The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1906-03-15

\ United States Marshal narrough,
who returned yesterday afternoon
from the Spavinaw hills, where he
has been directing the search for the
Wicklitfes, brought back with him a
large majority Of the possemen who
NJ we're sent out from this city to aid in
5he search. Mr. Darrough says that
Ehe pursuit of The outlaws is likely to
lhst for some time, and he has left in
the hills small but select body Of
|. Fighters, every one Of whom has had
4 Experience. These men, twelve in
! Humber, are under the direction Of
\ Emitted States Commissioner Byron
| kirkpatrick, who has established
Headquarters at Kansas. Deputies
$780, Long and Than Wolford, how
ever, ave III actual command iii the
| Beld
I Mr.. Daffough says that the report
that the Indans were rising to join
fhe Wicklitfes vas gera6 4 There
It IL true feeling ou the part of
Y Mle Might Hawks That the govern
\ bent has treated tie Wicslilfes. and
4 AZ fact an ol them, unjustlH and
Z Inany Of them do not attempt to con-
Y peal their qualification THAT Gilstrap
As dead Many Of these men, too,
Nonld aid the Wickliiles IL a fight
/ happened to take place Ia their lo-
tality. Not many of them, however,
{ $Fill 30 on scout with the three OUT
law brothers.
The Night Hawks are a peculiar
people. An their laws were received
from the lips OF one Of their number,
Redbird Smith, as from an oracle
He died some three months ago; but
his DEGREES are still in force One of
his pronunciamentos was thar any
Indian guilty Of refusing aid to the
Wickliffes or failing to harbor them
when necessary, or giving information
TO the government officials, should be
beheaded Redblrd's laws are still |
revered with almost slavish obedi- |
ence, and indeed it would be as much |
as an Indians life were worth to
give out any information.
The situation, therefore, is one that
must Sc handled mos delicately, TO
kuse measures too harsn would arouse
-the Indians; to overlook all lnfrac-
tions Of the law would make the In
dians feel a contempt for the power
of the government. Marshal Dar-
rough, therefore, has left at the front
"a small body Of his most trusted men.
1e can trust them to deal with the
situation in the best possible manner
and with the least friction.
The marshal himself brought in
with him yesterday afternoon seven
Indian prisoners, charged with aiding
the Wickliffes. Their arrest was ac-
complished without difficulty. Three
times as many could have been arrest
ed on the same charge, but the mar
shal aimed to get those only who had
been most active in behalf Of the out
laws. Many Indians, of course, as
sist them only because they are forced
Ito do so.
4 1t may be several days before the
men now in the field come upon the
Wickliffes. They are searching the
country thoroughly and systematic
ally, but the hills are full of caves
and hollows and forests where con-
cealInent is easy. Hounds will again
be used for trailing. There is no food
whatever in the country, the Indians
having rayaged the white farmers
during the winter until there is
scarcely a hog left in all the hin
country. 1t would have been ex-
tremely dinacult therefore, TO have
fed a larger force than the one now in
IN Che field.