This was his characteristic remark： 〃If you have one honest man in
Washington； send him here and I will talk to him。〃
Sitting Bull was not moved by fair words； but when he found that if
they had liberty on that side； they had little else； that the Canadian
government would give them protection but no food； that the buffalo had
been all but exterminated and his starving people were already beginning
to desert him； he was compelled at last； in 1881； to report at Fort Buford；
North Dakota； with his band of hungry； homeless； and discouraged
refugees。 It was； after all； to hunger and not to the strong arm of the
military that he surrendered in the end。
In spite of the invitation that had been extended to him in the name of
the 〃Great Father〃 at Washington； he was immediately thrown into a
military prison； and afterward handed over to Colonel Cody （〃Buffalo
Bill〃） as an advertisement for his 〃Wild West Show。〃 After traveling
about for several years with the famous showman； thus increasing his
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INDIAN HEROES AND GREAT CHIEFTAINS
knowledge of the weaknesses as well as the strength of the white man； the
deposed and humiliated chief settled down quietly with his people upon
the Standing Rock agency in North Dakota； where his immediate band
occupied the Grand River district and set to raising cattle and horses。
They made good progress； much better； in fact； than that of the 〃coffee…
coolers〃 or 〃loafer〃 Indians； received the missionaries kindly and were
soon a church…going people。
When the Commissions of 1888 and 1889 came to treat with the Sioux
for a further cession of land and a reduction of their reservations； nearly all
were opposed to consent on any terms。 Nevertheless； by hook or by
crook； enough signatures were finally obtained to carry the measure
through； although it is said that many were those of women and the so…
called 〃squaw…men〃； who had no rights in the land。 At the same time；
rations were cut down； and there was general hardship and dissatisfaction。
Crazy Horse was long since dead； Spotted Tail had fallen at the hands of
one of his own tribe； Red Cloud had become a feeble old man； and the
disaffected among the Sioux began once more to look to Sitting Bull for
leadership。
At this crisis a strange thing happened。 A half…breed Indian in
Nevada promulgated the news that the Messiah had appeared to him upon
a peak in the Rockies； dressed in rabbit skins； and bringing a message to
the red race。 The message was to the effect that since his first coming
had been in vain； since the white people had doubted and reviled him； had
nailed him to the cross； and trampled upon his doctrines； he had come
again in pity to save the Indian。 He declared that he would cause the
earth to shake and to overthrow the cities of the whites and destroy them；
that the buffalo would return； and the land belong to the red race forever！
These events were to come to pass within two years； and meanwhile they
were to prepare for his coming by the ceremonies and dances which he
commanded。
This curious story spread like wildfire and met with eager acceptance
among the suffering and discontented people。 The teachings of Christian
missionaries had prepared them to believe in a Messiah； and the prescribed
ceremonial was much more in accord with their traditions than the
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conventional worship of the churches。 Chiefs of many tribes sent
delegations to the Indian prophet； Short Bull； Kicking Bear； and others
went from among the Sioux； and on their return all inaugurated the dances
at once。 There was an attempt at first to keep the matter secret； but it
soon became generally known and seriously disconcerted the Indian
agents and others； who were quick to suspect a hostile conspiracy under
all this religious enthusiasm。 As a matter of fact； there was no thought of
an uprising； the dancing was innocent enough； and pathetic enough their
despairing hope in a pitiful Saviour who should overwhelm their
oppressors and bring back their golden age。
When the Indians refused to give up the 〃Ghost Dance〃 at the bidding
of the authorities； the growing suspicion and alarm focused upon Sitting
Bull； who in spirit had never been any too submissive； and it was
determined to order his arrest。 At the special request of Major
McLaughlin； agent at Standing Rock； forty of his Indian police were sent
out to Sitting Bull's home on Grand River to secure his person （followed at
some little distance by a body of United States troops for reinforcement； in
case of trouble）。 These police are enlisted from among the tribesmen at
each agency； and have proved uniformly brave and faithful。 They
entered the cabin at daybreak； aroused the chief from a sound slumber；
helped him to dress； and led him unresisting from the house； but when he
came out in the gray dawn of that December morning in 1890； to find his
cabin surrounded by armed men and himself led away to he knew not
what fate； he cried out loudly：
〃They have taken me： what say you to it？〃
Men poured out of the neighboring houses； and in a few minutes the
police were themselves surrounded with an excited and rapidly increasing
throng。 They harangued the crowd in vain； Sitting Bull's blood was up；
and he again appealed to his men。 His adopted brother； the Assiniboine
captive whose life he had saved so many years before； was the first to fire。
His shot killed Lieutenant Bull Head； who held Sitting Bull by the arm。
Then there was a short but sharp conflict； in which Sitting Bull and six of
his defenders and six of the Indian police were slain； with many more
wounded。 The chief's young son； Crow Foot； and his devoted 〃brother〃
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died with him。 When all was over； and the terrified people had fled
precipitately across the river； the soldiers appeared upon the brow of the
long hill and fired their Hotchkiss guns into the deserted camp。
Thus ended the life of a natural strategist of no mean courage and
ability。 The great chief was buried without honors outside the cemetery
at the post； and for some years the grave was marked by a mere board at
its head。 Recently some women have bu
