The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-06-13
TIE PILLAGER TROUBLES
No Official Confirmation of the Re-
ported Indian Outbreak.
"A Chippewa Messiah PrOphcsies That
the Pale Faces Will BE Swept From
Earth-Review of the Late Distur-
Dances at the Leech Lake Agency
and the Causes Leading to Them.

on the Leech Lake Reservation in north.
ern Minnesota are again on the warpatf
could not be confirmed at the Indian Blu
reau yesterday. 1t is reported through
press dispatches that United States Mar
shall Grimshaw has been informed Of the
trouble, and with large force of deputies
has gone to the scene.
1t is said that recently an Indian, known
as Gway-Tay- Gonce. one of the sub-chiefs
panied by dozen or more of his support
ers, and boldly proclaimed himself the
Messiah Dressed in fantastic garb,
and with his face daubed with war paint,
he created much excitement among the red
men. and when he began to make predic-
| tions of coming disaster to all residents of
I the reservation the Indians went wild with
| terror and excitement. Among his predic-
| lions was one to the effect that all the
| persons on the reservation and in the
| vicinity who lived in houses would be de-
stroyed and swept from the face of the
Garth by fearful cyclone. The words of
the self-styled Messiah drove the In
dians to frenzy especially as he told them
that the storm was to be sent by the
| Great White Father in Washington.
Agent Mercier Threatened.
1t is said that day or two ago 500 OF
| the agency Indians went to squaw
Point, where war dances were begun. In
dian Agent MERCER went to the place and
ordered the Indians to dispense. He was
met by refusal, the Messiah" even threat
ening him with personal violence. Mercier
swore in a number of policemen, and
caused the arrest of Gway Tay -Gonce, who
is now in the Indian prison at Walker on
a charge of melting the Indians to dis
order. When the bucks learned Of the ar
rest of their leader they were furious, and
at once put on their war dress and began
to appear heavily armed and ready for
| trouble.
The story that comes from the North
west is that nearly every one Of the 1880
Indians on the reservation is armed with
repeating rife. and 1t is known that they
have plenty of ammunition ready for use.
The red men have sent runners to all
parts Of the agency, particularly to Cass
Lake and to Ball Club, where there are
large settlements, with instructions that
all of the males in the tribe arm them
selves at once and come to Walker. where
council of war is being held on Squaw
Point.
AS already stated, the Indian Bureau
has received no advices from the Leech
Lake agency indicating that the Indians
are disturbed. The prospect Of an I'M
friendly rising of these Indians recalls
that Of two years ago. 1t was in the lat
ter part Of September, 1898, 1t was re-
ported to the Department that a conflict
was feared at Leech Lake, Mimi, between
Il.I1
pie. The United States Indian agent q
the White Earth Agency, John H. Suther-
land and also Inspector Tinker were at
once directed to investigate the matter,
and at the same time the War Depart
ment was requested to send troops to
Leech Lake to preserve the peace and pro-
tect life and property.
1t seems that in April, 1885, Bugonay
geshig, a Pillager Chippewa, whose home
was on Bear Island, was arrested by
deputy United States marshal for dispos-
ing of whisky to an Indian, but owing to
lack Of witnesses he was discharged. In
June OF the same year he and some other
Indians were served with subpoenas to
appear as witnesses in a case against an
Indian who had been arrested for assault
with intent to kill. The Indians paid no
attention to the subpoenas, and writs of
attachment were issued against them for
contempt of court. Bugonaygeshig was
placed under arrest at Bear Island, but
was rescued by his friends.
In October bench warrants were issued
for him and twelve other Indians. During
the May, 1897, term of court the agent in
duced nine of the thirteen Indians to go
with him to court. They pleaded guilty to
the charge of resisting deputy marshals
and were sentenced TO thirty days in Jail.
At the October term another Indian did
likewise and received the sam; sentence.
The other three were Bugonaygeshig
Shobon -daysh- kung. and Wahyahbegun-
zhebid. September Is. 1895 the first two
while attending the annuity payment at
Leech Lake, were arrested by a deputy
marshal and placed in the agency jail
When the steamboat arrived to take the
party across the lake to the railroad the
prisoners were rescued from the officers
by fifty or sixty Of their friends. War
rants were then Issued for more than
twenty of the Indians who had taken part
in the rescue.
Determined Not to Surrender.
When the agent and inspector reached
Leech Lake, September 80, 1898, they found
the Indians still aroused over the occur
renee o; two weeks previous, and that
they had been holding councils and arm
to surrender the men wanted by the court |
officials. Runners were Immediately sent |
among the Indians, calling them to a coun-
ell, to be held at the agency the follow |
ing Monday, October 3, with assurances |
that none who came would be arrested.
The same evening an army officer with |
twenty soldiers arrived at Walker. the |
railroad station, six miles from the agency,
and also Deputy Marshal Sheehan, who |
next day served additional subpoenas, but |
when requested to desist, did SO. But few |
Indians attended the council, the Indians |
claiming that those at distance had been
unable to get there owing to high winds, |
which made the lake too rough for their
canoes; but when, at their request, |
steamboat was sent to bring In the Bear |
Island and Sugar Point Indians, thirty five
turn in 1t.
Meantime General Bacon, Major Wilkin-
son, and Lieutenant Ross. with eighty SOL
diers had arrived for the purpose of as
sis,ing Mr.. Shcehan and other deputy may
shals to make the arrests, and next morn
ing October s. at daylight, they, with the |
agency police and interpreter, took tugs
for Sugar Point. Leaving a detachment to |
protect the boats, the rest O.. the party
went two miles through the woods to an !
Indian village. and not finding any of ths
Indians whom they wanted, they returned |
to the landing point. Near that place
Deputy Marshal Sheehan discovered two
OF tho Indians wanted and arrested them
and when they resisted, put them in irons
on one of the tugs. While the soldiers
were stacking their arms preparatory 10
getting dinner one OF the guns was a., |