The Topeka state journal., 1909-03-29
ON THE RUN.
Crazy Snakes Band of Indians
in Full Retreat
HOtIy Pursued by Big Force of
Oklahoma Militia.
He FORsAKES THEM.
Leader Said to Be on His Way
to Washington.
Twenty-fOur Dead Negroes Have
Been Found and Buried.

noon today there had been no eneoun-
ter between the state militia, march
ing upon Crazy Snake and his band of
Creek Indians and negro allies accord
ing to the best information available
here, and the troops were still pur-
suing the reds. 1t is reported that
Crazy Snake fearing arrest, had made
his escape, deserving his followers and
IS now on his way to Washington to
1ntercede with the Great Father.
The main portion of the soldiers
under command of Colonel Roy Hoff-
man, Is pushing northward in search
OF the chief and his men. Several 9TH
er detachments of militia are doing
familiar with the country are patrol
ling the country for miles around
Hickory camp looking for any refu-
gees that may be hiding in the noun
talnS and timber.
Seemingly authentic reports TODAY
from Henrietta and the vicinity Of
HICKORY camp place the number of
i bodles OF dead negroes found at diff
ferent points and buried at different
points at "a. This total, it is said
makes up the number of men killed
/ since last Thursday, the day of the
f1rst battle between the sheriff's posse
Buzzards located the bodies of seven
men in the timber. Shallow holes
were dug in the ground by white far
merS and the bodies inferred therein.
The dead buried in this fashion rep
resented three bodies found on Thurs
day, eight on Friday, six on Saturday
and seven on Sunday.
All sorts of wild rumors are in cir
culatlon and as the scenes of operation
are OF the railway. the utmost diff
Guilty is being experienced in gaining
trustworthy news. Farmer bows in
many instances are reported to be
taking up an individual warfare
against the negroes and firing upon
the blacks indiscrimateIy negro
was shot and badly wounded near foe
banks Of Wolf Crek, according 90 one
story when he was picked up and
thrown into the deep creek and allow
ed to drown by the jeering farmer
boys.
In Full Retreat.
oklahoma City, Okla, March 20
one hundred Creek Indians. half
breeds and negroes, under personal
up their march on the War-path early
today, but were failing utterly to
spread abroad the terror among the
people at large that like events in
earlier days caused. Rather thew
We're retreating before five companies
or determined Oklahoma militiamen
IN an effort to reach a stronghold in
the Tiger mountains before making a
final stand against the troops
The militiamen ordered out yester-
day by Governor Haskell as a result
OF the uprising that came after a clash
at the home of Crazy Snake in which
Marshal Baum and Deputy Sheriff
Odom were killed, camped for the
night at Hickory Hills, the camp
which had been hastily evacuated by
Crazy Snake at their approach. At
break of day they moved forward to
give battle to the red skins Mean
while the chief, through the agency of
his sleepless scouts, had been watching
every move and he had led his forces
away, apparently not daring. or at
least not caring, to fight the white foes
in the open
The militiamen at this juncture
pushed forward at double quick The
Indians were ten miles away from
them, but they were determined that
they should not be allowed to choose
the battle-ground and thus gain dan
gerous advantage. The troops out
numbered the Indians three to one,
and the officers knew that could the
opposing forces meet in the open,
there could be only one outcome-the
Indians would have to surrender or
be killed Once the redskins gained
the shelter of the hills, though, the
result would not be so sure.
In Hot Pursuit.
At the rate of progress they were
making the troops were in a fair way
to overhaul the Indians shortly after
noon and force them into a fight I'M
der conditions unfavorable to the army
of Crazy Snake.
The night passed without any un-
due alarms after the soldiers had
camping ground. Fire was heard
here and there but this was due to the
restlessness of rowing bands of negroes
and half-breeds. The Indians them
selves kept closely within their camp
between the North Canadian river
and Deep Fork creek, about z miles
from Henryetta. They had hurried
the 10 miles between this and
their deserted camp and in obedience |
to the chiefs commands rested in |
preparation for events of the day.
The indications were at this time |
that Crazy Snakes negroes were CIV
ing him much trouble. They came |
from the turbulent never-do-wen class
of the south. Many of them fed to |
Oklahoma to escape the consequences
of their crimes.
This element of weakness, militia
to yield without fight. so uncertain
were the negroes regarded in times OF
Negroes Are Scared
Frontiersmen acting as scouts for
state troops. passed most of the night
in or near the Indians camp. These
shortly after daybreak with
news that the old chieftain's forces /
were showing signs of disintegration.
The halfbreeds and negroes, over
awed at the unusually active measures
of the whites. and the certainty of
defeat should a clash come,
were counse1ing complete surrender.
To this proposition Crazy Snake made
a contemptuous refusal. Scornfully
he said that all those who feared
might go at once, but that all who
had real read hearts would stay by
him and help him forcefully to redress
the wrongs under which his people
writhed.
To a man, the Creeks expressed
their intention of staying by the un-