Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-04-03
BATTLE WITH
INDIANS LIKELY
Troops Set Out to Capture or
XIII MurderOus Band.
SIX MEN ALREADY SLAIN
When Soldiers Reached the Indians
Camp They Found II Deserted and
In Flames Redskins Fled to a
Stronger Position, Where Battle
Viii Likely Be Fought-Their Last
Stand Against Lawful Authority.

Oklahoma City. Okla, March 29.--
Five companies If Oklahoma militia
marched against Crazy Snakes band
of Creek Indians, half breeds and ne
groes, entrenched in the Hickory hills,
seven miles from Henryetta.
A battle Is regarded as inevitable, az
the heavily armed troops set out either
to capture or extermiDate the MUIR
derous band, which since Thursday
has caused the death of six men, the
wounding Of many others. and brought
about condition of terror in Henry
eta, Pierce ard all the surrounding
country.
Crazy Snakes men number about
zoo, all armed with modern rifles and
plentifnlly supplied with ammunition.
They had prepared for two months Tor
this, their final stand against lawful
authority. They defiantly sent out
word that they would fight to the
death
The militiamen's officers declared
that they would shoot to kill from the
first
When the state troops reached the
camp of Crazy Snake they found it
deserted and every tepee, hut and tent
in flames. The Indians had fed to a
stronger position to the north, where
battle likely will be fought.
Clicked Confession From Indian.
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
by the determined deputies until nea
ly dead. Then he gasped out that his
father was in command; named the
Indian who killed the deputies: told
the officers how to trail the band. ano
did everything which stoical red man
is supposed not to do when in the
hands of his enemies.
This first real Indian uprising for
years has held this region on edge for
three days. 1t had been plotted and
prepared for two months. 1t broke
out last Thursday, when several dep
uty sheriffs went to Henryetta to ar
rest negro cattle thieves. They were
fred on by negro and half breed
friends of the criminals and forced to
retreat A few hours later they re-
turned with additional forces. AMI
were fred on by the band, then aug
mented by a number of Crazy Snakes
Indians. In this fgnt three negroes
were killed and five wounded, accord
ing to the official reports, although 1t
is thought that many more Indians
we're wounded as scores of shots were
fired at close quarters. This clash re-
suited in forty-one arrests.
I Indians Are Determined.
Meantime Crazy Snakes followers
determined on an aggressive cam
paign. The chiefs plans had to be
prematurely sprung on account of the
unexpected attack of deputies on Hen
~ etta. Deputies famed the flames by
hunting starenuously for the leaders
/ and Crazy Snake, forced to the wall
determined to strike a hard blow II an
effort to escape.
Thursday night part of his band was
! run TO cover by deputies in a search
, for leaders of Thursdays fight. Mar
! shall Baum. of Checotah, and Deputy
| Odom, of Eufaula, paid their lives as
price. They were shot down by
| Charles Coker, Seminole Indian. This
event aroused the state authorities.
| Governor Haskell ordered out the mil
| tia. and the word was passed along
that the band must be captured or
| lyfllad