The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1872-07-05
Correspondence of the EAGLE.
FROM CALDWELL.
CALDWELL, sumner County, Kan.
L.. .lSfI. ls-l

Juut SStsi, icsS.
EDITOR EAGLE: Our usual quiet
town was yesterday thrown into an
alarming state of excitement in conse-
quencc of news being brought in from
Pond creek agency, Indian Territory,
that the Indians were ut open war, and
had attacked the above place about 10
O'Clock a. H., run off nine head Of hor-
SEES. killed and scalped the herder,
youth of about seventeen years of age
named Thomas Best, and were, at the
time the messenger left, conducting
themselves in threatening manner
toward Messrs. f. NJ. Sewell Il Co.,
managers Of this agency.
Such was the anxiety of our citizens,
that preparations were made, and six
men mounted and armed, started about
10 O'Clock p. IN. in order to reach the
place about daybreak, and if possible
ascertain the true condition of affairs
at the post.
We may here state that this agency
is located on the Salt Fork of the Ar
kansas river, 100 miles north of Fort
Sill, and IS miles north, also, of Chey-
cnne agency, % miles south of the
Kansas state line, close to the cattle
trail. which enters the state at Cald-
well. Several hundred men being en-
gagged in driving stock along this great
thoroughfarc at this season ofthe year,
hence our anxieties were increased.
On arriving at daylight we discover
ed several herds in the vicinity, which
we visited, one by one, where we as
certaincd, that on the previous day the
Indians continued to make all sorts of
demonstrations, both in the vicinity of
the agency, and around the cattle, but
that beyond taking steer from one
herd. two from another, and four from
third. no more serious depredations
had been committed, and no person had
| been killed or otherwise injured.
! Turning then toward the agency, we
! lost no time in reaching the place, and
! there soon found that all were greatly
alarmed. and had also been most provi-
! dentially saved by a number of friend
| w Osagcs being at the agency trading,
! and that the real state of affairs were
only understood by the managers them
selves, and that so far we were almost
/ in ignorance of the nature of the diff
Guilty and amount of danger threaten
/ ing us.
MIR. Huifaker informed us that seve-
raj Indians belonging to Big Hills
/ tribe of Osagcs had come in that morn
+ ing and that all was quiet as usual,
when all at once the animals belonging
to the agency were discovered in mo-
ton, and seemed as if caught by some
! sudden fit of wild excitement. Some OF
the leading Indians started at once from
the store to ascertain the cause, and
soon returned to state that thirty hi
owa Indians had captured the horses.
nine in number. killed the herdcr,
and were then in the act of taking of
the Young mans scalp. Mr.. III. then
urged them to return and remousratc.
prevent further mischief, and demand
the horses. When this demand was
made, the kiowa's refused. saying that
thew were on the war path, in three
different directions. and that they in
tended to drive every white man north
of the Arkansas river. One of their
chiefs said his son had been murdered
ON the border. and that he should have
revenge, They had commenced, and
would continue to make raids till fros'
came.
They then commenced moving off IL
a northwest direction. When we re
member that the reservation proper %
these kiowas lies south aud west q
sill, in the Wichita mountains. stretch
ing TO the Red river. and along th'
panhandle of Texas. and that they hat
Travelled between two and three hun
dred miles to commit these depreda
,ious. we then have some idea Of th'
determination by which they are actu
atcd.
Mr.. II. has reported the affair we be
licve TO the Hon. Emoch Hoag. superin
tcndcnt of Indian affairs, Lawrence
Kansas. aud seems confident that ta'
proper authorities will take promp
measures TO check the savages- lie re
commends the citizens to avoid but
. falo hunting. for the present, request
t them to be watchful along the line o
the territory. and thinks application
| should be made by those living IN small
settlements for arms-gnns OF Ion:
| range. We believe he elected throug!
/ the friendly Osages. much valuable in
, formation respecting the intended oper
ations If the tribes now in revolt auT
: ing the coming summer.
JAS. BRYDES.