No. 311.
Mr. Frelinghuysen to Mr. West.
Department of State, Washington, September 25,
1883.
Sir: With reference to the reply of this
Department of the 30th of July last to your note of the 25th of that
month, in relation to the alleged stealing of horses from Canadian
territory by South Piegan Indians, I now have the honor to inclose
herewith for your information a copy of a report in relation to the
matter in question which I have received from the Acting Secretary of
the Interior, from which it appears that the transaction complained of
in your note took place at a long distance from the agency and from the
military camp, and that the expedition, as the authorities afterwards
learned, took place by way of retaliation, at a time when constant raids
were being made by the Crees from the Canadian side, by which the South
Piegan Indians lost about 200 head of horses.
While I have deemed it proper to communicate to you the above information
as to the alleged retaliatory actions of the South Piegan Indians, I
desire it to be distinctly understood that this Government does not
justify the course taken by those Indians.
I have, &c.,
[Inclosure.—Extract.]
Mr. Price to
Mr. Teller.
Department of the Interior, Office of Indian
Affairs,
Washington, September 1,
1883.
Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt, by Department reference of the 1st ultimo, of a
communication, dated July 30 last, from the Acting Secretary of
State, inclosing copy of a communication to that Department from the
British minister in relation to the alleged stealing of horses from
Canadian territory by South Piegan Indians from the United
States.
In office letter of the 4th ultimo, Agent John Yonng, of the
Blackfeet agency, Montana, was instructed to furnish any information
he might possess or might be able to obtain in reference to this
matter, and, under date of the 22d ultimo, the agent makes his
report therein (copy herewith), from which it appears that “the
transactions described took place at from 50 to 80 miles distant
from this agency, and from the commander of the military camp near
there I had at the time a report in all main points agreeing with
that now received from the Canadian authorities.”
The agent also says that “at arid before the time when this stealing
took place constant raids were being made by the Crees from the
Canadian side, who were daring enough to steal from herds close to
this agency. When pursuit was made, fights
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took place and lives were lost j but before
proper protection was procured by the military camp, over 200 ponies
had been stolen and taken into Canada. None of them to this date
have been returned.”
The agent concludes that “the stealing referred to was in retaliation
for these outrages, carefully concealed from the agent’s knowledge,
but in accordance with the Indian’s method of obtaining redress for
his wrongs.”
* * * * * * *
The letter from the State Department, with its inclosure, is herewith
returned. I also inclose a copy of this report.
Very respectfully, &c.,
