Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-30
SIGNAL FIRES
ILLUME HILLS
OF OKLAHOMA
INDIAN CHIEF CALLS TRIBE
FOR LAST FIGHT
DETACHMENT WAGES BATTLE;
EIGHT CAPTURED
One Brave Killed and Final Conflict
to Subdue Belligerent Abor-
gines Is Expected
Today
fBy Associated Press. !

A 4 hl4AI1OMA I'll . Ohleis u1cbLCA
"A detachment of Crazy Snakes
" band of belligerent Indians was
surrounded by deputy sheriffs this
afternoon near Crazy Snakes home
and a battle enSued.
One Indian was killed, eight were
captured and the rest fed, with the
deputies in pursuit.
There were about fifteen Indians In
the band, which had taken refuge in
house. Deputies had tracked them for
some distance and were informed by
a farmer of their location.
Advancing from four sides the posse
fred at the frail house. The Indians
rushed out, scattered among the trees
and made a valiant defense.
The posse, firing all the while, stead
lily advanced and soon routed the band.
None of those captured is seriously
wounded, but it is known that num-
ber of Indians we're hit by bullets.
Crazy Snakes band apparently has
broken up into numerous small groups.
1t seemed at nightfall that each red
skin was trying to accomplish his own
escape. without regard for the grand
dreams of the chieftain, to reallze
which they were called together by the
smoke of signal fires.
All effort at organized resistance
seems to have been dropped with the
sinking of the sun.
The militiamen scattered in bands
and invaded the hilly and wooded dis
tricts of the Creek nation and by
o'clock tonight they had captured
eight of Crazy Snakes braves, includ-
ing Little Tiger, sub-chief.
The Indian killed by the posse was
the only fatality of the day reported to
Col. Hoffman. There are numerous
rumors of engagements here and there.
1t is reported that a posse of farm
ers near Checotah fought large band
of negro renegades and killed twenty.
This, with similar reports, cannot be
confirmed.
Many Join MiIitiamen
Scores of cowboys and frontiersmen,
all expert gun fighters, Joined the mill
tiamen in the chase during the day and
| evening.
They know the rugged country as
| well as do the Creeks These men
| declare if Crazy Snake were anywhere
in the district he would be run down
before morning.
The militia officials have yet to find
anybody who has seen Crazy Snake
since Saturday morning. Their only
real knowledge that he is commanding
the Indians personally is the informa-
ton choked out of his son by the dep
uties when they hanged him by the
neck until he expressed an anxiety to
talk. The young man may have been
misleading the deputies at that.
The militiamen insist, however, that
they have the best of reasons for be-
lieving that they are near to capturing
Crazy Snake.
detachment of deputies today cap
tured Sandy Tabler, a half-breed, who
has been one of Crazy Snakes aids.
IL l. n
those in Snakes house during Thurs
day evenings fight.
Deputy Flynn took Tabler to the
OkmuIgee Jail after passing part OF
the day with the militia. He said
bloodhounds had been placed on the
Snakes trail and that the chances
were favorable for his capture within
twenty-four hours.
"Those negroes and Indians are not
afraid of the bluecoats," said Flynn.
'They know no fear as long as they
stand their ground, and it was wise
generalship in scattering them. l re-
gret to say that the situation is more
critical than it appears on the surface.
Though the trouble has consisted prin-
cipally of skirmishes, the lives of many
persons are continually endangered"
Several families have deserted their
homes in the vicinity of Pierce.
Posse to Guard Settlers
Fearing that the skirmish near Hick-
ory Grounds and the burning of Har-
los home may cause the Indians to
leave their hiding places on the North
Canadian river tonight and set fire
to other houses, $50 heavily armed men
planned to leave Checotah at IL o'clock
tonight for Pierce. The posse was Or
eanized by Deputy Sheriff William
Clark.
Relating his experiences in the fight,
Deputy Clark said:
"Our posse overlook party of In
dams near Pierce at $3.50 o'clock this
morning in the North Canadian bot
toms. We chased them for mile
and half, and they escaped into the
Concharta mountains. We returned to
Pierce and stationed our pickets within
$50 yards of Harjo's house. At 1880 the
Indians returned and fired on tho
pickets. During the battle the house
of Harjo was fired. The smoke soon
became so dense that we could not see
where to fire, and we retreated.
"Then, remembering that detach-
ment of militia had been reported in
that part Of the country, we feared
thew might take us for Indians. We
hid in a ditch and remained until the
smoke had cleared away. and then
made another dash for the Indians.
They had again escaped to the noun
tains. and we arrested two Indian
women. They would not talk, and we
released them. None of our men was
wounded.
"There is danger of the Indians re-
turning to the houses of the whites.
They can easily emerge from the
mountains, fire the houses and retire
before officers can get to them. Some
of our men have gone to McAlester
after blood hounds and will meet us
at pierce before morning. We are go
inp, TO clean up this bad set of Indians
and negroes if it takes us three
months"
Messina Invites Roosevelt