, 1888-03-29
THAT MASSACRE.
Another Version OF the kootenai
indian Murder

indian Murder.
A. src& deal has been said recently in
reference to an alleged Indian massacre In
the Kooteuai country the following item
furnished the Missoulian, published at
| Missoula, Montana, by correspondent,
may throw some tight upon the subject
| The correspondent writes Ia q very blood
thirsty vein, aud If he voiced the senti-
ments OF the settlers and they really meant
business in declaration Of war against
the guilty Indians, II IL about time We
were hearing of another killing 10 which
the Indians took tho place of the killed.
The article is interesting even IL there Is
nothing in it. and 1t IL published In full
SHELpos. March H. 1898
"one of the most horrible murders in the
annals OF pioneer life has just come To light
having been committed last June. AT
present writing every man In the valley
who has been informed is rallying to the
call of outraged law and order.
Before the sun is high in the heavens to-
morrow the depraved kootenai sayases that
perpetrated this shocking crime will have
paid the penalty they so Justly deserve. and
an important step taken towards the settle.
ment of the Indian questinn which neither
the military or civil authorities have So.
cured.
Three men uuarmcd and unsuspicious
were vet upon by Il half dozen savagcs as
they sat at their nuOuday meal, murdered
and robbed and their bodies consigned To
the flames of their own camp To remove all
evidence OF the BLOODY deed
The crime wgs the outgrowth OF that
wide liberty allowed the kootenaie, and
the savage frenzy worked upat their med
icine dances.
At these dances every person in his turn
dances around the lodge. shaking his scalp
locks, II he has any, aud telling his e&per-
ence as a warrior or assasSau.
At times these fanatical rites are carried
to such degree that The young and imps-
tuous are entirely carried away aud ready
tor any deed of deviltry TOWARDS their
white friends.
IL was not plumber that suggested this
crime hut undoubtedly the ntIrderuus feel.
ing engendered by rectaiS OF bloudshed
and villiany, rs the murdered men only
had two small horses and their entire out.
lit indicated that they wsr" poor.
Wolf Prairie il about ,iity miles irom
Ashley on the Libby creek trail, and has
long been the scene of medicine dances,
only AT last to supplant the mock tragedy of
recital and pantomitne by shocking
reality.
Although six in number the murder was
done by the leader, who, lurking in
growth OF small pine, deliberately waited
till they all sat down on n fallen tree, and
then fired, killing one and uortally
wounding smother at the first shot. Two
more shots were required To finish the
third man ~ he dashed wildly from the
scene, and he Joined his com inpanions who
had preceded him by II few seconds.
The horrible stcuclr from the burning
bodies, together with the smoke, attracted
another Indian, who was out huutinx, hr
coming onto them in the midst at their
work. They swore him to
secrecy by all tle onths of savage God.
liut the affair was first told around couuciI
fires by the actors themselves before the
old man sworn to silence told 1t.
1t was Il desperate crime and needed %
desperate remedy. The slow aud uncertain
process ot law in Indian cases oi y similar
nature suggested the movement OF an or.
ganized but unlawful punishment.
Within the last four years no less than
eight men have been murdered bY these
savages aud not one has Yet been pun.
ished.
No half dozen oiliceIs Of law IN ordinary
case can arrest these Indians.
There IL scarcely Is dissenting voice in the
10 take the matter in hand and
rid the earth ui The most olpudthir-ty
thA; II vicious and barbarOus race
can produce Aud however the matter
may he viewed at places remote irntn the
scene of action AID perhaps disapproved oi.
he citizens Of this place feel thut they are
no, only ayenGing the death Ut these men,
bat are taking steps toward the protection
pi the public. There is no passion utuui.
tested in the mon here assembled ,o 40 u
solemn duty. H.