On December 24, 1890, a bitter Christmas Eve wind rattled the wagon in which Minneconjou Chief Big Foot lay waiting while his people cleared a pass down the Badlands Wall. After several hours of hard work with axes and spades made the disused trail passable, the band of 350 men, women, and children continued their flight from units of the United States Army. Big Foot was ill, close to death, and disillusioned by the broken promises of Whites and by the lack of unity among Indians. His agony lasted only five more days. On December 29, he, nearly 200 of his people, and 30 soldiers died in the massacre at Wounded Knee, 65 miles to the south.