Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-12-25
Protsction from indians and 9th
er Thieves and MurdoFovo-Ac.
tlon Taken BY the 8enate Yeseev-

TsOeSCSiOn WOm tU0l0n0 000 Otn-
or Thieves and Murderovs-Ac-
tion Taken by the 8enate Yeseev-
day.
Special Telegram to the 1nter-ocean.
WASHINGTON, Dec, 18.-Some days
ago Senator Paddock received very
strong appeal from cattle dealers and
ranchmen Of Nebraska for the assist
ance of the military in securing the
arrest of Indians and desperadoes,
who are riding into the ranches and
stealing cattle in that State. He sent
the appeal TO General Sherman, and
received the following characteristic
reply:
edge the receipt from you Of
what amounts to q petition
to Congress to repeal the
fifteenth seetiea sof the act or Con-
gress approved june 18, 1S78-ahe
posse comitatus clause Of the army
bill. l recognize the importance Of
protecting and encouraging the grow
ing and most valuable cattle interests
Of Nebraska, but with the most pro-
found respect for yourself and for
Congress, don't see how soldiers
can do impossibilities with both
hands and feet tied. Should Indians
or white desperadoes come into Ne
braska from the Indian country you
make it fine of $4,000, and impris-
onment for two years If soldiers help
your sheriff. Now our; Ulcers don't
usually have $4,000 handy about
them nor do I feel disposed to advise
them to spend . couple Of years ii the
penitentiary by trying to help your
sherifs arrest and punish cattle and
horse thieves. On the other hand in
the Indian country soldiers can only
act on the application Of Indian
agents, and these Indian agents
think that your constituents steal the
cattle and ponies or their indians, 90
we soldiers occupy . most unpleasant
position, and I prefer to sign my
name to the petition itself, for gym
pathize sincerely and deeply with
Messrs. Sharp and others who desire
to add to the wealth and prosperity
of the nation. But must frankly say
that the law takes away from the ar
my the only legitimate way Of help
ing them by supplying the sheriffs Of
ssAS
sary posse comitatus to make arrests.
It would be waste Of money to cs-
tablish any new posts, because the In
dians and cattle thieves know the
law as well 40 we do, and laugh at
the soldiers who are forbidden to
help the peace officers of your State.
With great respect,
"W, T. SHERMAN, General"
Senator Paddock brought the mat
ter up in the Senate this afternoon.
and secured the passage of bill
which provides that the posse conf
tatus clause shall not be construed as
applying to, nor be enforced against,
the army employed in the protection
Of life and property in the States of
Kansas, Colorado, Mime
lota, Oregon, Nevada, and the Terri
tories subject to Indian incursions.
More Disaster.
ST. LOUIS, Dec. l8.-At late hour
last night still more Of the south wall
Of Powelrs carpet store, burned early
IN the evening, fell upon Alexsnder's
Drug store crashing through to the
ground floor destroying nearly every
thing in the building. Still later, and
after t Q ffremen had all gone home
a fire burst out in this wreck and be-
tween two and three o'clock this
morning the remainder of the south
wall of Powell's building fell. which
with the fire then raging, completely
destroyed the building and contents.
The front wall Of Powell's building
4 Ian fall ou1 thu nu<;ro coruov "a :, ox.r
only mass of debris. The losses are
variously estimated at from $l3O,OO0
to 100000. The building occupied
by Alexander's drug store and sever.
Al law and other offices was owned
by Stilson Hutchins, of the Washing
ton City Post.
Indians on a Visit
SIOUX ClTY, Ia., Dec. 20.-J. w.
Douglass, Indian Agent at Yankton