The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-03-29

| ohi"hoiist Silyt Chid,, 90
Chief Crazy Snake and 100 of his fol-
lowers retreated before five companies
of Oklahoma militia late tonight thus
deferring an expected battle until to-
morrow Hastily setting fire to his
tepees and tents, the Indian leader
with his mixed company of redskins
and negroes fled from his blazing
camp as the troops advanced. The
| renegades took up a strong position
between the North Canadian river and
Deep Fork creek, about II miles east
| of Henryetta.
Troops Bivouack.
Colonel Hoffman, in command of
| the state troops, considered it unwise
| to push the pursuit and engage the In
dians in the darkness. Accordingly he
bivouacked his troops for the night.
Early in the morning, reinforced by a
company of cowboys from around
| Lawton, Okla. all crack shots, he will
| lead his forces against the Indians
| Crazy Snake and his braves viii be
offered a chance to surrender. If they
refuse the battle win be on.
That the old chief is striving to stir
| the Greeks to an uprising and strike
for what he conceives to be liberty
was evident from the smoke of three
signal fires on adjacent hills just be-
fore sundown.
Six men have been killed and
dozen wounded since the trouble began
Thursday This is the official report,
and it is generally believed that many
| more of the negroes and Indians were
killed.
Five Companies March.
Five companies of oklahoma militia
marched tonight against Crazy Snakes
band of Creek Indians, halfbreeds and
negroes, entrenched In the Hickory
hills, seven miles from Henryetta
battle was regarded as inevitable as
the heavily armed troops were sent
out to annihilate the murderous band
which since Thursday has caused the
death of six men, the wounding of
many others and brought about a con-
dition of terror in Henryetta, Pierce
and all the surrounding country.
The troops left Henryetta at 3
O'Clock. They had gone many miles,
encumbered with arms and equipment,
and it was not expected that they
could reach the scene ready for battle
before o'clock. Crazy Snakes men
numbered about 200 all armed with
modern rifles and plentifuly supplied
with ammunition. They had been pre-
pairing for two months for this, their
final stand against lawful authority.
They defiantly sent out word today
that they would fight to the death,
Strongly Entrenched.
Crazy Snakes band entrenched it.
self strongly early in the day and was
reinforced from time to time by re-
naming companies of Indians. Crazy
Snake was in personal command The
willy old redskin apparently realized
that he was in a tight place and pre-
pared to make a desperate stand.
The first real Indian uprising in
years was planned two months ago.
1t broke out last Thursday when some
deputy sheriffs went to Henryetta to
arrest negro cattle thieves. They We're
fired upon by negroes and halfbreed
friends of the criminals and forced to
beat a hasty retreat. A few hours
later they returned with additional
forces and were fired upon by the
band then augmented by a number of
Crazy Snakes Indians. In this fight
three were killed and five wounded
according to the official reports, al
though it is believed many more In
dams We're wounded as scores of
shots were fired at close quarters. This
clash resulted in Al arrests.
Meanwhile, Crazy Snakes followers
determined upon an aggressive cam
paign. The chiefs plans had to be
sprung prematurely on account of the
raid by the deputies on Thursday
Crazy Snake, forced to the wall, de-
termined to strike a hard blow in an
effort to escape.
Militia Called Out.
Part of his band was driven to cover
last night by deputies in a search for
the leaders in Thursdays fight. Mar
shall Baum of Checotah and Deputy
Odom of Eufaula paid their lives as
the price They were shot down, ac
cording to Crazy Snakes son, by
Charles Coker Seminole Indian. This
aroused the state authorities and Gov
ernor Haskell ordered out the militia,
Not till the soldiers arrived this
afternoon was the peoples apprehen-
sion relieved. Then the Indian bands
scurried away to avoid a clash with
the militia, preferring to cast their lot
with the larger band entrenched under
Crazy Snakes command in Hickory
hills.
Darkness closed a day of unrest, un-
easiness and desultory skirmishing
throughout large part of the former
Creek nation. Reaching Hickory
Ground at o'clock the militia in COM
mand of Colonel Roy Hoffman, pitched
tents and win await orders for action
tomorrow. Leaving Henryetta Colonel
Hoffman made request of Adjutant
General Frank Cannon that 500 more
members of the state troops be held
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