Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-11
THE BANNOCKS' WRONGS.

t1lities on the part of the Bannocks and
Soshones Indians. Some time ago he in
troduced in the House a joint resolution
authorizing the government to supply the
governors of territories with arms and am
outbreaks. 1t has been pending for several
weeks, but to-day the House concurred in
the Senate amendments to the resolution
authorizing the secretary of war to issue
to governors of territories, upon
their acquisitions and assurance
that there was pressing necessity for such,
1000 stand of arms and so, 900 rounds of
ammunition to each territory, to be used by
the volunteer militia for suppression of or
defense against Indian hostilities. These
arms are of pattern not now used in the
army, being fifty-calibre rifles, and are efec-
tive at 800 yards. An abundance of them
are at the different arsenals ready for dis
tribution, and they can be soon delivered
wherever required.
THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE
In regard to the ca.,se o. the threatened
Indian hostilities Mr.. Fem says that it was
the oft-repeated story of wanton violation OF
trust on the part of the Indian agent and
the robbing of the Indians of their scantv
annuities. Prior to 1868 the Bannoks and
Shoshones were scattered and were rapidly
learning the civilizing traits of frontier life.
The Catholic missionaries had succeeded in
influencing them to be not only peaceable.
but industrious, and they were progressing
well when the treaty required them to go
on the reservation at Fort Hall, in Southern
Idaho, near Snake river, IN the
county of Oneida. Large appropriations
have been made from time to time, but the
Indians claim that the representative OF the
Indian bureau had been intolerant and dis
honest. They accuse him of misappropria-
ting the funds entrusted to him, and it is
fact, within the knowledge of the military
authorities, that not one-half as many In
dams now make Fort Hall their headquar-
ters as formerly assembled in that locality
before the treaty establishing the reserva-
ton.
WHAT THE TREATY REQUIRES
The treaty, in fact, requires that all the In
dams shall come upon the reservation, but
its provisions are not really enforced. In
1875 the Bannocks and mixed breeds were
set apart from the Shoshones at the Lemhi
reservation, at their own request. Both the
Bannocks and Shoshones have always been
friends of the whites until very recently.
THE METHODIST AGENCIES.
The agencies were placed under the con-
| troll of representatives of the Methodist
church, and the cause of the disaffection,
Mr.. Fem traces directly to them. The agent
sent them from Wisconsin, and the Rev.
Mr.. Showers, who was proved to have
shipped Indian goods from the agency to his
home in that State, and of otherwise divert
ing the funds appropriated from the
benefit of the Indians. Tenday, the principal
chief of the nation, and fast friend of
the whites, left the Lemhi reservation and
went to Montana, disguised with the peace
policy of the great father, as carried out by
the Christian agents. The Indians became
FESTIVE under these causes of complaint, and
several months ago the white settlers, con-
WINGED that aggravating circumstances would
impel the Indians to deeds of robbery and
violence, began to erect stockades for safe
protection, and preparatory to what they
foresaw must end in a general outbreak.
About six weeks ago the absent Indians were
compelled to return to the reservations by
the military authorities, acting under the
direction of the Indian agent, who in turn
were ordered by the interior department
GATHERING AT BIG CANVAS PRAIRIE.
From the 10th to the 10th of May large
proportion of the Bannocks went to Passam
Valley and Big Camas Prairie, the usual re-
sort of the Indians of all Southern Idaho
A large portion of the Indians from For
, Hall agency and portion of the Indians
from Malbua agency, in Oregon, assem- bled
at Big Camas Prairie and in its vicinity
These included many of the small bands Of
Indians scattered over southern Idaho
} Soon after their arrival they began killing
stock and made hostile demonstrations il
the vicinity of Big Camas Prairie. On tn
Goth of May they killed the first settlers, ant
SO the threatened war has begun. The out
break has been expected for months on &C
> count of the dissatisfaction of the indians
r with their agents at Forts Hall and Lemhi
FoREwARNED, BUT NOT FoREARMED.
Complaints have been made in every con
= ceivable form and laid before the interio
department, and the imminent danger of tn
trouble fully represented at short intervals
for the last six months, but no steps hav
been taken to remedy the evil. Among al
the Northwestern Indians there has bee!
general uneasiness ever since the Nez Perez
outbreak, and it has been known among set
! tiers and others thoroughly acquainted wit
the Indians that since the close of that In
dian campaign there has been continucu
!, communication between the various India
f tribes in Idaho, the eastern portion of Wash
f ington Territory, and Montana, with tn
G hostile Nez Perces, under White Bird, VIII
. had taken refuge with Sitting Bull. For til
J last three months the mass of Indians i
: Idaho and Washington Territories have bee
d making preparations for hostilities. The
: have been training their horses, procurin
!, improved firearms from British America, an
. in all other ways that they could have bee
making active preparation for hostilities. I
!. many cases they have been insolent an
+" demOnstrative.
THE PLAN OF OPERATIONS.
: AS to the nature and plan of their operation
% % Mr.. Fem says they have selected for the
= present field of operations locality that
, very easy of defense, approaching in natur
. means of protection the lava beds of tt
Modocs. It is broken up with deep canyon
and gulches, and affords hiding places an
natural fortresses almost innumerable, an
8 can be defended by the Indians again
IL greatly superior forces. It is stated that tt
number of warriors in the field is abo,
" three hundred, and these will probably be il
g creased to five hundred and upward, esp
l. cially should the hostiles achieve any decide
success in the outset of their operation
otherwise the active force will not increa.
y to beyond three hundred. The war depar
:, - ment will concentrate troops as rapidly
possible at Fort Hall and in the vicinity
!, Big Camas prairie. 1t is expected that b
~ tween five and six hundred infantry and ca
y airy will be assembled there in addition |
y the small forces already there and at Fo
! D2:c ;e,r io