The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-08-29
ROBBED THE BUCKS
Masked Men on the Nez Perez
Reservation Get Rich Booty.
THEY WAITED FOR THEIR PREY
Over 100000 paid 10 the Indians at
the Agency in the Last
Two Days.

Lewiston, Idaho, Aug. Z5.-AH LII
dian brought a report last night to
the city that three Nez Perces who had
received their money at the agency
were held up at a point near Cold
Springs by three masked men, presum-
ably whites, and robbed Of $4,000 In
gold.
Cold Springs Is in a sparsely settled
country on the reservation, about 80
miles southeast of Lewiston, and 1t is
thought that the robbers were in rem
devious waiting for the luckless In
dams to pass
The bandits were armed with dou-
ble-barreled shotguns, and besides the
money secured took everything of
value the Indians possessed. The
chances of capturing the robbers are
small, as the agents jurisdiction ex-
tends only to the limits of the reserva-
tlon. and the plunderers are far away
by this time.
The Kamiahs have failed to report as
yet. Indian police have been sent af-
ter them by Agent Fisher, but their
settlement is fully 100 miles from the
agency and difficult of access, so word
will not be had from there before Mon
day.
FIGHT FOR DEPOSITS.
The banks are having-a three corner
ed fight to obtain the money of the In
dams for deposit. Reubens, the Indian
who has been acting as interpreter,
referee and general advisor of a GER
tain clique of the better informed Nez
Perces, Is out for 1.-The stuff" to use
slang phrase. He Is not satisfied with
the per cent commission promised by
the Lewiston banks for business d.
verified to those institutions. He first
acted as an agent for the Lewiston Ma
tional bank, 1t being understood he was
well paid for his trouble. Better terms
were offered by the First National of
Lewiston, and he next advised the In
dams to deposit their money there.
Now Ross Brown, a Moscow banker,
is on the scene. Reuben evidently re-
ceived still more fiattering offer, and
his last move has been to advise the
Indians to patronize the Moscow banks.
On three different occasions Reuben
has made speeches to the Indians, and
each time has advised them to deposit
their money in different banks. The
Nez Perces are beginning to see
through his scheme, and his influence
Is waning.
Agent Fisher today took a hand in
the bank dispute. He recommended
the Lewiston banks as safe places to
deposit money but told the bucks they
could investigate for themselves.
MORE MONEY PAID OUT.
Yesterday and today 100000 more
was paid out in drafts, making an out
put of over half of the funds received
as the first installment.
Fully 100 Nez Perces have visited
Lewiston in the last two days. and they
are scattering their money everywhere,
They are purchasing wagons. buggies,
hacks, harness and American horses.
Although there are thousands of ca
yuses on the reservation the Indians
banker after white mems animals, and
are getting the best money can buy
The stores are doing a rushing business
and present Fourth of July appear
ance. Trinkets and bright colored ar
ticles OF every description find ready
sale, and there is no haggling about
the price.
One of the interesting and ludicrous
sights of today was a family of buck
squaw and children In a carriage newly
purchased. The squaw put In the after
noon buying provisions, while her liege
lord improved his opportunity by buy
ing full grown jag. The squaw went
after her better half, loaded him on the
back seat and up Main street the wag-
on proceeded. the buck yelling like a
calliope all the way.
WHISKY AND FIGHTS.
Yesterday there were a number OF
drunken Indians on the streets, not a
few of whom were quarrelsome. A
Nez Perez known as Titus made "A
gun play. which only escaped being ia
tai by the uncertainty of his aim. He
was mounted and talking to a group
OF Indians on the street. Suddenly he
pulled his revolver and fired two shots
in rapid succession at the man nearest
him. Then he urged his horse into a
gallop and disappeared down the road.
Three of the bucks standing near rush
ed into a store. purchased revolvers
and took the same road as the first In
dian. II they find him there may be an
Indian funeral.
OTHER INCIDENTS.
The two Lewiston banks have enough
money on hand to cash all the drafts
OF this Issue. and are prepared to pay
all demands. For some time they have
been receiving the money in $50, 900
lots.
Tomorrow is trading day. and q
great business will be done in all
branches of trade.
Blanket" Indians are becoming quite
swell in their apparel. velvet vests be-
ing the latest fad. They also gather in
whatever knick knacks pleasing to
fancy.
The honesty Of the tribe is becoming
a matter of comment. One white man
who has been on the reservation for
several years says they have been pay
ing him amounts which he had long ago
forgotten.
The barbecue by the citizens of Lew
iston has been definitely decided upon,
and will be an affair long to be remem-
bered.
The Indians look forward with an
ticipation to the big feed"
People are coming in crowds to Lew
iston. Every hotel is full. and accom-
modatlons are becoming restricted.
Stages and steamers are loaded every
trip.
There is little or no gambling done
In town by the Indians, but the whites
are not slow in that respect. Sol War
rem Of Spokane opened gambling games
In the Star saloon tonight. Three shows
are playing here, two OF an Indifferent
character, the third the Casino variety