New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-09
BANNOCKS NOT TO BLAME.
A TALK WITH GENERAL coPPINGER.
HE EXPLAINS THE TROUBLES IN THE REGION OF
JACKsONs HoLE-THE PATHETIC
STONY OF NE-NITZ.

JAcKsoNs HoLE-THE PATHETIC
STORY OF NE-aUTZ.
General j. j. coppinger, whose name has been
so prominent In connection with the recent Indian
trouble at Jsckson's Hole reached this city on FIJI
day evening last on his way to Washington where
he has been called on important Official business
The General is a son-in-law Of Mr.. Blaine
Tribune reporter found him In his rooms at the
Brevoort House last evening. busily engaged In
completing his official correspondence lie was
looking haze and hearty as he did at the close
OF his campaign under General Custer
General Coppinger reticent In saying any
thing about the nature OF the business which Calls
him TO Washington. and said that at almost any
day he might be summoned back 10 MS military
post at Omaha. AS to the newspaper reports that
have appeared recently relative TO General Copplnger
being the only survivor Of some twenty comrades
appolnted TO commands during the Civil war ny
General Grant, at the request OF the Pope ne pre-
ferred to say nothing for publication
As to the recent trouble with the Bannock Ind
ians at Jackson's Hoe. the General, who has just
come from a months encampment with his troops
in the valleys of the Teton range OF snow-cappeo
mountains talked freely.
Just as he had thrown himself back In his arm
chair preparatory to giving description OF the
recent trouble with the Bannocks, his eye III upon
large painting hanging upon the wall of his apart
ment which he had not noticed previously. Well!
said he that is remarkable coincidence, as ne
arose from his chair and walked toward the paint
ing There hangs picture which the artist must
have copled from the very scenes or the Bahhock
troubles" end the speaker pointed out the peaks OF
the Teton range, Jackson Lake and Jackson 5 io'e
with the Indian huts all OF which were clearly out
lined In the painting.
General Coppinger returned to his chair ana re-
sl,med his story For generations past" said he.
the Bannock tribes have been hunting IN tne
region OF Jacksons Hole. as it is almost impossible
for them to find enough game In the harro"
country which marks :he limits OF their reser-
walton south OF the Snake River, In the SOUTH
eastern portion OF Idaho In 1863 our Indian COM
missioner made a treaty with them. in which the
United States guaranteed to the Indians the r1ght
TO hunt on the unoccupIed lands so long as peace
subssted and game was TO be found there.
During the last few years mass OF settlers
mostly farmers have found their way INTO tnis
region who have proved themselves to be FOR the
most mart a law-abidng hard working and indus
trous neople | have been greatly pleased Win
Thorn There Is another class OF men there, now
ever not farmers. possessing perhaps coupe VI
nackhorsos a saddle-horse, a six-shoo'er anu o"e
or two Wnchesters, who do not want the game
to be taken by the Indians. They want the elk
and other game for what money they can make
nv taking out hunting expeditions of whites, ana
are determined II possible. to prevent the Indians
from hunting over that district
"As a result of this feeling. early In July last
n number of the Bannocks were arrested, their
ponies and arms taken from them and some
of the prisoners were meroessly shot down
"When [ reached Jackson's Hole with my cavalry
troon and five companies Of infantry. with the In
tentlon of inducing the Indians to return SOUTH
ward to their reservation, found them perfectly
we'll behaved and much pleased with poth
their bearing and conduct in the matter
General Coppnger then went on to give story
OF handsome young Bannock Indian twenty-one
of
who had been found near Falls Canyon by Lieu
tenant Parkers scouting party, shot through 'he
body The bullet entered the Indians body at the
back and came out near the centre OF the groin'
Lodging in his left arm Just above the wrist
"Ne-Mutzs story of the affair" continued the
General was as nearly as | translate the
Young bucks language, about as follows: on or
about the evening of July u a party OF Bannocks
was. hunting, according to our custom, near rali
River. a party OF white men In the dis-
lance but imagined as We were attending strictly
to our own business. that they would do the same.
In the evening our party consisting Of eleven bucks
and some squaws, lay down TO sleep. We awoke
about o'clock the next morning to md ourselves
surrounded by the whites. and under the cover OF
their rifles We were ordered to surrender our
arms tb ana fra da So white n man following each indian
with some other white men riding on the pam pc
we were to be hanged or imprisoned by the white
men, In fact our capors naa too o US '' Se our
fate we made a break for the timber lands ana
The whites opened fire on US / don't know how
MANY were shot The white constable who leo tne
atdaccking marty corroborates Ne-Mutzs story:
General Coppinger told the story OF getting Ne
MUTT back to camp as follows .x ,orasor,a
"Ne-Mutz was a remarkably engaging, nandsone
Young buck Lieutenant Parker who found MIN IN
he CANYON over forty miles from home, with MS
wounds still undressed and uncared Tor, had 20
hiring him nearly ninety miles around the mountains
before he succeeded in reaching our camp, tweh.s
nine DAYS after the shooting. The country was 700
rough for wheels and the poor fellow nad 20 pe
riod much of the way on an eXtenlporlIeu HteSI
iashed bet ween mules. He suffered greatiy iotii
fne ,norticatiOn of his wounds. ana the puhst va
sin lodged i'm his left arm. Before Dr. Lynch; .ne
assistant surgeon dressed the wound Ne,M ur
hegCed ntifully that some one would Hlahe P"RyI
81 write letter. for him to his mother. Ias
know that the water 0ears) was streaming uo" IN
"he'ts FOR his sake and he wanted TO let hei hioH
,bat hs was still alive" The General seemed hu0"
,,ovad as ne told this pathetic story II, hun
General Coppinger said that the nVe or SIN uaii
dred Indians who mad gathered at Jackson f hd
wera as neaceable lot of Indians as ne ever nSa
y, deaI With and that as soon as rlihnsi r,n
sort out with the request that they eave tne GI
reaion both Rannocks and Shsshones deparleu " .ii
o,f a mnrmur to their reservations nei'eIai Up
nSngar said that long before he reached me sI ,
y, 99he massacre he satisfied, notwiIhstaIuqiis
,he contrary reports. that no plane attaSasu "
~ Indians The General could not say uehli'teiy
rhother or not the Government wouih MAKE iny
s,rtber Investigations and take any decisive acuoh
in regard TO the outrage.