The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-15
His Prudence and Goodness Saved
a Detachment From Being
Massacred.
Corraled by the Indians With
Death Staring Him In tho Face,
He Escapes.
Praised by Old Cainpaigners for His Dis
cretion and Eravevy-Thc Ring
leaders Arrested.

EOKf sNINGATE, N. NJ, July H. The
troops of the Second cavalry that have
been in service during the past month at
Keam's Canyon, Ariz., and at Orabel vii
lage, on the Moqui reservation. nave re-
turned from duty, and have brought au-
thentic information of the troubles that
have been brewing among the Indians
there. From the reports of the detach
ment it is learned that it was only through
the prudence and remarkable diplomacy of
Lieut.. Brett, of the Second, that the GER
tain massacre of detachment and an al
most inevitable bloody battle between the
Moquis and the troops of the Second and
Tenth was avo ided. Nine prisoners were
brought to this post and are now in contine-
Inent here.
When Lieut.. Brett reached Keams's can
yon where the Indian school is located. he
learned from School Agent Collins that the
trouble over the schooling of Indian
children was caused by the two factions of
the Moqui tribe, one of which favored and
the other opposed the schools. The latter
were in the ascendency, and had deposed
the old chief and chosen in his stead one
who was favorable to their side of the
question. Supt Collins named this new
chief and four prominent men of the tribe
who were particularly active in opposing
the school, and had rendered themselves
especially obnoxious by their interference,
and upon his Representations Lieut.. Brett,
with "A detachment of eight men. and ac-
companied by Collins AS interpreter,
MAJ ched to Orabel Village to arrest the
offenders. He anticipated no trouble as
the Moquis have always been quiet trib be,
and have never shown disposition to re-
volt against government authority. Orabel
Village is built on high mesa, is reached
by two or three winding and narrow paths
and is almost inaccessible.
at the foot of the mesa three of the Of
Tending Indians were found herding their
horses, and were taken into Gust ody Word
was sent to the village that the other tw c
were wanted, and the reply came back tina,
If the soldiers attempted to take them they
would be fired upon. Lieut.. Brett consl d.
cred this bluff, but to be on the safe side
he placed his PRISONERS with the soldiers sc
that the Indians could not fire without in
jurlng their own friends, and proceeded uE
the path to the village. Here he entered q
court yard and. with his men, was jmmedi-
ately surio ounded by crowd of bucks and
squaws. all of whom were armed with rifles
or revolvers and were we'll supplied with
ammunition. The surrounding build
ings we @ pierced with loopholes. from
every one of whish protruded the
muzzle OF a rifle, and had the ord been
given or the first shot fired neither the
officer nor his men would have lived to tell
their experiences. They would have been
slaughtered by the first volley. Lieut..
Brett's cColness is all that saved him.
While par!eying with the turbulent factor
ha haI ak f, on tnT Il NH t,f
and his followers, who had ranged them
selves with the tgoopers and were anxious
for fight. Matters, however We're coming
to a crisis, and there would unquestionAbly
have been conflict had not Lieut.. Brett,
through Collins, made Il firm speech to the
Indians, telling them, among other things,
that if shot was fired soldiers would
spring up like blades of grass, and would
eXterininate their tribe" The state
ment apparently had an effect, as the
men were allowed to depart, although the
recently made prisoners remained i'll the
village. Troopers are not inclined to give
officers unmerlted praise: and old CAM
palgners wEo We're with Lieut.. Brett in this
affair say he and they were never 50 near
death before i'll all their Indian warfare as
they were i'll that court yard, and that it
was only the heutenant's admirable con
duct that saved them. Had the word been
given they would never have had the oppor-
Courieys were Immediately sent to keam's
canyon to call up the remainder of the de-
tachment and send for re-enforcements. Two
tr oors of the Second and two of the i ent h
were on the ground in three days, with a bat
tery of HotchkIss guns, the command i'll
charge OF Major Mcclellan, OF the Tenth,
and accompanied by Lieut.. Col. Corbin,
assistant adiutant general of the depart
mont. The entire force proceeded agai nst
tho village, when tho Indians. considering
discretion the better part OF valor sur
rende red the men who were called for.
Among them were tho new chief. the medi
cine man, ana seven others who huve been
active in making trouble. A cache was
found back of the village, stored with foo,i,
guns and ammunition. showing that the
Indians had anticipated trouble and pre-
pared for it. The guns we've either carried
away or destroyed.
he men We're all arrested together, and n
dramatic incident was furnished by the
bold escape of one of them. He broke
away ran before the line of soldiers, and
sprang over cliff at least thirty feet
high. ! he men could have killed him, but
the command was given not to kill him, it
being feared IL shot would precipitate a
fight. The other prisoners were brought
in safely. No further trouble is antici-
pated. but one troop of cavalry will be
kept on the reservation the remainder OF
the summer.