The Washington times., 1906-05-06
INDIANS ENGAGED
TO TRAIL OUTLAWS
Whlte Men Unable to Cap
ture Desperadoes.
TEST OF THEIR LOYALTY
Night Hawks Hired to Run Down
Men of Their Own
Tribe.
TEST OF THEIR LOYALTY

MUSKOGEE, I. T. MAY 5-Tbs-. is
now being conducted in the f,berolrs,.
nation ere Of tho most UNIQUE mn
hunts that has ever been witnessed il
indian Territory After nearly two
months search. with all the equipment
ana men that could be used supplied bv
the Government, Marshal Darroush has
practically admitted that white men
can not capture the WyekIiffe bows.
who are said 10 have murdered Ike
Sllstrap and H NieT. two deputy mar
shals OF the northern district
lie has called every white man of the
trail and in their place has substituted
eight full-biood Indians who are mem
bers of the Night Hawk organlzatfon.
which is supposed 10 be shielding the
Wyeklihes and has made their capture
impossible.
Win Test Indians.
This viii be test as 10 whether the
Indian posse men are traitors 10 their
own people and 70 their organization
and are sincere in their proposed work
Of aiding the Government. or whether
the reputation Of the cunning craft OF
the Indian has again been brought into
play and the white man completely
foiled and made an object OF ri6icule.
John r Smith. a son OF Redbird
Smith. leader Of the Night Hawka. made
a proposition to Marshal Darrough that
II he would call of the white men, keep
the bloodhounds out OF the country. and
give Smith authority He would capture
The WyclIlifes and bring them in
The consideration for this vas 10 be
the release from prison Of Redbird
Smith. who was under arrest on a
charge Of having harbored the Wyck-
lihes while they were trying 10 escape
the deputies. At the time this proposi-
ton was made it was laughed at.
Hires the Night Hawks.
Since that time weeks have passed and
the white officers have not been able 10
get within sight Of their quarry. They
have not even been close enough 20 get
accurate information as 10 their where
abouts This defeat has brought Mar
shaI Darr0ush 10 making terms with
the Night Hawks, and II the WyeIlines
are captured II Will be by men OF their
own blood and their own oath-bound
organization.
Il is now a case OF Night Hawk hunt
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 WyckIInes are and
have just as many friends among them
Young Smith has with him eight men.
AL Indians They are in the employ OF
the Government and are furnished guns,
ammunition and supplies The Govern
ment has pinned its faith 10 them and
IS backing the expedition. They have
every resource at their command.
Easy to Get Whisky.
An excellent idea OF their views is had
in the following expression made by
three or four full-bioods speaking in
Cherokee OF the matter: While .he
marshals are hunting the Wycklihes it
is easy TO get whisky. because they don't
whisky long time
a fulI-bloOd Indian woman was cues
toned about the Wycklines and said:
Il would not hide the Wyckliffes. of
course not But they came 70 my house
and wanted something 10 eat. I gave
them dinner. If the maTshals come
tell them that the Wyckliffes have gone
in opposite direction from that which
1 know they took.
Indians Are Ill Treated.
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 fuu-bloods and have Identical in
terests with them. espeuse the cause
of the Indians They assert that the
white officers treat The Indians cruelty
Letters have been received by news
paper men here from such men. in
which their attention is called TO in
stances where the Indians have been
mistreated-
It is claimed that an incident Of this
kind led up 10 the murder of two deputy
marshals and the subsequent career OF
outlawry OF the Wyckline boys
Marshal DarrGugh has assumed new
tactics. after long weeks Of fruitless
search for the wyckliffes. He has as
sIdiOusly cOurted the favor Of the Night
Hawk organization He has stayed with
the Night Hawks for weeks. visiting
their homes. becoming acquainted with
their customs and their habits
He succeeded IN getting together a
large assembly Of the members or the
organization. and made a speech TO
them, in which he pointed out how they
are working 2 hardship on themselves
by protecting criminals among them
and are thereby losing favors which
they seek from the Government Oar
rough maintains that he has the great
est confidence IN the sincerity OF the
Indians in their promises 70 him.
It0HrI roo au1 ,tttuo1U