The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-06
FORCE WAS TO BE USED.
More Time Was Wanted, but
the Marshal Was Firm in
His Demands.
RED THUNDER SHOWS FIGHT.
He Tries to Use His Knife, but Is
Handcuffed After Desper-
ate Struggle.

ST. PAUL, MINI. Mayl5.-k. Rolla
IN. d., special to the Pioneer-Exprels,
says: The half-breed uprising has bee n
squelched without loss of life. Marshals
came here Saturday night from st. John
in consequence of information received
that an attempt might be made to rescue
Laspelle Langan, who was arrested Satur-
day noon Pickets were left on duty all
night, but no attempt was made. Depu-
ties were astir soon after daybreak this
morning. Marshal Cronan has decided
that further effort at inducing peaceful
surrender would be useless claiming that
if they would not surrender their fort at
Langan he would storm it.
A posse left here in wagon soon after
o'clock and drove sixteen miles to the
half-breed fort. AS it was known that the
Indians had mounted scouts watching the
regular road, the officers struck east, COM
ing upon the Indians at an unexpected
turn, SO they had no time to gather their
men from outlying districts. The half
breed fort was reached at $50 o'clock, the
wagons being left half mile in the rear,
and the deputy Marshals advanced, spread
ing out so as to command the north and
west sides, those being easiest of access.
Spades had been brought and the
Marshals began preparing shallow rifle
pits. Marshal Cronan and Indian Agent
Hall leaving their rifles behind walked up
to the fort, the deputies keeping sharp
lookout for any hostile movement. The
halfbreeds refused to talk with Cronan, but
told Hall they wanted further time to hear
+Dl1 -
make up their minds quick as he meant to
attack them at once.
EfBy 0:30 Marshal Cronan was ready to
begin, when the halfbreeds sent out
message that they wanted to see him. He
returned word that they could send out
one of their chiefs, and they sent Chasseur
lie Potreau, who was chief in the raid on the
st. John hardware store Thursday night,
when they stole all the guns and ammuni-
ton. lie Potreau wanted time to hear
from Washington, but was told it was too
late. Then he offered to surrender the men
for whom warrants were out, except Red
Thunder, but Cronan would give them no
conditions. They must surrender abso-
lutely and give up all arms and ammuni-
ton and he would arrest all he wanted. If
Ll1SN QlO AOL 4lhC GuCSC tCIln5 Vic w dISIldlS
had come there to fight and were ready.
All this time the deputies had been
working nearer and nearer and now had
temporary cover provided within a
hundred and fifty yards, at which distance
the Winchester bullets would easily riddle
the logs. Soon after IL o'clock the half
breeds surrendered Internationally
though it was nearly o'clock before the
prisoners were loaded in wagons. Fifty
four guns were found. Most of the Win
chesters had been hidden, but they can be
found later. Each man was required to
write his name on his gun. Only those
for whom warrants were already out were
taken to town, the others being allowed to
go for the present
The Indians arrested are: Red Thunder,
Joe Langan. Joe Dmareis Chasseur LIE
Potreau, Francois Langan, Alexander
Leroque, Daniel Short.
Red Thunder made a desperate resist
ance when arrested, attacking Deputy
Daggett with his knife, and it took three
men to handcuff him. He is 81 years of
age, but is almost crazy, and possesses
much strength. While negotiations were
pending he had tried to kill one of his
breeds for favoring surrender.
The prisoners were brought to Rolla
this afternoon. The other breeds present
were told they could have their shotguns
by applying to the Marshal and being
identified as the man whose name was
marked on the gun, thus furnishing con-
elusive evidence of their participation in
the outbreak. The intention is to arrest
all present for armed conspiracy.
About fifteen citizens of Rolla and St.
John brought out arms and acted with the
Marshal's posse. Chief Little Shell was
arrested on the reservation and brought in
tonight. When returning to the agency
after the surrender, Agent Hall met a
band of $50 breeds and Indians on the way
to re- enforce the breeds at Langans who, a
courier had notified them, were being at
tackled by Marshal.. They were headed
by Little Shell, the head chief of the reser-
walton. Agent Hall succeeded in persuad-
ing them to turn back, informing them
that the others had all surrendered. Had
they arrived while the attack was in
progress it might have been unpleasant
for the Marshals.