The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-03-13
Three Deputies Killed in the
Cherokee Nation
POSSE SENT TO RESCUE
"Niqht Hawks" Are Joining the Out
laws and II Is Expected That
Difficulty VIII Be Expert
fenced in Capturing.

Vinita. l. T., March FL. l.. Gilstrap,
deputy United States marshal of Ninita;
Otis Tuttle, posseman of Vinita, and Dick
Terry. posseman of Talequah. were killed
in a bloody battle with the Wickliffe band
of Cherokee Indian outlaws in the Spay-
nav hills. nine miles northwest of Kan
sas. l. T.. yesterday afternoon.
After the battle the outlaws were be-
seged in the house of their uncle, jim
WTckliffe, at the scene of the crime, thir-
ty-one miles from Vinlta. There is no
telephone or telegraphic communication
with the battle-ground, and tonight no
news had been received from large
party of deputies who went to the Spavi-
nav hills to capture or kill the outlaws.
1t was not expected that they would yield
without a fight.
The Wieklffes killed Deputy Marshal
Wire about a year and half ago, and the
officers have been on their trail ever
since. posse of six officers who were
on the way to arrest the gang were fired
upon from ambush by the Indians who
shot and killed three of their pursuers aud
escaped unhurt.
Tells Story of Battle.
Plezz Mann, posseman who survived
the attack of the outlaws walked twenty
eight miles to Tahleauah and told the
story of the battle, which was telegraphed
to United States Marshal Darrough Of
this place at 2:35 p m. Thirty-fiye depu-
| ty marshals were Immediately sworn IL
and dispatched to the scene of the bat
tie and authority has been granted Mar.
shal Darrough by the department of JUS
tice In Washington to increase the mum
ber TO 100 Marshal Darrough announces
that he VIII employ this many men If nee
essary to round up the desperadoes.
| 1t is reported tonight that the full
blood Cherokee Indians in the vicinity of
the battle-ground of Yesterday, commonly
| known as sThe Night Hawks are join
| ing the Wickliffes and the authorities fear
| that they will barricade themselves in the
rough country and desperate battle
ensue before the outlaws are captured.
The Wiekliffes are members Of the Night
Hawk band Of Indians which has given
the United States officers so much trou-
BILE in the matter of taking allotments
and it Is said that many of these Night
Hawks sympathize with them.
indians Shelter Outlaws.
The home of the Wickliffes is in the CEN
ter of Night Hawk settlement where the
| battle occurred. Many of the Indians
have been sheltering the outlaws during
their months of scouting and the officers
have arrested many of the Indians FOR
giving such protection to the Wickliffes.
| 1t is feared here that the full bloods in
| that vicinity which number several hun
dred, may join the Wickllffes, and that
! II may be necessary to call out the United
States troops The officers here, how
ever. believe they viii be able to cope
| with the situation successfully.
Deputy Gilstrap was a fearless officer,
appointed to succeed j. II. Vier, who was
| killed by the Wickliffes. He leaves
widow and several children at Kansas
| l. T. Tuttle and Terry were Cherokee
| full bloods.
| Marshal Darrough has asked the de-
| partment OF justice to authorize him to
| offer 81 600 for the capture of the outlaws.
| Only meager details of the fight have
been received rs yet The battle occurred
| far from the railroad and 1t Is hard 10
| get tidings from there.
Fired From the House.
| Deputy Gilstrap. with Otis Tuttle, Dick
\ Terry. Thos. Wofford and Andy Dick
possemen, Sunday afternoon at O'Clock
| rode up to the home of Jim Wickliffe,
uncle of the Wicklffe boys. and were In
| tending to make a search of the place
| when the outlaws, concealed In the house,
| opened fire on them. At the first shot
| Gilstrap and Tutte and Terry were
killed, besides two bloodhounds. The sur
vivors of Gilstrap's party fired into the
house. but the firing from the outlaws
was so sharp and accurate that they soon
sought shelter behind trees and stones.
| The remaining men decided on sending
| Plezz Mann for help while the remaining
| two stayed around to shadow the In-
| dams.
At $50 o'clock nothing had been heard
| from the besegers. Marshal Darrough
! and his companions will have to travel
thrty-one miles and probably arrive at
the house where the outlaws were be-
sieged early this evening. More men are
coming to Vinta TO offer their service
and It is believed 100 men will be avail
able from here before morning.
Cherokees Were Indignant.
The trouble with the Wlckliffes dates
back to January, 1903. when the Cherokee
land office was opened at Vinita The
full blood Cherokees objected to this pro-
ceeding and they held war dances all
oyer the Cherokee country and the sltua-
tion became alarming. ON one occasion
Peter Wolf a full blood Indian was
killed by another full blood for no other
reason than that he came to Vinita and
secured an allotment. The murderer was
sent to the penitentlary for life. but other
outrages were committed by the Indians.
the last Of which was the murder of
Deputy Marshal Vier by the Wickliffes
The Wiekliffe brothers. Charles. John
and Tom, are sons of John Wickliffe
formerly chief justice of the supreme
court of the Cherokee nation. About flf-
teen years ago Charles Wicklffe killed a
brother and escaped punishment through
the influence of his father
First Train over Road.