The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1888-04-11
HI YU SKOOKUM +!
Two of the Three Kootenai Murderers
Hanged to Tree.

A gentleman who came in from Flat.
head Lake Friday gave the Missoulian a
vivid description Of the recent stirring
events in that section Of Missoula county.
Everything has assumed its usual quiet,
and once more peace reigns supreme in
Flathrad valley,
The plans Of the settlers to capture
the three kootenai Indians who mur.
lered three prospectors on Wolf creek
in June or July last were well laid out.
Between fnrty.iive and fifty of them
gathered at Demersvillc early in the
morning and proceeded in body to the
Indian lodges, located between one and
two miles below town. THE lodges were
reached while the Indians were still
slcelip. soundly. One lodge after an
other was searched. and guards left to
prevent IN nutrry or voice of warning,
until HE lodge where two of the mar
derers were sleeping was found. The
names of these two Kootenais were John
Ninna ard Slume. They we're forcibly
taken by the settlers, who were all arm
ed and determined to carry out their
plans at all hazards.
The name of the third murderer was
Antley. Antley was not there he was in
Smiths valley, several miles distant. As
soon as the settlers left with their pris.
oners an Indian jumped upon the fleet st
horse in the camp and dashed wildly
away to Smiths valley. He went to
Sarn Antley of the danger, and his mis-
sion was successful. TIE fugitive was
notified and he fed in haste. probably
toward the British possessions. 1t is
stated that the settlers of Smiths valley
had promised to arrest Antley, but they
failed to do SO, and he is probably forever
safe from the reach Of the vengeance of
the people of Flathead Lake.
Ninna and Slume were taken to De-
mersvile A hasty consultation was had
when the two nnurderers were hastened
to the river bank, skif was procured.
the savages were rowed across the river,
never to return. The settlers acted
cautiously, qnitely, but determinedly
They resolved to hang the two Indians
instead of turning them over to the law
and its uncertain results. The murder.
ers were informed that they were going
to be hung, and one of them defiantly re-
torted, "Hi yu Skookum." which means
powerful good. 1t is said they made M
attempt to conceal the murder Of the
prospectors, but even Dragged of theil
savage instinct and of making the white
mans flesh smoke and quiver in the
flames.
They were taken INTO the woods lining
the east bank of the Flathead river al
that place, ropes We're fastened about
their necks and they were swung up tc
the limb of tree. A short time after
wards the bodies were cut down ant
buried.
After this stirring event considerable
excitement prevailed both among the
whites and indians. The latter packed
up their duds and fed to the
Arm of the Lake. Subsequently re
port spread among the settlers of danger
when they organized large compan.
and, thorougly armed, went down to in
terview the chef, Aeneas. When th
Arm ofthc Lake was reached the INDIAN
mixed in with the whites and acted in
defiant and warike manner. Aenea
was on the road to the mission and
courier was sent after him with ali haste
He as overtaken and induced to return
when consultation was had, resultin
in an amica5le understanding. The sci
tiers then returned to their homes, fee
ing much relief
Nina, Slume and Antley were bad II
dans, and the death of the two forme
occasioncd little if any mourning. A
, latest accounts both the whites and Ii
dians were entirely satisfied, and the
is no danger of further trouble betwee
, them so far as the muders are concerne
The Indians gave an imperfect desert
: tion oftho three white men who we
A murdered on Wolf creek in June or Ju
y last. Two of them were elderly and Il
third was n young man. One of the mt
had gray whiskers and hair and i
: frame was spare. The other man W
heavier and whiskers dark. The b.
was medium size with light moustacl
1t is not unlikely that the three men
ported missing by our Thompson c.
respondent last week were the sal
three who fell victims to the brutality
tln l. Epntnpniu