The New York herald., 1879-11-17
BACK FROM THE PLAINS.

DACh KUN he TLA1NS'
MR. J. b. B. ROCHE FRESH FROM THE BANKS OF
THE yELLowsToNE-THE MISTAKE EXPLAINED
WHICH LED TO THE REPORT OF HIS DEATH
HIS VIEWS ON THE INDIAN QUESTION.
"No! it was Simon Richie who was shot and
not myself. as enormously telegraphed over the
world from Denver last summer" said Hon. Mr.. ].
b. b. Roche. who has spent the last two summers
hunting on the vast plains of the West '.Rche was
q half breed-a guide and whiskey trader. and one
day, some weeks after left Fort Custer for
cursion through Wyoming Territory. his body was
found on the trail pierced with the bullets of either
Indians. who may have suffered at his hands in
their dealings with him. or unprincipled white
frontiersmen. who desired to obtain the supply of
money he was always supposed to carry with
him. The slight similarity Of names. by the
time word of his death reached Denver. led
to the unfortunate error. which caused great
to my relatives and efectually prevented party Of
friends who had arranged to pass the fall months
with me from leaving their native shore. Tho dis
appointment to me was. however. more than COM
pensated for. by the pleasurable duty of notifying
my family that should join them much earlier
than intended. to convince them that truly was
still in the land of the living and back from the
plains.'
The speaker the Hon. James Boothby Burke
Roche. second son Of Baron Fermoy. who has taken
great fancy for hunting in the West and has already
spent two with the rod and gun the slopes
of the Rocky Mountains and the banks and bottoms
Of the Yellowstone. In January last he arrived in
this city route for England, which he reached in
February, and remained about three months.
ing back to this city in May. On the 22d Of that
month he departed again for the West in company
with his brother. Hon. A. c. Roche. and Messrs. A.
and NJ. Frewen. They were heard from in July, at
Fort Fetterman. Wy. L. party of friends. warmed
by his enthusiastic praise Of the sport to be OBJ
tanned reached this city to Join him early in August
Brevoort House, and anxiously expected the word
start for Fort Fetterman. This party, however,
an end to their pleasure for the 1t an
nounced that report was current at Denver that
Mr.. Roche had been killed by the Indians on the
Yellowstone River. The information was thought
TO be reliable, and his friends in England were
thrown into mourning by the transmission Of the
message.
ALIVE AND WELL.
Yesterday afternoon HERALD reporter met Mr..
Roche in the parlor of the Brevoort House. He was
asked give details of his stay on the plains
and with some reluctance consented to give brief
statement only on the matter desired He said
1.-THE Indians were very unsettled when we started
last spring. and 1t needed but little to incite them
an outbreak. We took every means to avoid quarrel
tempting prize. passed our way unscathed.
enjoying excellent sport Our party, including
guides and servants numbered fifteen, and the de-
lights of camping out after experience in Colo
RADIO in 1878 made our journey through Wyoming
the more enjoyable. Game was plentiful and the
sport fine. that altogether the trip has been .
most satisfactory
Mr.. Roche. when asked as to his opinion on the
Indian question. said he did not wish to speak In
pamper your Indians too much. You give them
rstions. issuing six days supply at once and. like
wild beasts of the field they will sit down and eat
it all in three days sooner. and then they must
either starye the next three steal the necessary
supplies. The punishment follows and rankles,
until at last. from accumulated causes Of this and
other natures. an outbreak occurs. The only safe
guard to the entire frontier is that the Indians
as much opposed to each other as they are to the
whites. They accept the rstions given them their
right. and will not work while they furnished.
The general government is not to blame that these
supplies do not in all cases reach the Indians to
whom they were sent. Ample quantities pur-
chased paid and sent with even the Transports
ton prepaid. and yet the Indians do not see any Of
them.
THE INDIANS TO RIAMK
"On the other hand, the Indians frequently too
lazy carry to their lodges the supplies furnished
them," continued Mr.. Roche. II may cite as Q most
At OF the agencies which was LETT to the care Of
the elements or to mice and other vernin. Months
after the Indians to whom it had been issued
starving for the want Of it. One thing would serve
in great degree, to remedy this-make the Indian
work. In Canada they have but little trouble
with their Indians. Captain Walsh and his mounted
police are supposed to look after them. But they
not pampered as they are here. They know they
have to work farm Is allotted each of them some
assistance furnished them at the outset but they
know that to live they must work. Work they do,
and the result Is peace and quiet
Mr. Roche was then asked for his opinion to the
share the Indian agents had in fomenting troubles
between the settlers and the red men, He said that
there was the great difficulty. He had on both
hunting excursions met with nothing but kindness
from all the agents with whom he came in contact.
They furnished him with guides and every accom-.
mediation III their power, hence it would be most
unkind Of him to give any expression to adverse
opinions in that connection. He had most decided
opinion the subject. however, aud thought they
were vt the bottom Of much of the evils resulting
from the present system of governing the
red men, Still, all were not blameworthy, there
were honorable exceptions among them. The whis-
key trader was, Mr.. Roche thought. another great
drawback to the success Of the system. The small
number OF troops among the tribeslwas also. in his
opinion the cause Of Indian uprisings. "Our sport
this year., said he. WAS In the region OF the Arapa
hoes. and when the tribe which killed Mr.. Meeker
rose they evinced disposition to take the same
steps. aud doubt would have done SO but for
jealousy that would not allow them to form union
with the tribes already In arms. For Mr.. Meeker's
fate 1 extremely sorry. He was just and
honest man. and faithfully performed the duties OF
his charge. I saw him last year when our hunt was
in Colorado; this year went too far North to see
him."