The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1909-04-01
Indians and Negroes Terrorize
O~kIah0ma-Six Killed and
Many Wounded.
BIG BATTLE IS IMMINENT
Whole State Militia Takes Field Under
Orders 10 Capture or Kill
Entire Band.

OKlahoma CITY, OKla., March 81. -
Chief Crazy Snake and his murderous
band, who since last Thursday has
caused the death Of six men, the
wOunding of many others and brought
about a condition OF terror in Henry
eta, Pierce and all surrounding coun-
ties, retreated last night before five
companies of militia, thus deferred
an expected battle until today.
Hastily setting fire to his tepees
and tents, the Indian leader, with his
mixed company of redskins and ne
groes, fed from the blazing camp as
the troops advanced. They ook up
a strong position between the North
Canadian river and Deep Fork creek,
about seven miles east of H%enryetta.
Big Battle Expected
Col. Hoffman. in command of the
state troops. considered it unwise to
push the pursuit and engage the In
dams in the darkness. Accordingly
he bivouacked his troops for the
night. Early in the morning, rein
forced by a company Of cowboys from
near Lawton, Okla, all crack shots,
he will lead his forces against the In
dams.
Crazy Snake and his braves will be
offered a chance to surrender. If
they refuse the battle will be on.
The militia officers believe Crazy
Snake wants to reach the Tiger
mountains with his followers before
engaging in a general fight.
Would Stir Up Whole Band.
| 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 OF adjacent hills
just before shutdown. Old-time from
tiersmen, who insist they know what
such things mean, declare this is a
signal which always ushered in In
dian trouble. Nobody is wild enough
to say the old chief will get anywhere
in his fanatical dream of overturning
the government, but certain ii is that
he is trying and it is certain he will
be ruthlessly crushed if he persists.
Score of Negroes Killed.
Six men have been killed and a
dozen wounded since the trouble be-
gan Thursday. This is the official re-
port, and it is generally believed
many more of the negroes and In
dams were killed. DIR. |. M. Wallace
of Dustin. Okla, who went to the
Hickory Hills with the troops yester-
day, declared more than twenty ne.
groes were killed Thursday and Sat
urday. Sunday was full of thrill. All
Oklahoma was aroused. AS the re-
ports of the Staying of Marshal Baum
and Deputy Sheriff Odom were spread
broadcast the people were infamed
with a determination to make an end
to the murderous band.
All Troops Ordered Out.
While all this was going on the
state officials were getting aroused.
Gov. Haskell ordered out troops by
wholesale. Every company in Okla
homa either was rushed to the front
or ordered to prepare to so.
1t was learned yesterday afternoon
that the Indians last Thursday re-
ceived $4,000 rounds of ammunition
by freight at Council Hill.
A camp of fleeing negro outlaws
tried yesterday to murder the family
of Charles Johnson, a farmer living
near the Hickory Hills. They riddlcd
the doors and windows with bullets,
but were driven way before they
succeeded in doing murder.
How II Started.
This first Indian uprising in years
has had this portion of the state on
edge for three days past. 1t has been
plotted and prepared for two months.
1t broke out last Thursday when
some deputy sheriTs went to Henry
eta to arrest some negro cattle
thieves. They were fired on by the
negroes and beat a retreat. A few
hours later they returned with addi.
tional forces and were fired on by the
band, then augmented by some OF
Crazy Snakes Indians. In this clash
three were killed and five wounded.
-oit dITeSIS were mdQS.
Meanwhile Crazy Snakes followers
determined upon an aggressive cam.
paign. The chiefs plans had to be
prematurely sprung on account of the
unexpected raid of the deputies Oh
HENRIETTA.
Deputies famed the flame by hunt
ing ~strenuously for the leaders. and
Crazy Snake, forced to the wall, de.
termined to strike a hard blow in an
efort to escape. Saturday night part
OF his band was run to cover by dep
uties in search for leaders in Thurs.
days fight. Marshal Baum Of Checo
tab and Deputy Odom of Eufaula paid
their lives as a price. They were
shot down. according to Crazy
snakes son. by Charles Croker, q
Seminole Indian. This event aroused
the state authorities. Gov. Haskell
ordered out the militia and the word
was passed GU that the band must
be captured or killed.