Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1877-07-05
THE BITTER ROOT SCARE

THE BITTER ROOT SCARE
4 On the 2sth Secretary Mills telegraphe
the Governor as follows:
DEER LODGE, June ~, 1877
To Governor Potts:--l am in receipt o
the following from Postmaster Dickinson
"MIssoULA, Monday, Il T. NJ.
"John Summers and Mr.. Wilkinson
have just arrived from Corvallis, and re
port that a Ncz Pcrce, who talks goo'
English, came from Lewiston and say
5 the Indians are coming into the Bite
Root-will come into The head of the val
n ley and clean it out-and that if the Flat
: heads don't Join them, they will! clear
. them ont, too. The Flathcads have drive,
. all their horses out Of the valley, and thu
] squaws and children are goiug up Lo-Le
!, Fork. A Nez Perez chief tod Major
Whaley the Nez Perces were going tc
clean out the Bitter Root valley, and thai
the F'atheads would join them on the 1st
Il TUESDAY, a. m-Later.-AnthOny
Chaffin left here for Gird's creek about
one O'Clock this morning, to try and per-
suadc the people to remain little longer,
rs John Summers was instructed to be
back at Corvallis at daylight this morning
The whole valley is really to move in here
to day if they hear nothing favorable.
Henry Burhhouse moved his family in
last night"
What shall Go-so or stay?
On the 18th Mr.. Sutherln wrote from
Missouia:
Governor B. r. Potts-Dcar Sir: There
Is no doubt but that the Indians in the
Bitter Root are bent on mischief. There
lis a scarcity of arms and ammunition. If
you have guns that can be had by the citi-
zens upon any consideration. l hone you
will not hesitate to 81 nd them by express
to the care of some responsible person
here, to be given 10 the farmers for the
protection of their homes and families
The Indians have, 10 day, moved all their
stock and families away. An Old, reliable
and friendly Flathead came into the set
Element. ut Corvallis, An j told his friend
White man, to move bis family at once
The farmers think of terrifying at Stew
ensvillc. but they can do bat httle with
out arms and ammunition. The mail is
about 10 close. l cannot give filr:herl
In addition to the above. are the follow
ing letters from prominens people of Mis-
soula:
MIssOULA, June &c, 1877.
TO Hon. B. +. Pot,s:-The people Of |
Bitter Root arc fleeing in terror f.oIn their
Ones, in anticipation of an attack from
he NJ Perces. The troops here are
wholly inaatGuate in number to repel any
force of Indians. We ask
you to call or tie proper authorities by s
telegraph for more troops, as the situation S
lam '..-.i.ot.fot. ,Ivn. ~, hal,evsI
he danger to the inhabitants Of the Bit
or Root valley imminent, not only from
be Nez Perces, bat from the large nam
er of Fla..heads living in the valley.
MIssouLA, Jule 81.
s. A. Willy:
The whole Bitter Root valley will be In
'-day. -Four parties went up last night
no alarmed the people. We have to en-
anel new Grand Jury TO day, as about
all the Jury haYe left for Bitter Root,
ALVIN LENT,
PHILIPsBURG, June %.
Gov. Potts, Helena:
Philipsburg wants 100 guns with amnu-i
itiOn. j X. PARDEE
! he New North West comments thus
Tho time when the having in hostage
Charles would bc measure of ssfetv
the people of Bitter Root valley seems
have arrived, and we doubt not that
lptaln Kawn will see 10 it at once thatI
is held as a guaranty that his tribe arc
Sposed to be peaceabie and friendly toll
e whites. With Howard pressing them
Idaho, the Nez Perccs. desiring reir. n
rcements, have doubtless threatened
a succeeded in frightening both Whites
q Indians. 1t is natural for peonle
ing in exposed localities to become
armed very easily. AS it is, we will soon
ow whether or not there is any truth In fa
e report' :"
Mr.. Mills telegraphed on Thursday to-
3 Governor:
acOARTHY's BRIDGE-Met mail carrier
IN Missoula here. He says: Families
still coming into Missoula and the
|itary post. There is no STAMPEDE. orl
noralzation. but the Indian matter is
the talk and there is considerable un>
mess. They want to hear from Lew "
'n.' This is all lie knows about it. p,
Ar. r. B. Horton, Postmaster at Bear
nth, in letter to Governor Potts, dated
9th, says report was in circulation
re to the effect that one family in the
ter Root valley had been murdered by
Indiane, but he did not credit il.
he citizens fear that the Indians. in
er to elude the troops now marching
inst them In Idaho, may leave Salmon
'r and cross to the head of the BitterI
ot, the distance between the two points
Icing over days ride-about SEVENTH
es. BY the way of Elk City and Lo
Fork 1t is about $50 miles from Mis-.
la to Salmon river. This is but SHORTLY -
ancc. and if the Indians are closely
ssed they will be very apt to take one
hese routes to escape. and will do all
damage they can in their flight.
'p to time of going to press We have M
her news--the Herald Ito which and
Independent we are indebted for the
~h