The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-06-01

present Cheyenne trouble started with
the murder of John Hoover ON the
morning Of May 2. Hoover was a steady
young man. physically deformed. being
a hunchback. He worked for Tongue
river sheepman. John Barringer ON
the morning of May a bunch of sheep
drifted into the home ranch. Search was
Immediately made for the missing
man. After riding the range three
days. he was given up as killed and
buried by the Cheyennes The party
then organized dispersed Nothing
more was done for two weeks. John
Burlinson. Rosebud rancher, a cousin
of the missing man. then organic a
posse of men and started for Tongue
river to begin search.
ON Sunday, May 20. the posse met
at the place Hoover had camped the
night before his disappearance. A line
was formed of 20 men, 200 yards be-
tween each man. Thirty minutes after
the line the men started four rifle shots
were heard. the signal agreed upon IL
the body was found or any trace of 1t.
Two men, detailed to 20 to a ranch
after provisions. went tn a new sheep
camp to get mutton, and rode directly
on the remains of Hoover. The body
was guarded night and day waiting for
the coroner from Miles City. The jury's
investigation showed that he had been
shot twice, breaking his arm. cutting
his ribs In two. The position Of the
body showed ne was sitting down when
Killed. The body was lying fiat on the
back, knee resting ON his dead dog.
After he fell backward he was shot a
third time so close as to burn his
clothes. A bullet going through the
body and breaking the backbone, was
dug out of the ground by juror Two
ponies tracks We're near the body. A
third pony Joined the trail 100 yards
away. The government shells were IL
feet from the body. The jury found a
verdict that John Hoover came To his
death from rifle wounds inflicted by
Cheyennes. A committee of IL repre-
sentative settlers and stockmen were
named to wait upon the agent, Capt.
George w. II. Stouch, and through him
demand that the murderers Of Hoover
be given up for the Cheyenne tribe.
Four men deputized by Sheriff John
Glib accompanied the committee to
receive the murderers II given up. The
committee met Stouch at the Lame
Deer agency. Stouch promised that the
demands would be complied with. This
was Monday, May ~ on Tuesday. the
25th. troops arrived from Fort Keogh.
The same day the head men %. the
tribe brought In word that the Chey
enne Philip Badger was one of the men
that killed Hoover. The military and
civil authorities both requested per-
mission to captue Badger. but were
refused by Stouch, who stated the force
was not strong enough. Badger was in
plain sight defying anyone to take him.
Fifty bucks. well armed, We're crazy
foran excuse to fight the whites. Hear
ing the Indian threats, Deputy Sheriff
Smith sent a courier notifying the set
tiers to move all their families to safe
place. ON Friday night every ranch
for 40 miles on the Rosebud was de-
serted. Saturday morning Stouch no.
titled the four deputies and all white
men not government employees to leave
the reservation or be placed under ar
rest. Smith left for Miles City, leav-
ing Deputy Sheriff Mckay In charge
of the body.
Forty men, well-armed. are at Braten
ranch. 25 miles below Lame Deer. Fam
lilies IL miles below these guards are
camping. The women and children are
tOuRnInE ". ~ VI att
at Rosebud. Forsyth and Sheridan
wyo. Sheriff Glib and Deputy Smith
are expected to-day. when action will
be taken by the civil authorities. The
settlers are quiet and orderly. They
arc well organized and only want jus
tice. There have been shipped In 1900
worth or rifles and ammunition in the
last three days.
All the Indians are sullen. Two Moon
the Cheyenne chief. in conversation
with a Standard reporter to-day said
"Cheyenne will fight. White men al
afraid heap" Fifty bucks without a
stitch of clothing went up the Rosebud
yesterday In war paint Communica'
tions were shut off yesterday. IL IL re-
ported the agent viii not allow any on,
TO leave. We are camped on the Rose.
bud 25 miles below the mouth of Lame
Deer and expect 20 move to-day, IL tn,
sheriff arrives He IN expected TO re.
turn with a warrant for Badger and al
who Interfere In preventing the ar
rest of the murderers. The settlers ex
pect to fight the entire tribe. 800 wei
armed bucks. The squaws and pap
pooses have all been moved to Rive
Mission. The bucks. with a few excep
tions. are all In war paint.
The rumors that more men have beef
Killed nave not been substantlateu. ou
men are guarding all points. Scouts
are within three miles OF the agenc,
buildings. No couriers leave withou
passing through our lines. There al.
rumors to-day that the Cheyennes hav'
sent word to the Sioux for all thci
fighters TO break out and meet them ~
! the war trail.
Later-Sheriff Glib and his deputie
| have reached here and left the settler
| to wait for their orders. They vii
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