The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-23
"CRAZY SNAKE" CREEKS
WHIPPING CONSERVATIVE INDIANS
AND DEFYING UNCLE SAM.
Insurgent Chief Has Notified Presi.
dent Mckinley that the Tribe Is
Free and Independent.


Marshal Bennett has requested that fed
eral troops be sent to his assistance in an
endeavor to suppress the warning Creeks.
The white people are arming for self-pro-
lection. The Creeks are led by Crazy
Snake" from whom the band takes its
name. They have revived the ancient
Creek laws, and are Selling filing paper
from Indians who have filed on allotments.
indians who have filed papers are whipped
and told their ears will be cut off for the
second offense. There are so far second
offenses, for the victims are entirely with
out protection. The reports state that the
Snake crowd is even whipping the other
Indians for renting land TO white people.
Ane country is terrorized, and the insurret
tionists are armed to the teeth, collecting
heavy fines in cattle and property from the
conservatives. No whites are yet men,
aced.
The latest advices say that 300 Creeks
are on the war path. Marshal Bennett had
Fopt we'll informed on earlier move
ments, and did not believe federal aid was
necessary. To-day's developments, how
ever, convinced him that he could not quell
the uprising. and he Immediately tele-
of cavalry. A troop from Fort Reno, will
reach the scene within twenty-four hours
after receiving orders. There are four dis
tinct bands of these Indians who are
armed. They claim a membership including
men, women and children of over 5000.
Their leader, Crazy Snake, was in Checo-
tab yesterday purchasing supplies. He
said that 500 fullbloods are ready to fight
for their old laws and customs and were
going to oppose to the end all efforts to
deprive them of their independence. Towns
most affected by the uprising are Fen
tress, Furriss, Sennora, jacksonville, Proc
tor, Burney, Baldmountain, Bad Creek
and the settlements along the deep fork of
the Canadian river, altogether embracing
an area Of about twenty-five miles square.
A detachment of light hOrsemen of the
Snake band rode into Efaula and posted
an unsigned notice to the following eff
feet:
Hickory Ground Creek Capitalize
Whom 1t May Concern: From now on all
Indian citizens employing white labor shall
be fined 500 and shall receive fifty lashes
on the bare back; also, all persons renting
land to white tenants. Any improvements
made in the Creek nation by white men
shall be confiscated and become the prop
erty of the Creek nation"
United States Marshal Bennett sent
twenty deputies and ten Indian police to
the scene but they were met by so fierce
a fusillade that they were compelled to
retire. One of the posse, named McNac,
was captured by the In.ians and 1t is
feared that they will take his life. AS
the result of this effort at suppression,
and because of the pressure for protection
brought by the whites Marshal Bennett
and Indian Agent Shoenfelt forwarded a
message to the Washington officials re-
auesting that federal troops to the num-
Der of five hundred be sent them. They
stated that ii would be sure death for the
deputies and police to attempt to interfere
again. Marshal Bennett and Agent Sheen
felt will, as soon as they hear from Wash
inc i0fn fha inv dc T,lto
camps and endeavor to put the leaders
under arrest
The Creeks threaten that after they have
cleaned out all the interior whites they
will visit the various towns in the Creek
nation. destroying them by fire. and kill
the inha bitants. They have threatened to
xiii Chief Pleasant Porter and any of the
members of the Dawes commission that
interfere with them. Great fear is felt for
some of the committee who are surveying
and allotting lands in that section of the
country Chief Porter is now in Washing
ton and has been wired the condition of
affairs
Laptha Mekko. the insurrectionary chief
of the Snake bands, has submitted the fol-
lowing ultimatum:
Hickory Town, Creek Capital.
president Mckinley, Washington-Sir:
l have already Informed you of the mat
ter concerning the execution of the Creek
laws. l now executing my laws. as
l told you L would.-IAPTHA MEKKO,
Principal Chief"
The Creek jurisdiction has been trans
ferred to the United States courts for sew
eral years, and the Snake chiefs notifica-
ton to the President that he will execute
the old Greek laws is considered a message
OF defiance. The chief OF the warning In
dams is a halfbreed. He has just returned
{: ON Washington. and claims to carry
with him the authority of the President
and Congress to run the Dawes commits
sion and all whites out OF the Territory
He uses this argument TO gain followers
who apparently place great faith in him.