Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-30
Crazy Snake, Hemmed In,
Ready to Surrender.
"NEvER WANTED TO FIGHT"
Sends Word to Militia Officers He
Fears Local Authorities.
NO BATTLE AT LAST STAND
Troops to Be Kept on Ground to
Protect Indians From Possible
Attack by Indignant Whites.

GUTHRIE, Okla. March 3O.-Crazy
Snake. or Chitto Harjo. chief OF the
Creek Indians, offered today to surrender.
The proffer OF the willy old chief. who
has been sought by five companies Of
state militia since Sunday, was made
to officers of the militia this morning. He
sent word that he desired to come in, but
feared to surrender to the local author
tiles.
The chief states that he never desired
a fight
Adjt. Gen. Canton. to whom the news
of Crazy Snakes wish to lay down his
arms was brought shortly before noon
today. expressed the belief that the re-
port was reliable. Such action, he said.
was just what he expected from the old
Indian, whom he knows we'll, and whom
he does not think dangerous.
Indians to Be Protected.
Shortly after receiving the news Gen.
Canton said
The militia will be kept on the ground
for the protection of Indians who will
be brought In. The whitos are surely
able to meet any emergency.
Because Of the excitement there is a
possibility that there might be rioting
when the Indians are brought In. To
prevent this We will keep troops on
the ground.
The local authorities can now control
the situation if proper judgment is used
The situation in the district surround
Ing Old Hickory Camp has never been
serious enough for us to declare martial
law. 1t is unfortunate that such sensa-
tional stories became current"
Quiet in Trouble Zone.
GUTHRIE. Okla. March 30-"Every-
thing Is quiet in the district surrounding
HICKORY Grounds" said Adit. Gen. Can
ton here this morning
Telephone messages from the three
towns in the trouble zone this morning
assure me there was no trouble last
night
Il have no information of any kind
from Col. Hoffman. who is In command
OF the soldiers. since o'clock last even
ing. and that was of the most quieting
nature
Il am rather of the opinion" continued
AdJt. Gen. Canton, that some wild news
paper writer has worked off a small sized
IiOt dS al 1HuIaH war or race war. The
only element of danger lies in the fact
that sensational writer's have caused the
excitement and some one may have to do
something to keep up the show.
1t is unfortunate that the affair was
SO greatly magnified. From my reports
there have been but two killed since the
trouble began. and those officers who
seem to have had extremely poor judg-
ment.
THE reports sent out at first to the ef-
feet that officers had killed
foundation. Unless the writer's
conf1ne themselves to facts 1t is possible
they will be requested to leave the coun-
try"
Pursuers Surround Snakes.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. March 30
With Crazy Snake and large portion
of his band Of Indians halfbreeds and
negroes apparently trapped in the north
Canadian bottoms, more than 500 Okla
homa militiamen. deputies, cowboys and
farmers hurried forward at dawn today
to join those already on guard and crush
or capture the belligerents.
1t was believed that the WHY cnieftain,
at last in the duel of mill
tary wit by his pursuers, could by no
possibility break through the Gordon
which compassed him about, and which
relentlessly closed in nearer as it was
reinforced during the night
The Indians were in a timbered strong
hold. On all sides ranged a dense
growth of underbrush. fianked by great
trees capable of affording protection
a gainst a legion of Gatling guns.
Spot Chosen for Last Stand.
Into this fort, built by nature. the like
OF which has afforded protection to red
man and pale face alike in many a fierce
affray, Crazy Snake and portion OF his
band crept last night when Col. Ho6.
mans pursuing soldiery got too near
for comfort Here they prepared TO
make their last stand.
Whether this stand would be diplo-
matte contest over terms OF surrender
or an argument with bullets the young
soldiers did not know as they took up
the march. They and their officers were
prepared for both.
Little hope was cherished that the out
come would be one of peace-at least not
until peace had been fought for. Crazy
Snake had every reason to fight from his
point Of view.
The situation was not nearly SO un-
favorable for him as the soldiers tried to
make themselves believe. They had him
then and they did not.
He was well protected in his wooded re-
treat. The trees, though bare of leaves.
formed beautiful enough ambuScade To
suit almost any Indian.
His followers all we're heavily armed
and desperate. They had sworn with their
Crazy Snake at Bay.
The white men had Crazy Snake in their
grasp. but were not able to take him. He
could not escape. But great was the
peril of the situation that none of the
states representatives cared to risk any
in the darkness, and in q
place where behind every tree there might
urk a redskin ready to fire. and where
from the bushes might burst forth a MUIR
ierous hail of bullets.
So when 1t was established definitely
through the scouts that Ii was really the
snake himself in beleaguered company.
were sent at breakneck speed to
Camp Hickory with the news to the mill
ia commander. From that moment the
hight became one of concentrated activ-
ty.
Fighters under both civilian and military
-ule were rushed to the scene mounted
ind asoot. Ammunition and supply
already loaded for emergencies,
soon were rumbling on their way to the
ront.
Various posses. out rounding up bad In
lians, were ordered to a position I'm the
inc around the chief and his aids. Gun