The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-03-30
Chit Hartjo. G hief Crazy Snake.

equipped about as were the prisoners
taken last night-four weapons to II
men-and two of those weapons were
knives quite useless In the face or RI
fles and revolverS.
Apparently Trapped.
Oklahoma City. Okla, March 30
With Crazy Snake and large portion
of his band of Indians. half-breeds
and negroes apparently trapped In the
North Canadian bottoms, more than
500 Oklahoma militiamen. deputies,
cowboys and farmers hurried forward
at dawn today to join those already
on guard, and crush or capture the
be1ligerents.
It was believed that the willy
chieftain outgeneraled at last in the
duel of military wit by his pursuers,
could by no possibility break through
the Gordon which compassed. and
which drew relent1eSsly nearer as II
was reinforced during the night
The Indians were in timbered
stronghold. On all sides ranged a
dense growth of underbrush fanked
by great trees capable OF anorolns
protection against a legion of gatthng
guns. Into this fortress. built by nature
the like of which has afforded protec-
ton to red man and pale face ahke IN
many a fierce affray, Crazy Snake ana
a. portion of his band crept last nignt
when Col. Hoffman's pursuing soidiery
got too near for comfort. Here they
prepared to make their. last stand.
Whether this stand would be a dlpIo-
matte contest over terms of surrender
Tor an argument with bullets, the young
soldiers did not know as they look up
the march, but they and their omcers
were prepared for both.
Little hope was cherished that the
outcome would be one of peace, at least
not until peace had fougnt Ior.
Crazy Snake had every reason to hght,
from his point of view. The situation
4r orJx ca yJT1fQV0r2hJp
as the soldiers tried to make themselves
believe They had him, and then they
didn't. He was well protected IN MS
wooded retreat, the trees, though bare
ambuscade to suit almost any Indian:
His followers all were heavily armed
and desperate and had sworn with their
Indian rites to stay by him to the last.
Victory Is Elusive.
The white man had Crazy Snake in
their grasp. but were not able to take
him. He could not escape. but so great
vas the peril of the situation that none
of the states representatives cared to
risk an engagement in the darkness,
and in place where behind every tree
there might lurk redskin ready to fire,
and where from the bushes might burst
forth murderous hall of bullets
So when it was established definitely
through the scouts that It really was
the Snake himself IN the beleaguered
camp, courierS were sent at breakneck
tspeed to Camp Hickory with the news
to the militia commander. From that
moment, the night became one of con-
centrated activity. Fighters, under both
civilian and military rule were rushed to
the scene, mounted and afoot. Ammuni-
ton and supply wagons, already loaded
| for emergencies, soon were rumbhng on
their way to the front. Various posses
out rounding up bad Indians. were
reached as far as possible and ordered
| to position in the line around the CHIEF
and his aides. Gun fighters from the
ranches. ready for once to obey COM
mand, took their places in the circle.
Farmers Join the Ranks.
Farmers, in order that the protection
lof their homes might be made doubly
sure came armed with guns of various
pattern and made the line strong by
their presence. 1t was an uprising OF
1.-The whites against the reds and lawless