, 1872-10-24
WHtSKEY SUIT,
Liquor Destroyed to Prevent its FALL
ing into the Hauds of Indians.

Ltqs1or Destroyed to Prevent its FALL
ing into the Hauds of Indians.
From the 81. Louis Republican, Oct 18.
a au1t was brought IN the st. Louis Circuit
Court at the October term by the owners OF the
steamer Flirt, George J. Hazlett, Hiram 4. Haz-
lett and Joseph H. Coon against Durfee Peck,
own o~aars Ta 1f Fort Peck large Indian trading
pGss. st. Inc post Is sltnated at the junction Of
toEy, about 500 miles below Fort Benton. The
same parties are also owners Of q line Of steam
ers, carrying their own goods.
Inc plaintiffs auege that early in October. 1871
the steamer Flirt, bound for Fort Benton with ..
cargo OF goods, on arriving at Fort Peck, found
It lmpossinle to proceed further On account Of
the low stage Of the water and that the boat put
in shore nt that point and unloaded 68 barrels Of
whiakey, 6o lo,gallon kegs Of the same liquor,
30 cans Of alcohol, and s barrels Of bottled ale,
and left the same in charge Of the agent Of
Durfee t. Peck, taking his recent therefor.
They allege that the Whiskey Was totally de-
stroyed, and hold Durfee 4 Peck Responsible
for it the their sasphe sgsnts having nd e9 ves receipt
thst the receipt for the goods was given withogt e
authority, and that they we're destroyed by the
Government officers under direct orders from
the Interior Department at Washington. Major
Andrew ). Simmons, the Government agent in
charge Of the Milk River Indiana Agency, and
the Indians under his supervision, during his
stay in the city, gave his deposition in the case.
UT. summons lesIlueu tnat IL III LIB GUY gene
rally as Indian agent, under the laws
OF the United States, to arrest all parties
having liquors in their possession in the Indian
Territory; to seize the liquors as contraband
and to destroy them, and also that the fact Of
these liquors beinghtored at Fort Peek eek: was re.
was also reported to the Interior Department at
Washington, and orders we're received from the
department to destroy the liquors at once. He
thereupon proceeded to Fort Peck, and on the
= u. ~
poured their entire contents into the river, after
having first ascertained that MessrB- Durfee d
Peck we're in no wise tesponsible for the pres
ence OF the liquor there. He did not seize the
steamer Flirt, because she had left the
Rds rom 2oa ths s' fact e that the ms assea
Of the Liquors there WAS an infringement OF
the law, there existed q particular reason for
their destruction. Major Simmons WAS at that
time calling in the Teton Sioux to Fort Peck.
holding q council with them.
The Tetons for seven yeara have bean on the
war path. making raids and attacks upon posts
and trains, and have committed = great number
OF depredahons. They had resisted al over
lures for peace; had never received any benefit
from the United States Government, and we're
particularly hostile to the whites at that time, for
the reason that the Government had granted
right of way to the Northern Pacific Railway
through their hunting grounds.
About 800 Indians had attacked corps Of
tailroad engineers under Colonel Baker, with
400 troops, and number were killed on both
sides. The battle was fought about 100 miles
from Fort Peck It commenced at 2 o'clock q.
m. and lasted until daylight. The Indians had
made such demonstrations at different points 30
as to deter operations On the road. They were
coming in, however, to hold council, in re-
sponse to the invitation OF Major Sim
mons at Fort Peck, and it was
feared that it they found the iquora-which
would very likely have been the case
they would have seized them, and not only de-
feat the purpose Of the council, but destroy the
fort aud all The whites located there.
There we're no troops st that post, nor any
whites except the employees OF Durfee l. Peck,
and few Indian traders.
The Indians came in to the number Of several
Thousand, and the result Of the council was the
sending OF deputation Of Chiefs and braves to
Washington in charge OF Major Simmons, which
VAS the same party that stopped at the Southern
and visited the fair last week.
The whiskey traffic with the Indians is one Of
the greatest obstacles the Indian agents have to
contend With in treating with hostile bands.
Liquors are carried up to the mining districts,
and from thence find their way into the Indian
territory, and great numbers Of people are en-
gagged in smuggling it across the lines from the
British poBsessions. Fort Peck is now g mill
tary post, and a garrison is stationed there.
It is probable from the testimony already
elected that the plaintiffs will withdraw their
suit against Durfee l. Peck, and look to the
Government for compensation.