The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1888-06-01

tuieileiieu dtitch anu even q lew
tim;d individuals at the county seat
were inclined to look upon the matter
with some degree of alarm. But the
scare in this portion of the county
reached climax on last Sunday when
a little band of scouts, armed and
equipped, consisting of Sam Moses,
Wi!l'Crane, Will Culver, l.. Il. Thayer,
III. &. Nrestonc, Bob Milligan and two
or three others started from this place
for the purpose investigating the matter
and tracing the ru,nors. if possible, to
their source. Thcy reached the Chey-
enne rivef without losing scalp, but
the river was TOO high to ford and the
boys ware complied to camp for the
night on this side. During the after
noon and evening they amused them
selves by shooting at drift wood in the
river. The suspicious lenizens of the
neighborhoGd who were ever on the
lookout for the redskins whom, they
supposed, were likely to swoop down
upon them at any time, hearing the
shots. took it for granted that the
Indians We're coming. abandoned their
homes and fed, informing the neigh
bors as they went that the Indians had
already begun their iiendish work Of
rapine and murder; that Judge Wood
and family had been killed and their
property burned and that myriads Of
dusky warriors were close upon their
heels. These reports spread like wild
fire over the entire neighborhood for
miles around and almost everybody
was getting ready to seek a place Of
security, VIXEN Kcnnet Harris appeared
upon tic scene and lie, together with a
few of the more cool headed settlers,
endeayorea to stem the tide of fleeing
humanity by telling them that there
were no Indians in the country and
the reports of their coming were en-
tircly false This succeeded. in meas
nsa, in luicting their fears and they
waited for further developments.
Meanwhile the boys at the Cheyenne
river had been exploring the neighbor-
hood and interviewing the remaining
settlers, which investigation developed
tl:c fact that the rumor regarding the
contemplated Indian attack originated
with one \. S. Barksdall, living on
Hat creek, who alleged that he 05arks-
daily was warned of the impending
massacre by an old Indian whom he
had bcfiienlc,l ut one t;rc. The river
failing to go down the scouts returned
to town an,! reported the result OF their
Investigations. On Monday Sam
Moses and Will Crane, in order to
dispel any Farther doubts that may ex-
list Ill the minds of some OF the appre-
i.ensive settlers. proceeded direct to
the camp of the Indian lnformer, who
was hunting and trapping on Hat creek,
and taking linn to the house of Ben
iihbitt, who talks the Sioux language
lnent!v. told him the purpose cf their
visit and the r,lnlo. regarding the
threatened attack. The Indian laugh
cd and said, in Substance, that Barks-
dali misunderstood him; that he en-
deavored to tell him by signs and gest-
ures that lie was going back to the
reservation to plant a garden but that
he. with Il fcw of his friends, would
get permits from the agent at Pine
Ridge and return in seventeen days to
hunt and fish for month or two on
Cheyenne river and Hat creek. He
also stated that the Indians at the
reservation were perfectly centcnted,
| which was substantiated by a telegram
from tiic agent at Pine Ridge in re-
sponsc to inquiries, saying that all was
quiet on the reservation. and that no
fears whatever OF an Indian outbreak
need he entertained. The fact has also
| been developed that Barksilall is sl,s-
pectcd of stealing and killing cattle
aud that he took this method of getting
out of the country without being de-
tccte,l. Thus it will be seen that all
this trouhle, anxiety and expense was
the result of a malicious lie by Barks-
dali or q gross misunderstanding by
him Of The Indians conversation. At
any rate Il ..ss been II great damage to
this scctio.. iii the way OF settling up
the country and one that it will not
soon recover from. The report has
gone abroad that the country is subject
to the attacks cs hostile Sioux and it
will not be easy to convince eastern
people that the report was a canard.
However such is the case and settlers
may return and take peaceable pos
session Of their abandoned homes and
rest assured that they will never be
lnolestcd Ly the attacks of hostile
savages or again worried by the false
fabrications OF this man Barksdall who
is said to have gone to Nebraska. Let
us return thanks.
SCATTERING SHOTS.
Stephen Virtue. of Cascade, moved
his family into town last week for safe
keeping,
The stock of ammunition and fire
arms in this city and Oelrichs has bee,
materially decreased during the pas
week.
Messrs. Cox aud Blacl; moved t.eil
families in from Cascade last week
but now that the scare is over will
probably return Immediately to theil
their ranches.
The Deadwooa Pioneer wrongful,
accuses Gel. T'hornby, of Hermosa, o
instisating the story of the Indian out
! break for self aggrandizement. 1t i
e true perhaps, that he te!egrapl,ed t
= Gov. Church for two hundred stand o.
= arms Ill order to al!ay the fears of tht
a people. but resident of Fall Rive
q county is entitled to the proud distinct
e ion Of being the originator of that out
4 landish lie.
e Three companies of soldiers were dis
a patched from Fort Robinson last weel
S to the rescue of the inhabitants o
y ()elr;cl,s. n larre number of whom.