Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1882-09-28
TOTTEN To TURTLE, MOUNTAIN.
Report from Maj. Conrad's Conn and, who
Went Out to Settle the HaIf-Breed
Trouble-A Law-Abiding Set and Shrewd

Report from Maj Conrads Command. who
Went Out to Settle the Half Breed
Trouble-A Law Abiding Set and Shrewd
Recent advices from an army officer who &C
companed the expedition lately dispatched by
Gen. Terry's orders from Fl. Totten to the Tur-
tie mountains, have been placed in the hands of a
PIONEER PRESS representative, and few extracts
are given as showing the general character of the
country and the present status of affairs in that
district. The expedition sent out at the re-
quest of Hon. K. F. Pettigrew, the member for
Dakota who stated that the settlers had bsen
drlyen out by the half-breeds and lniians,
and demanded that troops be sent to pro-
tsct them The force, consisting Of Troop F. Sew
enth cavalry aud detachment of Indian scouts.
under command of Maj. J. s. Conrad Seventeenth
infantry. left Fort Totem on the 22d of August,
and an the 2Gth, camp was established about ff-
teen milos south Of the boundary uear the base OF
the moultains. On the next day visit was made
TO the settlement the vicinity. The first settler,
Canadiar married to a half breed woman, was
met about mile from camp. The road skirted
he base Of the mountain, and after the first one,
he nuub-r of settlers confined to increase until
the traders store was reached about four miles
south Of the line. Tne country gradually rises
from the east to the west, but to the north 1t
presents tine appearance OF an unbroken plain
of timber extend down from the mountain
toward the plan with otenngs Of unt:mbered
tracts. Further toward the main body Of tie
mountain the timber is
LARGER AND MORE DENSE
with a growth of underbrusL that the half breeds
do not attempt to penetrat-- except in winter on
snow shoes. Numerous springs come from the
mountains and in the vicinity Of these the settlers
are located. The settlers here all half bree Is,
nd from conversation with the more prominent it
WIS l,arned that for years there had been settle
lncnt of haf-breeds at the mountains, composed of
about sixty families; but this Year lao families had
cum- from Manitoba AMI others were to
follow They seemed prosperous and were building
log houses and preparing to gu tiv te the land.
From the haif-breeds it was learned that the only
Indians frnquentin2 the country are five or six
families of Crees, who come in the pursuit of game
during the hunting sea on. II appeaT- that Little
Shell and hoshDah are rivals, the former claiming
TO be the hereditary chief Of that section. while
KoshDah is the son OF one of the principal men Of
the Chippewa Indians. and shows paDer from
former commissioner Of Indian affairs, giving him
some authority Each of them has a following.
Little Shell has a scheme for getti.- reservation
assigned them and then collecting it all the
breeds from the east au west, together with the
Crees nd AssnuiboIna indians, over whom h. shall
be suprem". 1t for this reason that the
white settlers recently ORDERED away as he did
not wish them TO SETTLE there until the government
had decided what arrangement should be made
about areservatln.
THE WHITE CLAIMANTS.
AS near as could De ascerlanel there were only
about twelve men who Went TO thu Turtle mountain
country 20 take claims, half of number coming
from the Canada side They loca;ed few miles
nor of the h4lt-breeds' settlement. along the base
OF the mountain, au began to make improvements.
When ordered away. tho~e from the Canadian side
returned to the D lninion, and the others went
SOUTH Th,re Is tie doubt that the chief
aim of these people is to secure a reSer-
walton. and for this purpose they keep up
sort of tribal organization and acknowledge
a full olooded Indian as their chief Many of them
are shrewd, Intelligent men ami fully recognize the
fact that they have too much at stake TO place
themselves in direct AM agousm to- he goveram ent.
Those coming from the British ->si0ns--and
they are in the majorty-claim-d that they hai in
tended doing so year or two ago bu; had been
KIP back by fear of harsh trea meat The said
they preferred the government OF the United States
and liked the country batter
THE QUESTION OF CUSTOMS.
During Maj. COnrad'S absence couriers were
sent from Fort Totten with orders for him to in
veStlgate the matter OF the refusal the part
of the Canadian half-breeds to paw the duties on
sock, agricultural implements and other dutable
articles which had BEEN demanded by Deputy Col
lector McCoom. Somehow the c0uriers missed
out to meet the column, fai ed to do it, so that
nothing Was known OF tn affair unit after the
turn to the fort. The Que ton Of duties not
the subject of special inquiry but it is thought that
the deputy will.have further rroube in gathering
tribute. They are generally disposed to re>pect
au hOrity, and the presence Of the trooos among
tlem, and the knowledge that they within striking
dis ance has had a wholesome effect upon those
who are inclined 70 be turbulent. The surface of
the country between Fort Totten and Turtle noun
talns is described as rather fiat with frequent
marshy lakes. The teams, however. had no trouble
except in crossing the outlets of lakes some of
which would be impossible in the spring or in wet
weather. because Of the depth OF the wa and the
hoggy nature of the beds and banks. In going to
the mountains the column n ,rched 115 miles, but
this distance shorten i to nn-tr-eight
miles by taking more direct roo the r,turn to
the fort, which reached on the last day of the
month.