Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-01

to the agency from their ranch for safety,
was attacked by young bucks, who would
have killed her but for the peladings Of an
old squaw. They, however spat In her face
and offered other insults.
NOT CONSIDERED SERIOUS.
WASHINGTON, May s1.-The Indian trou-
BILE in southern Montana, reported from
Helena, was made known to 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 In o
telegram from Colonel Sheridan, the adju
tant general OF the department at St Paul.
At present the department has no COM
mander, 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 pro-
noted, and Secretary Alger himself Is re-
sponsible for the command, and he Is di-
recting affairs through Adjutant General
Ruggles.
Colonel Sheridan's telegram was received
last Friday and simply stated that report
had come to headquarters at St. Paul that
two white men, herders, had been killed
near Lame Deer reservation In southern
Montana. To guard against trouble two
troops OF cavalry were ordered by telegraph
from Fort Custer They started last Friday
and since then no report has come to the
War department, though 1t is possible that
Secretary Alger, who is now at West Point,
may have been telegraphed. The absence
of further reports from the troops satisfies
the War department that the trouble has
been quieted, for they say they would
be sure to hear III anything so
serious as the killing of troops had occurred
Moreover the agency where the men are re
ported to have been killed is in charge OF
an army officer, Captain Stouch, who, 1t Is
said has the entire confidence of the Indians
and is capable of dealing with them without
f-G- t.xAN -,I ,,,tth frnF .
sources. There Is a disposition at the de-
partment to attribute the affair to the en-
croachments of the whites living In the
neighborhood upon the Indians.
No intimation of any trouble among the
Cheyennes has reached the Interior depart
ment and the Indian officials are at loss
to account for the lack Of advices If any
trouble has occurred. In view of the lack
of official advices the fact that the agency
is in close telegraphic communication and
Is in charge of an expert.
enced army officer no alarm or uneasiness
to the safety of the people in that sec
tion is felt. No incidents have been re.
ported to the department recently that would
likely lead to serious results and the fact
that the reports date the trouble several
days back is cited as significant.
HELENA, Mont, May 31.-Excitement
continues on the Cheyenne reservation and
in settlements in the vicinity. Ranchmen n
on upper Rosebud have all deserted their
homes. Six companies Of soldiers from Forts
Keogh and Custer are enroute to the
agency, as is also the sheriff Of Custer
county, with large numbers OF deputies. The
sheriff has warrant for the arrest of Indian
Agent Stouch charged with interfering with
officers in the discharge OF their duties, and
also for three Indian murderers. The sheriff
will probably arrive at the reservation with
his deputies tomorrow and endeavor to ar
rest the murderers of the sheep herder, while
the soldiers and civil officers will be pre-
pared to quell any actual outbreak.
Considerable anxiety is manifested. Many
are of the opinion, however, that the gravity
Of the situation has been much exag-
gerated.