The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-06-12
INDIANS GETTING UGLY
MONTANA SETTLERS FEAR AN OUT.
BREAK OF THE REDSKINS.

Northern Cheyennes Plotting Against the
Whites-The Indians on the Keshena
tWis.) Reservation Causing Considerable
Trouble.
Fort Keogh (Mont.) dispatch: Alarm.
ing reports are brought here from the
Tongue River Agency. The Northern
Cheyennes have been plotting against
agency officials and settlers for the last
TWO years. and recently have added to
the excitement by attempting to leave
the reservation in considerable bands to
meet the new Messiah. who, it was
stated, would appear on the reservation
of the Piegans. Being checked by
troops from carrying out their
plans they became greatly
enraged and openly threat
ened to murder all who opposed them.
They purchased firearms wherever they
could obtain them, and a few nights
since asSassinated Henry S. Ferguson, a
leading stock grower, near the agency.
Being aDprehenSive of arrest, the reds
have banded together and literally sleep
on their firearms. Settlers in the vicin-
ity of the agency are almost wholly with
out protection, and many of them have
abandoned their homes and fed to Miles
City and other neighboring towns.
The feeling against the whites has
been bitter ever since Swordbearer and
five Of his followers were killed in a
fight with the regulars three years ago
and settlers have petitiOned to have the
Cheyennes removed to the Indian Ter
ritOry. Two companies of cavalry are
in readiness to move on receipt Of
orders from Gen. Ruger at ST. Paul, in
command of the Department of Dakota.
Near the scene of the Custer massacre
four men were killed by the Indians d
few days ago.
Shawano wis. dispatch: The trouble
on the Keshena Indian Reservation, or
iginally precipitated by the change of
agents, has reached such point that
little short Of a miracle will prevent a
meeting of armed forces of the govern
ment on the one hand and the Indians
on the other. While reports sent out
from this city have been great
ly exaggerated, the facts
are of sufficient Importance to cause
the gravest apprehension for the safety
of those whose business keeps them on
the reservation, The other day the feast
of Corpus Christi was celebrated, and
in consequence the Indians assembled
at Keshena in large numbers to attend
the church. At the conclusion of the
services the women withdrew and the
bucks, priests and eX-Agent Jennings
held a conference. AS result Jennings
went back to the reservation.
Agent Kelsey, the newly appointed
Indian agent, who, with Inspector
Chisney, was compelled to leave the
reservation. returned, while eX-Agent
Jennings held the fort at Koshena. There
is no doubt that had not Kelsey left the
reservation when he did he would have
suffered at the hands of the reds, as
the Indians were under the influence of
whisky and were greatly excited.
The other evening Mr.. Savage, at
whose place the new agent was board
ing, came to Mr. Kelsey and told him
he could not keep him any longer, as
the Indians would come that night and
tear his house down if he did. Not
withstanding the fact that it was rain
ing heavily Agent Kelsey was forced to
procure a team and drive to Shawano
that night in a binding storm.
That same afternoon one of the priests
came to Inspector Chisney and told him
he better leave the reservation if he
wished to avoid trouble and liability Of
being injured.
It is reported that a conspiracy exists
to eject Agent Kelsey and all Govern
ment officials bodily from the reserva-
s tiona The ringleaderS to the number
of seven are said to be carrying into ex-
ecution the will of the priests.
1t is given out that troops will be or
dered here from Fort Smelling. 1t is
most difficult to arrive at a logical con-
clusion as to the cause of the uprising.
Without question Jennings is popular
with the Indians, but whether or not he
has directly excited them in this de-
fiance Of government authority is mere
ly matter of conjecture. Lumber
men of this city attribute this trouble
in measure to the fact that the In
dians are laboring under the hallucina-
ton that a change Of agents means that
they will eventually lose all their lands
and money and that the change is made
for the express purpose of benefting a
few rich lumbermen in the State who
are trying to secure their pine.
An effort will be made to have several
Wisconsin lumbermen who have dealt
largely with the Indians visit them at
once and attempt to show them their
folly in resisting the change of agents,
However. many are of the opinion that
blood will be shed before the Indians
can be brought to a proper realization
of the situation.