The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-14
STORY OF THE FAR WEST
RECENT INDIAN "UPRISING" AND
HOW 1T WAS SUPPRESSED.
Captain Stouch's Account of the TrOu-
tier by "a Cheyenne Brave.


of the agent Stanley and his two accom-
plices Sam Grow 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 author
tiles in arrests OF Indians. In this case the
presence of the sheriff and large posse
came near causing a conflict with the In
dams.
The report states that soon after Hoov-
ers body was found, on May %, 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 sum-
ons and expressed his regret at the oc-
currence. Captain Stouch told him to tell
the head men that the band would be held
responsible for the murder unless they dis
covered the real culprit and brought him
to the post. This they promised to do, and
an old Indian named Badger made the
prophetic remark: Il promise the agent
that if l find out and L will try to find
out, 1 will tell him if it is my own son."
1t turned out to be the son of the old brave
who killed Hoover. This conference took
place on the 9th of May and that same
day Sheriff Glib, of Custer county, and
band of twenty-five armed men rode up to
the agency and informed Captain Stouch
that they wanted the murderers. The
agent replied that he was doing everything
possible to discover and arrest the guilty
Indians, and # not interfered with was
confident that he would succeed. The sher-
if left four deputies and departed.
That evening Captain Read, with two
troops of cavalry, also arrived. Soon after
this White Bull came into the agency and
told Captain Stouch that Stanley had con-
fessed TO the murder but would not sur
render having sent word that he would
fight at 8 o'clock. To this the agent re-
piled that he would not allow the light,
but that the chiefs must compel Stanley
to give himself up. courier was sent to
recall the cavalry which had started for
the scene of the killing. By this time the
news that Stanley was to fight had spread
and the Indians became very restless, the
squaws and children took to the hills away
from the agency, while the bucks rode in
and stationed themselves on the hilltops
near the post buildings. They were all
heavily armed and had their horses. They
informed the agent that they had come to
see Stanley fight.
STANLEY WAS READY TO FIGHT.
Captain Stouch then says: Captain Read
returned to the agency with his command
at about $3.50 in the afternoon. At this time
Stanley was on high hill in the rear of
the agency and not at d 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 for
the fight. 1t was the desire of Captain
Read to charge and capture or kill him.
At this juncture a greatly excited Indian
on horseback approached with the lntor-
nation that Stanley did not want to nght
the soldiers, but did want to fight the c1ti-
zcps, meaning the deputy sheritts who were
here. 1 told him to go back and tell Stan
ley l would not allow any one to hight him.
and for him to come in and surrender
Deputy Sheriff Smith told me he would at
tempt his capture if / would guarantee his
safety from the other Indians. told him
| could not so guarantee and moreover
there would be no fight, and that Stanley
must be captured without any bloodshed
1 wanted this done as an example for
those among the Indians who contemplated
wrongdoing, and knew perfectly Wen
that if he were permitted to fight and be
killed he would be hero and brave in the
eyes of the tribe, whose example should
be emulated by the young men.
STANLEY followed in the footsteps OF
Head Chief and Crazy Mule, of whose hero
ic deaths stories are told around the fires,
making every young man anxious for
similar death. 1 believe it was in 1891, that
and hid the body in the hills, where it was
found after a search of several days; the
murderers were discovered 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 ana
the five troops Of cavalry stationed here
were ordered to prepare for the ARRAY. AT
the appointed time the troops took their
station in the rear of the agency buildings
and each young man took his position 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 soldiers. They were finally
killed, they only shooting few OF the
horses of the soldiers. Stones mark the foot
steps of the horses on the hillSides, and
the bodies of the braves were buried In
grave prepared for them beforehand. The
sQuaws watched the fight and at Its close
sang the death songs and urged the bucks
to avenge the death of the young men; the
men became very much excited and not
withs landing the presence. or the AVe troops
of cavalry a fight was narrowly averted.
Thus these two young men became heroes,
and to prevent the repetition of these incl
dents l forbade any lighting
AFRAID OF DEPUTY SHERIFFS.
II did not think it wise and prudent to
make the attempt with but two troops of
cavalry here; while 1 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 be-
ing fired upon; had they made a resistance
there is no telling where it would have
ended; they can muster almost five hundred
warriors and knowing of their disposition
to resist in 1891, when much weaker than
now, | thought two troops or cavalry would
not stand much show of overcoming these
warriors, whose nerceneSS was noted
About tns time, from remarks made to me
by the Indians and by their actions, | be-
came convinced that the Indians were
afraid of the deputy sheriffS because they
could not understand why they were here,
they not knowing the difference between
the representatives of the law and the cow
boys: this rendered them very close
mouthed and L was unable to get any in
formation from them that would answer
for evidence against Stanley when he was
brought to trial.
AS the presence of the deputy sheriffs in
terfered with his investigation Captain
Stouch asserted his authority and ordered
the deputies off the reservation. By this
time Stanley had disappeared After much
trouble he was located at Black Eagle
camp Captain Stouch Immediately started
for the camp and there found the brave
fully armed and still disinclined to surren-
der without a fight. Finally he consented
to accompany the agent back to the post,
still refusing to give up his arms. He was
there persuaded to give up his rifle and
when the agency reached he was
promptly locked up. In the meantime Sheriff
Glib returned and presented Captain Stouch
the state laws in interfering with the
sheriff in his attempt to arrest the Indian.
Then the sheriff demanded the person of
Stanley, but the agent positively refused
to deliver him up feeling that 1t would de-
feat the ends of justice, as he hoped to Sc
would lead to the apprehension of his ac-
completes. The sheriff departed, but again
left his deputies. Finally, after much par
leying Captain Stouch became convinced
that it was useless to hold the murderer
longer and turned him over to the sheriff,
sending an escort of cavalry with him to
the railroad. The report deals with the diff
ficulties thrown around him by the interior
ence of the state officials at great length
and concludes by recommending that in
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