Connecticut western news., 1879-11-05
NOTES AND COMMENTS.

At the Interior Department, Wash ington, 1t is not believed Agent Meeker threatened the Indians with hendcuffs and chains, as is now charged by the h. dians themselves, and that he would hang the insubordinate chiefs. His ex- perience among the Indians would have kept him from making any such threats. On the contrary, the records show that in his applications for troops he urged the importance of keeping the order secret to prevent the Indians from know ing of their approach. The Utes were fully advised of the m ovements of Major Thornburgh before he left Rawlins, and their own conduct furnished them the only explanation they needed for his coming. Neither is it believed that Major Thornburgh assumed hostile attitude toward the Indians. His last telegram to General Crook shows that the Indians were suspicious, and that he he had endeavored to explain away the reasons for his coming.
 A shocking tragedy occurred in Atchison, Kansas, resulting in the death of two men. A negro, named Monroe Amos, entered saloon and called for liquor. AS he was evidently intoxicated the barkeeper ordered him out. He went to the sidewalk. where he began to talk very loud, making threats. PoIce' man Lewis Chew, who was passing, at tempted to arrest him, when the negro, who had a revolver in his hand, took deliberate aim and shot the officer through the abdomen. Chew fell, but recovered himself, and drawing re- volver shot the negro just above the heart. The negro fell, and died in few moments. Officer Chew died at half past two o'clock the same afternoon.
 It looks as if Dakota would be the thirty ninth State. It received 0 sudden setback in 1878 from the postponement of the Northern Pacific project, but 1t shortly recovered, and it's growth has since been rapid. In 1870 its popula- tion was about 14,000; now it IS esti' mated at 12O, GOO, and it's people think 1t will be 18O, ,OOO by 1880. This will clearly entitle it to admission, unless the territory is divided, a question which will be much discussed. Dakota is just three times as large as New York State. The Missouri River is a natural division north and south, having Bisu arck or Yankton for the capital ot the eastern State, and the western with the political and business centre ln the Black Hills mining region. If dlvl- sion is decreed, however, admission to the Union would have to be delayed. 1t is asserted that three-quarters of the soil of Dakota is unsurpassed on the globe for wheat growing, and there are six lines of railroad now being pushed across these lands from east to west.
 A sight horrible enough to satisfy Frenchman was witnessed fortnight aeo in front of the Hotel Dieu, Paris. One of the patients at the hospital went mad, and leaping out of a window over looking the street, perched on the cornice. He addressed the crowd below in incoherent language, and threatened to throw himself down when any one approached the window. Mattresses and rugs were spread on the pavement, and the firemen were immediately sent for. One of the latter let himself down by rope affixed to the roof, and secur- ing the madman under the arms, man. aged to thrust him into the open win dow. where he was taken charge of by the attendants.
 A spirited woman put an end to a duel near Berlin three weeks ago. Prin- cipals. seconds, and an army surgeon were on the ground and the pistols were loading, when the lady suddenly drove up in swift droschky to the place of meeting, stepped up to her husbands second, snatched pistol from his hand, and directing it's muzzle toward her bosom, declared that she would kill herself unless the projected duel were ut Uuue giv0H uPs-[pi4e ~lAAla nartz ra. turned peaceably to Berlin.
 Outside of Alaska there are l9l dlt' ferent Indian tribes or bands In the United States, and they are on 87 reser' yations. The Indians number 242,37l, and the area in acres of their reserva' tions is 139, ,2O1,O ,O02. In addition there are 25. 731 Indians enumerated as 1ndl viduals. and in Alaska there are (estl mated) 75 ,OO0. If all the Indians pe longing to the tribes outside of Alask' were concentrated in the Indian Terri tory, there would then be farm of lo( acres for every Indian.
 The Ute Indians report that at the White River Agency, after killing Agen Meeker, they went after the women One of the white men had retreatee with the wo1aen and children to room in the agency building, and as they ap preached he shot an Indian through tn shoulder and heart. They secured tn women and children. Just at dark the. liberated the man when near Payne command, and he started on @ run to wards the troops. As he approache the troops, they fired, killing him in stantly.
 Report After Investigation.