| OCR Text |
Show 300, about 50 of whom were Bannock Indians from this reservation, all encamped in Hubacks Canyon, or near Fall River, at a distance of 35 miles southeast from Marpvele, in the Jackson Hole country. The Indians have for many years gone to the Jackson Hole country in search of big game, and it is only since tho business of guiding touriata in searoh of big game has become so remunerative that objection has been made to their hunting in Wyoming. The treaty of tho Bannock and Shoshone Inaians with the United States gives ' mid Indiana the right to hunt an the unoacupied lands of the United Statea so long as game may be found thereon and ao long as pssoe subsists among the whites and Indians on the borders of the hunting districts, and the simple Indian mind can not grasp the idea that the State of Vyuming can prevent the fulfillment by the United States of the treaty with them. I ssoertl~inedt hat settlers lust year atatetedthctt if Indiana returned for big game this season they would organize and wipe them out, the settlers looking upon big game as their exclusive property and considering every elk killed by an Indian a some of so much revenue lost to them. From reliable informants I have no hesi-tation in stating that for every eilr liilled unlawfully by Indians two ?re killed unlawfully by settlers (in this oonnootion I willstate I was fed upon fresh-killed elk meat during my entire stay in tho Jookson Hole country), and were these Indians oitirens and voters in Wyoming enjoying similar privileges to settlers, their killing : game unlewfully would never be questioned. There are s few good ci t i~ensra nching in tho Jaokson Hole country, the majority 1 of the aitiaens beine men "who hwe left their oountiy for their conntry's good," the Jackson Holc cointry being recognized in this coontry ns the plsee of refuge for ' outlaws of every description from Wyoming, Idaho, and adjacent States. The Indisns Gilled bythese settlers were -p rsctioallr massacred. The Indians, to the number of 16, hnvieg bee* arrested and disarmed, were taken before a justioe of ; the peaoe, n&tt~r&liiny 8ympathy with settlers, and fined $75 eaoh. The Indiana! being unableio pay tho tine vereherdled liko sheep and treated in a, manuer oalou- ' leted to &rouse their resentment, and which would not be tolerated by white men similarly situated. One batch, disarmed, were being driven by a body of armed I settlers, and in passing over a trail where the Indians had been aooustomed to ride in freedom, made a break far liberty, whereupon theguards opened fire at oollo and killed from four to seven Indians, going on the principle "a dead Indian iis s, good Indian." The men who committe,d this crime shoulP be proseouted to the fulleat extent of I the law andreceire the severest penalty thelnw can give, not only as an example to other lxwless settlers, but as a preventive of futuro disturbances between settlers and Indians, for if justice is not done the Indians in this ease the Indims will seek revenge and a contin~~obuosr der warfaae will be the rcsslt. A certain element among settlers in Jsokaon Hole eoontry seems determined to drive tho Indiana from that section at whatever cost, not roeognizing any law them-selves but that which serves their interests; and when I left Msq-wale 75 of these men had organized, not for protection, but to attack the Indians. I warned them to desist, and requested all good citizens to use their influence to prevent this attack, stating I would advise tho Department immediately of the true situation. I, upon reaching telegra hic communioation, adviaed you to send troops to scene of trouble at once, consiiering if lawless settlers oerried out their intention of attacking Indiana innocent persons would suffer-Indians ILB well as whiten-and much property be destroyed; considering also that the ill feeling existing between settlers and Indians oould not be allayed without the presenoe of troapa. I consider tho Jackson Hole affair a preconoerted sahemo, an the part of s certain element .among the eettlers, to adopt measures to induce the Department to prevent Indians from revisiting Jackson Hole oauntry; settlers having informed me, while I was in Marysvsle, that Indians visiting Jaokson Hole country kept out hunting psr-ties of tourists, whichresulted in a loss to thorn of many dolla~s; a settler stating to |
