Evening star., 1897-05-31
CHEYENNES AT WAR
Reported to Have Killed a Dozen
Men in Montana.
REIGN OF TERROR AMONG SETTLERS
Indians Fired on Regular Cavalry,
Killing Five Troopers.
INDIAN AGENT AT FAULT

DENVER, May 31.-A special to the Re
publican from Helena, Mon, saysr The
Cheyenne Indians tave gone the war
path and are said to have killed almost a
dozen men. including five United States
soldiers. The Indians have no reservation
of their own. but roam over the southern
part of the state, near the Crow Indian
reservation.
The white settlers are up in arna. and
the women and children are being sent into
the northern towns for safety.
The Cheyennes make the Lame Deer
agency their headquarters. A sheep herder
was recently shot and 1t was proven that
Indians did ii. He was killed because he
caught several Indians killing sheep. This
SO incensed the stockmen that they armed
themselves and will fight to protect their
homes. help and stock.
Two companies of colored cavalry from
Custer were ordered to the agency We'd
nesday, and Saturday a courier arrived
from the agency with information that
George Walters. the postmaster, and Lou
Anderson stockman. had been she. and
killed; also that the Indians had shot into
the cavalry and killed five and had sixty
cowboys surrounded. The cavalry from
Fort Keogh and Company E of the infan-
try left Saturday for the scene.
Grounds for Fear.
There are certainly grounds for fear
The Cheyennes are determined, and they
are being reinforced by renegade Crows
Rosebud ranchers received a consignment
of rifles and ammunition at this point to-
day. Settlers have moved all their families
from near the reservation.
Ranchmen and stockmen have organized
at Cheyenne agency and demanded the
Indians who killed Hoover. The names of
the Indians are known, and they are pro-
tected by fifty bucks. Sheriff Gibbs and
Coroner Bateman have returned from Bar
ringers ranch, in the neighborhood OF
which the inquest was held on the body
of Hoover. The verdict was that he came
Indians.
W nile the inquest was proceeding. sixty
men; under James Brown, member
OF the legislature; arrived on their way
10 the agency The sheriff pleaded with
ttem to return and tcld them that sixty
OF them against 400 or 800 Indians armed
and such fighters as the Cheyennes are
would be helpless. The sheriff learned that
the crime was committed by three of the
band, led by White Bull, who said a day
or two previous that his heart was bad
mat ne wanted to eat white mans heart
Ihe agent said he knew one of the mur-
oerers, and thought with little time
they could find the Others and would ar
rest them. turn them over to the civil au-
thorlties with what evidence they had He
rad sufficient number of soldiers to sur
round the Indians and said he would cut
On their rations till the murderers were
tLrred over. The sheriff and conmtttee
went back to the main body which had
been augmented by twenty men from the
Rosebud agency. and made report.
Inough there was much dissatisfaction
at the turn affairs had taken they agreed
10 dlsperse for two weeks TO allow the.
agent time to make the arrests. If not
tnen done. the original plan of attacking
the Indians Is to be carried out.
Women Gathered at the Ranches.
eral ranches for protection, under guard of
ten or twelve men. The sheriff left four
deputies at the agency, with Stock Inspec-
tor Smith as chief
In the ride down Friday a courier ever
TOOK the sheriff and his deputies, saying
that Bulls band had during the night
fscaped from the agency; that the force Of
settlers was being reassembled: that Two
rooFs of cavalry from Custer had haen
vent overland and the Indians had killed
@ soile OF Ihen' and that this band Of Indians
Mas hdple 10 do much damage to ranclers
white men and cattle. Women and children
are being sent down the Tongue river To
more secure places.
The county attorney has recatye5 q ,aIo
gram from stock Inspector Smith, saving
that Agent Stouch had ordered the deputies
or the reservation.
Deputy Sheriffs Smith and Winters have
arrived at Miles City, after having hsen
ordered off the Cheyenne reservation hv
the military agent, Stouch.
~ IepOIL says tndt Wnen the q
from Fort Custer arrived at the agencv the
indian who admitted doing the killing ,ouJd
easily nave been arrested, as he was pointed
oct 70 me troops, who prepared for action
necessary to make the arrest, but the
agent did not desire the arrest made at
that time and prevented the officer in com
mand OF the troops from exercising author
fty then.
Indians Decked in War Paint
The Indians were decked out in war
paint and ri5ing the ominous circle. waving
their blankets. displaying their Winches-
tiers. and challenging the citizens to como
out and fight them They claimed they
old not want I" night the soldiers. but did
want 10 night the citizens. Capt Stouch
asked the citizens to leave the agency.
The Gepuy sheriffs refused to go unless
uron written order This he gave them
stating their presence might excite the In
olan5 TO further deeds of violence rThs
deputies that came TO Miles CITY returned
vita Sheriff Gibbs. having a warrant for
the arrest of Agent Stouch for Interfering q
with officers III the discharge of their duty
ahC warrants Tor the Indian who is known
70 nave done the shooting and two John
Doe warrants
Orders were given to the ordnance Off
Ger at Fort Keogh to have 10000 round of
ammunition ready for Use. 1t is supposed
more troops are to be ordered to the
agency. There are Eow here six compan-
les. under command of Maj Merrill of Fort
Custer. Settlers wives and children from
thS Tongue river country are arriving from
Miles City In all kinds of conveyances All
kinds CT ruTdors are rife, but as news has
70 come for the most part of the distance
by courier, nothing definite is known as
10 those reported killed. Mrs. Stephens
wife of the ex-agent, who was riding over
to the agency from their ranch for safety
was attacked by young bucks. who would
have killed her but for the pleadings of an
OLD squaw. They. however. spat in her