Year: 1876

A BLOODY RAID PREDIcrED-A MONTANA


PAPER ON THE SITUATION.


From the Helena IN. IT, Independent, July 10


Whatever points of imp probability there may be IN the
dispatches received night before last from Bozeman
touchi & an Indian raid into tho Gallatin Valley they
at least make evident tho fact that such thing pos
sble Nobody believes that tho Indians would ever
dare attack town comparatively full settled
country. Their object would at most, be to obtain
stock and possibly they might attack a farmhouse or
persons alone on the prairie. Their depredations,
under the most favorable circumstances for raid,
would hardly take wider eep than this. Neverthe-
less II should be apparent TO every person that the
frontier settlements and especially those IN tho Gala
tin Valley should be armed and fully equipped to meet
any possible emergency that may arise.


Tho condition Of our frontier rendered insecure
from variety OF causes each OF which Is sufficient
10 excite the savases to acts of extraordinary bodncss
The rst and most omincnt OF these s OF course the
deenceless condition OF the border by the Withdrawal
OF the garrisons rom all the most prominent posts
Under any circumstances this measure Is ndeiensibe
As long as there idle troops used for political
poses in the South there be no necessity Tor
stripping the frontier of all means OF defence.


The success which the Indians have met with in tho
defeat OF Custer is another reason why they might be
emboldened TO undertake some deed OF frantic daring
such as raid into some OF the frontier valleys.


IL is shown by the latest news received from the
Indian country that the Sioux are In condition, from
their present location 10 penetrate the frontier valleys
through one or more OF the numerous passes that
comparatively unguardcd. Iuey may not come, but
the possibility is naturally calculated TO inspire ALARM
aud no doubt gave rise TO the dispatches which
sent us from Bozcman on Monday night II is hardly
probable that Mr.. Bennett wished excite
necessary alarm. But to put the possible con-
struction upon his motives, he is less Liable 10 blame
than the author and ndorser of The suboined article
which appeared in tho local columns OF the Helena
Herald on tho 10Th INST, in which II was attempted 10
excite the fears of the entire community that the
Northern Indians were on the point OF rising


'Thc great fear now is that Gibbons little command
may be eaten up before Crook arrives. Another thing
is drawing attention, too and that is, that the North
ern Indians hearing this news, Will break out.
IL rs known IN this vicinity that there was great medl
cine feast at The sweetgrass Hills a week or two ago
between tho Pen dOrcllos, Piesans, Blacklcet and
Assnabnc Sioux II behooves all our frontier settle
mcnts TO look out now and DO prepared Our military
garrisons can do nothing. don't believe they
strong enough to defend tho places they live I'M and
by possibility the Indians got away with both Crook
and Gbbon, then goodbye. John aud everybody else,
Tor they strong enough 10 clear the country the
Columbia River


or course there nothing diabolical'' in this
pard-there was no danger OF this "excting alarm in
the settled portions OF Montana" This piece of
legitimate newspaper enterprise