The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-03-29
CRAZY SNAKE GOES
ON WARPATH IN
OKLAHOMA
Half-Breeds and Negroes Annoy
The Warriors.
TWO DEPUTIES WERE KILLED
Gov. Hsskall Orders Out Militia and
Unless indians Surrender Bloody
Battle Is Expected.

Checotah, Oklahoma. March %
Several hundred Creek Indians. ont
law negroes, and half breeds who have
deiied the state authority are being
sought by five companies of militia
and hundreds of citizens, forming
sherins posses The Indians who
are under the lead of Chief Crazy
Snake have sent word that they will
hight to the last sooner than surren-
der. Their determination to do so
mas been shown as they have killed
six men and wounded many others.
Two deputy sheriffs who had been
sent TO capture Crazy Snake were
killed Friday night.
This first real Indian uprising of
years started last Thursday when sev-
oral deputy sheriffs went to Henryetta
TO arrest negro cattle thieves. They
were fired on by negro and half-breed
friends Of the criminals and forced to
retreat. A few hours later they re-
turned with additional forces and
were fired on by the band, then aug
mented by a number OF Crazy Snakes
Indians, Three negroes we're killed
and five wounded. according to the
Official reports, although il is thought
many Indians were wounded. as scores
OF shots were fired at close quarters.
rms clash resulted in Al arrests.
The Indians and negroes began de-
predations In reprisal, and the Off.
GERS set out to get the leaders.
Five deputies Went to Crazy Snakes
house in the Hickory Hills Saturday
night and called on the Indians with.
In to appear They appeared armed
with repeating rifles and opened a hot
Are on the deputies. Crouching in
the bushes, the Indians had an adyan-
tage over their adversaries. Charles
Coker, a seminole, killed Marshal Ed.
ward Baum az the FIRST volley. A mo-
ment later he shot Herman Odom, son
Of the sheriff, through the heart. The
other Indian had fired repeatedly but
Coker is marksman and his shots
told
Deputies Carr, Bateman and Jones
the other members Of the posse. re-
turned the fire but could not see the
Indians who were concealed in the
brush, Darkness fell and the depu.
ties retreated
AT the request of Sheriff Odom Gov.
Haskell directed Adjt. Gen. Canton to
assume charge of the situation and
order necessary militia to the scene.
Five partly formed companies started
carly yesterday. They were in com
many OF Col Roy Hoffman of Chand
Ter More than l25 men composed
the body and they had 10000 rounds
of ammunition. The companies from
Oklahoma City, Chandler and Shaw
nee met in Oklahoma City and went
by special train to Henryetta There
they were met by companies from
Durant and Muskogee
Shortly after daybreak about 200
special officers went to the scene of
Saturday night
The deputies captured the house of
Crazy Snake and removed the bodies
Of Marshal Baum and Herman Odom
who had been killed the night before.
The deputies did not attempt to
penetrate the woods to the Indian
thinking il wise to await
endorsements. There was much fir
Ing, however, and in one fight a dep.
lty captured the % year old son of
Crazy Snake. Young Harjo is a stall.
~art intelligent youth. He is an ath-
Iete and has played football with |
some of the eastern Indian schools. |
Tie is a graduate but retains all his |
native instincts The deputies de- |
the names of the Indians who |
were in his fathers home when the !
.wo deputies were killed but he would |
not tell
Maybe this will help him." ex-
claimed Deputy Sheriff Frank Jones,
out heavy rope
Tie 1t around his neck and string |
linn up commanded the deputy in
'harge
His orders were obeyed, and soon
he young Indian was dangling in the |
lir. II was a struggle between Indian |
itoicism and the white mans tor .dg |
0he deputies stood grimly by withu. |
| sign of relentias
Tell us where your father is, or |
'oull hank there until you die" they |
'alled TO him. mo foolng about this" !
The Indians breath was coming in
hort gasps before he despairingly
Let down Tell-all-know."
When the moose was loosed he gave
complete list of Indians who partic-
pated in the fight of the previous
light and confessed that his father
Who was supposed to be in Washing
on was at the head of the outlaw
lands scattered among the hills of
he former Creek Nation.
Deputies followed the trail of Crazy
snake until they came upon such
trong bodies of the outlaws that they
we're compelled to fall back to await
he arrival of the soldiers. The mil.
Tia companies were delayed two hours
i Sapulpa waiting for a train and
lid not arrive at Henryetta until o.
lock in the afternoon. They immedi.
tely took the field operating with the
losses,