The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-04-06
special Dispatch to the Daily Eagle.

Ell RENO, o. T., April 5-The reports
heretofore sent out from Ell Reno concern
ing an outbreak among the Cheyenne and
Arapahoe Indians are gross exaggerations.
The following are the facts as obtained
from official sources. Captain Woodson,
the agent of these tribes, has received by
courier from the scene of the killing, which
took place on Turkey creek sixty miles
west, the report of j. III. Harmon, Indian
farmer in charge Of that district, TO the
effect that an alteration took place at the
camp Of an Indian, between Chief Hill, w.
S. Breeding and L. S. Carter, concerning
the ownership of pony. Breeding first
shot Chief Hill twice, mortally woundiDg
him. Chief Hill then went to his lodge,
got his gun and fred two shots at Breed
ing, the second shot killing him. He
then fired one shot at Carter, break
ing his arm. The deputy United
States marshal took charge of
Breeding's body and was, at the date of
the report, awaiting the arrival of the
coroner. There has been no hostile feel
ing on the part of the Indians; they have
been quiet and peaceably disposed and up
to this date ii is the only instance in which
n single white person has been injured or
killed by any Indian of the two tribes
settlement. The Indians are reported to
be making better progress in their farm
ing operations this spring than ever be-
fore. IL is hoped that the excitement
among the white settlers resulting from
this affair will subsde without further
bloodshed. The following is a verbatim
copy of a letter received by Captain
Woodson from Indian Farmer Hammon:
RED Moon DISTRICT. April l, 1894
Captain W. L. Woodson. United States army. act
ing United States Indian Agent Cheyenne, etc.
agency, Oklahoma
A double tragedy occurred here today in
which one white man lost his life and an
other had his arm broken and an Indian,
Chief Hill by name, was shot so badly
that he will probably die The white man
lived on Turkey creek, about ten miles
from where the shooting occurred He
went to the camp of Chief Hill and claim
ed an unbranded pony. The pony had a
rope on and Chief Hill told him to take
the pony but leave the rope. When he
(Chef HilD went TO take the rope off of the
pony the white man drew his revolver and
shot him twice in the right breast. Chief
Hill then got bis gun aud shot the white
man twice. The second shot killed him
He then fired one shot at the other man,
breaking his arm.
The man killed was w. S. Breeding who
lived on Turkey creek; the man wounded
WAS T. 5. Carter who iives on Oak creek.
This is Chief HIPS statement of the affair.
Carter went home and did not get TO See
him. When l left the place a deputy
United States marshal was in charge of
the body waiting for tPe arrival of the
coroner. This occurred a Little Panther
creek, about ten miles from Red Moon Is
sue station.
l had persuaded all the Indians of this
district 10 go upon their allotments aud
they were all at work trying TO get in
good crop of corn. | am afraid this occur
renee will cause them to collect again.
think Chief Hill is mortally wounded; one
shot went through him, the other lodged
in him / think; both shots are in the right
lung; be has his left thumb shCt off. Very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
ISigned. JAMES III. HANNAH,
Farmer Ia Charge.
A letter from Captain " oodson addressed
to the press reads as follows: Cheyenne
and Arapahoe Indian agency, Darlington,
O. T., April 4. 1894. note iu several re-
cent issues the publication of articles CIV
ing very sensational reports of an Indian
outbreak on the upper Washita river in
which a number of persons, Indians and
whites were reported TO have been killed |
In order that you may be placed in
possession of the facts l transmit here |
with copies of the letters received by
courier this morning. One of them is
from J. H. Hammon, farmer in charge of |
the district where the killing is said to
have occurred. You will note that Mr. |
Hammon gives the ante mortenl state
meDt of Chief Hill, the Indian who was |
mortslly wounded in the alteration /
which took place between w. S. Breeding,
L. $ Carter and himself, concerning a |
pony, the ownership of which was in |
dispute.
lam satisfied that there has not been |
any disposition upon the part of the In |
disns OF that vicinity TO malicously injure |
any of the white people of that section, |
and that the killing of Breeding grew out |
OF his first having shot the Indian, Chief |
Hill. / have had frequent reports from |
the Indians OF this district, who are peace
ably disposed, and who have recently es-
tabfshed residences upon their allotments
and begun their farming operations for !
this season, ana have exhibited disposi- |
tion to act on the advice of their agent TO !
try ana get along peaceably with their |
white nelghbors. i earnestly hope that |
the killing OF these men may result in no |
further serious trouble. i am doing all in |
my power to encourage the Indians TO re- |
main upon their allotmenis, and TO 90 to |
work, and to AVOID friction with the |
whites.
L earnestly bespeak for the Indians gen.
orally, kind treatment on the part of their |
white neighbors in order to prevent as far |
hs possible Ike occurrence of this character
In future. think for the best interest of |
all concerned and the future prosperity of
the territory that amioahle relations be-
tween the Indians and white settlers
should be maintained.
thrust you will in your issue of this date |
correct the grossly exaggerated account of |
this unfortunate affair, IN order that the |
public may be advised as TO the facts in the |
case. 1t is unnecessary 10 add that such re-
ports serve TO hinder the growth and pros |
perity of the territory in which all good |
citizens are interested.
Very Respectfully.
(Signed) y f WoopSoy,
Capt. 5,h Cavalry. Acting Indian Agt
All the above was kindly furnished your
correspondent By Indian Agent Woodson. |