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Show 66 , REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRR. 18E8 they were grantad the privilege of hunting on any nnoceupied pnhlic land. be in,^ short-mtioned and far from self-supporting according to the white man's methods, they simply follow their custom and hunt for the purpose of obtaining sustsnanoe. It would seem that the killing of Indians under the circumstances is nothingmoreorless thanmurder. They are not eitisens of the State, andareentitled to the protection of the General Government so far ss the rights and privileges =- ranted bv treaty are conoerned. While soting agent at Fort Hall Agency, Idaho, I had occasion to look into this matter, and while trying to provent hunting by Indians during the season unauthor- I ized bv State law I tooktheoo~a r tuni tvt o l e t those mskine comolaints know that I A the Indians were within treaty rights, and I believe the fact is well known and nndenrtood. Farther, I believe there is no "wantonnslaughter of game by these Indians, while it is s, notorious fact that htvndreda of animals are killed by white men for nothing nmre than heeds and horns. There are men in that country who make it a business to pilot hunting partiea from theEast and the Old Countrywhich not only slaughter elk bnt capture and ship them out of the countrv. The killing of game by Indiana interferes with their buainens. Another fact about the Jaoksons Hole Basin. it is inaccessible in winter on socount of deep snow on the mountains. rand game can only be got st by outsiders during the summer or early autumn. If it he the desire of the Government to restrainthe Indians and causethem to conform I to Stat~talaws,s teps looking to the change or n~odifieationo f treaty would seem to he in order. Indians onn hardly be expected to submit more quietly to the killing of their people while engaged in the oocnpation which they think they have a right to follow than white men. and a failure bv the Government to take n.r oner action i8 A liable to result in serious loss of life and property. Having obtained knowledge of affaira in the manner indicated, I believe it a duty 1 to make this report. [mmt inaomement.1 OFFICE OF TEE P08T COMMANDER, Fort Logan, Colo., July 83, 1895. Respectfully forwarded. I have known the Shoshone Indians since 1813, when I was at their agency, and had twentyfive of them for scouts on a trip I made from Camp Brown through the , Yellowstone Park. I heartily ooneur in what Captain Van Orsdale has written. They are among the best of all Indians I have known. HENRY E. NOYES, Lieutenaat-Coloael Second Catialry, Cmnmanding Post. [Second hdoraommt.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENOTF THE CO'WRADO, Denver, Colo., July 85,1895. Respeatfnlly fawzrded to the Adjutant-General of the Army. Tho writer has had cxecptional opportunity to familiariee himself with the Ben-nock and Shoshone Indiana. From my knowledge of tbesa Indians in 1812, and again in 1819, I feel an interest in this matter, and hope that Captain Van Oradale's recommendations and views may he favorably considered. FRANWKR EATON, Brigadier-Canerat, Con~monding. Report, dated July 24,1895, from Thomas B. Teter, United States Indian agent of Fort Hall Agency, Idaho: I 1aav1, I L ~ Rh onorru inform yo^^ that itpun recnipt of telkgraphir inatrnetion~o f the 17111 i #~s t%I~ iml tm edintcly proceeded tu.\larjavalo, Uitntu County~,. \ V.\o .,a nd report ~ 2s follows noon the condition of affairs I found exiskna between settlers end ~ndians a from this and other reservations hunting in that vicinity: I ascertained the number of Indiana in thevicinity of Marysvale tc be from 200 to |
