The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-09-20
POOR RArroNs AND RESULTS.
Lieut.. Hannsy, United States Army. Tells
of the Troubles with the Piegans and
Blackteet Following the Re-
duction, of Food Issues.

Blackteet Following the Re-
duction.ef Food Issues.
The following report Of Lieut.. John
w. Hannay In regard to the threatening
attitude of the Piegans and Blackfeet.
and the situation at the agency, will be
read with interest in this section. The
danger of an uprising seems to be greater
than is apprehended, as the brain of q
starved redskin is 3 veritable devils
workshop. But ever f the settler is
spared. his herds will not be, and I'M
less the government deals more literally
with these Indians it will not be profit
able to have. cattle ON q thousand hills In
Northern Choteau county. Lieut.. Han
nay reports as follows on the subject:
Lieut.. Hannav arrived at the agency
ON the l4th of August, his object being
especially to ascertain what reduction
i'm the rations has actually been made,
the feeling of the Indians in regard to it
and the probability of an outbreak. And
first q word as to the manner OF issuing
rations. For this purpose the tribe is
divided into families, the head man or
woman of each family drawing Tations
for the same. To those drawing rations
checks are given, which are first pre-
scented to the issue clerk, who punches
out the numbers showing the week OF
issue. Then the tickets are returned to
the Indians after they have made their
marks opposite their name ON the 'ab-
stract of issues kept by the clerk. They
then present them again, at the place
and time OF issue, and receive the ration5
due them. If an Indian has more than
one wife-and therefore more than one
family-suficient tickets are given, so
that his share of rations may be in pro-
portion to the number of persons de-
pending upon him. At present there
are two weekly issues, n on Wednes-
day, the other on Saturday. United
States Agent Young, of this agency,
until lately, issued eleven beeves each
Saturday, and three each Wednesday.
The amount has now been reduced to
ten and one, and
STILL FURTHER REDUCTION
Of five or, six beeves per week is pro-
posed. The amount of flour has been
reduced from an average Of forty-four TO
100 sacks per week to only forty-four per
week, and q still further reduction Of
nine sacks weekly Is proposed. After
all proposed reductions shall have been
made, the amount issued On each check
will be for from one TO nineteen persons
weekly, only three pounds of meat one
week and three and two-thirdsthe next,
which is q little short of starvation. 30
far the reduction has been SO gradually
made that the Indians do not seem to
have detected it. Even if they did they
might not be disposed to quarrel, as it is
the summer season when they expect
their annuity; when they are selling
ponies to the northern Indians, and
when they are looking forward to q
successful buffalo hunt In the winter.
Agent Young says they have SO far &C
cepned reductions made at any time on
account of q scarcity Of provisions, but
he does not venture to say what nigh
occur SHOULD they be reduced to starva
tom and yet the storehouse full of food
Another order of the interior depart
ment is likely to breed trouble. Th'
young men of the Piegans have been or
dered to return the horses stolen from
other tribes. They claim this Is unfair
inasrnuch as the other tribes are no
compelled to return the animals stolel
from themselves, and SO they refuse t
comply. This makes the position Q
Agent Young 3 difficult one; for tn
Piegans are not treaty Indians, ]" an
he cannot, therefore, as other agents
secure obedience by Withholding rations
Runners are afioat to the effect that som
OF the young bucks have threatened th
agents life. AS yet, the Piegans do az
show signs of an outbreak, but it
difficult, in the light of the above fact
to say how long they may remain
peace. They number from $50 to 81
warriors, and in case of an outbrea
would doubtless be aided by the Nortl
ern Blaekfeet, Blood and Piegans.
Maine Election.
PORTLAND, Me-, Sept. 11.--At II az
the election was progressing quiet
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