The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1883-03-28

Lew Roberts, the Macleod stage dri-
yer, who arrived yesterday, brought in
some startling news from the Marias, the
cist of which is contained in the follow
ing letter sent to the RIVER PRESS by
Joe Kipp, who has had a band OF forty
head of horses stolen by the thieving
subjects of John Bull: zar
Fort CONRAD, March 10, 1913.
YestesGay afternoon Mr.. Brady, who
is herding Clark Tingley's work cattle,
about five miles below here, came IN and
reported finding six head of Tingley's
or three miles from his camp. Joe Pick
ct, Brady and about twenty Piegan In
dians started from here to the scene of
slaughter, and found eight head butch
cred and nearly all the meat taken; also
discovered the trail of a large war party
Undoubtedly Crees). The party num-
bered between 100 and 200. After the
return Of Picket and the Piegans, Picket
thought it time to look after his mules
which are running above here on the
Dry Forks, and Kipp also thoughtit
advisable to get in his horse herd from
the same place, numbering some sew
enty-fve head. -Four persons went out
to bring in the stock. Picket and an
other man got the mules, but the two
men who were after Kipp's horses ran
into a party of Crees and exchanged
several shots. The Crees, however, had
the herd. This all happened between
Z and 10 o'clock last night. ae .y
Immediately after the return Of the
above mentioned party, and about 10
p1oJnoIy Iact ninht q nartu nf piQoa nc
again started out on the war path, head
ed by Little Dog, and at daylight this
morning struck a portion of the Cree
party about ten miles below here. A
fight ensued in which two Crees were
killed, and two Piegans wounded, but
not fatally. One Piegan had his horse
killed from under him. About forty
head of Kipp's horses were taken, and
nine head $50 far as yet KNOWN Of work
cattle were killed. The meat Of eight
head was taken away, and when it is
taken into consideration that the Crees
were afoot, it shows that there is a big
party of them.
The two Crees killed were scalped and
their arms taken by the Piegans.
To-day discloses the fact that when the
herders ran into the Crees on the Dry
Fork last night, there must have been a
UlS CIOWu I'll CIlC1II, dS CIC ACIACIo louAIA
large quantities of fresh meat partially
dried and put into packs.
Everything goes to show that the In
dians had their plans all laid to get all
the meat they wanted, and then takethe
horses and load them with meat and
strike for home, and so far they have
succeeded pretty well. Take all together
it has been the biggestand best executed
raid that has been attempted for a long
time. Fears are entertained for the fate
of the ranchmen below here. They
have Deen killing cattle at various
ranches on the Marias. The work cattle
chat were killed belong to Clark Tingley
and L. G. Baker & Co.
Lew Roberts, the stage driver, was at
Kipp's during the occurrence of the ex-
citing events above narrated, and from
him we have gathered some additional
particulars. The excitement over the
affair was naturally enough very great
among the few white men at that place.
They could probably have organized a
company of fifteen men and would have
followed the Crees at once, but for the
fact that only three guns could be
raised in the crowd. Of the cattle killed
and found up to the time the coach left,
six belonged to Clark Tingley and two
to /. G. Baker & Co., all work cattle and
consequently more valuable. Another
wounded animal, which cannotliye be
longing to Tingley, was afterwards
found by Roberts farther down the road,
making nine altogether, and it is not
known how many more may have been
slaughtered by the red devils. AS no
news whatever has been received from
settlers or camps in that vicinity, the
entire loss can not be told, and fears are
even entertained for the safety Of set
tiers. Brady, Tingley's herder, was sent
to Prices ranch, from Kipp's, to inform
them of what had occurred, but he had
not returned when the stage left, al
though he had ample time to do so, and
fears are entertained that the Indians
made way with him.
Articles found OH the persons of the
dead Crees tend to impress the belief
that they had been around somebody's
ranch, and we shall wait with impa-
thence for further news from the ''seat of
war; hoping, however, that the full ex-
tent of the injury done is already known.
Joe Kip has sent thre men, Joe
Picket at the head, to Fort Walsh to
intercept the Indians and if possiblesre-
cover his horses, and we nave no doubt
they will be successful as the authorities
in Northwest Territory are not slow
about rendering assistance in such cases.
Last spring several small parties OF