New-York tribune., 1909-03-29
TROOPS MARCH AGAINST
CRAZY SNAKES BAND.
Creek Uprising Hastensd by Staying
of Deputies Chiefs Son
Forced to Confess.

Hastily settling fire to his tepees and tents.
the Indian leader. with his mixed company OF
Snake Creek Indians and negroes. fled from
their camp as the troops advanced They took
up a strong position between the North Cana
dian River and Deep Fork Creek in the Hickory
Hills, about seven miles east of Henryettd-
Colonel Hoffman in command of the state
troops. decided it would be unwise to push the
pursuit and engage the Indians in the darkness
Accordingly he bivOuacked for the night Early
in the morning. reinforced by "A company OF
cowboys all crack shots. he viii lead his forces
against the Indians
Crazy Snake and his braves will have chance
to surrender If they refuse the battle viii be
on unless the redskins again retreat
Colonel Hoffman sent out numerous scouts 70
watch the movements OF the enemy and to give
the alarm II the Indians attempt 20 escape to
a stronger position.
The militia officers believe Crazy Snake wants
10 reach the Tiger Mountains with his followers
before engaging in a general fight That the old
chief is striving to stir the Creeks to an upris-
ing and strike for what he conceives to be lib
erty was evident from the smoke Of three sig
nal fires on adjacent hills just before sundOwn-
Oldtinse frontiersnen who insist that they know
what such things mean declare sths is a sign
which always ushers in Indian trouble
Major Charles F. Barrett. in charge OF the
commissary, received hurry orders tonight by
courier to send supplies and additional am
muntion to the troops in the field From this
it is inferred the officers expect long chase be-
fore a light.
Six men have been killed and a dozen wounded
since the trouble began, on Thursday. according
to the official report. but Dr. l. NJ. Wallace. OF
Dustin. Okla. who went to the Hickory Hills
with the troops to-day, declared more than
twenty men had been killed
son CONFEssEs AT ROPES END.
Crazy Snake is in personal command This
was established by the testimony choked out Of
his college bed son by means of nice new inch
rope Young Harjo was strung up by the deter
mined deputies until nearly dead Then he
gasped out that his father in command.
named the Indian who killed the deputies. told
the officers how TO trail the band and did every
thing which a stoicaI red man is supposed not TO
10 when in the hands of his enemies.
This first real Indian uprising of years has
held this region on edge for three days. II
broke out last Thursday. when several deputy
sherifs went 10 Herryetta to arrest negro cattle
thieves The officers were fired on by negro and
haIfbreed friends Of the criminals and forced TO
retreat A few hours later they returned with
additional forces and were fired on by the band.
then augmented by number Of Crazy Snakes
Indians In this fight three negroes were killed
and five negroes or Indians wounded according
to the official reports although it is thought
many more Indians were wounded. as scores OF
shots were fired at close quarters. This clash
resulted in forty-one. arrests
Meantime Crazy Snakes followers determined
on an aggressive campaign. The chiefs plans
had to be prenaturely sprung on account OF the
unexpected attack on deputies at Henryetta-
Deputies famed the flame by hunting strenuous
" for the leaders. and Crazy Snake. forced TO
the wall determined TO strike a hard blow in
an effort 10 escape
Last night part OF his band was run 70 cover
by deputies in a search for the leaders Of Thurs
days fight Marshal Baum. OF Checotah. and
Deputy OdOm, of EIfaU3a. lost their lives as a
result They were shoa down. according 70
Crazy Snakes SON. by Charles Cozer a Seminole
Indian This event aroused the state authOri-
ties. Governor Haskell ordered out the militia
and instructions were given that the band must
be captured or kiIe'
Not till to-day did the people of Henryetta
realize the danger of the situation Threatened
bv raids bv some of Crazy Snakes men. they
hurriedly armed. patrOlled the roads leading
the town sent To surrounding towns for arms
and ammunition. and sent urgent appeals to
Governor Haskell 10 hurry the militia TO the
scene Not until the soldiers arrived tonight
were the fears relieved Then the small Indian
bands scurried away 10 avoid a battle. pre-
ferring to cast their lot with the larger band
intrenched under Crazy Snakes command in
Hickory Hills and to take part in a fight thar
appeared inevitable.
FIGHT RENEWED AT DAWN
Daybresk this morning saw renewal in thA
vicinity Of Hickory Ground OF last evenings
fight The day opened with deszlhory firing be-
tween two hundred special officers and nearly as
many Indians Several Indians are reported
wounded state militia and armed officers and
citizens moved all day Sunday toward tina.
scene.
dispatch from stidman says a second en-
gagement between officers and Indians occurred
near there at O'Clock this morning In this
fifty shots were exchanged and several Indians
wounded Both the Indians and negroes. many
of the latter being allied with the Creeks. took
their wounded into the hills and this made il
impossible to learn definitely what the casual
ties were The number Of the dead since Thurs
day was tonight placed unOfficiaIy st seven.
Deputies went to the house OF Crazy Snake
and removed the bodies of Baum and Odom.
which We're taken to Eufaula- The OTHERS found
evidence that Crazy Snake and the members OF
his family had departed hurriedy in ehe night.
The deputies captured number Of the chiefs
horses and large quantity OF ammunition
A dramatic feature Of the day. preceding the
final clash between the Indians and the troops
near Henryetta was the confession OF Chitti
Harjo. the twenty-two-ye year-Old son OF Crazy
Snake The young man. after his capture by
deputies cursed his foes and vehemently refused
TO tell them anything about his fathers where
abouts or to throw any light on the occurrences
of last night
Maybe this will help him. exclaimed Deputy
Sheriff Frank Jones, bringing out heavy rope.
| Tie it around his neck and string him up.''
/ commanded the deputy.
His assistants obeyed. and soon the young
| Indian was dangling in the air kicking frantis