, 1877-07-14
Indian Excitement.

The news Of an Indian outbreak IN Ida
no Territory, which reached here by FRI
day night mail last week, has spread ter
ror and alarm among the people OF the
Bitter Root valley, and produced no ht-
tie nervousness among the citizens OF our
town and immediate vicinity. There has
been a growing feeling Of uneasness
among our people ever since the inaugural
ton Of the Modoc war and heightened to
some extent by the results to the troops
engaged IN that conflict Following that
came the Sioux war, and the melancllol-
" tragic fate Of General Custer and COM
mand. These successive victories OF the
savages IN the west and east, have result
ed in disatfection, discomfort and lns0-
lence among the tribes heretofore regard
cd as loyal TO the government, and wei
disposed toward the whites, until we are
forced 10 the conclusion that an outbreak
which shall jeopardise the lives and prop
erty of our citizens Is one Of the possible
contingencies of the future Whether
the outbreak shall be precipitated by the
hostile Nez Perces, or inaugurated by the
disatfected Flatheads and Pen d '0reilles,
and there are at all times more or less
of the nofi-treaty Nez Perces among the
Flatheads Of the Bitter Boot valley, and
that that they sympathize with this tribe
III the belief that great wrong has been
perpertrated upon them by the govern
ment III turning over the Bitter Root val
ley to settlement and occupation by the
whites, and ordering them to the Jocko
| reservation. That those who remain IN
the valley shall be taxed as. other people
and compelled TO obey the laws. 1t re-
quires no stretch Of the Imagination 10 see
in the situation, to the Indians way OF rea-
sOning, the most ample cause fora uprls-
inga against the whites.
Very much depends upon the result Of
| the conflict now going on between the
Nez Perces and the government forces III
/ Idaho. Should the Indians be oYerwhelm-
ed as they viii be ultimately, there is no
other avenue Of escape for the vanquished
than by finding their way to Western
/ Montana by some of the many passes
/ through the Ceur d'Alene and Bitter
Root mountains. Once here they would
/ be complete masters of the situation,
without aid or assistance from the Flathead
or other tribes. They could easily supply
themselves with fresh horses, and with
their thorough knowledge of the country,
could murder and pilage every exposed
/ locality west of the mann range. This Is
no fanciful picture, nor III it Is there fat
contracts Of beef, grain and -four, but
may become a painful realization Of the
future But We are not without some OF
/ the means to avert such calamity Capt
Rawn, with two companies the infantry
is already on the ground, and ready for
any emergency that may arise. The gov
ernor, who intelligently comprehends the
situation and fully realizes the danger,
has been petitioned for arms, and requeS-
ted by telegraph to have additional troops
sent to this country. To the people Of
the Bitter Root valley We would say do
not abandon your homes too precepitately
organize as well as you can for elf-protec-
ton. The government can not and viii
not leave you linger without that military
protection that you are entitled to as
American citizens. -Aissouijda.