The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-13
THE REDSKINS HUNGRY.
Prime Causes Of the Threatened
Trouble With the Cheyenne
Indians.
Starved Into q State Of Mutiny and
Thievery by the Govern
ment
Governor Toole's Aide-de-Camp at the
soene Of the Threatsned Uprisinx-
State OF Affair.".

6cone OF the Threatened Uprislng-
State OF AffairA
MILEs CIrY, June 12.-[Special. The
outbreak Of Cheyennes ON the Rosebud,
which has occasioned the taking Of the
field by Ave companies Of United States
troops at cost Of thousands OF dollars and
which may also cause the state Of Montana
nice sum before the trouble is over, is
another case OF starving Indians driven to
crime by the attempts Of so-called philan-
thropists to civilize them. In 1873 the
Cheyennes, after fighting the troops
in several campaigns, with q courage
scarcely ever excelled by the American
savage, surrendered, and, as prisoners Of
war, were put on their present reservation.
Later this first band was was joined by
more Of the tribe from the Indian territory.
At that time the country was unsettled.
There was plenty Of game and the military
looked ont for them, 60 the Indians Jared
we'll. The place where Miles put them was
afterwards set aside for their use by the
interior department, which took charge Of
them. It is one garden spot in Montana
and settlers soon commenced to come in, 40
that to-day the entire reservation
is surrounded by ranches. Pre-
vious to Agent Upshaw's coming
man named Stevens. who was con-
nected with the the agency, reported to the
interior department. that Cheyennes
were rapidly becoming self supporting. In
consequence of this report the tribes ra-
tions were reduced one half, with the result
that many of them died during the winter
of 1883 from starvation, and the facts were
reported to the department.. This had no
effect, however. The game being all driven
out of the country and there beiug
thousands of head Of cattle roaming just
outside the reservation the Cheyennes took
what was not given them,-in other words
they have been killing and living on the
ranchmen's cattle. From killing for use
they rapidly advanced to the stage where
they killed out of pure Indian cussedness,
actuated no doubt by the feeling that in
this way they could get even with the
whites who cut their rations down.
I Lieutenant Robertson, of the First caval-
~, who is stationed-a the agency, says it ID
enongh to touch the heart Of the hardest
hearted to go through the
Cheyenne camps and witness the
hunger of the reds. Not only have
they had but half rations, but the govern
ment has not given them the means of get
ting livelihood from farms of their own.
For many years many of them have been
separated from their husbands, wives and
children, the latter being confined on a
reservation 800 miles away. For years the
daily food supply of the Cheyennes has
been: Beef, including bone, " b;
-four Ds.; coffee, 81 ozs.; sugar, n
ounce; salt, $40 ounce. These ra-
tions are issued once every two weeks. At
the end of the first week. Lieut.. Robinson
says, these rations are all gone and the
next week the Indians live on the cattle of
settlers. The Cheyennes to- day are suffer-
ing from the want of food. The above is
the main cause of the present trouble,
but not the sole cause. Some time ago it
was determined to organize company of
100 Cheyenne scouts. About sixty enliated.
Among the applicants was Two Moons
Chief, who was refused. He became dis
satisfied for some reason and tried to
persuade those who had enlisted to desert,
but did not succeed. Then followed
OAO aiAcoV VI AASO AA0AOAh lO1 bAo
murder of Ferguson. It is not thought all
these Indians are guilty, and their arrest
has filled the other Indians with fear, 80
that both whites and reds are suspicious
One word or thoughtless act on the part of
either will act rs match to powder
wagons.
Col. G. d. Curtis, aide-de-c camp to Gov.
Toole, arrived this afternoon with arms and
ammunition. Immediately after his ar
rival he had a consultation with Sheriff
Jones, citizens of Miles and some of the
settlers who have left their ranches. He
explained that the governors instructions
were to find out the facts in the matter,
and that the state simply desired to aid the
United States authorities in case the re-
sources of the latter were not sufficient.
At the colonel's suggestion. committee
was appointed to wait ON Col. Swaine, COM
mander at Fort Keogh, and request him to
send the petition of the settlers to Secre-
tary Proctor to have the Cheyennes dis
armed and sent to their reservation. A
committee of eight, with Col. Curtis and
your correspondent, drove to the fort,
where an informal conference was held.
Col. Curtis stated his mission, and read his
instructions from Gov. Toole, saying
that the governor desired to aid the United
States in every way necessary in protecting
the threatened settlements, but did not
desire to take the initiative in any moye-
ment. nor to embarrass the regular troops
in any way. Col. Bryan, one of the settlers
who had deserted his ranch, then explained
the situation, saying that a number of
settlers, with their families, had left their
homes owing to the threatened outbreak
of the Cheyennes, that the Indians we're
burning signal fires on the hills and it was
supposed that friendly indians had warned
the settlers to leave the country, as war
would soon be inaugurated; that Indians
who had adopted civilized garb had thrown
it off and were out in full Indian rig; that
Lum Holt, another settler who has also
come into Miles. had been warned by an
Indian boy to 90, as messengers had been
sent to Standing Rock agency to get help
from the Sioux; that they were going to
Agent Upshaw's scalp, sure. and would take
soldiers scalps. too. Col. Bryan said the
Indiana had plenty of ammunition and the
best made guns. The cowboys had deserted
the ranges and all were in. and the spring
roundup had ceased. Others of the COM
mittee also spoke and Col. Swaine said
there were two troops of cavalry at the
agency and three companies of infantry
and one Of cavalry ON the way