The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-03-25
NEz pERcEs INDIANS.

| Chief Joseph and His Band to be lte-
moved TO Their Former Reservation
| Coffeyvllle, Kansas, "Boomers" on Their
Way to Oklahoma-Will be Turned
Back.
ARKANSAS CITY, Kan, March 23.-In-
| for ion has just reached here that the re-
M lg members Of the Nez Perces Indian
tribe, with the noted Indian chief Joseph
al their head are to be Immediately trans.
ferred from their present reservation in
Indian Territory, where they are dying
by the score from broken hearts,
TO their old reservation. In 1877,
when Joseph and his men sur
rendered to General Miles, he was ovel
900 miles from his reservation. He would
only throw down his arms upon the prom
Use that he and his tribe should be returned
to their old reservation. A scout has just
come In from the present reservation of the
Nez Perces (whO were not taken back ia
their homes, but placed on barren and
lonely reservation In Indian Territory and
says that an Inspector of the Interior De
partment was at the reservation and that
the tribe were to be at once transferred to
the land of their forefathers. OF the six
hundred or more men, women and children
who surrendered to General Miles, over
three hundred have died, and the only
hourishing spot within 100 miles of their
reservation isSthe graveyard.
General Hatch has just received word by
courier from the Sac and Fox agencies, 150
miles southeast of here that large body of
colonsts had passed there on the 10th inst.
en- route to Oklahoma, and that the main
body consists of about one hundred and
fifty persons from CofTeyville, Kansas.
Captain Tom De Wey with four companies
of the Ninth Cavalry is already scouting in
that portion of the Territory, and courier
has been dispatched to him to intercept the
colony before It's arrival.
Should the colony reach Oklahoma, II Is
understood their stock will not be destroyed,
but that they will be compelled to leave.
These men left the Kansas line before Presi-
dent Clevelahds proclamation, and they
know nothing about II, but General Hatch
believes De Weys will be able to get be-
tween them and the Oklahoma country by
forced marches, and thus compel them TO
turn about without even having glimpse Of
the promised land. Deweese, however,
was, on the 14th inst, one hundred miles
north of the Sac and Fox agency, with his
battalion and It looks as If the cOlonists
would beat ldm in the race to the Cimarron
River, where they propose to enter Okla
hOma.
Some of the cattlemen in the 0klahoma
country are uneasy because Of the Presl-
dents proclamation. Some are coming out
Of the Territory, but the main body of the
colonlsts seem determined to remain here fol
the present. Settlers have sent petition to
President Cleveland signed by nearly 1,500
persons. II points out the hardships that
would result from wholesale expulsion OF
families who have come into the Territory as
settlers in good faith. The President is
asked TO appoint commission TO adjust the
obstacles TO the settlement of Oklahoma.
General Hatch and seven companies OF
cavalry are encamped on Chllicoo Creek
watching the cOntmaciOus boomers. Both
Hatch and Major Benton, who are Indian
fighters Of experience, credit the reports thai
the movements of the boomers have made
the Indians uneasy, and Hatch says that II
Oklahoma lands are invaded by settlers and
cattlemcn the United States troops will have
10 protect them from Indians before fall.
A scout just In from Camp Russell says
the Cheyennes, on Salt Fork, are holding
preliminary councils arranging for wal
dances, which always precede Cheyenne
declarations Of war.
General Hatch also received word that two
alleged stockmen had made camp with
permanent improvements on the Deep Fork
near Wells store, from which the KiOwa
and Nickapoo Indians draw their ammuni-
tion, and he says he will see TO II that they
are not only driven off but that their i'm
prOyements are destrOyed-the same as he
would do were they boomers. ..
II is becoming more firmly established
from day TO day that the Oklahoma country
Is being populated by wOuld-be settlers and
homcsteaders in spite of the fact that Gen
eral Hatch is holding the Couch colony In
check on the Arkansas River; and If the
boomers continue to slip by and escape the
eyes Of the military II will soon be necessary
for the troops to again greet them by force,
as they will never leave without II.
Captain De Wey's battalion Of four COM
panies will be at the Canadian River within
q week and after looking out for the boom
ers who have just passed west, through the
Sac and Fox agency, he can turn his atten'
tiOn TO the men who are living about In
small camps and convenient places.
Late Friday afternoon n small camp OF
colonists were reported in camp near the
main highway just north Of the ChilocoC
Indian school, and a cOlored corporal IN
charge Of the patrol reported to Major Ben
ton that when ordered TO leave, the men be
came abusive and deiied the patrol. Majol
Benton sent Captain Sands troops to brlnl
the men into camp, but when the soldiers
reached the point nothing but one campers
wagon was found and It's only occupants
were three children. The wagon was on thC
Kansas side of the highway, any way, ant
eN~n II the men were boomers they had {
right to be there and the soldiers could no
| touch them. The men Mt the Couch CAM
say the alleged colonsts were never acr0s
the Kansas line and there was no call for tn
militia.
Arkansas City is crowded with farmers
stOckmen and boomers, and Saturday
pceting was held at The Boomers camp
Between 800 and 1000 persons were pres
ent II was remarkable gathering in th'
face Of an the dlsheartenng reports whlcl
have been spread abroad since the Presl
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