Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-07-12
MARAUDING CuEYENNEs
The Troubles of Sc tier on the Cheyenn
Reservation.

The Troubles of "a se tier on the Cheyenne
Reservation.
A gentleman who claims 10 speak
only of what he knows, aud in whom
we have implicit confidence, has re-
Gently detailed TO Us a series of occur
cnces at the Cheyenne agency which
II not exaggerated would seem to call
for an Investigation ofAgent Upshaw's
conduct and if found to be true would
warrant his immediate removal. The
story as given to the JOURNAL is .as
follows.
About two miles above the agency
on Lame Deer, there is a settler named
Gaflney, an old man, in poor circum-
stances and with a large family to sup
port, He wag on his claim before there
WAS any Indian reservation there, and
has only his proper amount of land,
the peaceful occupancy OF which he Is
allowed under the executive procla-
nation which created the reservation.
About n year ago, an Indian beloug-
ing to Upshaw's agency took posses.
sion of a portion ofGatfney's land and
in the spasmodic manner usual to the
ab)rigine, proceeded TO plant a garden.
Gaftney Immediately complained 10
Agent Upshaw Of The trespass and
asked that the t~respasseT be removed,
but was induced to endure the inilic-
ton temporarily on the ground that
the Indian had planted Il garden, and
thst in the spring his removal would
be effected. This spring Gaffney re-
newed his request and wai~ met by a
fiat refusal from Upshaw to interfere,
and the assertion that all Of Gaflney's
land belonged to the Indians. We
are not definitely informed Us to the
status of Gailney's claim to the land,
but have nodoubt that inasmuch rs he
was a settler before the reservation
was set out, that it Is perfectly tenahle
in u legal sense, and that Agent Up.
shsw's assertion TO the contrary is err
oneous Recently a party Of Indians
came to his ranch, and in hi: presence
forcIbly took from him six or seven
calves and killed and eat one Of them.
As soon a. possible Gaifney made COM
plant to Upshaw, stating that he
could identify the Indians and asked
redress for the outrage and protection
from similar raids, hut beyond recov-
cring the calves not killed, be could
ct n . satisfaction whatever from Up
shaw, and from the tenor of the inter
view was led to believe tlat Upshaw
would not exert himself In the least
neither for bis protection or relief.
Assuming the facts detailed to be
true, and that Gaffney IS iu legal oc.
cupancy OF his land, the matter as.
sumes a very serious aspect. Either
Agent Upshaw is ~powerless TO control
the actions Of his Indians, or else he is
disposed TO ignore all rights Of settlers
on the reservation, and ia either case
be Is totally unfit for the position be
holds. The location OF these Indians
In a section thickly settled by whites,
was Al outrage eve before perpetrat-
ed In the history of this government,
and on ly 10 be made endurable by
placing them under the control Of nm
agent who could end would hold them
to u strict accountability for all acts of
trsspass or violence; but with one who
cannot or will not do this, the sitIa-
ton becomes frAught with an element
of danger 10 both life and property
that Is, 10 say the least, unpleasant to
contemplate. Miles City looks to the
rapid settlement otthe country contig-
nous for it, future prosperity, and
when the fairest and best portion Of 1t
IL subjected TO such an obs lcle As the
permanent location OF q baud Of ind o.
lent and thieving sayages, whose re-
sponstble agent il either unable or IN
willing to control them and refuses 70
redress the wrongs Inflicted on settlers
by them, it 's time for some of oul
citizens to make enquiry into the con
ditiOn Of affairs, AR. Gatfney Is Az
old mar and too poor to take the mat,
ter into the courts, but even were IA,
able, IL might not be policy for him to
undertake si1gle-handei the fighl
that belongs to this community, aud
lay himself open to the thousand ant
one petty ~aggravations that could fol
low in the trail of his action. II be.
longs to the people Of Miles City ..
champion the cause Of these settler,
aud to DO the utmost to relieve our 10.
cality from this incubus aud obstacl,
to settlement.