The herald., 1895-05-06
THAT HALF-BREED UPRISING
The Bold Outlaws Surrender to
an Officer
"RED THUNDER" RESISTS
All Guns Taken From the Troublesome
Band in Dakota
"RED THUNDER" RESIST.
Several Arrests Made Only After Determined
and Strategic Work on the Part
of the Officers

ST. PAUL. Mimi, May "a Rolla, \.
D., special to the Pioneer Press says;
The half-breed uprising has been
squelched without loss of life. Marshais
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. Deputies were astir soon after day
light this morning. Marshal Cronan had
decided that further effort at inducing
peaceful surrender would be useless,
claiming that if they would not surren-
der their fort at Langan he would storm
it. A posse left here III Il 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. coming 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 $3.50 o clock, the
wagons being left half mile in the rear
and the deputy marshals advanced,
spreading out so as to command the north
and west sides. Spades had been brought
and the marshals began preparing shall
low rifle pits. Marshal Cronan and In
dian Agent Hall. leaving their rifles be-
hind, walked up to the fort, the deputies
keeping sharp lookout for any hostile
movement.
The half breeds refused to talk with
Cronan, but told Hall they wanted fur
ther time to hear from Washington. Gro
nan told them to make up their minds
quic k as he meant to attack them at
once. By 1880 o'clock Marshal Cronan
was ready to begin, when the Lalf-breeds
ti,nt tod
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. Johns hard
ware store Thursday night when they
stole all the guns and ammunition.
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 absolute
ly and give up al arms and ammunition
and he would arrest all he wanted. If
they did not like these terms, the mar
shals had come there to fight and were
ready. All this time the deputies had
been working nearer aud now had a tenn
porary cover provided within $50 yards,
at which distance the Winchester bullets
would easily riddle the logs. Soon after
II o'clock the half-breeds surrendered un-
conditionally, though it was nearly
o clock before the prisoners were loaded
into wagons.
Fifty-four guns were found. Most of
their Winchesters 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 wer: taken to town, the
others being allowed to go for the present.
The Indians arrested are Red Til lnder,
Joe Langan. Joe Demaris. Chasseur lie
Potreau. Francis Langan, Alexander
LeIoQue and Daniel Short.
Red Thunder made 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 pos
sessed of great strength. While negotia-
tions were pending he had tried to kill
one of his men for favoring surrender.
The prisoners were brought to Rolla this
afternoon. Other half breeds present were
told they could have their shotguns by
applying to the marshal and being iden-
tiIied as the men whose name was marked
on the gun. thus furnishing conclusive
evidence of their participation in the out
break 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 posse. Chieif Little Shell
brought in tonight. When returning to
the agency after the surrender Agent
Hall met band cfhalfbreeds ami Indians
on the way to reinforce the men at
Langans, who had been told were at
tackled by the marshal Agent Hall per-
suaded them to turn back. informing
them the others had surrendered. Had
progress, it might have been unpleasant
for the marshals.