Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-31
STILL STALKING CHIEF
Troops Know Nothing of Cap
ture of Crazy Snake.
TAKEN BY POSSE, MAYBE
Reported That He Is Wounded and
in Custody Of Troops.
DENIAL BY COL. HOFFMAN
Surrendered to individuals, Who Are
Keeping Fact Quiet, Says Rumor.
Inflamed Sentiment Feared.
TAKEN BY POSSE, MAYBE
DENIAL BY COL. HOFFMAN

HENRIETTA, Okla. March 31.-The
report that Crazy Snake had been cap
tured or surrendered is not confirmed this
morning.
Col Hoffman telephones from Pierce
today that the rumor was groundless.
The Associated Press obtained similar
reports over the long distance telephone
from Checotah. Muscogee and Thompson.
Deputy sheriffs travelling in posses and
the militia under Col. Hoffman today re-
sur1ed the search for the Creek leader
at dawn.
Col. Hoffmans detachment spent the
night in blankets in the open four miles
from Stidham. The weather was damp
and chilly. Huge log fires were INSULT
cient to protect them from the cold.
Col. Hoffman. when informed of the re-
port that the Indian leader had been cap
tured, expressed great surprise. The old
chief might be apprehended in some out
of-the-way spot by some stray posse
without him knowing ii. the colonel said.
but it certainly had not occurred within
the district occupied by the troops.
Rumor Of Surrender.
MUSCOGEE. Okla. March 31.-Chief
Crazy Snakes uprising appears to have
collapsed. 1t ended with his reported cap
ture las night at a point. indefinitely
fixed. west of Checotah.
Much mystery surrounds the taking of
the chief 1t appears he was captured
by or surrendered to individuals who are
keeping the fact quiet until the Indian
leader has been safely landed in Jail.
Crazy Snake was said to be severely
wounded in the thigh.
No hour for the transfer was fixed The
officials desired to take it as quietly as
possible. so ilfiamed is public sentiment
The militiamen were fully able to pro-
tect their prisoner. but did not wish to
parade him. as the locality has had ex-
element enough during the last six days.
Many of his leading aids already had
been captured. The chief himself had
been ready for two days to surrender but
feared for his personal safety.
Offer Made to Militiamen.
Crazy Snake became prisoner as
result of his negotiations with the mill
tiamen. He sent in a courier and offered
to surrender IL some of the soldiers would
accompany his messenger to his hiding
place and guarantee him protection.
why didn't he surrender before.
them" was asked. He has had abund-
ant opportunity
He is afraid of the scouts and depu-
ties, and would not surrender to them
because he thought they would kill him"
said the courier
but come with me and will take you
to him.
The soldiers accepted the offer. The
capture was made. This fact was kept
secret for several hours, for reasons best
known to the officers.
A dfSp3fch from Hpnrypffa exDreSsed
the fear that the capture of Great Snake
would incite the Indians throughout the
state to an uprising and make stern
measures necessary on the Part of the
state authorities. 1t generally was agreed.
however. that the fall of the leader would
end the long and useless trouble with the
Snake Indian band.
Checotah Feared Raid.
There was some apprehension during
the night that Checotah might be the
scene of an Indian raid. An alarming
rumor was circulated that the Creeks
were planning to attack the town while
most OF the male citizens were out in
the field scouting
Morgan Ii. Upton came to Muscogee
and arranged for arms. A special train
was made ready to rush d posse to Che
cotah.
The attack did not materialize of
course. 1t would have been folly for the
Indians to attempt it, as there is a
stretch of five miles of open prairie west
of the town.
Capt j. j. Davis of the Chandler militia
company is authority for the statement
that the troops are under orders to cap
ture the entire band of Snakes, variously
estimated at from 800 to 600. Most of
these would soon be released. The au-
thorities regard the wholesale arrest plan
as the most effective method of getting
the leaders.
Gov l.;
self well satisfied that the troops have
the situation we'll in hand but admits
that conditions may get worse.
Will Act on Necessity.
''In event they do he said Il shall
call out the remainder of the regiment
and lead the men myself The trouble
does not seem TO be of a serious nature
and l do not apprehend IL will grow more
serious.
while a great many sensational reports
have been sent out regarding the Snake
uprising. the fact is not altered that the
Snakes are dangerous lot and should at
this time be suppressed once and for all"
W. NJ Duffy, mayor of Checotah. was
emphatic in his assertion that the Snake
band must be scattered.
Once there sympathy for Crazy
Snake" he said. because people gave
him credit OF being at least half square.
But they no longer have confidence in
him.
His people are dangerous to the
community. 1t is necessary that they
be cleaned up else they will eventual
" depopulate this part of the country
of whites
The situation is critical. The reports
sent out have not been exaggera ted.
They are true in the main. the CORE.
spondents having been wrong in some of
the minor details.
Dangerous Half-Breed Negro.
Next TO Crazy Snake. the mos dan
gerous Indian in the Creek nation is
Abe Grayson. the half-negro who was
captured near Pierce. He is the captain
of the negro element of the outlaw
band"
Grayson was discovered in hay field
by Deputy Sheriff Sam Baker. He had
deserted his home and taken his bed 10