The Portland daily press., 1884-08-09
INDIANS RIGHTS.
Intruders at Rock Falls, Indian
Territory, Bounced.
PARNE's PRESS CONFIsCATED AND
THE OFFICE BURNED.

CALDWELL, Kan, Aug. Son Wednesday,
Gen. Hatch, in company with AdjutaHt Cen
eral Finley and Inspector Green, of the Inte-
rior Department, visited Payne's camp at
Rock Falls, in the Indian Territory, and after
reading the proclamation to him and his as
sembled followers, directed them to leave the
territory before the following morning, or they
would be elected. This took place In q small
board shanty, occupied by the Oklahoma Chief
(newspaper), the forms OF which were being
made mp at the time. Payne at first attempt
ed to discuss the legal aspect OF the case, but
soon became angry and very abusive in his
language, calling all the government, from the
highest 10 lowest, pack of thieves. Cooper,
the editor, chimed in with vitupeIation and
threats. Failing to provoke quarrel Payne
said he had valise full of money, and he
would give $1,000 to be tried by United
States Court, and in order to assure the officers
of case against him, would then and there
sell them liquor and cigars without license or
permit. He urged the officers to dine with
him, and offered them plenty Of liquor if they
would do so.
BY this time a large crowd had assembled,
and the officers again admonished them to
torrent of abusive epithets The officers hen
returned to camp, ten miles distant. Early
yesterday morning two squads of tbs Ninth
United States Cavalry, commanded by Capt.
Moore, appeared in the boomers" camp, and
under direction of Indian Agent Rogers ar
rested the whole community and took charge
of the printing office. Ali women and chill
dren and men who were now offenders, were
escorted to the old Kansas line, together with
their personal property. Six old offenders, ID.
I. Payne, j b. Cooper, d. G. Greathouse, T.
w. Eckelberger, John McGrew and s. L.
Moseley, were loaded into six mule wagons
and started, under escort of Lieut.. jackson
and fifteen men, for Fort Smith, Arkansas,
800 miles distant. The paper was ready to go
to press, and upon inquiry number Of print
ers were found in the command, who soon
printed an edition Of 100 COPIES The press
was then carefully packed and loaded into a
wagon, and started under escort for Muskogee,
l. T., being confiscated property, and under
the law unreplevinable. The printing Office
HOUSES drug store, cigar store and restau-
rant, and some cheap dwellings were then
burned to the ground, and the last vestige of
Rock Falls had disappeared.
Payne threatened to cut the throat of the
first man who attempted to arrest him, but one
colored soldier marched him about camp for
an hour. Payne has lost whatever prestige he
may have had heretofore with the thinking
class OF the community. He had been on a
debauch for week, and was unable last night
to attend the conference of squatters, which
was held after Gen. Hatch had left Rock Falls
The deluded squatters realize that they have
paid him many thousands of dollars without
an adequate return. The number elected
from this camp was about $50. A large crowd
0. citizens was present. They came from
Hunniwell as spectators, and heartily approx
ed the course adopted to rid the territory of
the intruders. 1t is believed this will cure
the Boomers OF trying to force settlement of
the Indian lands. The other detachments of
troops have been sent to the remaining settle
ment, and will n like manner arrest the ring
leaders and take them to Fort Smith,