Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-05-26

Chief Americans
Horse Stampede


1t was nine o'clock in the evening,
When an employee of the agency came
TO ME with message from MCGil-
livray. asking that come to his Of
lice us SOON as convenient. Being
we'll acquainted with the old Scotch
agent, knew that he would not have
sent for mo at such n time unless
there was something OF much import.
ance to communicate. So l donned
overshoes, macintosh, and rain hat
and slumped through the mud and
darkness which marked the way be-
tween my tent and the agency office.
When. at the end of fifteen min
utes, stepped into his dingy square,
and began dripping pools of water
on his floor, the face of the old Scot
lighted up amazingly.
Good" he said. I'm mighty glad
you've come; for I'm in difficulty"
WELL" | said. shaking myself like
wet dog and taking chair. what
. is it this EVENING""
He sat in silence for moment, an.
parently studying the pools OF water
which had dripped from my mackin.
tosh; then he spoke. "I've gone my
own gait mostly since I've been in
the employ of the Government" he
said. and Thought I've no liked
something's that happened within my
joorisdictlon, I've seen my Indians
cheated by contractors and connlyin'
inspectors, without power to sarcum.
vent them. ever since / was trans.
ferrcd to this agency, and now I've
reached the limit of any mans en-
doorance."
He leaned back In his office chair,
filled his huge pipe bowl, tilted his
heels upon his office desk, and studied
the square toes of his shoes until he
had blued the atmosphere of his den
nfresh.
waited patiently until he was
ready to tell his story. which in brief
was this:
In the spring of that year, in view
OF insufferable conditions, he had
made such representations to the
Interior Department at Washington
that he had been instructed, person
ally, to make contract for the beef
supplies at his agency. He had made
such contract with firm of the
Texas Panhandle country. This com.
pany of stockmen had the reputation
of making good in the terms of any
agreement. Hitherto contracts had
been made through superintendent
OF Indian agencies. who had stood in
with the contractors to the detrimcnt
both of the quality and the quantity
OF the cattle furnished. Naturally
McGillivray's action, though his com.
plant had implicated only the cattle
men, had fired the superintendent
and tho old contractors with desire
to get even.
A Strong objection.
And now that herd of standard
stock. to the number of thirty-fiye
hundred, were on the way to he de-
liyered to his Indians, the disgrunt-
led grafters had raised an obstruc-
tion. The State of Nebraska some
years before had passed strict quar-
antine laws against the importation
and passage OF cattle infected with
the Texas cattle fever. Taking adj
vantage of this. and undoubtedly
backed by the superintendent and
his inspector, the former contractor.
who were Dakota men, had discovered
infected stock among the southern
cattle then being driven to northern
ranges, and had promptly made such
complaints that the aforesaid law was
put In force against all moving herds.
They had succeeded in having strict
quarantine established near the boun
Diary line of Nebraska, and the breaks
of White River were patroled by n
quarantine guard against all north
bound herds from whatsoever source.
In the meantime the astute graftcrs
stood ready to take up the voidcd
contract and to turn in, as usual the
culls and inferior stock of their own
brands; and the superintendent and
his inspector would be able to report
to the department his (McGillivray's)
incompetence to produce beef supplies
for his Indians; even to assert tfiiN
he had attempted to feed them with
diseased cattle.
That evening an employee of his
own had returned from trip to meet
and inspect the slowly moving Pan
handle herd. This man, who was
thoroughly trustworthy and had been
a practising veterinarian, reported the
contract cattle to be sound in health
and in excellent condition.
Moo" said McGillivray, turning to
me with shrewd and inquiring look,
there We are, and what's to be doom
about it?" When the agent began to
relapse into broad Scotch knew that
there was something uncommonly ex-
citing in his mind. On this occasion
guessed what it was.
ut seems to me-" said; "it's the
laws of the United States, of God and
humanity, against the laws of Nebras
ka and rascally enforcement, and
that your cattle ought to be run
through the quarantine"
His eyes snapped and quick color
came into his face. There We are"
he said, "and ma wha's the mon to
do it?"
"You can't employ your Indians on
such q mlssion?" | suggested teDta.