The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-01-31
THE WARLIKE INDIANS.
Marshal Bennett Says the Situc-
ton Is Well in Hand,
THE OHOCTAws NOT ORGANIZED.

Arrival of Soldiers I'm Indian Terri
tory Has Beneficial Eject, Though
Crazy Snake Declares, His Inten-
tion 20 Continue Fight.
Muskogee, l. T., Jan. 26-Marshal
Bennett, in an interview last night,
stated that while the situation is still
alarming he thinks it is now in hand.
United States Judge Joseph A. Gill has
ordered Commissioner Thomas A. San
son to proceed with Marshal Bennett
and deputies and join the troops now
at Henrietta, and try all light horse
men on a charge of treason and COM
nit them to Jail. Over so writs have
been issued for the arrest OF light
horsemen and leaders. Attorney Gen
eral Griggs has instructed Marshal
Bennett to render all assistance pos
sible to towns and people and has
placed $1,000 at his disposal at once.
Marshal Bennett, with 20 deputies, left
today overland for the scene Of the
trouble. Outside towns are armed, pre-
pared for any emergency. Several
towns in the Greek Nation have pick
cts out.
A South McAlester, /. T., dispatch
says: There have been no new de-
velopments in the threatened Choctaw
uprising. Several deputies came in
yesterday and reported the Indians
quiet. One said their plans had been
given away by somebody, and they
were going to make new ones. The
arrival of the troops in the territory
and the prompt measures taken by the
government In the norther district to
suppress the Snakes have been report
ed TO the Choctaw faction and have
had the effect of dampening enthusi-
asm. Besides, the ChOctaws have no
active leader and the organization is
not as perfect as in the Creek Nation.
Governor Duke, at Fort Smith, sends
instructions to the sheriffs to arrest
trouble makers.
Under the Atoka treaty the ChOctavs
are amenable only to their own courts
for anything they do to each other, ex-
cept murder. If the Snakes whip or
maltreat another Indian the federal
authorities of the central district have
no authority to make an arrest unless
a complaint is made against the of
tenders of disturbing the peace. II Is
reported that there will be big meet
ing of Snakes today. but the place Is
kept secret. No uneasiness is felt
among the whites anywhere in the
Choctaw Nation. The marshal has a
number Of scouts out trying to catch
the leaders. II successful they will be
arrested, and that will likely end the
Choctaw instruction.
Crazy Snake, interviewed Thursday
said his party were the regular Creeks
composed of the rank and file Of Creek
Indians, the original treaty Indians,
who desire to stand by the treaty
rights guaranteed by the United States
long ago, which they would never vol
UNFAIRLY surrender. He declared Chief
Porter and the squaw men and lot
Of their followers we're traitors and
violators of the Greek laws and trddi-
lions which he and his followers were
prepared to sacrifice their lives, II
necessary, to preserve. He was fully
determined to continue the fight az
ter the troops should put in an ap-
pearance. Snake is in earnest, and
does not seem to realize he is inviting
destruction upon himself and his fol-
lowers. -, s,onben
II ie renorted that ex-Sherih StepneH
x,,to-te a f,ylIblood ChoctaW, haS VI
lD"nt-ed band Of 200 dlsafected In
5ians west OF AtOka, Choctaw Nation.