The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-01
REDSKINS MAKING WAR
CHEYENNEs REPORTED TO HAVE
KILLED RANCHMEN AND SOLDIERS.
Much Excitement i'm Southern Mon
tana, Where the Outrages Are Al
legged to Have Been Committed.

HELENA Mont, May 31.--The Cheyenne
Indians have gone on the warpath and are
said to have killed almost a dozen men, in
Guiding five United States soldiers. The In
dams have no reservation of their own, but
roam over the southern part of the State
near the Crow Indian reservation. The
white settlers up in arms and the
women and children are being sent into the
northern towns for safety. The Cheyennes
make the Lame Deer agency their head
quarters. A sheep herder was recently shot
while herding sheep, and it was proven that
Indians did it. He was killed because he
caught several Indians killing sheep. This
so incensed the stockmen that they have
armed themselves and will fight to protect
their homes help and stock. Two compa-
MES of colored cavalry from Custer were or
dered to the agency last Wednesday, and
on Saturday a courier arrived from the
agency with information that George Wal
tiers, the postmaster, and Lou Anderson, d
stockman, had bees shot and killed; also
that the Indians had shot into the cavalry
men, killed five, and had sixty armed cow
boys surrounded. The cavalry from Fort
Keogh and Company e of the infantry left
Saturday for the scene.
There are certainly grounds for fear
These Cheyennes are determined, and they
are being reinforced by renegade Crows
Rosebud ranchers received consignment of
rifles and ammunition at this point to-day.
Settlers have moved all their families from
near the reservation. Ranchmen and stock
men have organized at Cheyenne agency
ard demand the Indians who killed Hoover.
The names of the Indians are known and
they are protected by fifty bucks. Sheriff
Gibbs and coroner Bateman have returned
from BaIringerS ranch in the nelghboc-
hood of which the inquest was held on the
body of Hoover. The verdict was that he
came to his death by two shots fired by
Cheyenne Indians.
While the inquest was proceeding sixty
men under Legislator James Brown, ar
rived on their way to the agency. The
sheriff pleaded with them to return and told
them that sixty of them against four or
nye hundred indians, armed and such fight
crs as the CheyenneS are, would be helpless.
The sheriff learned that the crime was COM
ntted by three of the band led by White
Bun, who said a day or TWO previous that
mis- heart was bad-that he wanted TO eat
v hite mans heart. The agent SAID he
knew two of the murderers ana thought,
with a little time, he could find the others
and turn them over TO the civil authorities
with what evidence they had. lie had re-
auested a sufficient force of soldiers to sur
round the Indians and said he would cut
off their rations till the murderers were
turned
went back to the main body of whites,
which mad been augmented by twenty men
from the Rosebud agency and made re-
port Though there was much dlSsausTac-
lion at the turn of affairs, they agreed to
dispense for two weeks to allow the agent
time to make the arrests. If not then Done
the original plan of attacking the Indians
will be carried out The women have been
gathered at several ranches FOR protec1lon
under guard of ten or twelve men. Inc
sheriff left four deputies at the agency with
stock Inspector smith as cnleI
During the return ride on Friday courier
overlook the sheriff and ms deputies, say
ing that White Bulls band had, during the
night, escaped from the agency; that the
force of settlers was being reassembled
that two companies of cavalry from custer
had been sent overland; that the Indians
killed Some of them, and that TINS Dand
of Indians was liable to do much damage
to ranchers, white men and cattle women
and children are being sent down the
Tongue river to more secure places. Inc
county attorney has received a telegram
from Stock Inspector Smith that Agent
stouch had ordered the deputies off the res
rrvation Deputy Sheri1s Smith and VIM
tiers have arrived at Miles City, after haV-
ing been ordered off the Cheyenne reserVa-
ton by the military agent, Captain Stouch.
They report that when the negro cavalry
men from Fort Custer arrived at the agen-
CIV the Indian who admitted doing the Kill
ing could easily have been arrested, as ne
was pointed out TO the troops, who prepared
| for action if necessary to make the arrest,
but the agent did not desire the arrest MADE
at that time and prevented the ohcer IN
command of the troops from exercising u ms
authority then. The Indians were decked
| out in war paint and riding the omlnouS
| circle, waving their blankets, displaying
| their WinchesterS and challenging the ,,S clll-
| zens to come out and fight them. They
| claimed they did not want TO hght the sol
diers but did want to fight the citizens.
Captain Stouch asked the citizens TO leave
| the agency. The deputy sheriffs refused to
| 20 unless on a written order. This he gave
| them. stating their presence might excite
| the Indians TO further deeds OF violence.
10
returning with Sheriff Gibbs, having a war
| rant for the arrest of Agent Stouch FOR IN
terfering with officers in the discharge or
their duty, and warrants for the numerous
| indians. Orders were given TO the ordnance
officer at Fort keogh 10 nave ten thousand
rounds of ammunition ready Tor use. II
is supposed more troops are TO go TO the
agency There are now here six COM
panies, under command OF Major Marelll, of
Settlers wives and children from the
Tongue river country are arriving at Miles
CITY in all kinds of improVised conVeyanceS.
All kinds of rGmors are rlfe, put as feWs
tts TO come, for the most part OF the dis
trict by courier, nothing dennite is known
as to those reported killed Mrs. stephens,
wife of the eX-agent, who WAS riding over
to the agency from her ranch for safety,
was attacked by young bucks VINO would
have killed her but for the pleadlnSs OF
an old squaw. They, however, spat in her
face and offered other insults.
Later-Reports Of the killing of several
men by the Cheyenne Indians at Lame Deer
agency are not verified. 1t is not believed
that anyone was killed except sheep
herder named Hoover. whose murder a
week ago caused all the excitement
WASHINGTON, May 81. - The Indian
trouble in southern Montana reported from
Helena was made known 10 the authorities
of the War Department last week, and in
the opinion OF the officials, is not likely to
be followed by serious results The first
news of the affair came TO the department
i'm a telegram from Colonel Sheridan, the
adiutant general of the department at St.
Paul At present the department has no
commander, owing to the recent retirements
among the major generals and the brigadier
generals and the delay in assigning the
new commands among the colonies recently
promoted SO Secretary Alger himself is
responsible for the command, and he is di-
recting affairs through Adjutant General
Ruggles. NO intimation or any trouble
among the Cheyennes has reached the In
terror Department, and the Indian officials
are at loss to account for lack or adtlces.
Almighty Voice Killed.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, May 3i.-ComHu-
nication with Duck Lake was restored this
morning. A correspondent with the
mounted notice who have been beSieging