The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1909-09-25
GAME WARDEN
KILLED AN INDIAN
Inn A PITCH BATTLE NEAR THE WIS.,
COMM LINE SUNDAY
SHOT TO SAVE HIS LIFE
Warden and Posse Of -Four Rarely Escaped
From Angry Redskins Who Attacked
Them vlciously.

Word was received here Wednesday
that Warden John Rowett had killed
an Indian while attempting to take
him prisoner near Bessemer last Sun
day. The full particulars were late in
arriving and when they were learned
they read like romanre of early days
The encounter took place between
deputies and band of poaching In
dians OF Wisconsin, near the state line
in Gogebic county last Sunday. One
Indian was killed and the deputy and
his posse barely escaped with their
lives
Mr.. Rowett in his report SAYS: ~
am in great luck to be alive. l went
TO the Indian camp as we mad pro-
posed. Sunday morning. and found
yenison and beaver hides and attempt
ed to make an arrest but the Indians
resisted with rifles and axes There
were in the party six men and live
squaws. The squaws were as bad as
the men. had with me five men but
only two guns | was surrounded In
the camp by three of the Indian men
and three squaws with three rifles and
two .axes. One Indian blocked the
door with an axe and knocked him
senseless with my fist / did not want
10 shoot him IL possible to avoid IL.
When got out OF the tent another In
dian jumped on my back and tried 10
get my rifle from me but failed.
tried to kill this man but my gun was
not .socked. Then an Indian opened
ire from the size OF the hill with q
Winchester and there was an exchange
OF shots
was then covered by an Indian
from behind tree and as soon as he
showed himself shot. The Indian 10
dead. All the boys fed for their lives
after the Indians began shooting.
got back also and feel the luckiest man
on earth. There was no arrest made.
Since I'got back, have taken the mat
ter up with the sheriff and am going
to see Prosecutor Humphrey and ar
range TO complete the arrest of those
fellows. It means bloodshed, as they
are determined not to be taken.
Although driven of by the Indians.
Rowett is organizing a posse and Is
going back after the .Indians,
who have been killing deer and beaver
as.freely a. their forefathers did before
game laws were established.
Warden Pierce says he has the great
est confidence in Rowett and has wired
him congratulations and offered him all
the deputies necessary TO clean up the
band.
"Rowett is all right" says hr.
Pierce. "He can be relied upon.
have known OF him for years. He is
absolutely without fear and has clean
cd up on the lawless element OF that
section as no other man could do. be-
cause they know ofshis courage and
ability TO take care OF himself. With
al he is a square man. He resigned ss
chief OF police Of Bessemer TO take mp
this.work and has had great success.
At the time OF the bad Finn riots up
there some years ago, Rowett went In
to mob alone and picked out the
leaders IL was deed no one else
could do. but they knew Rowett and
did not tackle him.
There has been no protection OF game
in that section for years No one ha'
dared tackle the lswless fellows and
the Indians have crossed the line with
impunity to hunt and Bsh whenever
they pleased. have had many com
plaints bat could not get man to take
hold until I secured Rowett and hs
has the Job because he can.delIver The
gooda You.csn rect assured there are
no politics In his appointment. don'i
care what he Is politically and have
not nor never shall ask him. IL is mer
like him that.I want in this work and
was glad 10 get him. He has good
sense and can .handle tho matter with
less trouble than anyone els"
The warden sent the following tele
gram 10 Rowstt "Congratulstions.or
your getting out OF that situation alive
H. was not luck. but nerve and cool
meas that saved you. That sbuncl
should be cleaned out Do you wan
some.more of.my best deputies 10 sit
youS II 90. how msnyf Or will th'
sheriff pick up tnss necessary men
Wire ms a. 10 anything you wan