The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-09-05
POLICE REFUSE TO SERVE
Order From Washington Stopping Is
suance Of Rations Causes Trou.
ble-Steal or Starve.

Blackfoot, says:
Word has been received here of
what came near being a serious riot
at the Piegan Indian agency recently.
Some Assinniboines from Fort Bel
KNAPP came up to visit the Piegans,
and the chief of the latter, White
Calf, asked the agent, Major Mon
teath, for permission to give a dance.
The agent peremptorily refused his
request and a val OF words ensued,
ending in the agent ordering some of
the policemen present to arrest White
Calf and take hims to the reservation
men came forward and laid on the
agents desk their cartridge belts,
guns and holsters and badges, saying
that they refused to- obey him and
would quit the service then and there.
Meanwhile news of what was going
on reached the traders stores and sew
eral hundred Indians rushed pell NELL
over to the agents quarters and
crowded into the Office. Little Dog,
war chief of the tribe and a desperate
man when aroused, forced his way
through the crowd and up to the
agents desk, talking passionately.
What does he say?" the agent ask
ed. HE says" replied the interpre-
ter, that if you dare to-arrest White
CoJf h;o. rNcrln will KIND WY, with
ropes and throw you ahead of the
next passing train
Eyes, White Calf put in, land
since your policemen will not arrest
me, why not do 80 yourself? Come,
here Il stand waiting"
II will say this, too Little Dog con-
tinued. these Assinniboines treat
us well when we visit them, and now
that they have come to visit us, we
are going to do what we can for them.
The dance will be held; I I'm going
to give it at my place whether you
like it or not"
1t is needless to say that the agent
and his white employees were very
seriously alarmed, the Indians be-
coming more excited every moment.
and some of them pressing forward
intent to do the major bodily harm.
He wisely withdrew from the scene
and a telegram was prepared, to be
sent at any moment, summoning
troops from Fort Assinniboine. This
happened on Saturday. two weeks
ago, and en- the very day that had
been appointed for taking up the In:
dams ration tickets and the ceasing
of issuing rations except to invalids,
the old and blind. But on the earn
est advice of the interpreter and 9TH
ers familiar with the Indians, the
agent ordered rations issued as us
ual. Had they not been given out
it is likely that, in their anger, al
ready at white heat. the Indians
would haze wrecked the store houses
and perhaps done worse.
Last Saturday, in accordance with
instructions from Washington, the ra-
ton tickets were finally taken up and
excitement and dissatisfaction again
prevail upon the reservation. The
Indian department contendsl that so
long as the Indians r given food
they will not try to work. But those
familiar with the situation would like
to know where they can obtain work.
There is nothing for them to do at
home by which they can earn an hon.
est dollar, and the few white settlers
upon the borders of their reservation
have no employment to give them.
So there is sure to be a great deal
Of hunger and suffering among them
this coming winter, unless, as some
openly say they intend to do, they
begin killing range cattle.
Another thing which is greatly ir
ritating the Piegahs is the attempts
Of the agent to get them to lease their
lands to certain large stockgrowers
They are bitterly opposed to it, es
pecially since the recent %sojourn OF
some Grow Indians among them
These Crows say that they foolishly
consented to lease their lands to
cattle syndicate, and that their range
is overcrowded and that they ne
longer get more than a fourth of theil
calf crop, as the syndicate mavericks
them. The Piegaps say they vii