The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1879-11-06
DECEPTIVE INDIAN AGENTS.

and has been since the Bannock out
break in 1878, deserted by the Indians.
The few Piutes from Northern Nevada
who were at the Agency when the, Ban
nocks, loaded with tue, spoils of war
and red with the blood of murdered
settlers, arrived at the Reservation,
FASTENED to Camp McDermit with their
families, for protection. Leggin, chief
of the Piutes, fastened with them to
McDermit, and with Naches and old
Winnemucca, saved the lives of the
ranchers of Barren Valley and of Scott,
the beef contractor at. the Agency, who
were surrounded by hostile Indians.
who, driven.to desperation by the treat,
ment they had resolved at the Reser-
walton, were determined to- wreak ven-
geance on every white man who came.
in, their way. Leggin was rewarded
for his services by being sent, with
Oitz and others, who were on the war
path, to Washington Territory. Last
Spring Agent Rinehart, whose Reser-
walton was deserted, arrived here, for,
the purpose of procuring Piutes to col.
onize it. Old Winnempcca, told him,
at the council then held. that he and
Others of his tribe would go to Malherr
ii Leggin and his band, who remained
peaceable at the time Of. the outbreak,
were permitted to, return to the Reser-
walton. Rinehart informed him. that
Leggin was at liberty to return at any
time he pleased, aud promised to have
him back at the Agency within six
weeks from. that date. Six. months
have since passed by, and Rinehart
sends one Of his bowers here to compel
las he states it to. the Indians) them to
20 to the, Reservation. Winnemucca
repeats his willingness to 60, if Leggin
is brought back from Yakima. Rine-
harris right BOWER informs him.. that
General Howard assures him that Leg
gin can return if he pleases. The In
dians know this is false, for Naches has
been advised by his sister Sallie Win
nemucca, who has been teaching school
at Yakima, that sLegginA and Lee Win
nsmucca cannot leave there without the
consent of the authorities at Washing
ton. They also know that letters pur-
porting to be from the Interior Depart
ment, are read one way By the Indian
Agent and quite differently by friends
Of the Indians who have been. permit.
ted to see Them. This duplicity
on the part of the Reservation
men causes the Indians to mistrust
them, and they believe nothing that
they tell Them. and in this, Judging by
what has been brought out at the coun-
ellis held here, they are undoubtedly
right. There is not an Indian at the
Malheur Agency now, neither has there
been any for oyera year past. Yet the
Agents tell the Indians that large guam
titles of provisions and clothing are now
arriving at the, reservation, but when
questioned by white men on the subject
and asked why an Agency without In
dams should receive such large supplies,
they evade an answer. The statements
made by Rinehart at. the council held
here last Spring and by his authorized
deputy at. the council held here .yester-
day, show conclusively that both speak
with .forked tongues and do not, hest
tate to make misstatements for. the pur-
pose of deceiving the Indians. The Pr
utes here, with the experience some of
them had at. Malheur, and with which
all of them are acquainted, do not want
to go to that Agency, and the whites
for whom they work on ranches and
chore in town do not want them TO go,,i
as letters brought by the Indians who
attended the council from responsible
citizens in all parts of the county, con-
c.usively prove.