The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-13
ROSS DEFIES EELLS.
He Will Not Stop Grading on
Puyallup Reserve.
MILITARY MAY REMOVE HIM.
II. Oeelittle oays easesrn RspressAsa-
saves WMl NJ 4nligAtenea On Rsssr.
walton Matters Next Coagress.

TACOMA, April l2-lSpecial. Indian
Agent Eells personally notified Frank G.
Ross today to quit work on his railroad
Grade on the Puyallup reservation. Agent
Eells was accompanied by Eve Puyallup
Indians. including members of the Indian
police and judges. This telegram was read
20 Mr.. Ross. his engineer. Mr.. Bosworth,
and the Indians Who are at work. num-
oering twelve, according to Agent Eells'
count:
Go with what force you have and give per.
sonar not1ce 70 tseopaseefs to leave Indian
iande. II other methods fail, troops will b or.
osfed Wire result r v. BEI1.
Acting Commissioners Of Indian Afsirs.
Agent Eells says:
Mr.. Rose wanted to know II my orders came
direct from the secretary Of the interior / re-.
piied that they came direct through the ONCE of
the commissioners of Indian affairs, which 10
the usual course II would b An insult to the
commissioners for me to communicate direct
with the SECRETARY without reference to the
commissioner Nj. Ross said he was going to
remain there and build railroad.
Agent EelIs, upon returning to the city,
telegraphed 20 the acting commissioner
that he had personally notified Mr.. Ross,
MS white engineer and twelve citizen
Indians to leave the reservation and to
remove their tents. Ind that they had re.
fused to do %. and had defied the govern
ment Al to what may b done, Agent
Eells says:
Troops may b. ordered here. but Is 1t IL 90
small Eaattefs that may rest for time The
idea OF dosen Indians building . railroad II
EdiculouA They are getting their grub, and
the promise Of &225 day II anything comes OF
the attempt to grade road through the reserve
don. They srs hard up, Of course.
Agent Eells Was asked what right Mr..
Ross assumed in refusing to obey the
orders Of the government He said:
He claims that b has the consent OF the
netrs OF the former owner Of the lands ON which
Ne u working 70 build the road, and that he has
. rdehtof-way. AfA johnson and her daughter,
constituting the heirs. deny 70 me that they
have given such consent Only Q few trees
have been slashsd on the side hin, and O. far q
can go, there We not shovelful Of earth
turned for the proposed grad&
Ross says:
The troops may come, but propose to keep
right ON working. ! have permission TO grade
through my right-of-way in the reservation.
with such permission I question the right Of
the government to remove me from the lands OF
Indian citizens Of the United States any more
than could b removed from the land Of any
~sASA WAAsOb oAeCA OF I0O Cltl8o0s 20 long - j
have permission to remain. I do not believe
President Cleveland or Secretary aoke Smith
VIII allow troops 70 b sent here. Tomorrow an
additional number of Indians viii be put to
work. More new tents will also be put up st
once.
Regarding the Wilson bill for opening
the Puyallup reservation Congressman
Doolittle stated at the Commercial Club
meeting last night:
He did not propose to champion that bill for
the opening of the Puyallup reservation, but he
would suggest that IL DO examined thoroughly
and zee IL it Objectionable features could not
be 20 modified in order that something could
be accomplished BY IL, and il tt was found i'm.
practicable to all join in getting the proper legs.
lation to open the reservation In the near future
The bill would at least accomplish one purpose.
1t would teach these New England crsnks who
wanted 70 b guardians of the Indians some
things that it was impossible to teach them in
any other way. There were many congressman
and others who believed these lands were worth
$1,000 an acre and land sharks were going TO beat
them out Of it
He closed by saying that he hoped to see the
people interested In the opening OF the reseryu,
ton at the next session Of congress unanimous
in backing up their representative in demand.
Ing the legislation required that would throw
al these lands open to Improvement