Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-11-07
The Indian Fight In Wyoming.


Edgemont he met most of the parties
who had taken part in the fight, from
these he obtained the information he
desired and returned to Custer on the
train Wednesday evening. From this
information we learn that about three
weeks ago a small band of Indians OBJ
tanned permit from the Agent at Pine
Ridge, Major John R. Brennan, for a
leave of absence to make short trip to
their old hunting grounds. These In
dians belong to the tribe of the Ogalala
Sioux and the chief of the party, and the
one who bore the passes, was an Indian
who had been educated at the Carlisle
Indian school. This Indian, whose In.
dian name was Eagle Feather" was
known among the whites as Chas. Smith,
and it was often remarked that his edu-
cation had not in the least tanned his
wild spirit, but on the contrary had the
effect to make him more lawless and un-
governable.
The Indians, as near as could be as
certained numbered altogether about 25.
They travelled with their squaws and
families with wagons and a regular camp
outfit. 1t was not learned how far west
they had been but it was on their return
trip that the trouble occurred. Word
was brought to the sheriff of Weston
county, Mr.. VIM. Miller, who resides at
Newcastle, the county seat, that the In
dians were killing game out on the
prairie unlawfully, as the season does
not open until the middle of November.
Sheriff Miller took with him a posse of
six men and started out to put stop to
the unlawful killing of game, and came
upon the Indians near the Cow Greek
Buttes. Miller told them his business
and called on them to surrender and re-
turn with him (under arrest) to New
castle. To this Smith or Eagle Feather
made reply that he knew bis business
and that he would not surrender, and
that they, the Indians had no business
at Newcastle, but il he wanted fight he
could have it. Miller did not precipitate
the fight at that time, as he was to far
outnumbered, but proceeded to the Fid-
die Back ranch, owned by John Owens,
and there procured six more men. He
then returned and found the Indians on
Lightning creek, ten miles above the
Beaver dams, and about 40 miles north
of the town of Lusk. He again called
upon them to surrender and their reply
was shot which struck the sheriff in
the leg cutting an artery from which be
bled to death in about half an hour
But before falling he took deliberate aim
at the Indian who shot him and put a
ball square through his head. This prov
ed to be a chief called Black Kettle.
The ball was now opened and the firing
became general, and Jim Davis says, that
for swift work and fatal effect on the part
ofthe whites he don't think it was ever ex-
celled. He AYERS that the fight did not
last over three minutes, and ended with
the following results: Whites killed
Sheriff VIM. Miller and Deputy Chas.
Falkenburg.
Indians killed-Eagle Feather, Black
Kettle, Little Chief, Blacktail, Little
Claws, and squaw, the wife of Eagle
Feather, who was shot through the
breast. This was from a stray bullet
and was accidental. She was the only
woman with the party.
Indians wounded-Chief He Claws,
Bull Hide, Hand Shield, Hi Dog, Charge
the Wolf, Jessi Little Woman, Jim Wild
Elk, Broken Nose, Red Paint. These
latter were taken by their companions
who undertook to escape with them 10
the agency. They were pursued by
John Owens and his men who overlook
them and captured all the wounded,
but the well Indians, together with the
squaws made good their escape into the
bad lands. 1t is presumed that err this
they have returned to the agency, and
what disposition will be made of them
will be matter for after consideration.
The remains of the sheriff and his
deputy who were killed were taken to
Newcastle for burial. The wagons,
tepees and other parapharnalia belonging
to the Indians were also taken to New
castle and turned over to the proper au.
thorities for safe keeping. The wound
ed Indians were taken to Lusk where
they are being taken care of for the time
being.
Major Brennan, who came up from
the agency and met the sherif's possie
at Edgemont, demanded the Indians
and their effects, saying, "they are my
Indians and you have no authority to
hold them" Their reply was, 'it may
be we have no authority but we have
the Indians and we will hold them for
the present" "But," says the agent, eff
these Indians are not returned to their
friends it may cause an outbreak and
serious consequences follow" He got
this for his answer. "Let the red devils
break out, we'll take care of them"
The fight occurred on Saturday, the
31st of October, and there was but one
battle, although it has been reported
that there was a second battle. There
was but one fight and that was sufficient
ly decisive to render it pretty sure that
there will not be another for long time
to come. There was talk of calling out
the National Guards stationed at Chey-
enne and other places in Wyoming, but
mediate neighborhood were Of the kind
Of stuff that made this unnecessary.