The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-04-24
THR CHEROKEE REVOLT
History Of the Bloody Fight at Co.
ing Snake Court House.
INDIANS AND BORDER RUFFIANS.
Attempting the Rescue of Proctor, a
Murderer Of Eighteen Persons.
RED SKINNED FIENDS.
The March Of Captain Peavy
and His Brave Posse.
WHITE SUIT BECK'S HEROISM.
The Farley Between Indians and
Their CutthrOat Allies.
Commencement Of the Battle---The Old Indian
Takes the First Scalp.
THE SCENE IN COURT.
Judge, Jury, Audience and the Prisoner
Armed to the Teeth.
THE BATTLE RAGING.
Eight Deputy Marshals Killed-Horribla slri--
mishing and Cherokee Barbarity-Dying Men
Kicked to Death and Their Bodies
Robbed-Mortality Among the Enemy.
nHE DEAD, WOUNDED AND MISSING.
Escape of Peavy to Cincinnati
Trials and Dangers.
ANXIETY FOR THE RESCUING BAND.
Eight Deputy Marshals Killed-Horribla slri--
mishing and Cherokee Barbarity Dying Men
Kicked to Death and Their Bodies
Enthusiastically Among the Enemy
nHE DEAD, WOUNDED AND MISSING,
Escape of Peavy to Cincinnati
Trials and Dangers.
ANXIETY FOR THE RESCUING BAND.
HERALD SPECIAL REPORT.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark, April %, 1872.
The brief accounts Of the recent slaughter OF
United States Marshas, previously published, gives
but faint idea OF the actual horror of the situation
ut the time. The Cherokee Indians have hitherto
been regarded as a comparatively peaceable, intel
ligent race, and that when their ancestors re-
moved from the hills and groves of Georgia
and Tennessee to the wild, but fertile,
prairie lands OF Arkansas, they brought with
Them the elements OF civilized progression. They
have been kindly treated, and in all their treaties
with the government now treasured up in the
archives Of the tribe they have covenanted to de-
Bist from all warike procivities and bloody excur-
Hions against the pale faced race, to continue
their professed friendliness and warn the Great
Father when the peace should be threatened
either by their red skinned brethren or the
roaming white How far these stipulations
have been carried out in reference to the harborng
of border rufilans and murderOus desperadoes, for
the sake of the liquor trafc, the following details
OF the terrible butchery at Going Snake Court House.
between the United States Marshal's force and q
number of their tribe aided by the 'borderers,n
will inform the readers Of the HERALD.
GOING SNAKE COURT HOUSE.
Going Snake Court House, usually employed to
hold the sessions Of the District Court Of the Ter
ritory, Is situated near the Arkansas line, sur
rounded by few houses of primeval construction
and wildooking but not unpleasant scenery. 1t
Is about fty.nine miles north OF this city, twelve
miles west OF Dutchtown and difficult OF approach.
THE CAUSE OF THE FIGHT.
On the nth Of April white man, who gave the
name of J. J. Kcsterson, arrived in this city and
made complaint to United States Commissioner
Churchill that white border rufilan, named Proc
tor, the alleged murderer OF eighteen people, mar
ried to Cherokee woman, came into his mill on
the 18th Of February last, and, without the
least provocation shot his Kestcrson's wife. Kes-
terson was about to return the fire when Proctor
turned his revolver against him. the first ball from
which striking Kesterson just across the left eye.
Thinking it best not to fire in return them he made
his escape leaving Proctor in possession of the mill
and his wife's corpse.
THE woMANKILLER ARRESTED.
Previous TO this rencontre 1t appears, Proctor had
killed his wife, and Immediately after Kesterson's
hight he was arrested and taken to the Court
House to answer the charge. His friends, despera-
does like himself determined to rescue him at the
trial. which set down for the 18th inst, and for
that purpose enlisted the sympathy OF body Of
disatfected Indians, who nave exhibited the most
intense feeling Of jealousy OF the authority OF the
United States as exercised over their domains.
THE DEPARTURE OF THE MARsHALs.
Commissioner Churchill issued a writ for Proctor's
arrest, which was placed in the hands Of United
States Deputy Marshals Owens and Peavy, and on
Saturday, the 18th inst, they started accompanied
by three officers and with the intention OF increas-
ing the strength OF their posse before reaching the
Snake district. They had also writs for the muir
derers Of Marshal Bentz who were known to be stil
in the vicinity of the Court House. Before reach
ing Dutchtown the Marshal's posse consisted OF
eleven armed men, and this force headed at once
for Barren Fork, Cherokee Nation
the RUrFIANs ON THE ALERT.
Arrived at Dutchtown they were informed OF
the previous arrest Of Proctor; Of his alleged
eighteen murders, q great number OF whose VIC
tins were reported to be women; OF the deter
mination OF the border villains 10 rescue him, and
their associations with the Indians for that pur
pose. The posse then agreed to go to the Court
House a la D1tttdtre, and walt until the action Of
the Court should be known and If he was con-
demned to prevent his capture from the authori-
ties, or If acquitted to secure him on the second
charge sworn to by Kesterson. 1t was evident,
however, that Information had reached the Court
Louise OF their approach.
WHO WERE THE TRAITORs9
Indeed, 1t seems that the approach OF the Mar
ehars force was well known within the Court
House. and that preparations had been made to
resist them, for the Court adjourned on the MORN
Ing OF the fight from the Court House. n compara.
uVey open building, TO school house situated
apout nan mile north Of IT, which is n wen and
cioscy constructed building standing quite out I'm
inc prairie John Proctor, the murderer,s brother
caiiieo Tie oroer oi the Court to the schoomaster
EVERYBODY ARMED-THg PRISONERS WEAPONS.
ine appearances oi the assembled party was war
like 10 the extreme. and the school house within