The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-03-20
how IT is DONE NOWADAYS.
CHASING INDIANS ON A LOCOMOTIVE.
Agent Romans Steam Roundup and the
Occasion OF 1t.
Correspondence Ne,c North Vast.

Agent Romans Steam Roundup and the
Occasion OF 1t.
Correspondence Ne,o North-Wcst.
FLATHEAD AGENCY, March H.-On the
night of Tuesday, March 10, your correspon-
dent was partakIng of the Inequalities of
Major and Mrs. Peter Roman, (the Agent
and his pleasant spousel, at Flathead Agen-
cy, and while
ENJOYING A PLEASANT CONVERSATION
las also very pleasant cigar with the host,
before blazing fire in the open fireplace of
his coy quarters, prior to retiring for the
night, horseman rode up to the door, in
curing for the Agent. At this the Major
approached the door, when a letter was de-
liv-red to him. After CHANGING at it he beg
ged to be excused fer a few moments, as bus
mess called him out. / heard him
GIVE HAsTY ORDERS,
and in few moments Indian messengers
were flying from his door in various direc
tions, mounted on horseback. The Agent
returned and resumed the conversation land
cigar and quietly informed me that he was
gathering his Indian police force, and as
| SOOu ID Soictbcu "Ouiu eDty Cdb W
press some
INDIAN TROUBLES.
He then handed me letter for perusal, which
read as follows:
Major Roman: A large number of Indians
are drum two miles east of Victor, and have
placed Instructions on the Northern Pacific
track. The section man whs undertook to
remove them was knocked down and driven
away at the point of guns. Assistant Gen.
eral Manager Buckley requests that you or
ganize force and go there to night and ar
rest them. The ROadmaster Is at Arlee sta
ton, and will 60 with you. Please answer
by bearer If you can do so, and will arrange
to have an engine at Arlee to take you down
and back. /. b. CABLE,
Supt. n. L. r. II.
Upon reading the above, / asked permits |
sion to accompany the expedition, which |
was cheerfully accorded
Several Indians, well armed and mounted |
on fleet ponies, reported for duty at midnie hit |
The Major and myself were driven to Arlee |
in carriage, the Indians following on horse |
back Upon arriving there
AN ENGINE AND TENDER
was placed at our service and we all piled on |
the tender. We steamed out from the station
in cold and drizzling rain and soon arrived
at Ravalli, a station some six miles from st.
1gnatius Mission, whittier the Agent had dis
patched ness enger. Hero the engineer WIS
directed to await reinforcements. After a
halt Of about fifteen minutes a mounted pos. Q
ofseven Indian policeman rode up, reported
dismounted and joined us on the tender.
Majsr Roman then explained that the mes
senger he had the precaution to send from
the Agency to the polics at the Mission to
jein him, had faithfully carried out his in
structions; but / was astonished to learn
that he had ridden twenty miles to the mis-
sion, gathered the posse and was at Ravalli
to meet us before daylight with his men.
FROM RAvALLI WE WENT FLYING
over the track and in the early dawn arrived
at Horse Plains. Here we found the section
boss who was maltreated by the Indians the
evening before. He was taken in the car to
which we coupled on, and again went flying
back to Victor station. Here the section
man recognized an Indian as
ONE OF HIS AssAILANTs,
and he was arrested We then steamed on
for few miles and halted at another camp.
Here we arrested three more Indians who
|
them out Of the eucanpment and placed
them under arrest in the car. Major Roman
was here informed that the
WHOLE CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE
grew out of the finding of twenty-gallon
barrel of whisky by the Indians in the Pen
dOreille river, which was lost by the upset
ting of freighters wagon some three years
ago III a tributary of the river. The barrel
was washed out of sight and there remained
until found, the night previous to the dis
turbance by the Indians. Learning that the
whisky was Coached" at an Indian camp on
the opposite side Of the river, skiff was
procured, detail of three Indian police
crossed the river and found the barrel, which
about fifteen gallons, and by order c
Of the Agent the same was
EMITTED UPON THE GROUND. G
At this juncture an Indian woman male
complaint against n railroad employe for Il
abuse in her husbands absence. A descrip- d
ion of the man was given and the engineer
was directed to run back to Horse Plains, f
where the offender was found and placed
lnder arrest, much to the delight and salts
action of the Indian police. The object of ,
our mission having been attained, we started +,
up the road, halting at Ravali station where
he Indian prisoners were taken of by the
Indian police, by direction of Major Roman, |
and escorted to the Jail at the mission. The
engine then proceeded to Arlee, where we
arrived at o'clock p. m, after a ride of f
ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY MILES.
Upon alighting from the engine Major Ro-
ran was handed the following telegram from
Missoula:
p. Roman We congratulate you on the
success of your trip and thank you for the C
yery prompt manner in which you have q
lealt with the offenders. /. B. CABLE.
Supt. n. L. r. Il.
The following was also received from Sec "
etary Lamar: a
WASHINGTON, ID. c., March IL, 1885. II
Agent Ronnn Compliant made here that
our Indians are placing distractions OH
abroad and endangering lives of passengers q
You must attend to this Immediately. If L
'our police force is not sufficient, call on the i,
military. l.. q. q. LAMAR, :,
Secretary Of Interior. u
Happily there was no occasion to call upon
he military, and the Secretary of the Inte- o
ior was so informed by the Agent by tele- n
raph. d
THE INDIAN POLICE In
t the Flathead Agency have recently been
rganized by Agent Roman, and are a fine N
ody of men, always ready and prepared to C;
xecute any order emanating from the Agent. &c
As will be seen by the following tthe origi- al
al Of which I was permitted to copy the
'olice force of the Flathead Agency are an IL
and organized body: c;
OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, SC
WASHINGTON, March 8, 1886. in
Peter Roman, U. S. Indian Agent, Fiattead e,
Agency, Montana:
SIR I'm reply tn your letter Of the 18th
It,, enclosing code Of rules for the govern d.
lent OF the Court of Indian Offenses for hi