The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-08-07
|BAuNOCKS BENT OuWAR
The Indian Disturbances in Wyoming
Reported to Be Serious.
THE SETTLERS UP IN ARMS.

Governor Richards Appealed for Federal
Aid---General Coppinser Ordered to
Proceed 10 the Scene of Trouble and
Return the Bannocks to Their Reserva-
tion---Blood Has Been Shed.
A dispatch from Pocatello, Idaho, says:
"The Indian war has broken out in eaanest.
It Is known that Bannock Indians have
killed settler, his wife and child in the
Salt River Valley and the white men pur-
suing the murderers killed six Of the red
SKINS"
Secretary Lamont, after reading the tele-
gram, sent dispatch to Brigadier-General
Coppinger, commanding the Department OF
the Platte, ordering him to proceed at once
to the scene OF the Indian troubles to ascer-
tain the exact situation and to order out
such troops as were necessary to protect the
settlers.
A mail driver reported that a courier, who
came into Rexburg, Idaho, from Jacksons
Hole, said that fight occurred there and
that twenty white men were killed.
Advices from Adjutant-General Stitzerto
Governor Richards, Of Wyoming, indicated
that battle WAS in progress between In
dians and whites in Jackson's Hole. A tele-
gram from Sitter says: "Met Indian Cap
tain of Police hurrying out with all possible
speed. He says he cannot control Indians,
was advised by the Interior Department
that Federal troops had been ordered to pro-
tect the settlers.
Among the dispatches received by Com
missioner Browning was one from Agent
Teter at the Fort Hall (Idaho) Reservation,
which confirmed the press reports and indt-
Gated the urgent necessity for the immedi-
ate presence of troops at the scene OF the
trouble In Wyoming. The telegram Is as
follows:
"Have investigated the trouble between
the Indians and the settlers in Wyoming,
and would advise that troops be sent there
Immediately to protect law-abiding citizens,
the lawless element among the settlers being
determined to come into conflict with the
Indians
"Settlers have killed from four to seven
Indians, which has incensed the Indians,
who have gathered to the number Of between
200 and 800 near Salt River, lin Uintah
County. and refuse to return to the reserva-
ton. find that the Bannock Indians have
killed game unlawfully, according to the
laws OF Wyoming, though not unlawfully ac-
cording to the treaty between the Bannock
Indians and the United States. and the
usurping Of the prerogatives Of the settlers
in that respect caused the trouble. Nothing
but the Intervention of soldiers will settle the
difficulty and save lives OF innocent persons
and prevent destruction OF property"
Agent Teter's despatch was forwarded to
the Secretary Of War. accompanied by copy
of the following telegram from Governor
Richards, of Wyoming:
Dispatches from Adjutant- General Stit-
zer, who Is on the ground at Jackson's Hole,
repeated to you. Will the Federal Govern
ment take the matter In hand Of returning
the Bannocks to their reservation, or will
Wyoming be e1pectedto do 80? Please wire
reply. W. A. RICHARDS. Governor"
The clause in the treaty between the Ban
mock Indians and the United States, under
which the Indians claim they were within
their rights in hunting in the Jackson 8 Hole
district, Is as follows:
1.-THE Indians herein named agree that they
will make said reservation their permanent
home, and they will make no permanent
settlement elsewhere but Trey shall have
their right to hunt on the unoccupied lands
of the United States 80 long as game may be
found thereon. and so long as peace exists
SSk~SN~
of the hunting districts"
The policy of the Indian Bureau has been
to persuade the Indians to use this hunting
privilege as sparingly as possible. Thetreaty
was signed July, 1868. The hunting, now
that trouble has broken out, will have to be
given up.
Commissioner Browning said that II the
settlers would not push matters, the Indians
would not proceed to hostilities, and that
the peacefulness Of the situation would not
be disturbed pending the arrival OF the
United States troops, which would end the
trouble.
The entire population OF Jackson's Hole
district gathered in Mary's Vale. small set
Element near the Gross Vendre River. There
are in the settlement sixty-flve men, nearly
all frontiersmen. capable OF making good
light. There are also thirty-fve women and
forty children. Jackson's Hole people, in
view Of the fight, sent couriers and
letters to the settlement fifty miles east
of them, at the headwaters OF the
Big Wind River, and thirty miles south to
the Mormon settlements in Salt Valley. Uin-
tab County. asking for aid. Settlers from
these places left to reinforce them. 1t was
then estimated that 200 Bannocks were In
the mountains surrounding the settlement.
Fully as many Shoshones were to the east OF
the settlement, but 1t was not expected they