The herald., 1897-06-14
STOUCH'S
STORY
OF the Late Uprising of
Cheyennes
STANLEY WANTED TO FIGHT
WHICH THE AGENT THOUGHT
NOT WISE
The Trouble Only Made Worse by the
Continual Interference Of the
State Authorities

state AuCQOI1C1eS
Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, June 13.-The Indian
office has received from Captain Stoucn
detailed report of the trouble there
arising from the murder Of Settler John
Hoover by David Stanley. a Cheyenne
brave.
After much diplomacy on the part of
the agent, Stanley and his two accom-
plices, Sam Crow and Yellow Hair, are
now lodged in Jail at Miles City and will
be tried by the civil courts. Captain
Stouch's description of the trouble is
interesting in that it shows the constant
conflict between the federal officers and
the state authorities In arrests Of In
dians. In this case the presence of the
sheriff and large posse came near
causing a conflict with the Indians.
The report states that soon after
Hoover's body was found, Captain
Stouch sent for White Bull and some of
the head men, being satisfied that it was
his band which committed the murder.
The old chief came in response to the
summons and expressed his regrets at
the occurrence. Captain Stouch told
him to tell the head men that the band
would be held responsible for the muir
der unless they discovered the real cul-
prit and brought him to the post. This
they promised to do. This conference
took place on the 27th of May, and that
same day Sheriff Glib of Custer county
and a band of twenty-five armed meL
rode up to the agency and informed Cap
tain Stouch that they wanted the mur-
derers The agent replied that he was
doing everything possible to discover
and arrest the guilty Indians, and If not
interfered with was satisfied that he
would succeed. The sheriff left four
deputies and departed. That evening
Captain Read with two troops Of cav
airy arrived. Soon after this White
Bull came into the agency and told
Captain etouch that Stanley had con-
fessed to the murder but would not sur
render, having sent word that he would
fight at 3 o'clock. This the agent replied
he would not allow. but the chief must
compel Stanley to give himself up. A
courier was sent to recall the cavalry
which had started for the scene Of the
killing. BY this time the news that
Stanley would fight had spread, and the
Indians became very restless, the
sQuaws and children took to the hills.
while the bucks rode in and stationed
themselves on the hilltops near the posi-.
They were all heavily armed and had
their horses. They informed the agent
they had come to see Stanley fight.
Captain Stouch says: Captain Read
returned to the agency with his COM
mand at $3.50 p. M, and at this time
Stanley was on high hill in the rear of
the agency, a great distance from it. He
had his horse and squaw with him, was
in his war-dress and paint and was
heavily armed. He was all ready to
fight. 1t was the desire of Captain
Read to charge and capture or kill
him. At this juncture a greatly ex-
cited Indian on horseback approached
with the information that Stanley did
not want to fight the soldiers, but did
want to fight the citizens, meaning the
deputy sheriffs who were here. I told
him to go back and tell Stanley I would
not allow any one to fight him, and for
him to come in and surrender Deputy
Sheriff Smith told me he would attempt
his capture If would guarantee him
safety from the other Indians I told
him could not so guarantee, and more.
over there would be no fight and that
Stanley must be captured without any
bloodshed.
Stanley followed in the steps of the
head chief and Crazy Mule, of whose
h de- q cfn a ro fp1d
fires, making every young man anxious
for similar death. I believe it was in
1891 that these two young men killed
white boy and hid his body in the hills,
where 1t was found after search Of sew
eral days. The murdsrers were dtiscov-
cred through their boasting of the deed.
Their surrender was demanded, but it
was refused. though they were willing to
be killed, and would die fighting. Their
proposal was accepted and the five
troops of cavalry stationed here were
ordered to prepare for the affray At
the appointed time the troops took their
station In the rear OF the agency build
ings, and each young man took his posi-
ton on a hill on either side of the troops;
the young men charged down the hills
on their horses, upon the troops, singing
their death songs and firing at the SOL
diers. They were finally killed, they
only shooting the horses Of the soldiers.
Stones mark the footsteps of the horses
on the hillsides, and the bodies of the
braves were buried In grave prepared
for them beforehand. Thus these two
young men became heroes and, to pre-
vent repetition OF these Incidents ! for
bade any fighting.
II did not think 1t wise and prudent to
make the attempt with but two troops Of
cavalry here, while / believe the Indians
were not disposed to resist the capture
of Stanley, still there was no telling
what they would do when one of their
people was being fired upon. Had they
made resistance there Is no telling
where it would have ended. They mus
ter almost five hundred warriors, and,
knowing of their disposition to resist in
1891, when much weaker than now, I
thought two troops of cavalry would not
stand much show OF overcoming these
warriors, whose fierceness was noted.
About this time, from remarks made
to me by the Indians and by their ac-