No. 304.
Mr. West to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Washington, July 25, 1883.
(Received July 27.)
Sir: I have the honor to inclose to you
herewith a copy of an approved report of a committee of the privy
council of Canada, with its inclosures from the commissioner of the
northwest mounted police, respecting
[Page 514]
the stealing from Canadian territory by South
Piegan Indians from the United States of a number of horses, the
property of settlers and others, which has been forwarded to me by the
Marquis of Lorne for the information of the United States
Government.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Report of a committee of the privy council for
Canada, approved by the Governor-General on the 7th of July, 1883.
On a report dated 27th June, 1883, from the minister of the interior,
transmitting communications annexed, under dates the 18th and 21st
instant, from Lieutenant-Colonel Irvine, the commissioner of the
northwest mounted police, reporting the stealing from Canadian
territory by South Piegan Indians from the United States of a number
of horses the property of settlers and others:
The committee recommend that your excellency be moved to transmit a
copy of this minute, when approved, together with copies of the
annexed correspondence from the commissioner of the northwest
mounted police, to 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
for Canada.
[Inlcosure 2.]
Colonel Irvine
to Mr. White.
Northwest Mounted Police Headquarters,
Regina, June 18, 1883.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that on
or about the 20th of May last a number of horses belonging to
settlers and others about Maple Creek were stolen from there by
South Piegan Indians. I inclose herewith the statement of one of the
men who had his horses stolen, who followed the Indians into United
States territory.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure 3.]
Statement of Jules Quesnelle.
On or about 20th May last I was camped at the siding of the Canada
Pacific Railway at Maple Creek. On waking in the morning I found ten
of my horses gone. I then found that Pellitor, Degan, St. Denis,
Anderson, George Guno, Colin, McKay, and Girard had lost their
horses as well; also four of Mr. Galt’s horses, which were tied to a
tent, were gone, about 48 head in all. I at once found tracks, and
followed them about ten miles south. I was therefore sure that it
was South Piegans who had taken the horses. I came back for
equipment and started out next day in company with Girard, Charles
McCune and St. Denis, for the Piegan Reserve. We started for Fort
Assinniboine via Fort Walsh and then went on to Fort Benton, where I
heard that the soldiers at Joe Kipp’s had eleven head. Out of the
eleven, eight of them were mine. I went on to Kipp’s and there found
my eight horses, one of Mr. Galt’s, and two belonging to one of the
men at Maple Creek. While at Kipp’s I heard that some of the horses
had gone to the Piegan Reserve and some to the Marias. I and Girard
then started to return to Maple Creek, the other two men going; on
to the Piegan Reserve. While on the road we camped in the United
States military camp at the Sweet Grass Hills, and heard there were
some Indians camped about five miles off. Next morning I went to the
officer commanding the American troops, and told him I thought some
of the stolen horses were in the Indian camp near. He then sent some
soldiers with me and I went to the Indian camp. The officer asked
the Indians if there were any stolen horses there, and the Indians
said, “There
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were their
horses; he could go and look for himself.” I went amongst the
horses, hut the only two I could identify was one of Mr. Galt’s and
one of Girard’s. On proceeding to take these two horses the Indians
did not want to give up Mr. Galt’s horse, and the officer told me to
take the horse and bring it on to the camp. I was about to lead the
horse away, when the Indians fired and shot the horse I was leading,
belonging to Mr. Gait. I then went back to the camp with the
soldiers and returned to Maple Creek, arriving on the 7th June.
[Inclosure 4.]
Colonel Irvine
to Mr. White.
Northwest Mounted Police Headquarters,
Regina, June 21, 1883.
Sir: I have the honor to inform you that,
during the present month, eleven of our horses were run off by
Indians from the United States in the immediate vicinity of Fort
Walsh. A report from Superintendent Shurtleff giving details of the
occurrence has unfortunately been mislaid; he has, however, been
instructed to send a copy of this report, which I trust I shall be
able to forward you in a day or two. In the mean time I might
mention that a telegram has been received from Colonel Ilges,
commanding United States troops, Fort Assinniboine, to the effect
that our horses were captured by him from South Piegans. I am also
in receipt of a telegram from J. G. Baker & Co., stating that
the horses were taken from the Indians in the vicinity of the Sweet
Grass Hills.
I have, &c.,
