Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1895-05-09
READY TO FlGH7
TIE SITUATION At ST. JOHN, N. D.,
IS ALARMING.
breed. Prepare Fort and MT the
ApprOnch of Strangers Active
Preparations for a hattie Is
begun by the In
diana.
HE REDS ARE SARCASTIC.
Come and See Them - They
Laugh at the Authorities.

st. John, n. d.. May 5.-The half
breed camp at Joseph Lansan's was
thoroughly accommodated by the
marsllals 1t is about two miles north
east "f town. and is Il large lu: house
and log barn about fifty feet long,
built of round logs. The breeds have
removed the chinking from the logs
to the height of the shoulders. lcav-
ing an opening between the logs
large enough to point their guns
through in such Il position rs to give
thanking a fire from either side. There
is a long ravine in front. They keep
scouts and pickets out in all direc
tons. AS soon as any PARTY of men
appear the scouts begin falling back.
and the breeds can be seen running
from the house tc the barn ready for
defense. The location can he plainly
seen from the roof of the railroad en-
CINE house on the north edge of town.
Fresh arrivals have been coming in
all day in small parties. and one or
two Red river carts have been driven
in loaded with supplies The Indians
killed a dog and are holding Il pow
WOW. a few l.alf-breeds from the res
ervation Joined them to-day. There
We're POI of them to-day when the
| messenger left, but large numbers
| more came in from the north later.
They are well provisicncd, having
over twenty cattle and secured plenty
of flour in their raid into town Thurs
day night. They are all men. hav-
ing sent their women and children
across the boundary into Manitoba
| Deputies Shintller and Flynn drove
around in a buggy nearly within gun
shot. The scouts fell back and lined
the ravinc. while the others manned
| the house and barn.
! Marshal Cronan stopped IL half
breed who had come from the reser-
Walton. and sent him into them with
Il message warning them of the con-
sequences of further resistance to the
| United States. and asking whether
they intended resisting the arrest of
the men with them for whom he had
warrants. In reply they sent the fol-
lowing rather sarcastic message:
MIR. Cronan: Why are You SO scared
10 see lis and yon don't come to us.
Don't be scared. Come With enc of
your men, or alone. but no arms With
you. We are not going to give up
our men. Wait until we get an an
swcr from our great father We
wal, for day by day. Yours truly.
Red Thunder"
Cronan declined the request to 90
in. because they talked the matter
over with him thoroughly when he
met them last Sunday, and from theil
talk can do no good. They have over
fifty Ninchesters. besides their shot,
guns. and We're busy to-day loading
cartridges with the powder and shot
they secured in the raid. With the
iuetensive position they have they
could not be diSlodged without ar
tillc.y. The house can be approached
under cover to within about 3G
yards. over which Il charge Moult
have to I've made under fire from bot!
the house and barn. Even If this was
done. what men got across could uc
little against those now in the
house. y messenger sent by Agent
Hall from the reservation says Little
Shell and n good sized band Intend
leaving there tonight to join the
breeds here. Hitherto the reservation
Indians have held aloof. but the re
fl,Sll Of the attorney general TO allow
troops to be sent has added weigh,
to Little Shells argument that the
United States would not do anythin.
to punish them. Marshal Cronal
AMI his deputies nrc brave enough
but there is no sense in ordering tn III
to run their heads against wall
The breeds are rely to fight ant
mean to fight. and the longer troop.
are delayed the larger their strength
grows.
II Washington. May 5-So troops have
been ordered to Tr- - Mountain. n
d.. though the w"r department. ha,
everything in readiness to send then
rs soon as they are needed. 1t ap
pears that the attorney general doe.
not believe that there is any rcceSsit,
for the troops. and it is intimated tina
the marshal and his deputies have
been unnecessarily alarmed.