Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-02
SITUATION STILL CRITICAL
Cheyenne Indians Continue Ugly Out
in Montana
SIOUX BRAVES COMING IN FROM DAKOTA
White Bulls Little Band of Warriors
Camped In the Hills on Tongue
River-Settlers Are Very
Poorly Armed.

HELENA, Mont, June specials from
Miles City, the nearest town in Montana to
the Cheyenne Indian troubles say the
situation at the agency continues critical
Families who resided near the seat OF the
trouble continue to flock to Miles City. 1t
is reported that Sioux Indians from Dakota
have come to the agency, and that runners
have been sent to invite more Sioux to join
them on the war trail.
Senator Carter will ask President McKin-
ley that Indian Agent Stouch be instructed
not to interfere with the sherin's posse
and that the military authorities support
them I'm case the Cheyennes resist the ar
rest of the Indian, Little Whirlwind,"
known also as Stanley, graduate of Car
lsle who admits the murder OF Sheep
herder Hoover.
Sheriff Gibbs and Deputies Smith and
Winters should arrive among the Cheyennes
Tuesday morning with warrants for the three
Indians and the agent, which they will at
tempt to serve.
White Bulls band OF warriors, number
ing 1875 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 not as we'll armed as the
Indians though arms and ammunition are
being forwarded as rapidly as possible.
MIGHT EASILY PROVOKE TROUBLE.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-The official re-
port OF the troubles among the Cheyenne
Indians in Montana, dated May 20, reached
the Indian bureau today from Captain
Stouch in charge of the Tongue River
agency. 1t confirms the Washington dis
patches of the Associated Press yesterday,
attributed the trouble to the murder OF g
sheepherder and indicates that the motive
Of 10 lerUer
from giving testimony as to an alleged
slaughter of beef which he witnessed. An
investigation will be made Immediately.
The agent reports that intense excitement
exists among the settlers and that there is
liability of further trouble He says there
are a great many bloodthirsty young men
among these Indians and that If the set
tiers and the young Indians should meet
trouble would be the result.
For the peace and safety of all concerned
he advises the st2tionlng of two troops Of
cavalry in the neghborhood. request was
made 10 the adjutant general of the mill
tary department for a detachment of ar
tillery If mounted party could be seen
frequently on different parts of the reserva-
tion it would be of great benefit in the
opinion of the agent.
The report says that on May 6 the agent
was informed of the disappearance OF
sheepherder in the employ of Mr. Bar
ringer whose ranch is on the Tongue river
the herder on May %, and general help
asked. The settlers on the Rosebud and
Tongue rivers constituted the search party.
On May "a Indian police were sent to search,
and the body was found three-quarteTs OF
mile from the camp of the herder
and about three miles north of the reserva-
ton The murder undoubtedly was COM
mitted by Indians, and 1t has exasperated
the settlers throughout the country and they
are crying for justice and retribution. The
h,,po hon md ha
has been ar object of sport for the Indians,
The carcesses OF the slaughtered beef were
discovered near by. In this connection, 1t
is stated that only a few cattle belonging
to the settlers have been killed by the In
dians during the past winter and spring;
two near the agency, few on Tongue river
and two near Stebbins creek; total, not
nearly so large as heretofore.
REQUEST FOR CAVALRY.
The Interior department will make for
NAL request TO the War department to sta
ton cavalry at the camp and the agent
will be instructed to use every effort to Sc
cure the punishment of che perpetrators of
the crime.
Senator Carter has been appealed to in
behalf of the settlers alleged rights, but
he has replied, counselipg moderation among
the whites County Attorney T. J. Porter
wired the senator from Miles City that
Agent Stouch ought to be suspended i'm
mediately for resisting state officers serving
processes and for driving the sheriff from
the agency 1t was stated that the situation
was serious. and that bloodshed would re-
suit II the agent is instructed not to re-
sist the sheriffs posse, he added, a con-
fiict will be avoided. though the county ct
torney regarded an outbreak as certainly
imminent.
SAN FRANCISCO, June News from the
Cheyenne agency is mesger The arrest of
Indians by civil authorities will be attempted
today, but the result will probably not be
known before tomorrow. a genuine scare
no doubt exists among settlers in the val
feys contiguous TO the reservation. State
officials believe the situation exaggerated,
but it is believed 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 corraspopdents are entirely without foun-