The Indian outbreak in the West still continues to cause
great trouble to the United States Government. Pine Ridge Agency, which is the focus of the disturbance, is threatened by hostile bands, and earthworks are being rapidly thrown up in view of an expected attack. Meantime, however, negotia- tions are going on between the Indians and the Peace Com- missioners, in spite of interruptions caused by an occasional interchange of shots between the troops and the " braves." If the ultimate result -is a battle in which the Whites are worsted, large districts will be in great peril; and accordingly the States of Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska are calling out their Militia, and making other active preparations. Colonel Cody (" Buffalo Bill") is said to take a gloomy view of the situa- tion. There is sure, he declares, to be a great battle very soon in the vicinity of Pine Ridge, the Redskins having reached such a state of madness " that they are in a condition to court death." "Since the Battle of Wounded Knee Creek, which was so disastrous to their people, they are worse than ever. The Messiah craze made them determined fatalists. They believe that if they die, they will return to life again in the spring. If defeated, the hostiles will scatter themselves about the country in small bands, and do immense mischief both to life and property. It is the fear of this which has occasioned the throwing out of a line of State troops all along the Nebraska frontier, where there are already no fewer than sixteen companies of Militia encamped.%
