The record-union., 1897-06-02
INDIAN TROUBLES
IN MONTANA.
Settlers Are Greatly Alarmed at the
Present Turn Of Events.
The Matter Now Assuming a Very
Serious Phase.
Reported That Sioux From Dakota
Have Gone to the r1ontana Agency,
and That Invitations Have Been
Sent Out for More to Join Them on
the War Trail.

HELENA (Mont), June News
from the Cheyenne Agency is meager
The arrest of Indians by the civil au-
thorities will be attempted to-day, but
the result will probably not be known
before tomorrow.
A genuine scare no doubt exists
among all settlers in valleys contiguous
to the reservation. State officials be-
lleve the situation exaggerated but at
the same time believe all preparations
should be made to guard against an
outbreak by hot-headed young Indians.
Sensational reports in regard to the
killing of settlers sent out by special
correspondents are entirely without
foundation.
1t is reported that Sioux Indians
from Dakota have come to the agency
and that runners have been sent to in
vfte more Sioux to join them on the
war trail.
Senator Carter will ask President Nc
klnley to instruct Indian Agent Stouch
not to interfere with the Sheriff's posse
and to order the military authorities to
support them in case the Cheyennes re-
sist the arrest of the Indian Little
Whirlwind," known also as Stanley a
graduate of Carlisle, who admits the
murder of Sheepherder Hoover.
White Bulls band of 125 warriors.
who escaped from the agency Friday
night, are in the hills on the Tongue
River near Ashland, and this will be
the scene of the first bloodshed should
there be any The settlers are as well
armed as the Indians, though arms
and ammunition are being forwarded
as rapidly as possible.
CAUSED BY A MURDER.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-The official
report of the troubles among the Chey-
enne Indians in Montana, dated May
10Th, reached the Indian Bureau to-day
from Captain Stouch, in charge of the
Tongue River Agency. 1t confirms the
Washington dispatches of the Associ-
ated Press yesterday, which attributed
the trouble to the murder of a sheep
herder, and indicates that the motive
Of the murder was to prevent the herd
er from giving testimony as to an lille
gal slaughter of beef which he had wit
messed.
An investigation will be made i'm
mediately The agent reports that in
tense excitement exists among the set
tiers, and that there is a liability to
further trouble. He says there are a
great many bloodthirsty young men
among the Indians, and if the settlers
and the young Indians should meet,
trouble would be the result For the
peace and safety of all concerned, he
advises the stationing of two troops of
cavalry in the neighborhood.
A request was made to the Adjutant-
General of the Military Department at
st. Paul for troop of cavalry to be
stationed at Camp Merritt all the time,
instead of detachment of infantry, as
now. If mounted party could be seen
frequently on different parts of the
reservation it would be of great bene-
fit, in the opinion of the agent.
The report says that on May Sth the
agent was informed of the disappear
ance of sheep-herder in the employ of
Mr. Barringer, whose ranch is on the
Tongue River. A search party was or
ganized by a cousin of the herder ON
May 22d and agency help asked Troops
from Fort Keogh and Camp Merritt
and the settlers on the Rosebud and
Tongue Rivers constituted the search
party; on the 24th of May Indian police
were sent to assist and the body was
found three-quarters of a mile from the
camp of the herder and about three
miles north Of the station. The mur-
der undoubtedly was committed by the
Indians. 1t exasperated the settlers
throughout the country and they are
crying for justice and retribution. The
murdered man was an inoffensive
hunchback. and he had been an object
of sport for the Indians. The car
casses of the slaughtered beef were dis
covered near by.
In this connection it is stated that
only few cattle belonging to the set
tiers have been killed by the Indians
during the past winter and spring; two
near the agency, a few on Tongue River
and two near Stebbins Greek: total
not nearly so large as heretofore.
The Interior Department will make a
formal request to the War Department
to station cavalry at the camp, and the
agent will be instructed to use every
effort to secure the punishment of the
perpetrators of the crime.
Senator Carter has been appealed to
in behalf of the settlers alleged rights,
but he has replied eounseling modera-
ton among the whites. County Attor-
ney ]. b. Porter wired the Senator from
Miles City that Agent Stouch ought to
be suspended Immediately for resisting
State officers serving process in driv-
ing the Sheriff from the agency. He
claimed that the situation was serious
and that bloodshed would result. If the
agent is instructed not to resist the
Sheriff's posse, he added, consent will
be avoided, though he regarded an out
break as certainly imminent