Adventure Magazine, December 10, 1924 — page 103: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

The Homesteaders “Let Little Crow speak for us. His words are wise,’ shouted a man through the small window. “You heard Wapasha, who likes white men,” said Little Crow. “If you want wise words send for Traveling Hail. He is your Chief Speaker. Why come to me? You did not want me as Chief Speaker. Now you have made war on the whites you must hear the wise words of Traveling Hail.” Big Eagle, of the white man’s party, shouted: ‘“‘This is a very bad business. We must not make it worse by killing any more white people.”’ Wacouta, of the peace party, insisted: “These young men must be taken to the agency. They must tell Major Galbraith what they have done and say they are sorry.” “Kill all the whites! Kull all the Cut- Hairs! Kull the traders!’ , “We will take back all our lands!” “Little Crow shall be our leader!’’ From then on no cne would listen to the voice of peace. Little Crow got cut of bed and demanded silence. “You named a new Chief Speaker, but he has no talk for you. You wculd not name Chetan Wakan Mani, and his heart was sad. Now you are in trouble and come for help. He will forget what happened. He will help you. “You have stepped into swift water and waded too far from the bank to go back. You must cross to the other bank. You will all be killed if you do not make a big fight very quick. “The Grandfather in Washington is having much trouble. He needs all his soldiers in the big war. But he will find some men to hurt you. There always are more white men when you think you have counted the last. If you are brave all the whites in Minnesota can be driven across the Mississippi. Then we can live as Dako- ta men used to live. All the goods of the white men shall be ours. “We must attack the agency within a few hours. Andrew Myrick said we could eat grass when hungry. We will kill all the traders. Myrick shall eat grass. The men must clean the guns. The women must run many bullets. This will be a very big fight. If any leader tries to keep you from fighting, shoot him. He has turned white and is not a Dakota man.” Shou ts of approval greeted this speech. SI Big Eagle, who lived on Crow Creek near Little Crow’s village, called his thirty-odd fighting men together and urged them to go home and keep away from trouble. Most of these were inclined to follow this advice. Not until they saw blood running and houses and stores being looted would the more cautious of the Sioux give way to savagery. Men of other bands stole away in the early morning, refusing to take the bloody step. Big Eagle did not go home, but remained to accompany the war party and to save his white friend, George Spencer, from being killed. Other Indians, opposing the mas- sacre, also remained for a similar purpose. Even many of the Sioux who were yelling, “Kill! Kull!’ did not wish death for every white man and woman. Almost every one of Little Crow’s and Little Six’s bands had some one white friend he wished to save. But none of these cared anything about saving some companion’s friend. Soldier lodges had been raised, and there had been a strong undercurrent of hostility against the whites in the red man’s party. The outbreak was unexpectedly precipitated by tne Acton massacre. Even those leaders who had plotted and urged a war cf extermination on the whites were caught unprepared. Little Crow, who had attended church whif® the Acton people were being killed, who had professed love for the whites and their teachings, and who had remained after the service to shake hands with every- body was now in his element. It fed his vanity to hear those who had refused to vote for him at the Chief Speaker election now plead for his advice. He ~craved power, and it pleased him to observe how entirely the men of various bands depended upon his leadership. He dressed and painted and rapidly gave orders for the attack. Small parties of scouts ran off in the early morning light to kill outlying settlers. All guns were over- hauled and cleaned. The squaws worked frantically in melting lead and running bullets. Some of the squaws made ready to drive or haul carts to the agency to be filled with loot. Two men were directed to steal swift horses, carry a talk to Little Priest and urge him to come down with his Winne- bagoes and share in the fighting and plun- dering. Comicbook CO =