The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-13
INDIANS EMPLOYED
 AFTER WHITES TAIL United States Marshal Deter mined to Capture WyckIiffes SUCC0RED BY NIGHT HAWKS A Remarkable Man hunt Is Now Being Conducted in the Indian
 Territory After the Noto-
 rous Red sayers.
SUCCORED BY NIGHT HAWKS

Muscogee l. T., Saturday.-There is now being conducted in the Cherokee Ma ton one of the most remarkable man hunts that has ever been witnessed in Indian Territory. After nearly two months search, with all the equipment and men that could be used supplied by the government, Marshal Darrough has practically admitted that white men can not capture the Wyclliffe boys, who are said to have murdered Ike Gilstrap and II. Vier, two deputy marshals of the Northern district. He has called every white man off the trail and in their place has substituted eight full-blood Indians, who are members of the Night Hawk organization, which is supposed to be shielding the Wyckliffes and has made their capture impossible.
 This will be a test to whether the Indian possemen are traitors to their own people and to their organization and are sincere in their proposed work of aiding the government, or whether the reputa- ton of the cunning craft of the Indian has again been brought into play and the white man completely foiled and made an object of ridicule.
 John R. Smith, a son of Red Bird Smith. leader of the Night Hawks, made propo- sition to Marshal Darrough that 1T he could call off the white men, keep the bloodhounds out of the country. and give Smith authority. he could capture the Wyckliffes and bring them in
 Proposition Laughed At.
 The consideration for this was to be the release from prison of Red Bird smith, who was under arrest on charge of hav- ing harbored the Wyckliffes while they were trying to escape the deputies. At the time this proposition was made it was laughed at. tft s5.st
 Since that time weeks have passed and the white officers have not been able to get within sight of their quarry. They have not even been close enough to get accurate information as to their where- abouts. This defeat has brought Marshal Darrough to rsaking terms with the ! Night Hawks, and if the Wyckliffcs are captured it will be by men of their own blood and their own oath-bound ergaili-A zation.
 It is now a case of Night Hawk haf1t-s ing Night Hawk and Indian against In- dian. The men who have taken up the hunt are just as well acquainted with the Cherokee hills and the people who live there as the Wyckliffes are, and have just as many friends among them.
 Young Smith has with him eight men, all Indians. They are in the employ of
 
 ammunition and supplies. The govern ment has pinned its faith to them, and is backing the expedition. They have every resource at their command.
 An excellent idea of their views is had in the following expression made by three or four full bloods speaking in Cherokee of the matter While the marshals are hunting the Wyckliffes it is easy to get whisky, because they don't watch trains much. Maybe so we get whisky long time."
 Woman Questioned.
 full -blooded Indian woman was ques- tioned about the Wyckliffes and said: "I would not hide the Wyckiffes, of course not. But they came to my house and wanted something to eat. l gave them dinner If the marshals come, 1 tell them that the Wycklffes have gone in oppo- site direction from that which l know they took.
 Such expressions as these indicate the sentiment of the Indians. The full-blood does not consider the officers his friends. Intelligent men of less than half Indian blood. but who live among the full-bloods, espouse the cause of the Indians. They assert that the white officers treat the Indians cruelty. Letters have been re- reived by newspaper men here from such men, in which their attention is called to instances where the Indians have been mistreated.
 It is said that an dlleReu ilclutHt ol this kind led to the murder of two deputy marshals and the subsequent ca reer of outlawry of the Wyckliffe boys.
 Marshal Darrough has assumed new tactics after long weeks of fruit1ess search for the Wycklffes. He has as- siduousIy courted the favor of the Night Hawk organization. He has stayed with them for weeks, visiting their homes, becoming acquainted with their customs and their habits
 Last week he succeeded in getting to- gether a large assembly or the members of the organization, and made a speech to them in which he pointed out how they are working a hardship on them selves by protecting criminals among them and are thereby losing favors