The sun., 1890-06-15
THE TONGUE HIrER TROUBLES.
The Regular Forces VIII Try 10 Prevent n
t,onaIct H.twren IndInns and Settlers.

The Regular Forces VIII Try 10 Prevent
tonHIct Between Indians ANA Setuer".
wAsinNdrox. June 14.-The restlcssness OF
tho Northern CheycnncS OF the ho' epuu anu
Tongue River reservation In Montana mas oil
late as ,umed so serious phase that several
,omianics Of regulars have beon sent to watch
them There are evident cXaRgcrations IN mo
stories OF their depreciation hut the testimony
indicates thai they have killed cattle belonging
TO he ranche;s around the reservation Willie
signal fires IN tho hills are thought TO boGe
mischief Whatever the extent OF their out
RACES and whatever the tokens OF an uprising
thcrc is quite ground enough for the inter
ference of the regular forces in the eaperncSs
OF the ranchmcn to hunt down all Indians VINO
nre Off the reservation. The settlers have sent
10 Helena for arms and ammunition with
which to protect themselves, and 1t is said that
these have been forwarded by Gov. Toole in
chalEe OF ST aft officer To allow cowboy law
TO be administered from tho mn&lrs OF rinoS
would be out OF tho question, nnd Hen. Rugcr
has not acted too promptly in iorestalng any
such performance by sending both cavalry and
infantry to tho scene o! excitement Agent
Uushaw apparently needs thom also Tor his
own protection.
The immediate cause Of the trouble Is tho
arrest OF several Indians on tho charge Of
numbering lanchmRn Robert Ferguson some
time ngo. Ho had gone into tho hills to look
for stray horses. and there his body was found,
pierced with bullets. 1t was assumed thnt tho
Cheyennes had killed him. and arrests were
made. The Indians then became exceedingly
Indignant and excited. The killing OF cattle.
which has not yet been carried on to great
extent may have been partly due to lack OF
food, but in some instances as reported, seems
to have been wanton. as il in desire for re-
yenge Shortly before the death OF Ferguson.
Agent Upshaw had made himself obnoNiousto
the Indians by trying to check and stamp out
II curious religious delusion under which the
Indians were laborlng. based on tho idcn that
u white prophet was coming to lead thom TO
victory. Agent Upshnw at that time called Tor for
troops to arrest ono or two medicine men VINO
were spreading this notion and his refusal TO
let the Indians leave the reservation also exas-
distress from lack OF food two or three years
ago is attested by reports made to the War
neighborhood: and they then complained, with
or without reason. that the agency did not
keep on hand an adequate stock OF -four. SO
that on one occasion, when communication was
complaint in, regard to rations, we'll OF, y
the agent is a man OF experience In his office.
and evidently has had the confidence OF the
These northern Cheyennes have long been un-
easy. A. portion OF this tribe were tnken to the
ey soaE6 tn aIer the
settlers on their way. they were pursued and
captured. They have lately been In marked
state OF discomfort, which may be aggravated
by some real grievances. Some OF them occa-
sionally manifest desire to fight their neigh:
hors. the Crows. and resent any interference OF
the troops They chafe under the reservation
limits. and want to visit their friends among
the Sioux. and to have the latter visit them.
required to prevent Sioux from going upon the
Tongue River reservation. Another OF their
unsatisiied desires is that the northern Chey
ennes OF Pine Ridge should be admitted to their
reservation, which is unSuited to 80 many. Add
constant desire OF the sett lers and cowboys.
whose ranches surround the reservation. to
Ind some excuse for having them removed SO
as to get possession OF their lands. and the
present troubles seem TO be accounted for.
Fort keogh and Fort Custer will be relied
outbreak and for preventing the Indians and
the settlers from coming into conflict. The
reservation is not lar from Miles City. and Is
easily accessible. The commanding officer at
there seven companies of his regiment. the
Twenty second Infantry besides two troops of
the Eighth Cavalry. At Fort Custer there are
five troops OF the Firs: Cavalry. Col. James s.
Brisbn's regiment; and there is no doubt that
the combined force is quite sufficient TO take
care Of any hostile Indians. even should they
be Joined by sympathizers from Pine Ridge
Agency, Tue Crow Indians would probably be
glad also to furnish scouts and other forces
for attacking them. The. raroads could
ter. both OF which are on the Northern Pacific
line. troops from other garrisons. But there is
little likelihood OF any serious trouble now
that regular forces have already arrived upon
have thorough investigation of all the causes
OF dissatisfaction among these Indians 40
that the arrangements made for the future
peace OF the region may be lasting