The Portland daily press., 1885-07-11
THE IN DIANS.
A Widespread Panic in the Southern
Part of Kansas.
Governor Martin Demads Aid from
the Government.
General Sheridan on His Way to
the Front.

WASHINGTON, July 10.-A telegram re-
ceived at the War Department today indi-
Gated that Indian difficulties had occurred
in new place. The dispatch was from Gen.
Terry. and read: Colonel Brooks, COM
manding the district of Montana, has re-
ceived information from the Canadian au-
thorities that twenty-five lodges of insur-
rectionary Canadian Indians, under a son of
Big Bear, are going towards the boundary
line
The Indian troubles are looked upon from
Washington as becoming more serious. A
telegram has been sent to the officer in COM
mand which says that the outbreak must be
suppressed even if the Cheyennes are wiped
out of existence.
General Miles is expected to arrive in the
Indian Territory not later than the first of
next week and hope is expressed that he
may be able to quiet the disturbance without
bloodshed, as he is well known to the lndi-
ans and is said to have considerable infiu-
ence over them. In the troubles with the
Cheyennes some years ago they surrendered
to him voluntarily, and prior to that it was
their custom to refuse to surrender.
The President this afternoon addressed
the following letter to General Sheridan:
In view of possible disturbances that may oc-
tory and the contemplated concentration of the
troops in that locality / deem it desirable that
you proceed at once to the location where trouble
is to be apprehended and advise and direct those
III command as to the steps to be taken to prevent
disorder and depredatiOns by Indians. AS to the
dlsposltlon OF the troops, your acquaintance with
lle history, habits and customs of these Indians
leads me also to request that you invite state
nentS on their part as to any real fancied ini-
ry or injustice toward them or any other cause
that may have led to discomfort, and to inform
yourself generally as to their conditions. You are
Justified in assuring them that any cause of COM
plant will be fully examined by the authorities
here that if any wrongs exist they shall be reme-
dled. think hardly need add that they must
be fully assured of determination on the part of
nIl1p 70 fnfR.
ana by all the power it has at hand to prevent and
punish acts OF lawlessness and any outrages upon
our settlers.
(Signed) GROVER CLEVELAND.
General Sherman started tonight for the
west to carry out thePresidents Instructions
TOPEKA, Ks, July 1O.-The following let
ter has been sent by Governor Martin to
Secretary Endicott today, relating to
troubles with the Cheyenne Indians and the
exposed condition of the counties on the
southern border of the State:
To the Honorable the Secretary of War.
Sir,-For over forty-eight hours past dozen
counties in Southwestern Kansas have been in
a state OF wild excitement and panic. Thousands
OF settlers have abandoned their homes, their
crops and stock and fed to towns for the protec-
, dlon which II the supposed danger had been real
even, for the townspeople were no better armed
nor better prepared to repel an Indian raid than
those of the country districts For weeks past
the imminent danger of such a panic if not an
Indian INVASION has been apparent. The Chey-
enneS were known to be dScontented and threat
enlng, and our southwestern borders were eX
posed and defenceless More than two weeks ago
called the attention of the Honorable Secretary
OF War to this state of affairs and on the 25th Of
June last earnestly requested the general COM
manding this department to station a cavalry
force on the southern border of Kansas between
Barbour and Meade counties, in order to prevent
an Indian Invasion and give assurance of protec-
ton to our peaceful citizens. If the national
government locates in Indian Territory a large
numhpr of niSaOnfantnd nd dann
Indians, 1t is its plain duty to provide an ample
force to restrain them within the boundaries of
that territory and on their reservation. The State
OF Kansas cannot afford to maintain a standing
army on its southern border and should not be
compelled to maintain such an army in order to
protect its borders from invasion by Indians and
to give assurance of safety and protection to its
citizens. This is duty which the general govern
nent, not the State, should discharge. So long as
the Cheyenne or other turbulent tribes are in In
dian Territory so long will the borders of Kansas
be menaced by such dangers and disasters, such
Sufferlngs and LOSSES as have resulted during the
past fortyeight hours. 1t is the plain duty of;the
national government, it seems to me, to station a
permanent and adequate military force on the
southwestern ste border OF Kansas. Posts should be
the west line of Barbour to Seward cUufIffes from
Calling your attention to this condition of affairs
request that prompt and energetic measures be
adopted for the protection Of the borders of
this State against any possible invasion by the In
dlans OF the Territory. In the name of the people
of Kansas enter a protest against the further
continuation of the policy, civil and military
which has twice before permitted the invasion 0f
our borders with fire and sword and which during
the past forty-eight hours, has set thousands Of
peOple,-nen, women and chdren,-heeing in
terror from their peaceful homes. The COM
manding general Of this department has just or
dered eight companies of cavalry to our south
western border. This force, situated as | Lave
indicated and permanently maintained, will be
ample to give the citizens of the exposed country
assurances of protection
JOHN A. MARTIN,
Governor Of Kansas.
General Augur, commanding the DEPART
ment, sends Governor Martin copies of two
orders issued to the commanding officers of
troops now in Southwestern Kansas Gov
ernor Martin states that the action of Gen.
i've and that with the troops stationed as
Gen. Augur has directed he believes the
southwestern frontier will be fully protect
ed and an Indian invasion made imnnssihle