The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-06-06
INDIAN HOSTILlTIES
Congressman Fem on the Threat
ened Outbreak.
ALLEGED. DISHONEST AGENTS
A Large Gathering Of Warriors at Big
Camas Prairie.
WAsHIxcrox, June 5, 1878.

WASHINGTON, June s, 1878.
Ms s. renn, the delegate in Congress from
idaho Territory, speaking OF tho Indian outbreak,
says that no has some time been apprenensive
lest the Indians 10 tho southern part OF
his territory should so nron tho war
no,h and become troublesome to the frontiers
men generally. He has been constantly
ADVISED by ofloias IN the Territory OF the pending
sanger and the causes which would eventually lead
N omen hostiites on the part OF the Bannocks and
shoshones Indians Some time ago he introduced in
The House Joint resolution authorizing the govern
ment 10 supply Governors OF Territories with arms
and ammu milton DO used in suppressng Indian out
breaks II has been pending for several weeks but
to-day tho House concurrcd in the Senate amends
ments 10 the resolution authorizing the Score
tary OF War TO issue 10 Governors OF TERRI
,or,e, upon their acquisitions and assurance
that there was q pressing necessity Ior such,
]. 600 stand OF arms and $4,000 rounds Of ammu-
ra,on 10 each Territory, to BIO used by tho volun-
tecr militia for suppression OF or defence against
Indian nostili,ies These arms OF q pattern not
now used in the army, bcng dity-oalibrc rifles, ana
arc effective at 800 yards. An abundance OF them
.re nj the different arsenaIs ready for distribution
md they can be soon delivered wherever required.
THE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE
In regard 10 the OF the threatened Indian hos
story or wanon violation OF trust the part OF tho
Indian agent tho robbng Of the Indians OF their
vcanty annuitics Prior to 1858 tho Bau-
nocks and Shoshones were scattered and wero
rapidly learning the civilizng traits OF frontier
Ute Tho Catholic missionaries had succeeded
in influencing then TO be not only peaceable, but II
iusirious and they were progressing well when tho
treaty required them 60 tho reservation at Fort
Hall in southern idaho, near Snake River, in the
county 0. Oneida. Large appropriations have been
mace IRON time TO tmc but the Indians claim that the
representative OF the Indian Bureau mad zee into
Grant and dishonest They accuse him Of misappro-
priatng tho funds entrusted to him, and Il Is q TACT
within the knowledge OF the military authorities, that
not one halt as many indiars now make Fort Hall
locality before the treaty established the reservation
THE TREATY REQUIRES
Tho treaty, in fact requires that all the lndinns
shall come upon the reservation, but its provisions
arc not really enforced. In 1875 tho Bannocks and
mixed brccds were set apart from the Shosnones az
the Lcmhi reservation at thor own request Both
The Bsnnocks Snoshones have always been friends
81 the whites until very recently.
METHODIST AGENCIES.
The agencies were placed under the control OF re-
prentatves or the ethodst Church, and the cause Of
the disafiecton, Mr. Fem traces directly to them
The agent sent them from wiscons'n and the Rev.
Mr. Showers. who was proved 10 have shipped
,hat State and Of otherwise dlverting the funds
tppropriaed from the bene 1T oil the Indians Tenday
he whtes len me Lcmhi Reservation and went 10
Montana disguised with the peace policy Of the Great
Father as carried out by the Christian agents. Tho
Indians became FESTIVE undor these causes OF CON-
plant, and several months ago the white settlers,
convinced that aggravating circumstances would
lmpel the Indians to deeds OF robbery ana violence,
began 10 erect stockades for satc protection, and
preparatory what they loresaw must end in u gcn
frn About six weeks the absent Indians
we're compelled return tho reservations by the
military authorities, acting undor the direction OF
The Indiaa agent VINO ordered by tho In
GArnraixa AT Rig cAxAs PRAIRIE.
From 10th TO tho 10Th OF May large proportion
hp s x sn !s EasspP BE ndsns q s
Southern Idaho. larce portion OF tho Indians from
Fort Hall Agency and a portion Of the Indians
from Malhua agency, In Oregon, assembled Al b g
camas Prairie and IN us vicinity. These included
many oi Inc small bands OF Indians scattered over
Southern Idaho. Soon alter their arrival they began
killing stock and made hostile demonstrations in the
vicinity OF Big Camas Prairie. on the 10th OF May
they killed tho first settlers, and 50 the threatened
war has begun, The outbreak has been expected for
months account OF the dissatisfaction OF the In
dams with their agents at Forts Hall and Lemni.
FoREwARSEp, But NOT roREARMED.
Complaints have been made every conceivable
form aud lard before the Interior apartment, and
The mminent danger OF the trouble IDLY represented
II snort intervals. for the last six months, but no
steps have been taken remedy the evil Among
al the Northwestern Indians there has been general
uneasiness since the Neg Perces outbreak and II
has been known among settlers and others thoroughly
acquainted with the Indians that sincc the close OF
municaton between the various Indian tribes In
ldano, tho eastern portion OF Washington Territory
and Montana with the hostile Nez perces, under
SITTING Bull For the last three months
the mass Of Indians in Idahc and Washington terri
tories have been making preparations for hostihtes
They been training their horses, procuring i'm
proved firearms from British America and IN
all other ways that they could, have been
making active preparation for hosttes. In many
cases thcy have been insolent and demonstrativo.
OPERATIONS.
As 10 tho nature and plan OF their operations Mr..
Penn they have selected for their present field Of
ngoaeh,nr IN natural means Of protection the lava
beds OF tho Modocs II Is broken with deep
and gulches and affords hiding places and natural
fortresses almost innumerabe, and can be defended
by tho indians against greatly superior forces II
stated that the number OF warriors in the field IS
nbout three hundred, and those will probably be In
creased fvo hundred and upward, especially should
the hoses achieve any decided success in tho outset
their operaons otherwise tho active forrc will not
increase beyond three hundred. Tho War Depart.
men VIII concentrate troops as rapidly as possible at
Il is expected that between i've and SIX
hundred infantry and cavalry VIII be as
semoed there IN add, rnI, IT, 20 the small
BOISE City. There is IN the northern part OF Idrho
and eastern portion Of Washington Territory consd-
erabe military force, NJ the new fort being estab-
Ished ut Cour D'Alene Lake, ~ Fort Lapwai.
ana Camp Howard These troops however.
threatening condiion OF affairs tina, vicinity. Tho
Columbia River Indians Upper and Miidlc spoxanes.
Pen d'orcils ana other bands In Eastern WASH
ington ana Northern Idaho from whom I'M
mediate danger Is apprcheinacd, can probably
satisfied that tho government will not endcavor
10 force thom from tho lands they at present occupy
aayo been ~ formed by oiisers Of I'M Indian Bureau
win be required OF them. These Indians have never
entered INTO any treaties with the United states and
have reservations. Many Of them are farmers
mud nearly all stock raisers and live peace
aDiy win the white settlers surrounding and
among them ana be forced to leave their local.
tues without nauguratiDg serious war. compared to
which the Nez Perez war Will BIO Insignificant por-
ton Of the Noz Perc6s remaining on tho reservation.
nuited by the hostcs VINO have returned after Their
exodus last year, also threatening and turbulent
REDUCTION coNDENNEn
This was substantially all Mr.. Fem had to say on
the subject lie was conhdont the volunteer militia
would make good OF the placed at
1hcir disposal by tho act OF Congress, and
hoped the House would rccedo from tho pro-
posed reduction OF the army ami stand oy
the proposed transfer OF the indian Bureau 10
the War Department Ito had set forth his reasons
Tor advocating the transfer in speech delivered n
the House on the ID OF May, and what then seemed
nm idle prediction was now too painfully verified by
the dispatches received By tho War Department from
It's officers siatloncd on the frontier.
WAITING DETAILS.
The Com ssioner oil lnuian Affairs, Mr. Hoyt de-
clned from the pressure OF business to DISCUSS tho