Arizona republican., 1900-09-07

nadian half-breed traders. Several of his companions who went to his res cue were fl. ed upon by tte half breeds. The news has just reached here. A larga detachment of tF noun ted police has been sent tN the scene.
 The trouble arose out of the alleged smuggling into the country by Ameri cans of supplies>and firearms, blankets. whisky and other Indian necessaries. With these goods they got the trade of the Indians away from the Canadians by cutting pric5s. This angered the Ca nadians.
 The first news of the trouble to reach the outside world was brought here by William J. Tallman. By chance MT. Tallman, whose home is at Beamville. Ontario. heard the story. He said that the situation in the fur bearing country was, in the opinions of the big mer- cants and traders of Edmonton, very grave. According to his account, large quantities of whisky were brought in to the country by Americans, and the liquor was supplied to the Indians, who. having had a most successful trapping season, were prepared to pur- chase it. Nr. Tallman says that should the Americans not be driven out of the territory the immense trade built up by the merchants of Edmonton and the Hudson Bay company with the Indians will be ruined. Moreover. the intrc- duotion of whisky into the trading op erations may, he thinks, result in the Indians again becoming restless and troublesome. He said
 Several days ago half-breed. nam e1 Francis Ccuillard, who had been sent into the north Tn country several months before. walked into Edmonton. H said that the scene f the trouble was on the other side of the Caribou or Reindeer mountains in the great Slave lake district. When questioned the half-breed said the Americans have in- vaded the country with immense quan- titles Of fir arms. blankets and whiskey which he said had been smuggled in from Alaska. The Americans had cap tUred the trade of the Indians. as they sold their supplies at figures much be- low those of the Canadian traders. For instance. a rifle that the Canadians sold for so. the Americans sold for $l1.
 "CoUiIlarG informed Charles Ross that his first encounter wiht htne Americans was at La Hoche station. a. small trading station at which the h. dians for miles around gathered each season. There were probably twenty five Canadian traders at this place when Couillarl arrived there with his supplies. At a meeting it was decided to request the American traders to re- tire. and if they refused. to drive them out.
 The Americans numbered about a dozen men. although fifteen or twenty more were, it is said. scattered through out the district.
 "Couillard acknowledged that the Ca nadiaHs. many of whom are half breeds. like himself. were the aggres- sOrs. The camp of the Americans, sit uated about half a mile from La Hoche was visited by the Canadians. At the time there were many Indians in the vicinity, most of them considerably un- der the influence If liquor.
 "Couillard says the Am ricans re- fused point blank to leave until they had disposed of their supplies. A quar- rel followed and in the midst of it some one fired d shot. A scene of ex- cltement followed. Several more shots were fired. and the Indians. excited by the trouble and the Whiskey, began to shoot into the air. When the eXcite- ment was at it's height the Americans escaped into a timber belt some two miles distant. leaving their supplies behind. The latter were speedily taken posss ssion of by the Indians. Couillard stayed at La Hoche for one day and then proceeded south. being unable to 1o any trading with the Indians.
 He left most of his supplies at the Hudson Bay Post. He says that dur ing the TOW d man named August Briose, supposed to have come from Sc attle. was dangerously wounded in the right side by a gunshot The Indians. who throughout seemed to favor the Americans, were looking after Briese. and also were caring for several of his companions who were slightly wound aG.
 ''I unlerst od Mr. Ross to say that he laid the matter before the American c1nsuls at E1monton and Calgary. and that they had promised tc forward the