Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-11-03
Only Two Whites, However, We're Hit,
But They We're Killed--No Battle
Yesterday.
THE TRUE STORY OF THE FIGHT.
Ranchmeu and Farmers Are Greatly
Disturbed over the Situation
For the Future.
lspeeIal b the 0News.ol


posses reached Douglas and Lusk this
morning and brought the latest news
Of the battle fought last Saturday
evening on Little Lightning creek be-
tween a band Of Sioux Indians under
EagleFeather or Charlie Smith as he
was known among the whites, an edu-
Gated Indian graduate OF the Carlisle
school and posse under Sheriff W. II.
Miller, of Weston county.
ONLY TWO WHITES INJURED.
Sheriff Miller and Deputy Falken-
burg were the only whites injured, and
both were killed and their bodies taken
to New Castle by members OF the
posse Eagle Feather, Black Kettle,
Runs Medicine, Rolling Thunder and "A
boy 10 years old were killed aud their
bodies were buried on the field Mrs.
Eagle Feather was shot through the
right lung and win die. Two other IN
dams were seriously wounded and will
probably die. They were loaded In
wagons by the squaws and are being
taken TO the Sioux reservation. Sew
eral OF the Indians sustained flesh
wounds.
~ - - ItH li@ANSh
Latest advices indicate that the re-
ported battle between sheriff McDer-
motifs posse which was said to have
occurred yesterday morning on Horse
Shoe did not take place. officers re-
turning to Douglas and Lusk today
say they came direct from the Indian
country and no battle had been fought
up to the time they left and had trou-
BILE occurred they would have known
of IT. They say the Indians secured
big start and are doubtless nearing the
Rosebud agency by this time. Sheriff
McDermott returned to Lusk this
morning. He had participated IN
no battle nor had ne heard of
any since the engagement between
Engle-Feather and sheriff Miller.
II is his opinion that the Indians
had crossed the Wyoming line far in
advance OF the pursuing posses.
THE TRUE STORY.
The true story of the trouble on
Lightning Creek as told by Johnnie
Owens the celebrated scout and Indian
fighter who was with Sheriff Miller fol-
lows: Sheriff Miller and four or five
deputies came upon Eagle Feather and
his band numbering 22 bucks, 40
squaws and children and 50 horses and
IL wagons Saturday noon, He read
the warrants to Eagle Feather, who
can read and write and talk English
lluently. The latter got mad and reiter-
ated the statement made on former oc-
casions that he was a bad Indian and
would not submit 10 arrest The In
dams had some rights, he guessed and
said he was smart enough to know
what those rights were Sheriff Miller
withdrew and gathered up more depu-
ties among the ranches and returned
TO the trail, The Indians were heading
towards the reservation and were pre-
pairing TO camp near Jake Minis COW
camp below the beaver dams on Light
ming creek.
INDIANS SHOT FIRST.
Miller again demanded the surrender
Of the bucks and again Eagle Feather
resisted, and Immediately began firing.
He shot Miller, and himself immediate
ly fell. pierced by bullet from the
rifle Of Johnnie owens. Black Kettle
fired at the same time. killing Deputy
Falkenburg. and again owens rifle
spoke and Black Kettle was dead. The
death OF their leaders filled the remain
ing 20 bucks with alarm and they fled
towards their camp n few hundred
yards In the rear The fire continued
and II was while retrcating that three
more Indians We're killed and several
wounded. Mrs Eagle Feather was
struck by stray bullet. The Indians
are entirely to blame. They refused
point bank to submit 10 arrest and
were the frst to open nre. Not
a shot being fred by the posse
until after the fall Of Sheriff Miller.
WILL HEAD OFF HUNTERS.
Ranchmen In the same country and
citizens of the small towns are greatly
exercised over the affairs and a deter
mined effort will be made from now on
to prevent any more Indians from
hunting In the state unless they COM
ply with the law and take out a $50
gun license and are accompanied BY n
professional guide the same as other
resident hunters. Gov Chatter
ton has been assured that the guilty
Indians will be arrested upon reaching
the agency and viii be returned to
Converse and Weston counties for
trial.
The funeral OF Sheriff Miller will be
held at Newcastle today and the funer-
al OF Falkenburg VIII be held at Doug
las tomorrow