The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-04

erals head and killed his aid, who was
close behind. I'll
The remnant of the Cheyennes who sur
vived the battle were surrounded and cap
tured. The problem then arose what to do
with them. They refused to go on the Sioux
reservation, owing to the chief of that
tribe being an enemy of Lame Deer The
Crows and the Cheyennes had long been
enemies and the prisoners could not be
put on the Crow reservation. For several
years they were left in charge of the SOL
diers and rations were issued to them.
When the Indians surrendered al Lame
Deeer, there were twenty or thirty settlers
located In the country, and while the In
dams were in charge of the soldiers, others
came in so that when the Indian depart
menr made up its mind to locate the Chey-
ennes in the Lame Deer country, there
We're 400 or 500 white settlers there. About
1852 the Cheyennes We're told they might
remain where they Were. and an agent
was appointed to look after their wants.
The reservation, however, was not defined
ana 1t is to-day impossible to tell what
portion is strictly the property of the In
dams and what the property of the whites.
The latter are engaged I'm stock raising
and their cattle roam over a thousand
hills.
So long rs the soldiers were with the In
dams, there was no trouble, but when the
uation changed Either the government
did not issue sufficient rations, or the In
dams did not get all they were entitled to.
To make the situation more intolerable,
there was no game in the country. In
this combination of untoward circum-
stances the Indians, following the univer-
sal law anent self-preservation, took ac-
ton Of their own and made up for short
rations by killing the stockmen's cattle.
For several years the whites bore the bur
den, but finally they grew tired of 1t and
warned the agent that unless he kept
his Indians from preying on their herds
they would open war and kin all Indians
caught killing stock. The Indians We're
told of this warning, but the only effect
was to make them more careful.
The feeling between the whites and reds
grew more and more strained, until the
summer of 1890 In that year a cowboy
named Ferguson was killed on the range
by the Cheyennes, whom he caught kill
ing steer. Five Indians-Little Eyes
White Buffalo. Scalp Cane. Bull Sheep
and Black Medicine-were arrested for the
crime and taken TO Miles City, lO5 miles
north Of the agency.
After the arrests the Cheyennes became
restless and threatened vengeance The
fear Of strife and bloodshed, with all the
horrors of Indian warfare. then caused
! Just such an exodus OF citizens as has
been witnessed this year. The people be-
came aroused and called on Gov Toole for
assistance. He sent Charles u. Curtis to
the scene to collect all the facts In regard
TO the trouble, which were to be embodied
/ in a report 10 the federal authorities. The
| government also sent with Col. Curtis
l 800 rifles and sufficient ammunition, with
/ instructions to arm and lead the settlers
/ against the Cheyennes n he found Il nee
/ cssary.
/ II Is the boast OF the Cheyennes that not
/ one OF their tribe ever died on the gallows.
/ Two OF the Indians who were arrested for
/ the murder Of Ferguson and who had con-
/ fessed TO the crime. knew they would be
/ hanged " they stood trial one OF them.
/ White Buffalo, managed 70 get hold OF a
stout piece OF cord while IN iail with
which he strangled himself When he had
I finished the job Scalp Cane took the cord
OF white Buffalo and put Il around his
own neck, and when the guard visited the
cell he found both the Indians dead. The
| other three were afterward liberated
MAJ. Carroll OF the regular army Col.
Curtis, Deputy Sheriff w r. smith and
an Independent correspondent made the
trip 10 Lame Deer together After a talk
with the Indians. a was found the trouble
was more deep-scated than the army or in
terror departments had reason 70 believe.
I Among the Cheyennes was ar Indian
named Porcuplne. He was a young fell
| low, perfect specimen OF manhood and