Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1908-04-07
INDIAN HOLDS BLAcK SLAVE
Brings Negro From Washington to
Work on Farm.

bFtngs Negro from washington 20
Work on Farm.
TEKoA, Wash, April IA case
Of slavery In which a negro from
Washington, d. c., played a promi-
nent part has developed here under
exciting circumstances. About two
months ago prominent Indians from
the Occur d'Alene reservation made
trip to Washington to see The
Great White Father" to protest
against opening the reservation to
white settlement. Among the dele
gates who visited the national capt.
tai was Louie Antelope, a wealthy In
dian, who farms a large tract OF land
and has a heavy account with a local
bank.
Help is scarce on the reservation,
as 1t is difficult to secure white men
to work for the Indians, and Louie
Antelope conceived the idea Of hiring
negro help. He employed a negro in
Washington and paid the blacks car
fare to Tekoa, over the protest of In
dian Agent Morley, who accompanied
the delegation to Washington. The
agent predicted that the negro would
not remain with his employer after
Tekoa was reached and that the
amount of the fare $500 would be
lost.
Agent Worley's prediction proved
true, for the negro soon tired of life
on an Indian farm and started to
leave. Louie Antelope, however, did
not intend to lose his $50 without a
struggle and he and his son mounted
horses, and, armed with lassoes, soon
overlook the fleeing negro, whom
they roped and dragged back to the
ranch, where he was securely tied up
for the night. The next day he was
compelled to work in the field and
at night was tied up so securely he
could not escape. This was contin-
ued several days and nights. when
the negro managed to get word of
his plight to a negro friend in Tekoa,
who secured the aid of another ne
gro, employed by Marshal Nessly, and
the two repaired to Louie Antelopes
ranch and managed to release the
captive and the trio started to Tekoa
as fast as they could travel.
Antelope and his SON soon learned
of the escape and gave chase. At
the state line they overlook the ne
gro employed by Marshal Nessly, but
the other two had travelled much
faster and escaped. The unlucky ne
gro who was Overtaken by the irate
red men was made to dismount from
his horse, which he had secured from
the stable here. and walk to town, a
distance of two miles, while the In
dams led his horse to town and left
it at the livery stable. They then
began a search for the other two ne
groes, who had hidden themselves.
After a futile search, during which
their anger increased, the Indians
saw the negro from whom they had
taken the horse and gave chase,
thinking to capture him and make
him assist in the hunt for his COM
panions. The negro fed and there
was a hot chase for Marshal Nessly $
home in the south part of town. The
negro fed down the railroad track.
making a new record for fast running
on the o. r. & n. road, but Louie
Antelope had almost oyertaken him
when the bridge across Hangman
creek was reached. There the negro
was safe from pursuit. for the In
dams horse could not cross the rail-
road bridge. Marshal Nessly was at
tracted by the race and met the ne
gro, who said: Mr. AL, you was
just in time to save me. for I'd been
dead niger in a few minutes. Dat
red man sure had me about all in. -
Louie Antelope called the marshal
across the bridge and told the story
of his wrongs. He asked the assist
ance of the officer to catch his es-
Gaping negro and wanted the Law to
be exercised in making the negro
work on his farm. The officer ex-
planned that the Indian would not be
allowed to tie the negro up like a
horse and keep him prisoner. ex-
planning as best he could the peonage
law and the penalty for its infraction.
You come up town and tell my
boy. said Louie. who does not speak
} nor understand English as well as his
son. who is well educated. The ON
Ger accompanied the irate Indian un-
7 til the son was found and the Law was