Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-04
MORE INDIAN WARFARE,
The Locomotive Whistles More Effective
Than Force Of Soldiers.

The Locomotive Whistles More Effective
Than a Force of Soldiers.
From the Chicago Tribune.
j. c. Morehouse, general freight agent for
Chicago and Northwestern lines west of Omaha,
who Is known throughout the west as the
champion Indian killer is at the Audito-
rum. Mr. Morehouse is proud of the distin-
guished title. but is rather reticent about re-
lating the circumstances that made him some
what famous. His friend. L. Lidingham. how
ever knows all about the affair, and yester-
day when at the Auditorium told of the
thrilling experience Of Mr.. Morehouse in the
west.
when the first steam engine to enter north
western Nebraska made its appearance in that
part Of the country said Mr.. Lidingham,
''MOrehouse was in charge of the construction
gang which was then working on the road.
The engine steamed out into the wild country
as far as the line was built. That section of
the state was alive with Indians and thousands
of the savages gathered to see the iron horse
At hrst they would not venture nearer than
half mile to the locomotive, but finally they
became holder They came so near, in fact
that the trainmen became alarmed. Several
shots were fired at the red men to brighten
them, but they did not have the desired effect
Tor the Indians came nearer and nearer. The
engineer and fireman became frightened and
deserted the engine.
"'Those red devils will kill every one Of us
II something is not done, said one of the men,
just then Morehouse. who watching the
advancing savages, called out to the engineer:
"'Give them the whistle, =
But the engineer had disappeared, and
there was no response. Morehouse didn't wait
long before acting. He leaped into the cab
grasped the whistle handle and pulled it wide
open. Such an unearthly shrek as no one ever
heard before or since came from that engine.
The whistle evidently had the asthma heayes
and several other lung and throat diseases,
for ii made a noise that frightened the white
men.
''Did ii brighten the Indians? Well, should
say it did. When that whistle opened its
throat panic was the result among the saw
ages They fed if the evil spirit was pursu-
ing them. There was plenty of steam in the
boiler good fire was burning, and Morehouse
hung on to that whistle handle like grim death
At first he sent forth long shrieks, but after
the savages had been sent flying across the
plain some distance he gave them few shriIl,
short screams to increase their pace.
The air is 80 light in Nebraska. or rather
was at that time, that the sounds Of the whistle
Travelled for miles. Not only did consterna-
ton break out among the savages who were
came alarmed. When they saw their brothers
running they, too, became frightened and
Joined in the wild run up and down hills. across
plains and through rivers. Morehouse was the
occasion of all that excitement and that is why
he is called the champion Indian killer. "
But where does the Indian killing come
In! Mr.. Lidingham WAS asked.
We'll, the next morning 100 dead Indians
were found fifteen miles from the place where
the engine stood. They had run themselves to
death. and Morehouse. of course was the
cause of their untimely taking of. Ho can be
blamed FOR frightening the savages to death
with that blood-curdling whistle"