The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-24
MASSACRE OF WHITES.
A Settler and His Family Fall
Victims to the Savage
MarauderS.
PRosPEcToR SMITH WOUNDED.
Cowboys and Indians MasSing for
Combat in the Jackson Hole
Country.

POCATELLO, IDAHO, July 23.-Union
Pacific Engineer Robert Fitzpatrick, who
pulled the north bound freight into Poca-
tello at o'clock this evening, brought
positive information of the conflict in the
Salt River Valley. Mail-carrier AlmaVail,
who arrived at Montpelier from Star Val
lev this morning, reported to the Constable
that the Bannock Indians from the reser-
vation had killed a settler, his wife and
their child. A posse of citizens was at
once formed, which pursued the Bannocks
and killed six of them before they escaped
into the mountains.
The excitement among the settlers in
Northwestern Wyoming over the threat
ened uprising OF the Bannocks and Sho-
shone Indians is growing more intense
every day. They are leaving their ranches
in large numbers and gathering at favored
points for mutual protection, in case the
irate bucks return to seek vengeance for
the death of their brother braves who were
killed in the Jackson Hole country.
The confirmation of the reported killing
of three whites and six Indians is spread
ing alarm at a rapid rate. Innumerable
pleasure par ties have given up contem-
plated trips into the mountain country
which abounds in the finest sport of all
kinds at this season. The settlers, too, are
becoming thoroughly aroused, and if they
are not soon protected by Government
troops they will take the field in protec-
ton of their own homes and lives, and
they are we'll qualified by long experience
in this country to do even more effective
fighting than the regulars. Even the In
dians realize that the cowboys are more
dangerous than the troops. They know
they can surrender to the soldiers, and
will be in no further danger. When the
fro ntier volunteers go out to hunt Indians
they fight as the Indians do themselves
shoot to kill and kill all in sight.
The news that the foraging Bannoeks are
receiving supplies of Government rations
forwarded by those remaining on the res
ervation, and that several hundred Sho-
shone bucks from the Wind River reserva-
ton have started to join and aid the Ban
nocks is not the best indication that the
ill-feeling engendered by killing of the In
dian hunters will end without further
trouble. In addition to these evidences
the sensible Indians who have remained
on the reservation to put up their hay and
who advised against this hunt, say the In
dians want to fight, and every one who
knows anything about the hardy frontiers
men of Northwestern Wyoming knows
that if the Indians are looking for fight
they will find it. There is -honored
belief among the Indians that in the long
journey the soul of a dead Indian has to
make to the happy hunting grounds it will
become lonesome, and so an Indian who
knows he has to die will try to kill white
man that his soul may furnish company.
An Indian will even try to kill white
man before committing suicide. A num-
Der of Indians have been killed, their souls
have no company, their brother braves
pity them and feel they have a duty to
perform, and thus superstition adds an
other danger to the situation.
Old Captain Woody, very intelligent
Indian farmer of this reservation, was
in Pocatello to-day, and was seen by The
CALL correspondent. Indians who have
Just returned from the scene OF trouble tell
him that seven red men had been killed up
to the time of their leaving several days
ago. Woody, although he tells the Indians
they are cheap FOOLS" says they want to
fight aud are well prepared to do battle.
He says the cowboys will kill the pappooses
as well as the bucks if an open conflict
comes. The Indians know this, and the
fact gives more importance to the state
ment that the homeward march of some
bands is only for the purpose of leaving
the women and children.
The immediate vicinity of an Indian
agency in such times as this is very de-
ceptive place. There are always a suffi-
cient number of Indians left behind to
draw the regular weekly supplies of rations
from the Government. These Indians
maintain quiet manner that is most ex-
emplary, and forward supplies to the alb
sent warriors with promptness and dis
patch.
Colonel R. S. Kicks, one of Mississippi's
prominent citizens, who has a summer
home at Soda Springs, arrived in PocatelIo
this morning. Every fall for number of
years Colonel Kicks has spent several
months hunting at the very head of the
Jackson Hole country, and he knows that
wild corner of the State as thoroughlv as
any trapper. The colonel has been at
Soda Springs for several weeks making
preparations for his annual hunting trip.
He has his wife with him, and of course
does not think it safe to venture into the
north country now, and fears that his trip
win have to be abandoned entirely.
Colonel Kicks has within the last five
days seen several well-known Indian coun-
selors just returned from the seat of trouble,
who said their efforts to persuade the In
dians to return to their reservations had
been entirely without avail, and further
more the report comes from Soda Springs
that 200 to 300 of the powerful Shoshones
bucks had left the Wind River reservation
and started northwest to join the Bannocks
from this reservation.
MASSING FOB Il CONFLICT.
A Clash BetaCeen Settlers and Indians
fnd