The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-03-29
TROOPS CLOSE IN
ON INDIANS WHO
ARE IN REVOLT
CREEKS RETREAT TO
STRONG POSITION AFTER SET.
TING FIRE TO THEIR cAMP-sIx
OFFICERS KILLED.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. March 20.
A battle between Ave companies OF
Oklahoma militia and Chief Crazy
Snake and his followers Is momentar-
lily expected. The Indian leader with
his mixed company of Snake Indians
and Negroes. after setting FIRE to the
tepecs and tents. fed TO a strong po-
sition between the north Canadian
river and Deep Fork creek, seven
miles east Of Henryetta. yesterday.
" Col. Hoffman, commanding the state
troops, decided 1t would be unwise to
attack the Indians in the darkness
and he decided to wait until today,
when he expected to be reinforced by
a company of cowboys.
Crazy Snake and his braves will
have a chance to surrender. II they
refuse, the battle will be on, unless
the redskins again retreat.
Col. Hoffman sent out numerous
scouts to watch the movements of the
enemyNnd to give the alarm IL the In
dams attempt to escape to a stronger
position.
The militia officers believe Crazy
Snake wants to reach the Tiger noun
tains with his followers before en-
gaging in a general fight. That the
old chief is striving to stir the Creeks
to an uprising and strike for what he
conceives TO be liberty was evident
from the smoke of three signal fires
on adjacent hills just before shutdown.
Old-time frontiersmen who insist they
know what such things mean declare
this Is sign which always ushers in
Indian trouble.
Maj. Charles r. Barrett, in charge
of the commissary, received hurry
orders by courier TO send supplies and
additional ammunition to the troops
in the field. From this 1t is inferred
that the officers expect a long chase
before 4 fight.
Six Men have been killed and a
dozen wounded since the trouble be-
gan Thursday. This Is the Official re-
port. but DR.. I. NJ. Wallace. OF Dustin,
Okla, who went to the Hickory hills
than 20 Negroes and Indians were
killed Thursday and Saturday and
we're rudely buried without collins In
the field where the troops camped
last night
The troops left Henryetta at 3
o'clock yesterday They had seven
miles to go. Encumbered with arms
and equipment, il was expected that
they could not reach the Indians much
before o'clock.
Crazy Snakes bard strongly en-
trenched itself early In the day and
was reinforced from time TO time by
rowing companies which were scared
away from Henryetta by the approach
OF the troops.
Crazy Snake is in personal COM
mand. This was established by the
testimony choked out of his college
bred son by means of a nice new inch
rope. Young Harjo was Strung up Dy
the determined deputies until nearly
dead. Then he named the Indian
who killed the deputies; told the Of
ficers how TO trail the band. and did
everything which stoical red man
is supposed not TO do when in tho
hands OF his enemies.
This first real Indian uprising Of
years has held this region ON edge for
three DAYS. II broke out last Thurs
day when several deputy sheriffs- went
TO Henryetta 10 arrest Negro cattle
thieves. They we're fred on by Negro
and half-breed friends OF the Grim
trails and forced TO Iereat. A few
hours later they returned with addi.
tional forces. and were fred on b.
the band then augmented by num-
bed of Crazy Snakes Indians. In this
fieht three Negroes were killed and
i've wounded. according to the Official
reports. although II is thought many
more Indians were wounded, as scores
Of shots were fired nj close quarters.
This clash resulted in 81 arrests.