The river press., 1882-03-15

to enforce the law. The robes will be sent
to Wolf Point. Will explain more fully
when I return. JOHN J. HEALY.
The second message is dated one day later
and was written in the camp of Capt. Kline,
commander of the relief force sent from
Assinaboin. 1t runs like this
In DAMP WITH CAPT KLINE's CoMMD(
30 Miles below BeIKnap, March 12)
The half-breeds made another raid on me
after being released by Captain Reed. and
would have robbed me of the rest of the
property if it were not that l had sent cour-
ier after Captain Reed and had him return.
Fortunately Capt. Reed arrived in time TO
save our lives, and he succeeded in getting
the consent of the half-breeds to have robes
stored with Mr.. HenG Gerson, traders Snug
glers and whisky traders are having holi
day. / have barely succeeded in getting
away with life. Met Captain Kline's COM
mand to-day and will return with him and
make some arrests or Mrs Fl. widow.
Nothing down this way but smugglers,
whisky traders and cut.throats. On the 3rd
the half f-breeds robbed US Of $50 robes. Our
guns were not recovered Talbert and Joe
are O. K JOHN j. HEALY.
These messages do not coincide exactly
with the first reports received, and nothing
further has en- heard from the seat of war.
They are not very definite and will need
great deal Of explanation when the ''Ameri-
can officer who wishes to enforce the law"
returns. Mr.. Healys organ tells us that be
was duly armed with authority from Collect
or Hunt Zone of the proprietors of the org n
to arrest smugglers and seize their goods.
Fhis is very good as far as it goes, but the
average citizen of Benton is not satisfied that
the robes taken were smuggled and will want
some light on the subject.
Mr.. Healy talks gliby about the half
breeds ''robbing" him of robes and other
property As looked at from this point of
view it would seem that they were only re-
covering property that had been taken (not
to say stolen) from them. If they had per-
mitted three men to enter their camp of sew
eral hundred and by force take from them
the product of their years labor, they would
not deserve the name of dogs, much less
men. Even half-breeds have some rights that
San American officer who wishes TO enforce
the law is bound to respect.
We do not wish to take the part Of SNUG
gers or law breakers. but in the present in
stance, or at least until the facts are more
fully disclosed, it would appear to a person
two hundred miles away thatit was the half
breeds in the first place that needed the pro-
lection OF the army or some ether sufficient
authority. 1t must be remembered
that these people live principally by
the chase and that their store of robes
at this time is the product of many months
of labor and upon which they depend for
bread and raiment Heretofore they have
been free te follow the buffalo and take his
robe. 1t is something new for. ian Ameri-
can officer to swoop down upon them and
confscate their robes, and it is no wonder
they turned the tables On the very Jealous
champions of law and order, the Messrs
Healy and Talbert. Of course these gentlemen
had only the most patriotic motive! They
saw how Uncle Sam was being mercilessly
| robbed by these miscreant half breeds anc
determined to sacrifice their lives on The
altar of duty, if needs be, to protect the gov
eminent Such an exalted display of pa,r
otism is rarely met with It recalls the days
of the revolution when ranchmen left th'
plow to fight at Lexington.
AS will be seen by one of the message
above given Mr.. Healy has joined Capt
Kline's expedition and expresses determi
nation to get some prisoners (and robes, w
presume) or die in the glorious attempt. 81
will probably return within the next fev
days and give US q more explicit account 0
his extraordinary mission and adventures.