Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1874-06-05
THE BLACK HILLS CRIME.

A dispatch informed us few days
since, that the expedition fitted out at
Bczeman, Montana, to prospect for
gold in the Black Hills in that Terri
tory, had been driven back by the In
dams. This morning - print the de-
tails of the campaign OF The expedition.
1t appears that from the LIST to the 26th
of April, they were harrassed cOntinu-
ally by Indians, sometimes numbering
a thousand or more. They had four
pitched battles with them, losing two
or three men, and claiming to have
killed hundred Indians, but as they
did not see their slain or bring in their
scalps, we shall take the liberty of dis
counting this story considerably. But
the expedition was finally forced to
turn back, and has reached BOzeman
in a sadly demoralizcd condition.
With all who are familiar with the
history of this gold seeking expedition,
the verdict will be, "served 'em right"
The Black Hills are located in a region
of country which is set aside by the
government us all Indian reservation.
All attempts to prospect in these Hills
where gold is known to exist-has
been resisted by the Indians, and they
have appealed to the government to
protect them from the disasti GUS fOrays
Of gold hunters. The present expetli-
ton was fitted out in spite of the pro
test of the Indian agents, who warned
them Of the danger, bat they replied
that they would take all risks. The
government finally sent orders to pre-
vent the expedition starting. but it
had already left. 1t has met with dis
aster, and few will be found to SYM
pathize with its misfOrtllhes.
But the question arises, what will
the government do topunish the mem
bers Of this foraging rartye They
were trespassers upon the lands OF the
Indians, and, by their own statement,
murdered hundred of them for sim
ply defending their ri ghts. We fail to
see the difference between trespassing,
marauding, numbering white men and
Indians who are guilty of the same
crimes. If it is right to punish the
latter for their depredations, it would
seem especially the duty of the gov
ernment to avenge their wrongs be-
cause of the paternal position it has
assumed towards them. We can scarce
ly expect peace with our red skinned
neighbors SO long as such cutrases are
allowed as were perpetratcd by this
Black Hills observation-disclosures
Tribune.
In the first place, the Yellowstone
Expedition did not start for the Black
Hills-did not go to the Black Hills
and did not return in a ''highly," OF
any other, "dcmoralized7 condition.
In the second place, no Indian
agents warned them Of their danger"
In third place, the Expedition tres
passed upon no Reservation, and VIC
lated no Federal or Territorial law.
In the fourth place, the command
did see majority Of what it killed
and did bring in scalps-while, since
its return, reliable men have visited
the battle grounds and found dead III
dfans not seen by the Command at the
time.
LastIy-the Expedition was formed,
not for "trespassing, marauding Or
numbering" purposes, but solely that
needed communication between suf-
fering and an isolated country and the
East might he opened, and a rich
agricultural, grazing and mineral coun-
try be opened to emigration. No mans
rights were violated, 10 treaty stipn
lations were violated; but an honest
attempt was made by good citizens to
benefit themselves and Territory OF
vast, but, as yet, undevelopable re-
sources.
Perhaps were Minnesota SO situated
tho Tribune would not be SO indig-
nant, and, perhaps, had the Tribune a
geography it would not talk SO wildly
about the Black Hills.
In the matter Of this Expedition it
was not, and is not, intended to op-
pose the law CT the Government, but
to bring about result that must ben
eft not only Montana but Minnesota
by opening in advance the rich region
destined to be traversed by the North
ern Pacific Railroad.