Adams County news. [volume] (Ritzville, Wash.) 1898-1906, 1903-11-04
FIERCE FIGHT WITH Indians
FIVE HUNDRED MEN AFTER RED
SKINS IN WYOMING.
A Second Fight Took Place-Nine In
dians Reported Killed Outright and
Ten Captured-Whites Escaped
Without Loss-More Trouble Looked
for-Indians Hunting Out of Season.


Without Loss-More Trouble Looked
for-Indians Hunting Out of Season.
Denver, Col, Nov. 3.-Five hundred
men, including sheriffs' posses, aug
mented by volunteers from the ranches
adjacent, are securing the country the
country in the vicinity of Lightning
creek, in eastern Wyoming, in search
Of the band Of Indians which Saturday
afternoon fought battle with Sheriff
Miller's posse, killing the sheriff and
one deputy named Fossenburg.
A second battle is reported to have
taken place this morning near the
Horse Shoe ranch. The fugitives were
traced by posse, and with their re-
endorsements made determined
stand. Nine Indians are reported kill
ed outright and 10 captured. The white
men escaped without loss or injury.
The news of the battle has spread to
parties, and general uprising Of the
reds is feared. There is reason to be-
lieve that Indian couriers are enticing
the redmen to deeds Of violence. Gov
ernor Chatterton is investigating the
report of the second battle, and should
the story be confirmed he will imme-
diately order troops-into the field to
suppress the uprising.
News from the scene Of the trouble,
which is 25 miles from telegraphic
communication, is very meager.
The Indians, IS in number, said to
be under the leadership of Charlie Car
ries Elk, are supposed to be Sioux
from the Pine Ridge and Rosebud
agencies in South Dakota. They have
been hunting in Converse county, wy
oming, in violation Of the game laws
of the state. Sheriff Miller, with a
posse, went to the scene of their dep
relations last Saturday for the pur-
pose of arresting the Indians. The
Indians had received warning Of the
coming of the whites, and prepared
an ambuscade for them. The posse
would have been entirely wiped out
but for the fact that they were pre-
ceding cautiously, and were in a meas
ure prepared for some trick on the part
of the Indians.
Killing and Stealing Cattle.
The settlers have been complaining
bitterly that the Indians have been
killing and stealing their cattle. Set
tiers warned the leaders of the band
to leave the country, but the redskins
only laughed at them. They claimed
that the government had so reduced
the amount of rations that. they were
forced to kill game to keep from starv-
ing. Charlie Carries Elk openly de-
clared that If he and his followers
were driven too far they would fight.
When Sheriff Miller of Weston coun-
ty was notified of the refusal Of the In
dams to get out Of the state, and the
threats made by them, he organized a
small posse, including r. d. Hackney,
D. o. Johnson, Fred Howell, Lieuten-
ant B. F.. Hilton and James Davis, and
started for Beaver creek, along which
the redskins were encamped. On Fri
day the Indian camp was reached. 1t
was deserted by all except the squaws.
children and few old men, who were
busy skinning wild animals and pre-
pairing the meat for winter use. The
entire camp was placed under arrest
and sent to Newcastle in charge Of
Lieutenant Hilton.
The posse started on a search for
the braves. They were located Sat
urday, and during the afternoon Sheriff
Miller and his deputies started to close
In on them. When the whites got
within rife range of the Indian camp
they were suddenly fired upon, and the
battle followed.
Sioux or Crows?
Governor Chatterton reports that
the Indians had been illegally hunt.
ing in Lightning creek, 40 miles from
Lusk, on the Northwestern railroad.
Sheriff Miller was seriously shot
through the hip by the Indians, and a
member of his posse, Falkenberg, was
killed. Three Indians were killed. The
Indians are reported by Putnam, coun-
ty clerk of Weston county, to be from
Pine Ridge. Later information is to
the effect that the Indians are Crows.
The remainder of the party are at
large in Wyoming and are supposed to
be headed eastward toward Nebraska.
Senator Warren suggests that the In
dianc chOuld ho arrested and he eX.
pressed the opinion that they can be
reached either through Indian agents
or the military authorities. The au-
thorities here believe that the Indians
are a band Of Crows on their way to
the Pine Ridge agency to make visit
It is thought their meat supply was ex-
austed and they were hunting to obtain