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Show FORTH ALLA GENCYI, DAHOJa, ly 6, 1997. SIR: I have the honor to submit the follawing report regrtruing alleged Indian depredations on tho Camas prairies: On the morning of June 29 the following telegram was received: "BOISE, IDAHJOwn,e #a, 1897. "INDIAANGE NT,R o88 Fork, Idako, via Pooatello: "Three hundred Banuooks on Cmas prairie reported dangerous. Reoall them a t once or trouble likely to follow. My information is from sheriff Blsina County. Answer: "FRANKS~ .UNENBERGC,o ~mo r ." I at onoe began an investigation, through the Indian polion, and learned that some Indians from the Lemhi Agency and some living in the town of Bliss, Idaho, were gathering roots on the Camas prairies, as has been customary for yeam, and that three Shoshone families from this reservation were visiting them. Knowing these Incliana to be inoffensive, and their prinoipal men to be well known to the whites in that region, and dso provided with excellent testimonials from the governor and others, I was convinced that the report was grossly exaggerated; however, I sent C. E. Stewtart with Indian police to investigate and return any Fort Hall Indians ~ hmoigh t be found there. Telegrams similar to the above having been received from the Depmtment June 30, I went to Hniley, Idaho, a town abont 20 miles from Cernas prairie, and there learned that all reports of Indian depredations were groundless. I visited their oampa and found the Indians engaged in nothing more serious tbsn digging camas roots and chasing ground squirrels, and totally uncansoions of the darm they were suooosed lo he causinr. Thev told me that the settlers. men. women. and children .A - . ~, , - freely visited their camps and exhibited no signs of fear or unessinees. I questioned seveml ranchers in that vioinity, among them G. S. Humphrey, the originator of the alarming telegrams and petitions to the governor. All of them informed me that they knew of no instance of depredation or violation of law, but that such results were feared. All Indians found on the prairie, 42 in number, including women and ohildren, were brought into Hailey, and from there sent to Fort Hall under oharge of Indian police. They could not sea the juetice of baing forced toleave that country without gathering their winter snpply of food, as has been their habit heretofore, hut they a.n ietl"v~ o om.n lied with mv orders when assured i t was the wish of the Dnosrtmnnt. ~~ ~ ~~~~ Almost rho ontiru pnrfy belonged to the L'.rnloi Agency, onlx rno families can~iog f r umr h i~re dt.rsation, ilrld not a Iiallnack BmOUg r1lt)lll. In additioll 10 the80 Indiana arb,,tl!er banal of abt,l~r2 O Shoshones lt.od beon ill t h e Cantas prairiaa, Lnr Inad pone tu their homea in Rliss, Idaho. before my arrival. I eanimae-i ne no motive for sendiu-i out such baelesa reoorts other than the dsai~n on tho part of settler. to rid themselves of the annual presence of peaceful Indians by ascribing to them hostile qoslities. Very raapectfnlly, F. G. IRWIN, Jr., Eirst Zeutaaant, S m d C~llabg, Acting Ifidian Agmt. The COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFPAIRB, U'eshington, D. 0. THE " SCARE"-IT 16 ALL AN UXQUALIPIED PABRICATION-THE INDIANS ARE PEACE-ARLE AXD HAVE SQUAW8 ASD PAPPOOSES ALONG; BUT TREY MAY VIOLATE TEE GAME LAW-THEY ARE GOING HOME. "MejorJim," a Shoallone chief who comes here every year with "good Indian" credentids, arrived yesterday, and started out to Camas prairie in oompsny with s deputy Indian agent from Fort Hall, and in a buggy hired from Charles Nelson's stable. Ha said the Indians are peaceable, and that he would send them home. |