Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-11-14
UTES MAKE TROUBLE
SHiFTLESS TRIBE TAXES UNCLE
SANS PATIENCE.
Government Said to Fear that the
Sioux VIII Aid Their Guests
Troops Are Sent to Watch the OBJ
Streperous Red Men,

Eight companies of United States
cavalry have been sent to Thunder
Butte, S. D.. in the fear that the Sioux
Indians are about to rise in rebellion
and take the warpath as allies of the
Utes, who are ready to shed blood be-
cause of hardships imposed on them
by the Indian agent.
1t was feared settlers may be mas
sacred unless extraordinary haste was
made in massing in the disaffected re-
gion a sufficiently large number of
troops to overawe both the .Utes and the
Sioux.
Orders were received at army head
quarters in Omaha to dispatch the re-
naming two squadrons of the Second
United States Cavalry, composed of
eight companies, to Thunder Butte at
the earliest possible moment. In addi-
ton to the cavalry, Company NJ, Six
teenth Infantry, under Capt. Harry f.
Dalton, left Fort Crook for Gettys-
burg, s. D., to take charge of the base
of supplies which has been established
there for the operations against the Ute
Indians should they start trouble.
1t was not known at army headquar-
tiers in Omaha why additional troops
have been sent to the Cheyenne river
reservation, but it was thought the idea
was to prevent any portion of the Sioux
tribe from making common cause with
the Utes in their revolt against authori-
ty. The Utes, it is pointed out, are in
a sense the guests of the Sioux, and the
indian idea of hospitality might induce
some OF the younger Sioux braves to
offer aid in resisting any forcible meas
ures adopted for the subjugation of the
disaffected Utes.
The Ute Indians, who have recently re-
belled against government restraint on
the Cheyenne river agency in South Da-
kota, are believed to have taxed the pa
thence of their good-natured Uncle Sam
wv AAANNA' OlhSldlS VI TIE lIuIdn ONCE
and the Interior Department will not dis
cuss the probable action of the govern
ment in relation to the Utes, but it is in
timated that if damage to property or vio-
lence to settlers or government officers
or soldiers has been or is committed the
unruly Utes will face punishment such
as would be given to any other law VIC
lators.
The attitude of the Indian office to-
ward the uneasy Utes has been decidedly
a fatherly one ever since they first gave
evidence of desire to get away from
their own reservation. In the summer of
1906 the Utes decided that civilization
and citizenship were things which they
didn't care for, and they announced their
determination of leaving the Uintah reser-
walton in Utah and striking off into the
Indian country in South Dakota.
Nearly 300 of them went on the pill
the capacity of friendly adviser, urging
them 20 return to their own reservation
and keeping an eye on them as they work
ed their way eastward. 1t was expected
the Utes would return to their reservation
in the winter, but they remained in the
Wyoming country for some time and APP
parently had no intention of providing
for their own comfort and maintenance
during the cold weather.
As a consequence they were finally ''ar-
rested" last fall and taken to Fort Meade,
South Dakota, where provision was made
for their temporary quartering. Arrange
NIX re than Dnana with fha Sinny IN
dams on the Cheyenne river agency in
South Dakota whereby four townships of
land were leased for the Utes and they
were established upon these lands, near
Thunder Butte, at the upper end of the
Cheyenne river agency.
The Utes have shown no inclination to
return to their own lands in Utah. The |
money for their support IN South Da- |
kota is drawn from the funds which |
would otherwise go to the general support |
of the Uintah and Ouray agencies in
Utah, but this does not worry them. They |
seem willing to get along with the least |
possible amount of work but resent any |
effort on the part of the government to |
restrain their liberty. or force them to
take an active part in the advancing of |
civilization.
The Indian office has been lenient with |
them in every particular. They created |
30 great disturbance a year ago and did |
no damage and as a consequence the In |
dian Office officials did not attempt to |
punish them, but turned its attention to
advising and persuading" them to ac-
cept the provisions made for them and to |
Urn ta thpir own cOuntrV
Efforts have been made to put them to |
work but the braves have persistently |
and effectively wriggled out Of anything
that looked like manual labor and have
thrown themselves upon their White |
Father" for support, although refusing to
obey the instructions of the governments
Indian officials. The commissary has
followed them around and TAX
en- care of them until some officials of
the Interior Department declare that 1t
is time they were made to understand |
that if they will not work and will not |
stay at home they must expect punish