The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-12-19
MURDEROUS INDIANS.
They Court Death, and Are
Suited, at Arlee.
TROOPS CALLED OUT

TROOPS CALLED OUT
The Home Rule Problem "A
Negro Gets His Deserts---For-
eign and Domestic News.
Special to The MINER.
MlssoULA, Montana, December 17.-Great
excitement has prevailed in town to-day
over news received of Flathead outbreak
over the killing OF an Indian by Valentine
Coombs at Arlee early this morning. In
to call for troops, made by Sher-
iff Lane, from Arlee this afternoon, Major
Jordan, of Fort Missoula, started with
three companies. The soldiers arrived at
the depot at $50 this evening, but on re-
ceipt OF dispatch from Agent Roman, OF
the Flathead Agency, stating everything
was quiet, the troops were not required.
They have all returned to the post.
LATER DETAILS.
a. IA MINER reporter talked with
Y. H. Coombs this afternoon, who had
charge OF Eddy, Hammond & Co. store at
Arlee, who stated that the store is located
on the right side OF the way OF the North
ern Pacific, within twelve feet of the track
and twenty y-seven miles west OF Missoula.
This morning two Indians came to Arlee
on the east-bound train, which arrived
there at l p. m. p. Bader and wife keep
a boarding house next to the store, which
are about three feet apart. The Indians
first went to Bader's and asked Mrs.
Bader
WHERE HER MAN WAS.
She said: ''He is in bed" Big jim, one OF
the Indians, asked her to 60 and
wake him up, but she told them
to do it themselves. They then
came to the store door, kicking
pounding and following, and she stood in
the door and watched. The other Indian,
name unknown, had been drinking. During
all this time Mr.. Bader was in the back
Bsader's, but she shut and locked the door.
COOMBS STATEMENT.
''They came to my bedroom window, and
Big jim, calling me by name, told Inc to
get up. told them to 60 away, that it
was too late and the store was all locked
up. They replied that they were going to
get in, any way. and went round to the
front door. got up and went to the front
door and told them to 60 away. They said
no; they wanted flannel. l then let them
in. Big Jim bought four yards OF flannel
and put it under his blanket. He had a
needle gun and left it at the door with the
scabbord off. then told them t" go, but
Big Jim said no;
YOU HAVE GOT MY GUN
h re; want 1t and am going to have it.
| said no, yol can't have it; get out! When
| told him this he stepped in the door and
put his hand on the gun. At this time the
strange Indian said he would have my gun
and walked back OF me to the stove. Up
to this time had neither gun nor pistol,
but walked around to the desk and took
out my pistol The strange Indian then
came up saying: You white man,
ARE you GOING TO SHOOT ME?
I said, mo, but l want you to get out.
He grabbed the candestick and also
grabbed the candle out and dropped it on
the floor. AS / had as good a
show in the dark as they,
then went to the door, pushed by Big jim
and went to Bader's. l called him. HI
came to the door, whereupon | sent him
back for his gun. When he came out Biz
Jim was on the track, sitting on rail
the other redskin was by the door; had just
and q knife in the other. Bader passed mi
and grabbed the Indians revolver, who
then raised the knife to strike Bader.
made
GOOD iNJUN
of him. He didn't strike Bader. While w
were fooling with this one, Big Jim started
to run, but us he was going around th
store he flied at Bader, but missed. Babe
then fired at him with his shot gun ant
.illed him with charge. 1t didn't kill him
found his gun and blanket this morning
While was loading two guns we had in th
store Bader went to the telegraph offic
and told w. H. Noll to tee
graph Mr.. Hammond, at Missoula
At this time we could hea
large party Of Indians less than hall ;
mile rp the track, bowling. Bader, his viii
and two children and the rest OF us got int
the depot and waited developments. Every
thing was all right and quiet till Sherii
Knee, Messrs. Hammond, Mcleod, keye
and Carter came down from Missotlh. W.
| then sent for Agent Roman at the Agency
who came at once, and | came to Nis
soula."
SHERIFF. Lanes ACCOUNT.
Sheriff Lane informed your correspond
ent that he received a message at IL O cloc
| last night from Coombs, at Arlee, Stain
| he had killed an Indian and to come owe
| at once. as trouble was expected. Hetoo
/ the 3 o'clock train west this morning wit
A. B. Hammond c. H. Mcleod, Josep
| Carter and William keyes, and arrived a
Arlee at 4:3O and found the operator. hi
wife, Bader and his family and Coombs i
the depot building. He Immediately sen
for Major Roman, the Agent for the Flat
| heads, who arrived with Il boy at da
break. We found
THE DEAD INDIAN
living near the steps in front OF the stol
lying on his back; his crothing was on fiji
from the explosion of revolver. He wa
shot throug h the beart. Both the Indian
were Flatheads. Ma jor Roman sent fC
Alexander Matte, the Chief OF the India
police, who brought Chief Arlee, an India
| Judge, and two others. They did not r.
cognize the dead Indian, who WAS in wa
paint, which, when washed off, was foun
to be the son of one the chiefs. The Ind
ans kept coming in all day, up to the tin
we left on the freight train, at this afte
noon, and were peaceable in outward al
pearance They refused to touch the d
ceased, demanding that the whites tai
care OF him. The remains were placed In
barn and afterwards taken to the Agent
for burial. About Q this morning two l
dian police brought in
BIG JIM WOUNDED,
having his hip filed with fine shot. II
suuaws meanwhile were singing the dea,
song for the dead Indian. The Indian
the agent and the Sheriff had Il thr
hours talk. and agreed to let the Sher
take Big jim to Missoula, and he was
return Monday with Coombs, that tt
entire tribe may have a complete unde
standing of the whole matter. This ";
the understanding after Major Roman lie
for the Agency, five miles distant. at
| O'Clock the Indian Judge commenced kic
ing about the Sheriff taking the prisoner
Missoula, claiming he had no right to {
: so, and kept that talk up all the til
until the Sheriff left. All the re
of the Sheriff's party but himself al
Keyes had returned early this morni1
| When the freight came along this afternoo
while Lane and Keyes were taking
jim. they were surrounded by twent
two full-blond Indians armed a
e took the officers Winchesters and t
prisoner away. One Indian, Big Sam,
{ MADE THE SHERIFF LOOK DOWN HIS G'
! The Indians then left and the viii
!, boarded the freight and came home.