, 1868-06-19

INDIAN DEPREDATIoNs.-The Indians 10
this section of Montana are on the war path
and are carrying their depredations further
into civilization than ever before. On Tues
day night, as we are informed by Mr.. c. s.
Hall, thirty or forty of the savages, supposed
to be Blackfeet, made a raid into the Mis-
souri, valley and stole between one hundred
and fifty and two hundred head of stock that
were being ranched upon the bottom. As
soon as it became known that the Indians
had been thus unceremoniously helping them.
selves, party consisting of six ranchmen
and an Indian boy called tom" living with
one of them, started in pursuit The savages
we're tracked a considerable distance up
Duck Greek, and overtaken about ten o'clock
10 the forenoon. Having such vastly supe-
rior numbers, the Indians stood their ground,
instead of running away, after their usual
fashion, and a skirmish ensued 1t soon be-
came evident to the whites that a prolonga>
tion of the fight, under such circumstances,
could result only in disaster to themselves,
and they accordingly retreated But during
the skirnish or retreat the Indian boy "Tom"
became separated from them and has not
since been heard from, and it is feared that
he has been killed. Immediate preparations
were made for organizing a large party for
the purpose of severely punisbiUg the red
thieves and mnrderers. A raDchmau. named
Montague, started at once for Hogem, with
this object in view, arriving there between
half past four and five o'clock on Wednesday
afternoon. Immediately on the facts becom-
ing known, volunteers were to be obtained
in abundance, all anxious to pursue the aus
dacious villains that had exercised their
plpnderipg propensities at their very doors.
But although men, saddles and revolvers
could be readily procured, it was next to inn
possible 10 obtain. the requisite number of
horses. This was the state of affairs up to
night before last, since which time we have
received no further advices concerning this
installment of Indian depredatious. Fol>
lowing, as a sequel, to the Indian raid above
mentioned, we learn through Mr.. Z. D. Law,
renee, by his father in this city, that further
depredations have been committed, probably
by the same war party, on the other side of
the Missouri In the Deep Greek country
Thirty head Of horses were stolen BY them
day before yesterday at Thompson's Bar,
while they were ou their return, doubtless.
i'OuA tno "leeouTl dIIey, WneTe tney had
committed the depredations first mentioned,
the night before. Before this they are ali
beyond the Belt Range, and pursuit save BY
large and we'll organized parties would be
futile. 1t is indeed lamentable state of af.
fairs which allows of such outrages by these
pets for the amelioration of whose condition
Cooper Institute meetings are now forming
missionary societies in New York. And vet
we may expect more of this thieving and
bloody work. We recently received infor-
nation from Benton, which, noe wishing to
act the part of alarmists, we refraiued at the
the time from publishing, which causes us to
believe the Blackfeet are bent upon an active
campaign during the coming season. They
have sent all their women and children far to
the north and douned the war paint Already
the tracks of their moccasiLs are seen along
the entire eastern border of our settlements,
and il has even become unsafe to 20 five miles
out of some of our principal camps. A few
more lessons and our people will have COM
pleted their education on Indian matters and
will leave the experimental school to put in
practice the doctrine nf A~s~--;--'=