The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-07
The Indians Side Of IL.

~ patches hat the origin Of the
serious Indian troubles at Leech
Lake. MINI. lies in indian stubborn
ness pure and simple. According TO the
information sent by Indian Agent Suth-
erland to Washington. the trouble at
Leech Lake originated in consequence
OF an arrest made by a deputy United
States marshal of an Indian on a war
rant. The Indians overpowered the mar
shall and rescued the prisoner. The
troops were sent here to assist the mar
shall in arresting the rescuers." All tina
is true enough as far as IL goes. but IL
doesn't go far enough. 1t falls consid-
erably short of telling the whole ruth.
The fact il that the present Indian
trouble. like most Indian troubles, Is
traceable to cruel injustices practiced
upon the Indians by the whites.
A reporter for the Minneapolis Jour
nal who went to the scene last week.
in a letter TO that paper. throws a great
deal OF light on hat subject. He talked
with the indian and learned their
grievances. Ii seems that last spring,
Bog-a-ma-ge-shik. the Indian who is
now wanted by the marshal. and who
was rescued by his fellow islanders
from Deputy Marshal Morrison a week
or two ago. was taken to Duluth as a
witness. having been promised by the
men arresting him that he would be
given transportation for his return trip,
together with sufficient money to cover
his other expenses. on that promise
he went along ~peaceably. After he had
given his testimony in the court at
Duluth he was turned out in the street
TO make his way back to Bear island
az best he might, without a cent and
no return ticket.
The old man was compelled to set out
on foot. being unable to talk English or
To make his case understood. He lived
on roots and such food as he could
otherwise procure, arriving in Walker
many days later. b~arefooted, bleeding
and hungry. The treatment he had re-
ceived 50 aroused the Ire of the Bear
islanders that they swore they woul
never again honor the demands of the
United States marshals. Old Bog-a-ma-
Et-Snlh mas SNbih INA ht Npulu ult III
his own yard before he would again
submit to arrest and i~ndignity at the
hands OF men who knew neither honor
nor human sympathy, and in whose
mouths the lie was constantly at home
So when the old Indian was wanted the
other day not as "A criminal, be it re-
membered. hut as a witness in certain
additional legal proceedings. he refused
TO go. resisted arrest and was rescued by
his fellows.
The Indians further say that a year
Z six young men were taken from the
island as witnesses in a case at Duluth.
They were given assurance hat they
would be released as soon as they had
given their testimony. Instead. they got
sixty days each in the workhouse.
which they assert was unjustifed by
any act of theirs. Two of the young
men were sons Of Bog-a-ma-ge-shik,
n they. like their father. are con-
WINGED that 1t is impossible to secure
Justice in the courts or to place faith in
the promises of United States mar
shais. In addition TO all this the In
dams say they have been very unfairly
treated by the agents Of the government
in the matter OF certain timber.
Such are the grievances of the Indians.
Investigation would doubtless confirm
their stories. Poor. ignorant, obstinate.
they can see no way of escaping further
injuries except by violent resistance.
Smarting under the injustices of the
past. they have no hope of anything
better in the future. and they reason
that they might as well fight and die
and end II all.