St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-26
DR.. WALKER is HOME.
He Tells Of the Cause OF the Re-
cent Indian Troubles at
Leech Lake.
Confident That the Entire Diff
Guilty Lies in the Sale of Liq-
nor to the Reds.

DR.. j. B. Walker, whose jealous eff
forts to carry out the United States
statutes relative to the sale of liquors to
Indians caused the Indian outbreak at
Leech lake week or two since, arrived
In the city yesterday, and there was
happy union at S26 Hennepin avenue.
where the doctors wife was awaiting
his return in the greatest anxiety.
The doctor is still under bond
to appear in the United States
court at st. Paul to answer to the charge
of shooting the Indian, but he mani
tests no uneasinesS as to the result or
the trial. DIR. Walker was seen last
night as he was seated on the porch,
enjoying for the first time in several
weeks the happiness Of domestic life
after the exciting scenes he has been
through.
81 have no fear as to the outcome OF
the Investigation" said the doctor.
81 was simply doing my duty. unaer
the instructions of the government, and
backed by her statutes. The law pro-
vides that 10 LIQUOR shall be sold to the
Indians, and that the Indian agents
seize and destroy ali alcohol and
spirits that can be found. This was
Just what was trying to do when |
shot the Indian and brought about all
the trouble. To show that l bad the
sanction of the government, 1t seems
only necessary to say that was fur.
nlshed the arms to protect myself
and to carry ont my mission.
I knew that the Indians were
smuggling the stuff into the res
ervation in great quantities, and l
was determined 20 put stop TO- IL at
all hazards. The sooner the people are
taught that these Indian troubles can
not be stopped until the Importation OF
liquor into the reservations is aDan-
doned, and that all who sell the stun
to an Indian Will be punished 10 tpe
full extent of the law, the sooner VIII
the Northwest be at peace with the red
skin. There will never be peace as
long as they can get the whisky 10 SUI
them up into riot"
"Do YOU consider that all trouble is
over?"
"rhe trouble is not over, as the troops
are still there and the Indians are
savage. Yet, when say that the trou-
Bile is not over, do not want to be
understood as saying that there Will pe
bloodshed. The trouble l refer to is
the difficulty of making the Indians
understand the true nature OF the
situation. and that they have
been guilty of riot. The Indian chief
was heard to say soon after the arrival
of the troops, the great father mas
blood on his feather and the Indian mas
blood on his feather which means that
the Indians have matter to be settled
which cannot be settled until one or the
other yields to the situation. Inc
Indians were very mad to think that
| was allowed to leave the house
wherein was held a prisoner Dy the
mob. They waited upon the ofhcer III
command of the troops and claimed
that was justly their prisoner, ana
that should be turned over to await
the punishment they should ch00se 1Or
me. Personally l was sorry that was
given military escort, for it must ueces :
sariIy give the Indians the impression
that we fear their numbers, and that
we are afraid OF them."
4 II look for the settlement OF the en-
| tire problem. The trouble in convicting
| the people who sell the stuff to the In
dians is to secure reliable testimony
The Indians have compact that they
|. will betray no one who sells them
| LIQUOR, and they have no compunction
sin periuriug themselves. In fact, they
make their boast of it. The traders
stand by one another, and all seem to
| try and balk the efforts of the govern
ment to settle the whole question by
excluding liquor. However, / think l
have evidence now that will nave
healthy effect upon the traders =.
DR.. Walker brought down with him
an Indian under arrest, who has been
turned over to the United States author
ities The Indian is John Bassett. a
noted Indian tough, and one who has
| had large part in the liquor-smuggling
business. An Indictment has been
found against the Indian who assaulted
| Or. Walker, and who was shot by tue
latter. The Indian will be brought to
| st. Paul this week. The doctor is III
good health, and seems to show no bad
effects from the trying and'perllous
| events of the past two weeks.