, 1885-01-22
ON H TOMAHAWK.
Schemes to Lease the Crow Lands
Adjoining Wyoming.
Spotted Horse Exposes a Plot and
an Indian Agent.

Of Indian lands lying just north of Sweet
water county, across the Montana line. 1t
is claimed that by false representations
the agents of the capitalists secured the
signatures of several Crow chiefs to the
contemplated lease. The Indian agent
is accused Of being privy to the scheme
and not a little tsouble has ensued. A
few days ago a council was held at juno
ton City, Mont. and the Crows drew up
a protest against the leasing of the lands.
This protest will be sent to the chairman
Of the senate committee on Indian affairs.
A representative of the Stock Groipcrs'
Journal of Miles City, Mont, was at the
council The following extracts from his
report of the proceedings will be of inter
est to Wyoming cattlemen and Western
stock growers generally:
The Indians state, and their testimony
is c~orroborated by white settlers, that
when the Gros Ventres and other friendly
Indians recently visited the Crows, Agent
Armstrong took it into his head to stop
the Crows supply of ratios until the
visitors should leave, and on annuity day,
instead OF giving them the food provided
by the government, to which they are en-
titled, and which it is supposed that he is
to see they get, he gave them the infor-
nation that they would get no rations IN
til their visitors had gone home. The or
oer caused great suffering among h In
dams n they went to the agent and
Desought him to give them their food,
telling HIM their children were crying and
their families starving. He was relentless
however, md they went to work to place
their squaws and papooses out of danger,
preparatory to war on the agency. Agent
armstrong sent for a company of United
States soldiers, but the Indians stood
tneir ground, me an outbreak was only
prevented by some OF the interpreters 60
ing to the agent and expostulating with
MN, showing him the evil his conduct
was producing and the great danger he
wss inviting, after which the rations were
issued and quiet restored
1t is openly asserted that the agent
many times threatened to cut off the sup
plies OF the Indians If they did not sign
the lease OF Their lands to the syndicate.
NO council OF the Indians was allowed to
pe neid to consider the matter, and the
signatures were secured single or a few at
a tme' many OF them not knowing what
tney were signing
y 1. Bake was the active representa-
ave OF tne syndicate IN the netarlous
transacuon' with Bernard frevo, or Bravo,
Us ne Is commonly called the government
interpreter at \ Crow agency, as his
next pest man. FOR ms services, n OF
1nese woithies was to receive a valuable
trauership' and alter 1t was thought the
Outrage hao Deen consumated the neces-
sary papers were gwen hun to furnish
onus-whic are now IN the hands OF a
"nae friend OIL the Indians. n
Inc councn met IN a large log house
ana wnen a roll was called, n h follow
ing cnieIs answered TO their names, giving
the NUMBER oil lodges controlled by each,
as follows;
crazy 5 oister-ln-Law, ten lodges Pretty
Eagle zen lodges Old Crow, twelve
iouges' Oiu snake zen lodges. big Ox
reported MS band all scattered an small
parties
"nen spotted Horse the war chief oil
.he Sfows' was asked now many lodges
ne nad' ne waved one arm around the
circle m~aJesucaily and replied, They are
an mine ana there was no dissent to
tne WARRIOR paternai claim. Spotted
horse was tne INST TO speak lie SAID
AT he beginning OIL the talk about
.he lease met agent armstrong and In
'eip,e'er DraVo. Ahey oil toia me a
gooo many hes' as they nae done before.
wan. inc rest Oh you Spointlng 70 ms
cnielsJ 70 correct me IL make a mistake.
We nave worked ior the agent ana no has
promlSeu 10 pay US put When we went to
get 1t we were 'oio 10 wait ten or twelve
uays, ana sometimes Tic not get 1t at all
We 'n,nA 'nerei no use WORKING Tor nun
ior no'hing d promises we have done
sucn work ana other wnite men have paid
lorl1 we want to work Tor good men.
Mnen inc agent now asks us to work Tor
nun we say II we do you won pay. Other
"hlte men pay we work Tor other
men. Inc agent often old me II we
oidn 90 as ne sald we would get no "a
IONS told nimtne Great rather gaveus
1000 to eat, and the treat Father would
not anow MN TO keep 1t ALL we ave lost