New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-24
JNDI1N POSSIBILITIES.

rWo RANCHES BURNED ON THE SouiH IhAiih
MILITARY PRECAUTIONS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-The War Depart
ment has information that recently settlers were
driven in and ranches burned near and west of Big
Springs on the South Platte. The killing by whites of
sou OF Roman Nose the mouth Of The Lodge Pole on
the South Platte is also reported The following has been
received here;
SIDNEY BARRACKS, Feb. H. 1874
assistant Adjutnn General, Department Of ne PtGtte
Just returned from Llurcns Fork aud North Platte
with Company A. 81 Cavalry. Rations expired todaE'
with instructions to scout toward ASH Hollow to-day and
in to this post Tomorrow. am conhdent tneIt
PnmpSin Cree" Creek and points near Ash Hollow. have
thoroughly secuted the whole section ana no Signs OF
recent trail have been found recommend thata guard
of the 18th Infantry be sent for temporary security TO
the ReddngtOn, Wheeler and IMoon ranches; Comfort
MICS viii be ready field duty in two days. brought
North Pawnee scout aud guide IN with me DIV order OF
Major OF the 81 Cavalry.
HORSE STEALING BY WHITE WHISKY TRADERS
MURDERS BY THE INDIANS AT COTTONWOOD
CREEK PREPARATIONS FOR AN INDIAN WAR
RECOMMENDED.
WASHINGTON, Feb 23-The following dis
patch has been forwarded here:
HEADQUARTERS, FORT LARAMIE, Feb 70, 1874.
Assistant Adiutdt General headquarters Of me Dpdrt
Dent Of tie Platte.
SIR have the honor to submit the following report
for the information of the General commanding:
on Toe 3sa OF o 9T I SG9 nd four horses tne
the camp iof Antoine Renard, seven miles from tins
post the Laramie River. AS soon AZ was informed
Louis Richard others followed the trail OF the
Indians the North Platte River, and overlook
them camp about 10 miles from Rcnards camp. They
recovered sock and captured the Indians blankets
aud small traps, including one gun The cavalry , dd
Cheyenne chief came to this post. saying That some
whle had stolen Ss head Of horses from his camp
asked him If he saw the men men, take take, them EN-
lie said he dd not ,t then ths asked and h he
replied the Sioux Indians had told nm so anu that he
TO me 10 get his horses back oIsnn As the aDote
20 back to the agency That could not 40 anything
for him did not credit ms story at tne unie Pe IN.
any horses the Sioux had taken them 1t subsequently
men named j. Convers Curly jim. Charles Allen. ana
James Wright who have for some time been trading
whisky with the Indians. 1t has been impossible 10 get
any testimony the Indians will not inform on per
trading whisky TO them. THIS class OF men are
the country and the cause OF many or our com
pcaions the Indians They steal their stock, and
The Indians seek revenge not on the persons or prop
erty OF those njrlng them, but Dy re'aathg on The
person OF property most convenient -
Learning that the above named men with the stolen
were on me Sa0o Creek, ~ miles west OF this
post. sent Lieut. j. NJ Allison Of the I'd Cavalry with
the 9Th nst with orders to proceed TO Sable
and possible 90 recover the stock and arrest the inca
aud bring into this post Lieut. Allison returned
the stu inst with Curry Jim aud "a head OF horses,
which sent TO Cheyenne on the 9th INST reported
the and confinement of Curly jim at this post TO
the United States Marshal Cheyenne, with the request
he send for him. but he has not done so
vet 1t ms 10 be seen II the evil authorities can
speh men Charles Allen and James Wright the latter
known as Jack Nasty JIM" had left. taking with them
10 head Of horses ~ days before Lent Allison was sent
up arrest them II was reported that they went 10
Laramie CITY. ana the United States Marshal was mott
lied requested If they could DE found TO arrest them
for violation OF the nonintercourse act OF 1884.
on the 9th nst about p m, four Indians made their
post on the Laramie River, and stole two horses. Be-
tween the hours OF p. and shutdown u cabin was
burned near the Platte River, miles from here
thought tracks that there were five Indians Al
500 D. H. ON the same day courier arrived from the
wood Creek and reported that Lieut. Robinson OF the
ifth Infantry, Corporal Coleman, Company A. "a In
fantry and Private Nol Of the 14th Infantry had
into large party OF Indians-sOme 40 or So that Private
NoIl escaped and 1t was thought that Lieut. Robin
son and CORPORAL Coleman were Killed Companies +
and of the I'd Cavalry, commanded by Capt. EgaD.
were ordered out az once Ths night being very dark
Timber train little before daylight. Obtaining infor
nation from Private Noll. Capt Egan proceeded and
balls and three arrows sticking In each body,
p Des %S' of f'nG the a Capt E"n
mat the Indians had recrossed the Platte River,
private No states that the train and escort left the
saw-mI at daylight the 9th inst. and that Lieut.
later by the Little Cottonwood road south Of the main
road travelled by trains They bad proceeded about II
miles when they were suddenly surrounded by party
of Indians 90 in number Capt Egan thinks from
their trail there at least tha inanyl who hired
a small emnence and continued TO fire. but does not
know with what effect. and that the last he saw OF
Robinson
away closely pursued by the main body OF Indians four
or i've pursuing HIM (NolD 10 point within half mile
OF the train which he reached at distance OF six
seven miles from the point OF attack.
The indications for time have been that the In
dau5 would DO troublesome To what extent II Is i'm
possible TO fOresee. / have no confidence in them.
They may TO sQme extent remain quiet as long their
demands acceded to and they are not oested while
Committing depredaIions ON stock killing people. II
we should kill few OF them send troops TO their
agencies my opinion it would be yell to prepare for
an Indian war understand that the agents require
troops to stationed permanently at the ageSciesp
where there c0nvenences for quarerDg or sup
sisting troops Cavalry would be very expensive to
subsls there II the agents must have troops, would
be better TO establish large post at some point the
Ntobrara River suitable and VI easy access TO both
agencies. Very respectfully, JOHN T.. SMITH.
Colonel 1Nh Infantry, commanding.