No. 303.
Mr. West to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Washington, July 2, 1883.
(Received July 3.)
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith copy
of an approved report of a committee of the privy council of Canada,
together with copies of reports from the northwest mounted police force,
relative to certain hostilities between some Yankton Indians and
half-breeds, which have been forwarded to me by the Marquis of Lome, for
the information of the United States Government.
I have, &c.,
[Page 513]
[Inclosure 1.]
Report of a committee of the privy council for
Canada, approved by the Governor-General on the 14th of
June, 1883.
On a report dated 9th of June, 1883, from the minister of the
interior, transmitting a letter under date 8th of May ultimo, from
Superintendent and Adjutant John Cotton, of the northwest mounted
police, forwarding a report from Inspector A. R. Macdonell,
commanding the mounted police at Wood Mountain, Northwest
Territories, to the effect that a number of half-breeds, camped near
the boundary line, had been attacked by eighteen Yankton Indians,
and that during the fight one Yankton Indian and a number of horses
were killed; and, further, that a number of half-breed hunters en route from the Missouri River to Wood
Mountain had been robbed and all their horses taken from them. The
minister directs attention to the statement of Inspector Macdonell
to the effect that the American Indians asserted that they had
received orders from their agent to take possession of any horses
found on their reservation:
The committee recommend that your excellency be moved to transmit a
copy of this minute, when approved, together with copies of the
reports from the northwest mounted police force, to the honorable
Mr. Sackville West, Her Majesty’s minister at Washington, with the
request that they will be forwarded to the United States
Government.
JOHN J. McGEE,
Clerk Privy
Council, Canada.
[Inclosure 2.]
Superintendent of northwest mounted police to
department of the interior of Canada.
Northwest Mounted Police Headquarters,
Regina, May 8, 1883.
Sir: In the absence of the commissioner, I
have the honor to inclose herewith copy of a communication I am just
in receipt of from Inspector Macdonell, commanding northwest mounted
police post at Wood Mountain.
I have, &c.,
JOHN COTTON,
Superintendent and
Adjutant.
Inspector Macdonell to Superintendent Cotton.
Wood Mountain, May 1, 1883.
Sir: I have the honor to report for your
information that I have just been informed that a party consisting
of six Crees and three half-breeds were camped near the Mud Houses
about a week ago. I am not positive whether they were on the
Canadian or American side of the line. I am told by some that they
were on the Canadian side. They were attacked by eighteen Yanktons
(American Indians) about dark. Our people drove them off. The camp
was again attacked at midnight, and the Yanktons again driven off.
About daylight the Yanktons again attacked the camp. Some horses
were killed and one American Indian. A number of half-breeds,
hunters, en route from the Missouri to Wood
Mountain, have been robbed and all their horses taken from them. The
American Indians state that they had received orders from their
agent to take possession of any horses found on their reservation.
Formerly these Yanktons only stole horses during the night; this
spring they take horses from any party not strong enough to stand
them off.
I have, &c.,
A. B. MACDONELL,
Inspector,
Commanding Post.
