The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-29
MAD FOR BLOOD.
Fight of the Choctaw
Factions.
FIRING ON LITTLE CHILDREN.
Negotiations for Peace Were Pending
When the Fierce Indian Militia
Wantonly Broke the Truce.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.


at Antlers at 2:SO o'clock this afternoon,
and for ten minutes a storm of leaden hail
fell about the town. At that hour seventy
eight miitamen suddenly deployed from
the woods, charged the residence of Dick
Locke. the leader of the national party,
and opened fire upon it. Locke saw them
coming and barely got into the house when
the fusllade began. With five men he re-
turned the fire from the upper story, and
fully 1900 shots were fired. Every window
was shot out and the walls were perforated
like sieves.
Stray bullets flew far and wide. and terror
ana CONSERVATION prevailed throughout the
little town. Every one was uneasy, as none
knew who was safe with fOurscore half
drunken and fully infuriated Indians armed
to the teeth and with the smell of blood in
their nostrlls running about without re-
straint. The minutes seemed hours, and
every heart went out to Locke, his wife
and little children, who were cooped up in
the little home which was being riddled by
Winchester balls.
The attack was a surprise to every one,
coming as it did, as all believed and hoped
that the matter had been settled or soon
would be.
At daylight this morning the militia,
under command of Captain Key Durant,
went to Locke's house and insisted upon
searching it. He was not at home. but was
in the mountains in camp about three miles
from town. After remaining in the town
awhile the soldiers returned to their camp,
and word of the search was conveyed to
Locke. and, in company with his son and
eight others. he came home to see what had
been done, as he feared violence TO his fam
lily. He reached home about 10 o'clock.
Later in the morning United States Com
missioner Kirkpatrck, Assistant United
States Attorney Lee and Judge Durant,
leading Jones man, went TO the militia
camp at Davenport. three miles north of
Antlers, and had long consultation with
Captains Durant and Thompson and Judge
Dukes, Jones leader. The Government
officials explained to them the position the
United States occupied. If Locke attacked
Durant. who was United States
deputy. Locke's entire party would
be held 10 answer In the United
States court, and If the militia
leaders attacked Locke they would be
held because he had served the United
States as q posse man and guard. The
Federal officials wanted 10 know if the
officers of the militia had process for any
man who was with Locke and after much
ctekering they said they had a process for
Willis Jones, who had been Indicted for
completely in the killing of five of Jones'
men at Nilbnr;on last fall. They said they
wanted others, but had no papers for them,
and if he was delivered to them it would all
be well. Everybody seemed pleased at this,
and the milltiamen were taking things easy,
aud no one suspected any spirit Of war;
The party returned to Antlers, arriving
there at II o'clock, and a meeting was had
with Locke at which the United States Com
missioner at Antlers was present. Locke
prepared written proposition TO Captain
Durant. setting forth the same facts in re-
gard 10 the laws of the Choctaw Nation as
announced in his ultmatum yesterday, and
saying that in the interest Of all concerned,
and to prevent further trouble, il the militia
would have the warrant legally issued by
proper process lie would assist in every way
in the arrest of the offenders wanted.
The party started back to the militia
camp at ? P. NJ, accompanied by Judge Du-
rant. They had gone about 800 yards when
they met the advanced party of twenty who
had picked up two of Locke's scouts and
disarmed them. This party was headed by
Judge Duke. and at once upon seeing that
the soldiers were bent upOn hostile de-
monstration an effort was made to talk with
Duke by United States Commissioner ib-
bons and Judge Durant, but he would not
hear them. They asked him TO wait for the
arrival of Captain Thompson, who was COM
manding the militia, Captain Durant having
been called away, but Duke would do moth
ing and dashed down the road at the head
of the militia, and away they went right up
TO Locke's house. Locke asked them to al
low his wife and children and two men aud
the children in the Methodist parsonage
to get out of the way, and to this the report
of Winchesters was the only reply. Mrs.
Locke went out of her house into the street
and denounced Duke and his followers as
cowardly brutal mnrjerers, and she crossed
TO the parsonage to assure Mr.. Hall and his
wife that they, the Lockes, would not fire
upon Halls house. behind which the attack
ing party had taken refuge.
Meanwhile Captain Thompson came up,
and in company with Commissioner Glib
bons went to his men and begged them TO
stop firing. They also went to Locke's
house while It was still receiving the leaden
hail, and while Gibbons stood outside and
commanded the peace Thompson assured
himself that no man wanted by the militia
was harbored by Locke. His men then
ceased firing.
kirkpatrick and Lee telegraphed to Mar
shal Dickerson at Paris to send a strong
force. as they had warrants for the militia
and after parley the militia left the town
and went one mile north, where they went
into camp.
A survey was then made of the field. In
Locke's house three men were found
wounded. Mack Hill was shot through the
shoulder. his wound being painful. but not
necessarily dangerous. and John Worcester
and Solomon Homer were shot In the he ad,
receiving serious wounds. or the militia Sol
Bayiste was shot through the side and NOR
tally wounded, and three others had re-
ceived flesh wounds. Locke's little daughter
had her hair cut by bullet as she was 60
ing upstairs with the baby in her arms. One
ball had passed through Locke's hat and his
sons arm had been grazed. II is said that
the children were shot at as they en-
deavored to go from the residence to a cabin
in the yard.
After, looking over the place 1t seems al
most miracle that one of the family came
out alive. Warrants were issued at once
for large number of the miitiamen, and
late in the afternoon Gibbons, kirkpatrick
and Judge Durant went to the militia camp
and arrested G. w. Duke and eighteen
others and brought them here tonight.
Many of the militlamen refused to parti-
cipate In the attack, saying that they did
not understand it TO be their duty to make
war on women and children.
Great nneasiness prevails in Antleis to-
night and serious trouble is feared. The
savage blood OF the Indians is thoroughly
aroused, and years will not see the end of
the bloody feud.