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Show IKD1AN SCARE AT CAMAS PRAIRIE, IDAHO. June 28,1897, the governor of Idaho telegraphed the Department as follows : Three hundred Indiana from Fort Hall causing great anxiety among. settlers on Camas Prairie. If same are not immediately recalled, trouble will ensue. Anewer. He also telegraphed Hon. Henry Heitfelt, United States Senator from Idaho, to the same effect, adding that his informati011 was 'Lfrom sheriff and settlers.'' The following, day he telegraphed .the Senator further, im follows: Complaints continue to-day. Fences are being burned and cattle killed. Indians oome from Lemhi, Umatills, Fort Hall, and Duck Vislley reservations. They must diaperse or trouble will soon follow. Answer. On receipt of these alarming reports the Department, telegraphed the Indiau agents in charge of the reservations named for full reports, and at the same time requested the War Department to order military assistance to he sent the Fort Hall agent ('to preserve order and pro-tect lives and property of settlers, and return Indians to reservations if absent therefrom as reported." The governor of Idaho was informed by telegraph of this action. July 1 the commanding general Department of the Phtte telegraphed to the War Department that, on June 30, he had ordered "squadron Ninth Cavalry" to proceed from Fort Robinson to the scene of the alleged disturbance, but had suspended the movement oftroops on , receipt of information from Lieut. F. G. Irwin, acting Indian agent at Fort Hall, that the Indians at Camis Prairie were entirely peaceable and were there for the purpose of gathering camas root, and that there was absolutely no foundation for an Indian scare. Lieutenant Irwin visited Camas Prairie, and telegraphed this office the following: July 1: Prominent citizens of Hailey (Idaho) and reliable settlers from Camas Prairie state that no Indian trouhlea exist in that vicinity. About forty Indians, including women and ohildren, are there gathering cames (root), but have committed no violation of law as far as known here. One of theae states that no diaturbnnce of any kind llss oocurred. Only two are from Fort Hall Agency. No necessity for troops. Will report later when Indian police oome in. No excitement here. July 2: Have brought in all Indians from Camas Prairie-forty-two, including women and children, ohiefly from Lemhi. One band of twenty Shoshones had left for their homes in Illiss, Idaho, before my arrival. Will send rest to Fort Hall with Indian polioe. Passed through the Camss prairies and vas informed by reliable ranchers in immediate vioinity of Indian camps that nodepredationshad been eom-mitted by Indians. The presence of Indiana in that region, and the fear that they might give trouble, is the only foundation for alarming reports sent out. Will report bp letter from Port Hall. With his full report were forwarded clippings from the Wood River Times, a newspaper published in Hailey, Idaho, giving, as he stated, a substantially correct account of the lLscare." Both report and clippings are quoted herewith as a matter of record. |