The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-05-04
The Kootena, Trouble.

In his report to Mai. Gen. Ruser on the
recent trouble between tho kootenai In.
dians and the settlers near Ashley, Agent
Renan says:
1t is u fact that the citizens Of that vi
cinity did execute two Kootenai Indians
some time last month, am, that third
one made his escape or he would have fol-
lowed the fate Of the other two. From
dilisent inquiries among the In
dians Of this reservation,
am afraid that the reported murder of
three white men is true. and that no mis-.
take is made by the citizens as to the iden.
tity OF the Tn,lian nurlcrers. The white
men were killed about the 18th os last
June. at a place called Wolf Creek. on the
trail leading to Tobacco plains. The In
dians who committed the crime, and who
were lynche'i, are said to belong To the
bandit Chief Encas, who have their homes
ON the reservation, and live about six
miles north of the agency at Dayton creek,
One of the murderers, who is still at large,
confessed the crime to reliable Indians
OF this reserve. 1t seems that IL
party OF some ten kootcnai Indians. while
passing along the trail. noticed three white
men encampad. One Indian proposed to
two Others to go to the camp and intimi.
date the whites. On nearing them the In.
diana fired over their heads but the white
men only laughed; whereupon the Indians
decided to kill them. Two OF the white
party being seated eating in range, n bullet
fired by an Indian passed through both
men. killing them instantly. The third was
fired upon and wounded, and was killed by
the blows OF an AK. No motive was given
for the crime. sent for Chiei Eneas, nf the
reservation kootenais. and he told me
he had met a party Of white men at Day.
ton creek. Their leader. one Ramsdalc,
told him they had hung two of his Indians,
and were there to find out what lie was going
to do about it. 1t was explained to Encas
that II white traveller who had camped
near Dayton creek, on hearing OF the
hanging oi the Indians, mounted horse
and rode into Ashley and stated that the
band of Eneas' were in arms; that they
had attacked him, and he made his en-
cape while the Indians were plunderin. his
wagon. This was easily refnted by Encas.
The action Of the white man who caused
the excitement at the reservation is mex.
cusablc. Chief Eneas, in his talk to mo,
stated that II murder had been committed
by the Indians, it was nothing more than
justice to hang the guilty ones, but was
sorry that the lake settlers took the law
into their own hands an! Iyncled the
prisoners, as trial, conviction and exc.
cution by due process Of law would havea n
more salutary effect upon the Indians and
prevent recourse to revenge. In regard to
the state OF things relative to the security
OF white settlers, cannot see what cause
they can have for excitement, especially
rs the chief Of the band to which the cui.
prits belonged states that no trouble will
come from him or his people, as it is con.
ceded fact that they were ,injuatifiablc
murderers Of white people, and deserved
their late, whether by lynch law or other
wise. move for tho establishment OF
military post in that region has a great
tendency, think, to stimulate some OF
the people to keep up excitement and to
exasgerate the real state OF affairs.