Started out early this morning trying to find information relative to prominent citizens getting caught hunting in Indian Territory. I suspect that the Winfield businessmen caught by the soldiers made the trip during the period I have not reached as yet....finished all of 1884 Courier and Traveler and Republican in the 1886s just before they merged.
When I got to the 1885 Republican...Wow! All sorts of things happened and I was told that I had a virus...lost it and lost all my notes collected thus far for you. Finally retrieved it. Kay put into effect the Norton antivirus program after he found out his equipment was affected by a virus...Unfortunately he had never corrected file Repub.8. That man was always using disks sent to him. Warned him about it constantly, but he was stubborn!
Am starting with items taken from various papers in 1884, 1885, and 1886. Hope this will give you some idea how there were many illegal hunters who went to Indian Territory. They were constantly in trouble for stealing wood, game, etc. Only when Uncle Samuel began to listen to some of the Indians and warned the public did matters get better. Items contain more stories re Indians than hunters, but I thought you might find them interesting.
Some of the dates may be a little goofy.
Winfield Courier, January 24, 1884.
Sad, If True.
A sad and touching story comes to us from Kaw Agency. A guileless red son of the forest whose early education in the intricate sciences seems to have been somewhat neglected, found a nytro-glycerine cartridge, and of course thought it was something to eat. One of the peculiarities of the noble Indian is that when he finds a thing and does not know what to do with it, he invariably classifies it with his alphabetical list of foods, and entombs it in his always hungry midst. This Indian made a fair average lunch from the tenderest end of the cartridge, smacked his lips in satisfaction, and returned to his tepee and retired to rest. During the night his wife yelled to him to Alie over,@ and at the same time dug her elbow into his abdomen with wifely vigor. He obeyed. He laid over a considerable portion of the adjacent real estate, while here and there portions of his once proud frame could be seen dangling from the limbs of trees in the soft moonlight. His wife hasn=t been heard of since. The story is a sad one, and should teach the untutored red children to always investigate before they bite into a substance with which they are not personally acquainted.
Winfield Courier, February 28, 1884.
Mr. M. A. Smalley, of Carey, Ohio, an old friend and school teacher of James McLain, was in the city Tuesday. Mr. Smalley passed through Winfield fourteen years ago on a buffalo hunt, when only one or two houses were here. The only thing he now recognized was the old ford near the Tunnel mill, which he remembered as the place where one of the hunting party of 1870 was drowned. Buffalo were not far from this point in those days.
Arkansas City Republican, February 16, 1884.
RELIGIOUS DEPARTMENT.
SELECTION BY REV. S. B. FLEMING.
The Lawless Indian.
A recent decision of the supreme court of the United States has been accorded short paragraphs in obscure corners with little thought of its bearing on the welfare of a quarter of a million of people. Two years ago last August the well-known Sioux chief, Spotted Tail, held a council and feast with his people on their reservation in Dakota, and at its close in the afternoon mounted his horse and started home. Coming from the opposite direction, in a wagon, were Crow Dog and his wife. The former got out of his wagon, stooping toward the ground, and as the chief rode along, suddenly rose up and shot him through the breast. Spotted Tail fell from his horse, regained his feet, tried to draw his pistol, reeled and fell back dead. Crow Dog jumped into his wagon and rode at full speed to his camp, nine miles distant. Intense excitement prevailed among the Indians, but no outbreak occurred. It appeared that an old feud had existed between the two men, but that the immediate cause of the assassination was political, Spotted Tail having been put out of the way to make room for an aspirant to his position as head chief. The facts being known, an Indian policeman was instructed to capture Crow Dog. This being done next day, the assassin was turned over to the civil authorities of Dakota, and 20,000 Sioux awaited the results of the Awhite man=s way.@ Upon trial in the district court of the judicial district of Dakota, Crow Dog was found guilty and condemned to death. On appeal the case came before the Supreme Court, the counsel for the prisoner claiming that the district court of Dakota had no jurisdiction in the case, and therefor its finding and sentence were void, and, praying for the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus.
The law makers of a nation which boasts of the supremacy of law over the land have allowed to remain on their statute book until the year of our Lord 1884, the following:
Section 2145. The general laws of the United States as to punishment of crimes committed in any place within the sole and exclusive jurisdiction of the United States, except the district of Columbia, shall except the Indian country.
Section 2146. The preceding section, shall not be construed to extend to crimes committed by one Indian against the person or property of another Indian, or to any Indian committing an offense in the Indian country who has been punished by the local laws of the tribe.
This means that over a territory aggregating 225,000 square miles, and among 250,000 people, United States laws shall be inoperative. Fighting, stealing, gambling, polygamy, murder, and every crime which savage passion may breed, shall go on unchecked save by such restraints as the barbarians themselves may devise, while a Christian government calmly looks on and lets them alone. With such a statute before him, Justice Mathews decided that the Indians have a right to try and punish the criminal after their own laws and customs, without interference from the United States, and that the district court of Dakota had no jurisdiction, and Crow Dog=s imprisonment was illegal. He is, therefore, to be remanded to the Alaws and customs@ of retaliation and revenge, injury and reprisal, and his countrymen will be confirmed in their opinion that the white man=s ways are good only for the white man.
Better than comment is another instance of the practical working of this legal Areservation@ for Indians, to which the Commissioner of Indian affairs refers in his annual report just published.
A year ago last September, an Arapaho half-breed, named Robert Poisal, returning from a trip in the Indian Territory, in which he had just placed his children, was shot dead by Johnson Foster, a Creek Indian, no motive but plunder being assignable. The murderer was arrested by mounted police of the Seminole nation; and to prevent Athe carrying out of tribunal laws and customs,@ in the way of summary vengeance, he was turned over for safekeeping to the military authorities at Fort Reno. On request of the Interior Department, the attorney general ordered the trial of the prisoner before the United States court at Fort Smith, Arkansas, but on further consideration and correspondence, he decided that there was too much doubt as to jurisiction of the United States in the matter to justify incurring the expense of removing the prisoner and trying the case.
The war department wearied of the custody of Foster and asked to be relieved; the Interior department urged that a dismissal [?] should be made, and reluctantly the attorney general consented. Meantime since it had appeared that complaints of horse stealing and other offenses were pending against Foster in the United States court at Fort Smith, the United States deputy marshal, with a strong guard of troops, undertook to remove him from Fort Reno thither. Within the first fifteen miles, a party of Arapahoes nearly succeeded in capturing him, and before half the journey was completed, Foster had murdered the Marshal=s assistant and made his escape. He is now at large. Now that he has murdered a white man, the majesty of the law can be manifested provided he is recaptured.
How much longer will congress turn a deaf ear to the entreaties of government officials, teachers, missionaries, and other philanthropists, religious societies, and institutions, even the Aguards@ themselves, that Indians be made amenable to law? Apparently hopeless of adequate legislation in his day, Commissioner Price suggests a partial remedy for the evil, which, like Captain Seller=s window sash Awill keep out the coarsest of cold.@ He recommends that, when new states are admitted into the union, their constitutions shall extend over Indian reservations the jurisdiction of territorial courts. This is a wise suggestion, which should be borne in mind by legislators who can spend days on revision of rules, but cannot give an hour to the erasure of one blot from our statutes. The following indignant protest, made by Bishop Hare in 1866, has added weight and force each year.
ACivilization has loosened in some places, broken the bonds which regulate and hold together Indian society in its wild state, and has failed to give the people laws and officers of justice in their place. This evil still continues unabated. Women are brutally beaten and outraged; men are murdered in cold blood; the Indians who are friendly to schools and churches are intimidated and preyed upon by the evil disposed; children are molested on their way to school, and schools are dispersed by bands of vagabonds; but there is no redress. This accursed condition of things is an outrage upon the One Lawgiver. It is a disgrace to our land. It should make every man who sits in the national halls of legislators blush. And wish well to the Indians as we may, and do for them what we will, the efforts of civil agents, teachers, and missionaries are like the struggles of drowning men weighed with lead, as long as, by the absence of law, Indian society is left without a base. Independent.@
Arkansas City Republican, March 1, 1884.
A False Alarm.
Last Friday evening, a flying messenger rode hastily into Silverdale and with bated breath, related the story that his companions had been killed by the Indians. The men within the military age, quickly collected, and armed themselves with knives, swords, halberds, tomahawks, muskets, scythes, and pitchforks. A company of twelve was hastily formed of as brave men as ever carried a deadly weapon. P. F. Haynes was chosen captain, and O. S. Gibson high corporal. Mounting their gallant steeds, the flying cavalcade started for the territory and vengeance. Arriving at the scene of the massacre, they found the murdered boy as serene as a summer=s morning. It seems that the two boy herders had had a slight quarrel with an Indian, who threatened to kill them if they intruded upon his sacred domain. Boy-like they intruded, and seeing another Indian, one of the boys started to run. The other boy called to him not to flee, but the harder he called the faster the other boy ran. It was a woeful disappointment. The citizen soldiers had expected some fun. They had ground their knives to a razor=s edge, rammed their guns and cannon to the muzzle, with grape and canister, and had supposed they would take many scalps. Slowy and sadly the boys faced about; high private Gibson sounded the recall; Captain Haynes gave the order, and like the boys who charged upon the mullen stalks, returned without the loss of a single man. As soon as Gov. Glick was informed of the ubiquity of the company=s movements, he telegraphed that he would be pleased to attach the whole command to his staff.
Arkansas City Republican, March 29, 1884.
[AT FIRST NEXT ITEM DID NOT MAKE MUCH SENSE...UNTIL THE WORD AOIL@ BEGAN TO REGISTER...am sure it refers to the ASinclair Oil People@...Roberts, if I recall rightly, was a son-in-law of the big cheese in company.]
A wood hauler would like to know by what right or authority the oil company or any company can cut timber on an Indian reservation and convert it to their own use in any way, and then forbid the honest granter from hauling off the dead tops for fire wood? THE REPUBLICAN has this to say: One man=s right in the territory is as good as another=s, unless he is an officer of the law, a citizen of the Nation, or licensed by the government, as trader, mail carrier, etc. The Department Arecognizes@ the lease to cattle men for grazing purposes, but there is no law for it.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 9, 1884.
On last Wednesday night some parties at present unknown cut about two miles of wire fence belonging to Windsor & Roberts, in the Indian Territory, at the same time sawing off many of the posts. Not satisfied with this work of destruction, the parties set fire to a car load of barbed wire belonging to the above gentlemen, and destroyed the entire lot--over 20,000 pounds. The wire was in the state on Pettit=s place, we believe, and was purely the work of deviltry. If the perpetrators can be found, they should be most summarily dealt with for such an outrage. The penitentiary is too good for men who thus wantonly destroy private property. Whatever grievance, fancied or real, they may have against a man or corporation, it furnishes no excuse for burning up the property of such corporation.
[Windsor/Roberts...Sinclair Oil people...had AO I L@ brand on their cattle.]
THE WINFIELD COURIER.
D. A. MILLINGTON, EDITOR.
ED. P. GREER, LOCAL EDITOR.
[Note how Winfield Courier generally knocked the Indians. Traveler/Republican were very careful not to do so.]
Winfield Courier, May 29, 1884.
EDITORIAL NOTES. [FRONT PAGE.]
Mr. Plumb has introduced a bill forfeiting unearned lands granted the Atlantic & Pacific railroad to aid in the construction of a railroad and telegraph line from the States of Missouri and Arkansas to the Pacific coast, and restore the same to settlement.
Secretary Teller=s plan of educating the Indian through the agency of his stomach, rather than by the high grade text book, appears to strike the popular mind as being a very sensible proposition. The Indian is more easily reached through his mouth than through his brain. The mouth is usually the larger of the two.
Winfield Courier, June 12, 1884.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
El Dorado contained 3,030 population on the first day of March, and is growing rapidly.
It is reported from Washington that the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gulf railroad is to be granted the right-of-way through the Indian Territory.
From March 1st up to last Saturday, there had been slaughtered and packed in Chicago 380,000 hogs, against 372,000 for the corresponding period a year ago.
A party of horse thieves and whiskey peddlers were overtaken in the Indian Territory a few days ago by several officers, and in the attempt to arrest them, Geo. Briggs, one of the thieves, was instantly killed, and another one mortally, and the third slightly wounded. Two officers were also slightly wounded.
John M. Simpson, a prominent cattleman of Texas, who has just made an extensive tour of the cattle region and some Northern markets, says the outlook for beeves is very fine. He reports that some advanced herds from Texas have already arrived at Dodge City, Kansas, and says this season=s drive from Texas will be larger than for ten years, and will probably reach half a million head.
Winfield Courier, June 26, 1884.
Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Dickie, of the Central Hotel, accompanied by her brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Smith, of Shelby, Ohio, who are visiting them, spent several days of last week in the wilds of the Indian Territory, returning Sunday.
[Paper sometimes added that such parties went down to hunt. In this case, with ladies going along, I doubt it.]
[About this time the ABoomers@ were really getting bad...did you know that Arkansas City at one time was headquarters for their newspaper, the Oklahoma War Chief?]
Winfield Courier, July 3, 1884.
OKLAHOMA.
The associate dispatches of last week announced that General Hatch had made a report covering the entire situation in the Territory. Monday night the paper was informed that General Hatch received his orders touching the settlers. The general went through this city yesterday morning. From U. S. Deputy Marshal Williams, who accompanied the General down to Caldwell, and who, in company with United States Commissioner Shearman, returned last evening, we learn the following facts. Mr. Williams says that Gen. Hatch said that his orders were positive and mandatory. He will proceed with such force as he may deem necessary to remove every man now within the Territory who is without a permit to remain, after which no one will be permitted to cross the line except such as are armed with a proper passport. Camps are to be established at Caldwell, Hunnewell, Arkansas City, and Coffeyville, and a full company of soldiers stationed at each. The general further said in case there was any armed or other forcible resistance, it would not be well for those concerned, as such an attitude would be attended with the gravest results, even though not a single shot was fired upon either side. So far as Marshal Williams could learn, it is the intention of the department to absolutely prohibit any further attempt to settle the Territory until congress shall have taken some definite action, either sanctioning the settlement or prohibiting it all together. General Hatch was asked what would be done with reference to the Texas border. He replied that there was no danger from that quarter; the settlers down there lacked the enterprise or were wanting in that spirit of adventure which characterized the boomers.
If there is any mistake in the facts as set forth above, then Mr. Williams failed to understand the import of the general=s conversation, for it is just as given to us.
Wichita Eagle, 2nd ult.
Winfield Courier, July 3, 1884.
The civilized tribes of the Indian Territory are exceedingly hostile to the allotment of lands in severalty among the savages, on the ground that it would demoralize the tribal organizations. Bushyhead, the principal chief of the Cherokees, has filed at Washington a protest against the bill. The Pawnees have leased 128,000 acres to cattle-raisers for five years at three cents per acre.
Winfield Courier, July 3, 1884.
INDIANS TAKING DOWN FENCES.
There is great consternation at Chetopa, this state, among those having ranches in the
Indian Territory. The sheriff of the Cherokee Nation, with a squad of Indians, has been taking down all the wire fencing that enclosed larger tracts than fifty acres, that being the limit allowed by the act of the Cherokee council. The sheriff confiscates all the wire he takes down. The sheriff began work south of Coffeyville, and is taking it down as he goes east. Thousands of miles of fencing have been removed. The Indians seem to mean business, and evidently mean to eject all intruders.
Winfield Courier, July 10, 1884.
EDITORIAL NOTES.
The secretary of the interior, last week, received a telegram from the cattle men at Dodge City, Kansas, complaining that the Cherokee Stock Association, who have leased a strip of land in the Indian Territory, traveled by the established cattle trails between Texas and Kansas, have closed the trail with wire fences and offered armed resistance to the progress of cattle droves. The secretary instructed Inspector Benedict to go at once to the region of disturbance and take active measures to open and keep open all established trails found closed.
Winfield Courier, July 10, 1884.
Under date of June 27, General Hatch issued the following general order: It has become the duty of the troops of this district under the authority of the general commanding the department of the mission to enforce the proclamation of the president issued Feb. 12, 1880. This proclamation requires the removal of all unauthorized persons who have intruded upon the Indian Territory and the prevention of such intrusions by others. The commanding officers of troops in the field in this district are charged with the above duty. Capt. Henry Carroll, 9th cavalry, now in camp on the Cimarron River is assigned the territory south of the boundary line of the old Cherokee strip and between the 96 and 98 meridians. Capt. Frank P. Bennett, 9th cavalry, whose camp will be on Thompson Creek, is assigned the territory included between the Kansas state line and the southern boundary of the Cherokee strip and west of the 96 meridian. All unauthorized persons will be removed at once. Persons resisting removal will be arrested and turned over with as little delay as possible to the United States commissioner at Caldwell, Kansas, or to the United States Marshal. In the performance of this duty, commanding officers of troops in the field will be guided by the provisions of sections 2150 and 2151. Revised statutes of the United States. [Boomer file]
Winfield Courier, July 10, 1884.
The cattle men, who are driving their herds up from Texas to Kansas and Nebraska, complain loudly of the treatment received at the hands of bands of Kiowa and Comanche Indians in the Territory. They are constantly demanding pay of the drivers, and there is no putting them off, so the blackmailing operation has to be submitted to. The cattle men think the government should warn the Indians off the trail and punish them for their depredations.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 10, 1884.
We understand that the businessmen of that cowboy=s paradise, Caldwell, have petitioned Commissioner Price to reverse his decision that all freights for the Indian Territory should come to Arkansas City in the future instead of to Caldwell. In this petition the voracious gentlemen of the town of prostitutes and whiskey set forth that the roads to Arkansas City are in a bad condition and all fenced up; that Caldwell offers superior advantages for that class of trade; and that the Indians and Indian agents were especially desirous that this change should not be made. This would all be true if it were not for the fact that it is purely a malicious lie, prompted by jealousy. The roads to Arkansas City are as good as any from the Territory, and are not fenced up. Arkansas City is by far a better business point than Caldwell or any other town near the Territory. There are some branches of business peculiar to Caldwell, it is true, to which Arkansas City is a stranger. We have no saloons running at full blast day and night; we have no gambling halls; nor does Arkansas City boast of a class of women reveling in a life of shame. We do not turn the Sabbath day into a horse racing and Bacchanalian sport; our citizens do not get drunk and murder their wives; our city officers do not become so familiar with crime, and so imbued with a devilish spirit, that they needs must turn bank robbers and assassins. Ours is a respectable, law-abiding, intelligent, and enterprising community, with an influence for good. What is Caldwell? It is a town where the liquor interests have always been supreme; where saloons, gambling houses, and houses of ill-fame are recognized as legitimate industries, and from which the city obtains its principal revenue. We hardly think the petition from Caldwell will carry much weight with Commissioner Price. It is pretty safe to say the freight will come to Arkansas City.
Winfield Courier, July 24, 1884.
The Arkansas City Democrat gives an account of another of those horrible tragedies which are so often transpiring in the Territory: AMr. J. R. Rightwood just came in from the Oklahoma country and informs us that on last Thursday morning two men who have been camped for a week or more on the west side of the Cimarron River were discovered about eight o=clock on the morning of the above date murdered and fearfully mutilated, and their camp plundered of everything that could be carried away. One of the unfortunate victims was found one hundred yards from camp with about twenty-five bullet holes through his body, and his head chopped off and placed on a stump a few feet away. The other was found in one of the wagon boxes and evidently made a desperate struggle for life, as the box was riddled with holes, and his double barrel shot gun lay shattered to pieces by his side. He evidently received his death wound at short range, as his face was powder burnt beyond recognition, and a large gaping wound showed that the gun had been placed near his head when fired. From indications it is supposed to have been Indians, as moccasin and pony tracks were thick, and from the trail the party made as they went west, down the river, it is judged that they numbered upwards of fifty. From papers found on the bodies of the murdered men, it was found that their names were John L. Lawrence, of Oskaloosa, Jefferson County, this State, and Thomas E. Mayberry, of Boonsborro, Arkansas.
[Note: The Democrat newspaper, to my knowledge, is not on microfilm...same with the Telegram from Winfield. Lucky that Traveler and other papers picked up on stories.]
Winfield Courier, August 7, 1884.
The Indians make some curious combinations in learning the English language. For instance, a corn cob is Awood-corn,@ ground coffee is Ameal coffee,@ an alarm clock a Abuzz clock,@ lamp, Alittle fire,@ all the same as sun. Sun is a very short word in our language, but in the language of the Nez Perces, it is AWin-na-ten-a-tu-a-hah.@ A wagon seat is, wagon chair; a rubber coat, Aa rain coat.@ The North star, Acold star.@ AYoweds,@ is cold. AYekess,@ is warm. AWere-ent@ is rain. AHow-hat-guts@ is wind. So we might say:
AWinnatenatuahah is yekess today.@
C. M. [RECKON THIS IS C. M. SCOTT.]
Winfield Courier, August 7, 1884.
Dispute About Cattle.
Gilbert, Newman, and Hallowell contracted 1,000 head of cattle of Mackay, of Texas, to be delivered on their range on the Kaw Indian Reserve. The rivers were high all summer on the way up and the Arkansas River has been bank full for two months. Mackay got here and waited two weeks to cross the cattle and finally drove them over the bridge and through the state. In the settlement he claimed $900 for extra mileage and expenses. Hallowell refused to pay it and Mackay fired at him with a Winchester rifle. Hallowell returned the fire and 20 shots were exchanged before Mackay rode off. Mackay has been arrested. Driving the Texas cattle through the state has caused considerable alarm for fear of domestic cattle taking the Texas fever.
[Question: Is this our Newman? Also...article had Hollowell and Hallowell; further, article had Mackey and Mackay...??? Further, source of article not given!]
Winfield Courier, August 14, 1884.
Ousting the Oklahoma Boomers.
On Aug. 8th, Gen. Hatch, in company with Adjutant Finley and Inspector Green of the Interior department, visited Payne=s camp at Rock Falls, and after reading the president=s proclamation to him and his assembled followers, directed them to leave the Territory before the morning or they would be ejected. This took place in a small board shanty occupied by the Oklahoma War Chief newspaper. Payne at first attempted to discuss the legal aspects of the case, but soon became angry and very abusive in his language. A large crowd assembled from the tents and shanties along the river and the officers again admonished them to leave and not return. The only reply was a torrent of abusive epithets that cannot be published. The officers then returned to camp ten miles distant. Early the next morning two squadrons of the Ninth United States cavalry commanded by Capt. Moore appeared in the boomers= camp and under the direction of an Indian Agent, Rogers, arrested the whole community and took charge of the printing office. All the women, children, and men who were first offenders were escorted to the Kansas line together with their personal property.
SIX OLD OFFENDERS.
Named as follows: D. L. Payne, J. B. Cooper, D. G. Greathouse, T. W. Ecklebarger, Jno. McGrew, and D. L. Mosely, were loaded onto a six mule team and started under escort of Lieutenant Jackson and fifteen men for Fort Smith, Arkansas, 300 miles distant. The printing office and other buildings, including two boarding houses, a drug store, cigar store, and restaurant, and some cheap dwellings were then
BURNED TO THE GROUND.
And the last vestige of Rock Falls had disappeared.
Payne threatened to cut the throat of the first man who attempted to arrest him, but one colored soldier marched him and raved about the camp for an hour. Payne has lost whatever prestige he may have had heretofore with the thinking class of the community. He has been on a drunken debauch for a week and was too drunk to attend a conference of the squatters after Gen. Hatch left Rock Falls. The squatters realize that they have paid him many thousands of dollars without any equivalent. The number ejected from the camp was about two hundred and fifty.
A large crowd of citizens were present from Hunnewell as spectators, and heartily approved the method adopted to rid the Territory of the intruders. It is believed this will cure the boomers of trying to force a settlement on Indian lands. Other detachments have been sent to the remaining settlements, who will in like manner arrest the ring leaders and take them to Fort Smith, Arkansas.
[Source for above article not given.]
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, August 6, 1884.
Oklahoma Orders.
It is anticipated that there will be very lively times in Indian Territory in a few days. For some weeks past Capt. Payne, who has led a number of invasions towards Oklahoma, has been mustering his forces in Kansas. When his party numbered about 3,000 men, a good part of whom desired to become actual settlers in the Territory, he moved south into the Cherokee Strip, from Kansas. The Cherokee Indian Agent complained to the Indian department, and orders were sent by the war department to Gen. Augur, commanding the department of the Missouri, to prepare to head them off, and to remove them. Gen. Hatch was then sent to watch the movements and stop a move on Oklahoma with a part of the Ninth cavalry from Forts Sills and Supply, in addition to the four troops now in the temporary district of Oklahoma. The balance of the command were also held in reserve. Since that time final orders have been desired and some definite instructions as to when the military should remove them from the Territory. While these were being waited for, Payne=s band has been greatly increased, and he is taking steps for an advance. The order of the interior department directing that a land agent accompany the military, which was issued on Thursday, has settled matters, and the work of removal will commence at once. It is not thought Gen. Augur will wait for the land agent to arrive, but will proceed in the matter or is even doing so now. The plan that will probably be used will be the posting of proclamations in the parts of the Territory invaded, directing the invaders to be out of its limits by a certain day, and if they are not out at that time, they will be removed by force. Payne=s party talks of resistance, and a small internal war is likely to follow. Payne=s former offenses have been so little regarded by the interior departgment heretofore, that his men think that the department is inclined to believe that Payne is in the right. Inter-Ocean, 25th.
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, August 6, 1884.
OKLAHOMA BOOMERS.
The Colonists at Rockwell Falls to be Removed by Troops.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, August 1. It is believed that the body of Oklahoma settlers will be removed by the United States troops on Monday. Gen. Hatch, of the United States army, and A. R. Greene, of the interior department, are now at Caldwell, Kansas, in consultation concerning the orders from Washington. Gen. Hatch has 900 soldiers in his command. The first move will be made on the town of Rock Falls, a few miles south of Hunnewell, Kansas. Rock Falls is a sort of general headquarters for the settlers, and contains the office of the Oklahoma War Chief newspaper. The town and newspaper will be moved outside the Indian Territory. The officers say that the orders given them shall be strictly obeyed, and that in expelling the settlers, the utmost kindness will be used consistent with the circumstances. The estimates concerning the number of people to be removed varied greatly, some putting it as low as 400. The true number will probably be about 1,500 boomers and about twenty stock ranch outfits. Some of the latter are pretty extensive. The highest estimate heard came from military sources, and raises 3,000 in all. The last issue of the War Chief is full of defiance. Force will be required to remove these people, but the position taken by the leaders of the boomers in their organ would indicate they desire this to be exercised. It is said that some 18,000, including servant girls in hotels and the easily influenced everywhere, have paid their $2.50 fee for claims, and another $2.00 fee as members of the colony. Of course, the men who have received these moneys want something more than constructive force for their own justification, but at the same time no violent opposition to the military is anticipated.
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, August 13, 1884.
Bounced Boomers.
On Wednesday morning, August 6, Gen. Hatch, in company with Adjutant General Finley and Inspector Green, of the Interior department, visited Payne=s camp at Rock Falls, and after reading the president=s proclamation to him and his assembled followers, directed them to leave the Territory before the next morning, or they would be ejected. This took place in a small board shanty occupied by the Oklahoma Chief newspaper, the forms of which were being made up at the time.
Payne attempted to discuss the legal aspects of the case, but soon became angry and very abusive in his language, calling all the officers of the government, from the highest to the lowest, a pack of damned thieves. Cooper, the editor, chimed in with vituperation and threats. Failing to provoke the officers into a quarrel, Payne said he had a valise full of money and would give one thousand dollars to be tried by a United States court, and, in order to assure the officers of a case against him, he would, then and there, sell them liquor or cigars without license or permit. He urged the officers to dine with him and offered them plenty of liquor if they would do so. By this time a large crowd had assembled from the tents and shanties along the river, and the officers again admonished them to leave and not return. The only reply was a torrent of abusive epithets that cannot be published. The officers then returned to camp ten miles distant.
Early the next morning two squadrons of the Ninth United States cavalry, commanded by Capt. Moore, appeared in the boomers= camp, and under direction of Indian Agent Rogers, arrested the whole community, and took charge of the printing office. All the women, children, and men who were first offenders, were escorted to the Kansas line, together with their personal property. Six old offenders, named as follows, D. L. Payne, J. B. Cooper, D. G. Greathouse, T. W. Eclebarger, John McGrew, and S. L. Mosley, were loaded into a six-mule team and started under escort of Lieut. Jackson and fifteen men, for Fort Smith, Arkansas, three hundred miles distant. The paper was ready to go to press, and upon inquiry a number of printers were found in command who soon printed an edition of one hundred copies. The press was then carefully packed and loaded into a wagon, and started under an escort for Muskogee, Indian Territory, it being confiscated property and, under the law, unreplevinable. The printing office and other buildings, including the boarding houses, a drug store, cigar store and restaurant, and some cheap dwellings, were then burned to the ground, and the last vestige of Rock Falls had disappeared.
Payne threatened to cut the throat of the first man who attempted to arrest him; but one colored soldier marched him about the camp for an hour. Payne has lost whatever prestige he may have had heretofore with the thinking class of the community. He has been on a drunken debauch for a week, and was too drunk last night to attend a conference of the squatters after Gen. Hatch left Rock Falls. The poor deluded squatters realize that they have paid him many thousands of dollars without any equivalent.
The number ejected from this camp was about two hundred and fifty people. A large crowd of citizens were present from Hunnewell as spectators, and heartily approved the course adopted to rid the Territory of the intruders. It is believed this will cure the boomers of trying to force a settlement on the Indian lands. Other detachments have been sent to the remaining settlements, who will in like manner arrest the ringleaders and take them to Fort Smith.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 20, 1884.
Speaking of Payne=s ejectment from the Indian Territory, the Caldwell Journal says that among the personal effects captured was the colony membership book, dating from 1881 to 1884, and further says: AThe face of the receipts in those books shows that Payne has received $54,435 from the sale of membership certificates, aside from the sales of stock in the town he has started in Oklahoma proper and on the Cherokee Strip, which from the best information obtainable, is fully as much more, and must aggregate over $108,000.@
[Above item is the only one I have found that gives a clue to Payne=s motive in getting gullible people to go to AOklahoma@....in Indian Territory.]
Arkansas City Traveler, August 20, 1884.
Oklahoma.
W. B. Williams, deputy United States marshal, of Wichita, was in the city last Wednesday, and from him we learn the following facts.
Armed with a warrant for the arrest of D. W. Payne and other trespassers against the government, Mr. Williams came to this city, and securing the services of Frank Reed, they started for Otoe Agency. On Wednesday morning Mr. Williams met Lieut. Garner and force with the prisoners in charge, and showing his authority, asked that the lieutenant deliver the men over to him, and provide him with an escort of thirty men to the state line. Mr. Williams says that Lieutenant Garner not only refused this request, but in a very insulting manner told him he would not entertain it al all; that he drew his troops up in line and threatened fight if the demand was insisted upon. In view of the fact that Messrs. Williams and Reed were alone, this was very brave on the part of Garner with two or three companies of soldiers at his back. It is probably true, as we are informed, that Lieut. Garner had a little more whiskey than anything else in him, or he would have been more courteous to Marshal Williams.
Regarding Payne and his work, it is known that we have opposed him, only because he was acting contrary to law. But in this matter it looks to us as though Mr. Williams had the right on his side, if, as he claims, his authority ranks higher than that of the military. The lieutenant may not have known this, or it may be that he did, but was acting on the advice of interested parties, knowing that he had sufficient force to hold his prisoners.
The government is losing by its attitude in this matter. Mr. Payne has been arrested repeatedly, but nothing has ever been done with him. Now if he is violating the law, he ought to be put in the penitentiary. If he is not in the wrong, let him and others go in and occupy what lands are open to settlement. We do not advocate this in the interest of Payne, who has duped thousands, but in the interest of right and justice to all parties. We would like to see the Indian country kept for the Indians according to treaties, allowing the right of way to one or two railroads, so that Kansas may have direct communication with southern markets; but if there are government lands there which the government does not want settled by whites, let it pass a law to that effect and forever settle this question. Otherwise, we do not see how people are to be kept out of this country much longer.
We predict that Mr. Payne will suffer no more punishment at Fort Smith than if he had been delivered over to Marshal Williams.
Arkansas City Republican, August 9, 1884.
T. J. Gilbert & Co., contracted 1,000 head of cattle from Mackey, of Texas, to be delivered on the Kaw Indian Reserve. High waters impeded the delivery of the cattle, and when settlement was reached, Mackey claimed $900 for extra expense, which Mr. Hollowell refused to pay. Shots, commenced by Mackey, were exchanged; and Seth Hollowell, a relative of Mr. Hollowell, was wounded in the leg. Two of the fellows were arrested and their trial set for August 15.
[THEY HAD HALLOWELL AND HOLLOWELL...???]
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, September 6, 1884.
Mr. Pappan, an Indian from Pawnee Agency, called THE REPUBLICAN up from the Diamond Front Wednesday. It was Mr. Pappan=s first experience with the telephone, and he was very much astonished as well as pleased. He talked in his native language over the wire, and it sounded very much to us as if he was saying Ago home@ through his nose. Mr. Pappan came down to see us afterwards and we found him to be a gentleman. He was dressed the same as a white man and spoke very good English.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, September 6, 1884.
Last Monday morning the outgoing stage team to the Indian Agencies, furnished amusement to early risers. After the stage was loaded with passengers and merchandise, Kroenert & Austin cried Aall=s ready@ in one breath; but they forgot to consult the horses on this occasion, for they refused to go. The horses had balked. Amid cries of ADon=t want to go to Pawnee,@ Ait makes my feet sore to ride,@ and other epithets from bystanders, the managers of the stage line, the driver, and several kind hearted citizens labored unceasingly to conquer the stubborn equine. But, alas, it was labor lost. Some suggested unhitching and leading down the street, which was done, and then Frank Austin with his broad shoulders against the rear end of the stage and numerous other hands at the wheels pushed the team up the street as far as the Cowley County Bank, where they took a sudden notion to Ago@ and to go while all hands were pushing. We leave our readers to imagine how the Apushers@ came out.
Arkansas City Republican, September 13, 1884.
AN AGED WARRIOR.
Recollections of General Harney, the Indian Fighter.
Every school boy has heard of W. S. Harney, the great Indian fighter. The old hero still lives, at the age of eighty-four, and, with the exception of a somewhat impaired vision, and a slightly defective memory, enjoys excellent health. He is now on a little pleasure tour from his home in St. Louis, and, with his adopted daughter, Mrs. St. Cyr, is quartered at the Ebbitt House. During his journey, he has been the recipient of many flattering attentions from hosts of friends and admirers.
A reporter of the Post has a long and pleasant chat with the General, who when he rose, towered considerabley above his visitor, his height being six feet and three inches, and his figure still erect and soldierly. He injured his leg a few weeks ago and is a little lame, but treats the matter lightly. He spoke with modesty about his exploits, and several times allowed Mrs. St. Cyr to relate incidents of his long and adventurous career.
AI was in command in Missouri when the rebellion broke out, said the General during the conversation, Aand had I not been relieved by President Lincoln in May 1861, I am sure there would have been no bloodshed in that State. But I never blamed Mr. Lincoln, for he and I were old friends. So much political pressure was brought to bear upon him by Frank P. Blair and others that I suppose he had to relieve me; and yet,@ continued the General smiling, AMr. Lincoln never saw me without reminding me that I once saved his life.@
AHow was that, General?}
AWell,@ said the General laughing, AMr. Lincoln was captain of a company of volunteers, and I was captain of a company of regulars during the Blackhawk war. I remember well how Captain Lincoln used to come to our rendezvous, General Taylor=s headquartes, and tell stories that amused us immensely. He used to lie on the grass and very frequently would say, AThat reminds me,@ and begin a funny story. One day Lincoln said to me, AI say, Harney, let=s pick out four or five good shots from our commands and go gunning for Indians on our own hook.@ AAll right, Lincoln,@ said I, Abut do you know anything about Indian fighting?@
[LAST LINE OF THE FIRST COLUMN COMPLETELY DARKENED...COULD NOT READ!]
________ good shot.@
AThat will do to start on,@ said I, Abut let me tell you one thing, never look for a redskin in front of you; look out for your flanks.@
AWell, we started out and soon came on signs of redskins. All of a sudden, while I was watching the flanks, I saw an Indian drawing a bead on Lincoln. As quick as I could possibly do so, I leveled my rifle and fired. I didn=t hit him, at least he didn=t fall, and he ran away. Ever after that Captain Lincoln insisted that I had saved his life.@
AHow many wars have you served in, General?@
ADon=t know,@ laughed the General, AI don=t care to talk about my own services.@
ALet me see,@ said Mrs. St. Cyr, Athe General was in the Seminole war in Florida, in the war with the Sioux, in which he fought a bloody battle at Ash Hollow, on the blue water; in the Mexican war, and in the late civil war. The General, you know, was the hero of the Seminole war, and hung thirteen of the hostile chiefs, which ended it. Billy Bowlegs used to say, >if Harney catch me, me hang; if me catch him, he die.=@
AIt was the General who captured the hill at Cerro Gordo, but he never boasts of his own achievements,@ said Mrs. St. Cyr.
Subsequently General Harney spoke kindly of the Indians, and told how he came near hanging an Indian agent for swindling them.
AThey all know me,@ said he, adding with laudable pride, Aand if today there was an outbreak among the Sioux, I could go to them alone and stop it, for they would listen to me. There is no trouble getting along with the Indians if they are treated kindly. It=s a shame that they should be swindled as they frequently are.@
Arkansas City Traveler, September 17, 1884.
Chilocco schools were crowded with visitors and sight-seers last week, keeping Billy Delesdernier busy answering all number of questions propounded by curious strangers. Billy is the most patient man in the world, but after cheerfully assuring his inquisitors that they were in the Indian Territory, that the British government didn=t support these Indians, and that a burly buck carelessly sauntering around in Father Hubbard costume was perfectly harmless, he was almost floored by an old lady who wanted to know how far it was to grass! Verily, it takes all kinds of people to make up a world.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 8, 1884.
Some Kiowa Indians killed a valuable steer, owned by Burt Worthley, last Wednesday morning, when returning from this city. The herder, Col. Berry, was, fortunately for the Indians, out of ammunition, or the theft would not have been committed, unless at the sacrifice of one or more Indians. There is a great deal of complaint among stockmen against the depredations committed by Indians freighting between this city and the various agencies in the southwestern part of the territory. Especially is this so among sheep herders, who lose from two to half a dozen sheep every few days, caused by Indians setting their dogs upon a flock and capturing two or three in spite of the herders. Such practices will result in trouble soon. Some stockmen will civilize an Indian so suddenly that he will not be conscious of his change from barbarism to the land of his dreams.
Arkansas City Republican, November 8, 1884.
Messrs. J. J. Jones and Will Smith, of the Washington Civil Service, were in the city this week visiting with their old friend, Mr. N. A. Haight. They were in the government survey of the Indian Territory with Mr. Haight for five years. This was an extremely AWild West@ in those days, some eleven years ago, and the wonderful changes were astonishing to them. Having cast their last vote in 1873 before going to D. C., at what was then their residence, Arkansas City, they put in their votes while here for the straight ticket. The law makes the residence of civil service employees in non-suffrage Washington only temporary. Winfield Courier.
Arkansas City Republican, November 22, 1884.
Jim Alke-Dah, the Otoe chief, up for stealing, was acquitted Wednesday on being taking before Judge Bonsall. Luckily for Jim there is no jurisdiction over a full-blooded Indian. He can do as he pleases on his native soil and Uncle Sam cannot visit the penalty upon the Indian that he does upon the white man.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 26, 1884.
It is reported that the Cheyenne Indians have refused to receive the lease money from Geo. E. Reynolds of Colorado. Mr. Reynolds leased a strip off the east side of their reservation, for which he was to pay them $14,500 annually. The Indians now claim that he has fenced more than he agreed and will not accept the money. No settlement has as yet been effected.
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, December 10, 1884.
By all means, let the leasing of lands to cattle men in the Indian Territory be thoroughly investigated, and if it shall appear that such transactions are illegal or fraudulent, then let the scope of the inquiry be so enlarged as to give the two Missouri senators a chance to explain how they came to advise the approval by the government of an operation of that kind involving 1,500,000 acres on the ground that the Indians could never use so much land, and that by leasing it at two cents an acre, they would receive a full equivalent for its occupation by the cattle men.
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, December 10, 1884.
OKLAHOMA.
The following letter received by one of our citizens gives in a nutshell, so far as persons desiring to locate thereon are concerned, the true status of the Okklahoma lands.
UNITED STATES SENATE, WASHINGTON, December 1, 1884.
T. G. MITTS--My Dear Sir: I am in receipt of your favor of the ____ inst.
As matters now stand no person can settle on the Oklahoma lands in the Indian Territory.
These lands cannot be opened to settlement except by act of congress, and until that action is had it would not be prudent to attempt to locate upon these lands. Some action may be taken this winter; but in all probability, nothing will be done until next session. The secretary of the interior has no authority to grant permission to settlers to locate on or occupy the Oklahoma lands.
Very truly yours, JOHN A. LOGAN.
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, December 10, 1884.
INDIAN LEASES.
Missouri=s junior member, the Hon. G. G. Vest, has suddenly rolled into prominence as an enemy to the cattle men of the United States. To be absolutely just with the mossback senator, however, we will state that his speech in the senate referring to the leases now existing between cattle men and Indians seemed more especially directed against Secretary Teller and heads of departments. Mr. Vest charges collusion between the cattle syndicates and officials in the interior department, and calls for a strict and immediate investigation. Just what has stirred up the senator from Missouri to such a stage of indignation is hard to tell, especially as the alleged abuses are of long standing and have been fully known by Senator Vest; but certain it is that more or less trouble will result therefrom.
The practice of leasing large tracts of grazing lands in the Territory to white men has been in vogue about ten years. At that time there were about 100,000 head of cattle in the Indian Territory, from which the Indians received little or no benefit as compared with the tribute now paid to them by the immense herds grazing on unoccupied lands. The lands on which these cattle are held belong to the Indians, who have preferred to lease them to cattle men, even at the small price paid, rather than attempt to cultivate them. Indeed, it is very doubtful if by cultivation the Indians could have realized anything from the vast tracts of grazing land, while the cattle industry, backed by the white man=s energy and thrift, has been a source of profit which is peculiarly gratifying to the Indian in that it involves a very small percent of labor on his part. In that part of the Territory which Mr. Vest has specially in view, comprising about 3,500,000 acres, the various tribes realize about $77,000 annually from the leases, which is vastly more than could be obtained if they depended on cultivating it taking into consideration their aversions to work and the small percent of arable land.
The province of the government, then, lies in its right to discriminate between the various propositions submitted to the Indians, and to approve only such leases as guarantee the greatest benefit to the Indian--always looking carefully to he responsibility of the lessee. This is no small matter, for with the great opportunity for money making offered by the cattle industry, it is quite natural that unreliable men should seek to take advantage of the Indians, and it is often a difficult question to decide.
We do not believe Secretary Teller and the heads of departments have sought to wrong the Indians in this matter. The authorities are guided by the best advice they can obtain, and if there has been any flagrant violation of contract, it is probably the result of placing too much confidence in the representations of United States senators and congressmen, to whom all aspirants for government favors appeal. In Senator Vest=s own state, the largest cattle holder is Col. R. D. Hunter, of St. Louis, whose lease was obtained through the efforts of Senators Cockerell and Vest. These honorable senators urgently requested that Col. Hunter=s lease be approved, which was done upon their representations; and now we find the junior senator bitterly attacking the very lease he advocated a few years ago. All the leases are similarly drawn up, and if there is anything wrong in them, Mr. Vest knew it at the time, which would bring the charge of collusion very close to his own door. All the leases in existence were made under a law passed by the very senators who are now attacking it, and we have no doubt the interior department is doing the best that can be done so long as the law remains as it now is. We cannot tell the result of Senator Vest=s latest move, unless it be instrumental in securing him a position in the great reformer=s cabinet. Stranger things have happened.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 10, 1884.
The Indians are getting restless and somewhat stirred up over the immense amount of deer the whites are killing this year. We fear some disturbance soon, if it continues.
Winfield Courier, November 20, 1884.
According to the report of Commissioner Price, for 1884, the Indians have made considerable progress towards civilization, and it is claimed that in the near future they will be a help rather than a burden to the Government. The Commissioner suggests that Congress should pass stringent laws prohibiting the sale of arms and ammunition to Indians. We have always thought that it would be wise to refuse ammunition to an Indian, unless he could satisfy a government agent that he had recently killed one bad Indian and wanted to kill another.
Winfield Courier, December 11, 1884.
The Sac and Fox Indians have leased two hundred thousand acres of grazing land to Kansas parties for ten years, at $40,000 per annum, the wire fencing to revert to the Indians at the expiration of the lease.
[See Traveler, December 31, 1884, after reading the following.]
Winfield Courier, December 25, 1884.
Another Territory Tragedy. The Wellington Press chronicles another of those revolting and dastardly deeds which are so often committed in the Indian Territory.
AIt seems that a party of boys were out hunting, and on arriving at a point near the Canadian River, and about 130 miles below Caldwell, they came across the bodies of three men, wrapped up in blankets, and all bound together with buckskin thongs. They had the appearance of hunters, and were only a short distance from a Cheyenne camp. It is believed that these men were hunting, were captured by the Indians, bound firmly with thongs, wrapped up in blankets, and all bound together with buckskin thongs. They had the appearance of hunters, and were only a short distance from a Cheyenne camp. It is believed that these men were hunting, were captured by the Indians, bound firmly with thongs, wrapped up in a blanket, placed out upon the open ground and there allowed to die of starvation and exposure, the appearance of their bodies giving evidence that their death had been caused in this manner. The boys who found them were terribly frightened, and hastened to the nearest white settlement, where they told their story, and word was sent here to Sheriff Henderson, who left for Caldwell Thursday. He will notify the government officials, and will doubtless be governed by their orders as to the disposition of the bodies. The clothes worn by these unfortunate men were such as to proclaim them well-to-do gentlemen, and no doubt were connected with an eastern party of hunters.@
Arkansas City Republican, December 6, 1884.
A jolly party of eight Suckers from Braidwood, Illinois, consisting of Hon. P. M. Sollady, the mayor; W. J. Stewart, chief of police; F. E. Munn, city attorney; U. Goldfinger; L. Wolfe; E. D. Phillips; D. Husband; and Thos. Fleming arrived here Thursday and put up at the Windsor. They were en route for Dodge City, but hearing of Arkansas City, threw their tickets away and came here. These genuine Suckers supposed that Kansas was made up of green Jayhawkers. They visited the Oklahoma boomers in the territory, camped on Chilocco Creek Thursday, and by a great deal of begging procured permission to share the boomers= hospitality for the evening. The fine clothes of the Suckers created a temptation among the boomers to have them soiled. At the still hour of midnight, when all were sound asleep, several of the frontiersmen dressed in the guise of the noble redman and came down on the tent in which our Illinois friends were staying with a swoosh. Their yells were enough for the Suckers. The campfire showed they were surrounded by Indians. With cries of AOh, Lord! Lord! I wish I was home and was not here,@ each Sucker skipped to the state line, instead of going to the point intended they were to go into the territory. Splash! They went across the Chilocco, legs and arms puffing only as Suckers do. They flew on. After running some more they ran into the camp of Uncle Sam=s soldiers. Thinking it was more Indians, they turned to fly in another direction, but the quick ear of the sentinel had heard them. In a deep guttural voice, he commanded a halt. It scared them more. The voice, the dark complexion of the negro, and the Suckers= imagination made Indians of the soldiers. As the sentinel=s voice smote their ears down, they went on their knees and with clasped hands began to beseech of AMister Indian@ that he not hurt them. The sentinel seemed to understand the situation. He called assistants and to continue the joke, they bound and gagged them. With yells the negroes began to dance around the frightened party. At this point of the programme, they all swooned away. When daylight came, to their great chagrin, they found they were in the camp of the U. S. Army. Now they are trying to smooth the matter over so their friends at home will not find it out. They were all day yesterday walking back to Arkansas City.
P.S. The tail end of this item is a Agoak.@ These worthy gentlemen are still here prospecting and may locate with us. At least we hope they do.
Arkansas City Republican, December 6, 1884.
Navigation of the Upper Arkansas River.
The question of utilizing that vast, though ever-changing current of water known as the Upper Arkansas River, flowing through our state from northwest to southeast, and making it the highway to a southern market, has been a living project with the enterprising agricultural people of Cowley, Sumner, Sedgwick, and those counties lying along and contiguous thereto, ever since the first settlement of that fertile valley in 1870. Owing to their remote distance from a railroad or a market, and the consequent cost of transporting the vast surplus of wheat raised in Cowley and Sumner, has this matter been of vital interest to the people living within their borders. The subject has been discussed in the field and in the grange, has been the slogan of the country poltician and the shiboleth of the farmers. It has been resolved upon by the conscientious, petitioned for by representatives, and memorialized by our state legislature until congress has taken the matter under consideration, and appointed a commission of competent engineers to personally visit, examine, and report on the feasibility of opening up the stream for navigation, from some point near the terminus of the Wichita branch of the Santa Fe railroad to Little Rock, Arkansas.
In view of these facts, a brief account of the local and individual efforts to solve the problem will doubtless be of interest. During the fall of 1875, A. W. Burkey and A. C. Winton, of Cowley County, built a small flat-boat at Arkansas City, loaded it with flour, and started town the river, bound for Little Rock. While they may not have seen the Aunexplored wilderness@ that lay between DeSota and the dream of [CANNOT READ NEXT WORD...THINK IT IS A MAN=S NAME], or the dangers that beset Coronado in his march of disappointment through undiscovered Kansas, to encounter yet four hundred and fifty miles of an unknown river, guarded by semi-barbarous people who had no particular good feeling towards a frontiersman, laying between them and civilization, presented anything but a cheerful outlook for this pioneer voyage. The trip was made, however, without misadventure, and in a reasonable length of time. The produce disposed of, the navigators returned overland to Arkansas City, and reported a fair depth of water and a lively current from the state line to Fort Gibson.
On the strength of this report, a joint stock company was immediately organized, and an agent appointed to proceed at once to the Ohio river and purchase a suitable steamer to ply between the points named. A light draught wharf packet was procured, and a point known as Webber= Falls, between Little Rock and Fort Gibson reached on her upward trip. Here it was found that her engines were of insufficient power to stem the current, so she was taken back to Little Rock, and there sold at a loss to her owners of twenty-five hundred dollars.
This failure temporarily dampened the ardor of even the enthusiastic pathfinders, and nothing further was attempted until the summer of 1878, when Messrs. W. H. Speer and Amos Walton, two leading public spirited citizens of the county, equipped a Aferry flat@ with a 10 horsepower threshing machine engine, and by several trips up and down the river for a distance of 60 miles from Arkansas City, demonstrated beyond a doubt that a steamer could be successfully propelled on the Arkansas River at any season of the year. The flat was fifty feet long, sixteen feet wide, and drew ten inches of water. This novel little craft visited Grouse Creek, the Walnut River, Salt City, the Kaw Indian Agency, Oxford, and other points along the river, and attracted crowds of people wherever it went. At Oxford a public reception was tendered its officers and crew. These experimental trips were all made while the river was at its lowest stage, and prior to the annual AJune rise.@
Soon after this, and while the Aferry flat@ was still prominently before the public, Mr. I. H. Bonsall, an experienced engineer and prominent citizen of Arkansas City, corresponded with the businessmen of Little Rock, and induced them to send a boat on a trial trip to the upper country. The little steamer, AAunt Sally,@ a tug built for the deep, sluggish bayous of Arkansas, and used in the local cotton trade there, was selected and manned for the purpose. Though not designed for swift water, this crude little steamer made the complete voyage, and, in command of Captains Lewis and Baker, with Mr. [NAME OBSCURED] as pilot, landed safely at Arkansas City, and was moored there, in the Walnut River, Sunday morning, June 30th, 1878. The officers reported sufficient water and a safe current for light draught steamers for the entire distance, and expressed themselves of the opinion that a boat built especially for the purpose could run regularly between the two states every day in the year.
Soon after the AAunt Sally@ returned south, Henry and Albert Pruden, and O. J. Palmer, of Salt City, Sumner County, started for Little Rock with a Aferry flat@ loaded with seven hundred bushels of wheat. The wheat was sold at a good round figure, and the gentlemen returned, reporting a successful trip and a good stage of water.
On their return, the businessmen of Arkansas City, finding that steamboat owners in the lower country were not disposed to adventure up so far with their boats, resolved to build a steamer themselves, and with it make regular trips between their city and the Indian agencies in the Territory. After several attempts to find men of experience to take the matter in charge, McCloskey Seymore secured the service of Mr. Cyrus Wilson, who began the building of a boat for the purposes named.
Wednesday afternoon, November 6, 1878, the ACherokee,@ the first steamboat ever built in Kansas, was successfully launched at Arkansas City. The hull of this boat is 83 feet long, 18 feet wide on the bottom, and 85 feet long, and 18 feet wide on the boiler deck; beam, 22 feet, with guards extending 2 feet around a model bow. She carries two twenty horsepower engines, and with all her machinery draws less than eight inches of water, and, when loaded to the guards, will not draw over sixteen inches. The shallowest water found on the bars between Wichita and Little Rock during the lowest stage of the river was eighteen inches. From this it will be seen that the ACherokee@ will answer the purposes for which it was built, and be of great service in transporting the supplies from these counties to the Indian agencies lying south and east of Arkansas City.
With the Arkansas River open for navigation, and a good line of boats and barges making regular trips from Arkansas City, business of all kinds will receive a fresh impetus in Southern Kansas. There will be no railroad monopolies, no Apooling of earnings,@ annd no forming of combinations to affect the interest of the producers. The farmers of this locality will then have a highway of their own by which they can exchange their surplus wheat, flour, and corn for the coal and lumber of the Lower Arkansas.
---
We furnish this bit of navigation reminiscence to our readers to show what has been done to make the Arkansas navigable. It is taken from the biennial report of the state board
[Note: I have a tremendous number of stories about navigation on Arkansas River, in particular, from rafts to steamboats.]
Arkansas City Republican, December 6, 1884.
Prohibition in Fact.
The young city of Ashland out west had a little excitement last week. Just above the town two miles a saloon was running. A couple of hard characters got drunk there, came down to Ashland each day and rode furiously through the streets firing their revolvers. Finally the citizens got together to lay them out at the next foray. The roughs heard of this, so sneaked down and laid outside of town until two young men who were boarding at a dugout nearby came down to supper, when they crawled out and killed them. They then went up to the saloon for a fresh supply of whiskey. Soon a deputy sheriff came along and captured one of them, the other getting away. The captured murderer was taken to Ashland, and placed under strong guard while pursuit was made for the other one. During the night a party of armed men took him away from the officers and hung him, then went up to hang the saloon keeper, but he had fled. A resolution was passed by the body of vigilanters that the first man who set up a saloon in Bear Creek Valley should be hung without further warning. In that country, where every man carries a big six-shooter, whiskey is the bane of civilization. Sober, they are pleasant social gentlemen, but drunk they shoot and tear up the earth. The settlers along those valleys are mostly from Cowley and Sumner Counties, have gone there lawfully to make themselves homes, and they do not propose to be disturbed in the pursuits of peace by the illegal presence of a death-dealing whiskey shop. One of the young men killed was the cousin of Treasurer Nipp. They had both recently married in Kentucky; and leaving their wives behind, had come west to build up homes, when they would have brought them on. It was a cold-blooded whiskey murder. A reward of eight-hundred dollars has been offered for the body of the escaped murderer, dead or alive, by the town company and citizens of Ashland. The people in the town have armed themselves with Winchesters and shot-guns and the next man who rides into the place and shows blood-thirsty symptoms will die very quickly. Winfield Courier.
Arkansas City Republican, December 20, 1884.
A Hunt Down on the Cimarron.
The following bit of hunting experience was written by one of the hunting party composed of Drs. Love, Mitchell, Hart, Rev. J. O. Campbell, and others.
AOn the 23rd of November last a something on four wheels, which on close inspection proved to be a wagon, hid by its miscellaneous load of tents, blankets, and other necessaries for a hunting jaunt drew up in front ot the Hotel de Windsor to receive its last but most precious cargo, viz: The Patriarch, the celebrated Indian fighter from Ohio, and the French cook (brought out from New Orleans especially for the occasion), who were to proceed the distinguished nimrods and prospectors of the expedition, composed of His Reverence, a great medicine man, a Love of a baker, and Fritz, our boy, who were to follow the next day, which would allow ample time for the Indian terror to clear the country of any objectionable bands of red men before the rear guard should join them at Salt Fork.
AThe commissary department, after about eight hours hard driving over soft roads, pitched its tent on Duck Creek (called a creek by courtesy, for there was very little of that fluid that constitutes creeks) for the night. After a hasty meal rapidly prepared by the culinary artist. all hands turned in to dream of the numerous quantities of game to be slain by their party.
ANovember 24, 5:30 a.m. All hands up, each one very stiff but smiling as pleasantly as a basket of chips and almost upsetting each other in their ludicrous endeavors to appear agile and refreshed by their first night=s slumber in a tent on very damp ground. (Please drop the final letter in damp, and you will have my opinion of that same ground born that first and fully grown and developed by the last night=s experiment of that trip.) Horse hitched and fed, off we go, towards Salt Fork, which point we expected to and did reach by afternoon, where we were soon joined by the nimrods. My countrymen, what a noble sight was presented to us as the chariot drawn by two elegant chargers rushed into view--about ten minutes after a terrific discharge of fire-arms.
AAnd would=st thou have me paint the scene then listen.@
AFritz (first cousin of Oliver Twist) with eyes fixed on the provision wagon handled the ribbons seated next to our Love of a pastry cook, who looked as if he could rise on any occasion to show how well bread he was. The back seat was occupied by our learned medico and His Reverence, who presented a beautiful study in red, black, and blue. (Caused by an ambitious attempt to introduce his novel method of shooting a gun heavily charged, held a foot from the shoulder.) Result, one chicken, one black eye, one skinned nose, and a wish I had stayed at home look upon his countenance.
AAfter a short consultation, each member was assigned to duty. The Patriarch as chaperone, the Doctor as guardian of the bodily welfare of the horses, the Terror as tent pitcher and chief of the fire department, assisted by His Reverence, whose additional work wood necessitate his chopping for the fire.
AOne day and a half on the road and only one dozen quails and four chicken, rather a poor showing but still enough to enjoy a royal repast prepared by our culinary artists and embellished by one baker. After supper we gathered around the camp-fire and told Sunday school stories until 8 p.m., when we passed off for slumber in the following order, which was kept up (or rather down) during the remainder of the trip. The Terror and the cook (the lion and the lamb shall etc.); the Doctor and His Reverence (birds of a feather, etc.). The Patriarch and the pastry cook (whom we shall in the future call Biscuits for short) and Fritz were soon wrapped in blankets and the arms of morpheus.
ANovember 25, 1 a.m.
>What time is it,= from the cook.
>1 o=clock, go to sleep,= from the Terror, and the cook subsided until 5 a.m., when all hands turned out very sore but hopeful and soon camp was broken up and a fresh start made for the river. Half-way over, we stuck on a sand-bar. After some consultation, during which the wheels of the wagon were sinking rapidly into the sand, we concluded to have the least valuable articles, composed of the ammunition, tents, horse-feed, dogs, and cook on the bar to await the return of the other vehicle, which according to the cook=s story was a terrible time. However, all things must end sometime and the cook was soon dug out and carried to terra firma much to the amusement of the rest of the party. To make a long story short, after several small mishaps, we arrived at our destination on the evening of the 26th very fatigued, but still hopeful. The only thing worthy of note was the extreme length of the Indian Territory miles. That night we had quite an artistic meal, in preparation of which the two cooks allowed themselves off.
AThe next day everyone started off except the patriarch, who was feeling unwell (not being used to such rich living), and did not participate. After about four hours of fearful rough walking, the party re-assembled at camp with four quails. No one saw anything to shoot except his Reverence, who made several ineffectual efforts to kill four deer with no cartridges in his gun. The deer smiled, and so did we. Our hopes somewhat daunted, we soon turned in for the night very tired and sleepy only to be awakened about a dozen times by the cook, who could not sleep because he was cold and asked the Terror for the time. Patience ceased to be a victim and the Terror requested the cook to go to a perpetual kitchen and buy his own time piece in so terrible a voice that he observed a heavenly silence for the balance of the night.
ANext day the smiles were few and a new plan for slaying the deer was devised. The Terror and cook went out together leaving the rest of the crowd to push their own say into the woods and speculate as to how much of the cook would return. The pair got a few quails and then got lost. Of course, the cook knew the way best, and after wallowing about ten miles, acknowledged he ws wrong. The air was literally thick with howls from the Terror, who took offense (a wire one) and went in the opposite direction, meekly followed by the trembling cook, and they were in camp about two hours afterwards. Result of day=s sport, six quail, five tired men. Someone said after supper, >I want to go home;@ a dead silence, a murmur, finally a deafening uproar, a chorus of >so do I,= settled that we would start the next afternoon. Before retiring the party, minus the cook and boy, started after turkey. They succeeded in getting a few after a couple of hours shooting into a large number.
AWell, we started home the next afternoon after getting stuck in a creek and losing half our cooking utensils, wearing out the horses, and our good humor. We reached home after three days hard driving, sadder but wiser men.
AWe got about two dollars worth of game and a hundred dollars worth of experience. ACRESCENT.@
Arkansas City Republican, December 27, 1884.
Hunters on the Pawnee Reservation sometimes find game they are not seeking. Four residents of Winfield were recently arrested there by Indian police for trespass. We wonder if Capt. Nipp was not one of that quartette.
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, December 31, 1884.
CHEROKEE STRIP LEASE.
The United States senate, about a month ago, adopted a resolution authorizing the appointment of a committee to investigate the matter of the leasing of certain lands from the Indians by various companies and individuals. The directors of the Cherokee Live Stock Association and of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Cattle Association met in Kansas City lately and adopted resolutions signifying their willingness to be investigated and to have all their actions and contracts laid before the proper authorities.
In consequence of this, the officers of these associations received telegrams summoning them to appear before the senate committee in person, January 5, 1885, to answer such questions as that committee may see fit to propound in regard to the lease and the way it was procured. In accordance with this, next Friday those summoned will start for Washington.
This investigation has been sought by the Association for more than a year past, on account of the report of foul and unfair means having been used, which has been going the rounds of the press. They say there is not the slightest foundation for this charge and have invited investigation. They do not fear the result at all and say they have paid for every foot of land grazed over and taken no unfair advantage whatever.
We hope this will settle the question to the satisfaction of those persons who have been so loud in their denunciations lately.
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, December 31, 1884.
THE CATTLE-LAND LEASES.
Agent Dyer Before the Investigating Committee.
D. B. Dyer, agent for the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians, is at present in Washington consulting the secretary of the Interior in regard to the conduct of some of the uncontrollable braves attached to his reservation. These Indians are classed as Awild@ and some uneasiness is felt about the lawless acts of some of the young braves. They have progressed far enough in civilization to have acquired most of the vices, but few of the virtues, of that advanced state.
The cattlemen are suffering extensively from the raids of these Indians, and it is estimated that one cattle company has lost $100,000 by their acts. There are one thousand of these lawless braves, who are better armed than any like number of men in the country. Scores of them are not seen by the agent on delivery days; but whenever they want beef, they go out and shoot down what they want out of whatever herd is the handiest. It has not been long since a party of these went out and stopped a ranch train, and under pretense that they wanted meat, shot down nine head of oxen. Some choice portions were taken, and the carcasses left where they fell. The worst feature of this was that the leader was one of the educated Indians, having just recently returned from Carlisle barracks. The bucks are careful not to hurt persons, but pay no respect whatever to property.
The examination shortly to be made by the senate in regard to the leases with these Indians will show up the trials of cattlemen in their proper light.
The agent has the authority to prevent these outrages, but has not the required force. The secretary of the Interior has, heretofore, looked upon this matter in this wayCthat to send troops there to protect the cattlemen would look as if the department was looking too exclusively after their interests.
Agent Dyer went before the Dawes investigating committee and made quite a lengthy statement the other day. He stated that the number of acres leased by the Cheyenne and Arapahoes are about 38,000,000, at two cents per acre. That as to law in regard to leasing or not leasing, there is none; but that, for the last ten or twelve years, the lands have been occupied by various parties; that heretofore these parties paid a small sum to some of the principal Indians, which soon created a dissatisfaction among the balance and finally resulted in the cattlemen making contracts with the tribes, so that at present few or none are opposed to it. He asserted that ninety-nine hundredths were satisfied.
The contracts, Mr. Dyer said, were made for ten years, to be paid for twice a year. That the cattlemen acted in good faith; had not only paid up promptly, but even fed, clothed, and given employment and beef to many of the Indians; that the Indians were doing better with their lands than could possibly be done otherwise. In the past a few of them received $3,000 or $4,000 while now the tribe derived $80,000 a year from it.
He concluded with the statement that these lands had been occupied for years by cattlemen without losses, and that the department ought, now that the cattlemen were paying for leases, approve the same and protect the lessors in their rights. That if this were done, more money could be got, and the Indians be better off in every way.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 31, 1884.
Andrew Hutchison came up from Cheyenne Agency last Saturday. He reports that there never has been a time when freighting was so bad as in the last few weeks. The Indians are getting scattered and doing more or less plundering as it comes to their hand.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 31, 1884.
April Fool!
Word reached this city Saturday evening of a most revolting and dastardly deed, recently committed in the Indian Territory. It seems that a party of boys were out hunting, and on arriving at a point near the Canadian River, and about 130 miles below Caldwell, they came across the bodies of three men, wrapped up in blankets and all bound together with buckskin thongs. They had the appearance of hunters, and were only a short distance from a Cheyenne camp. It is believed that these men were hunting, were captured by the Indians, bound firmly with thongs, wrapped up in a blanket, placed out upon the open ground, and there allowed to die of starvation and exposure, the appearance of their bodies giving evidence that their death had been caused in this manner. The boys who found them were terribly frightened and hastened to the nearest white settlement, where they told their story, and word was sent here to Sheriff Henderson, who left for Caldwell today. He will notify the government officials, and will doubtless be governed by their orders as to the disposition of the bodies. The clothing worn by these unfortunate men were such as to claim them well-to-do gentlemen, and no doubt they were connected with an eastern party of hunters.
Wellington Daily Times.
The Press failed to get the full particulars of this find. The boys found the decomposed remains of two or three horses near the bodies with bullet holes in the center of their foreheads, an old saddle or two lying near them, also some brass kettles, frying pans, and other traps commonly used by the Cheyenne Indians about their camps.
Those boys were so badly frightened at their find that they never thought of the fact that the Cheyenne Indians bury their own dead in blankets bound round them and above the ground, and then slay a horse nearby; placing all the necessary traps at the foot of the corpse, for him to continue his hunting expeditions in the spirit hunting grounds. The boys simply found a Cheyenne graveyard of about six months standing. Caldwell Journal.
Arkansas City Republican, January 3, 1885.
Rumor reaches us that the Oklahoma boomers and the soldiers came together last week and that the boomers routed the soldiers. A dispatch to the Wichita Eagle from Caldwell Wednesday says: AGen. Hatch arrived here today and immediately made a requisition upon Quartermaster Agent Lomens for transportation for 500,000 pounds of freight, to accompany the column in the field in Oklahoma. He has detachments of troops enroute now to the Oklahoma country from Ft. Riley, Ft. Leavenworth, Camp Supply, Ft. Reno, and Ft. Sill. Part of these troops are at present writing in that country, and inside of the next ten days all of them will be there. His orders in the matter are sweeping and explicit, and with twelve or fifteen hundred men to back him, the boomers are likely to be bounced in style. There will be no child=s play in the matter and the would-be settler in Oklahoma will do well to make himself exceedingly scarce until the storm blows over.@
The following is not re Indians or hunting parties, but I thought you might find it of interest....prohibition was really in force here in the County at that time.
Arkansas City Republican, January 3, 1885.
On Christmas day the Sheriff and his deputies raided the Jim Fahey building on Ninth Avenue, where a contrivance for dealing out liquor, known as a Ablind tiger,@ was in operation. After capturing the operator, they took a tour through the building. In the cellar were found several barrels of whiskey, and a basket containing a large number of pint and quart bottles filled with liquor and apparently ready for delivery. Pasted up in this cellar was a government liquor license, setting forth that James Fahey had paid the requisite fee as a retail liquor dealer. The young man occupying the upper part of the building and in charge of the Ablind tiger,@ had no government license. Thus, unless he can prove by Mr. Fahey that he was the latter=s agent in the sale of liquor, he becomes subject to indictment and conviction under the revenue laws of the United States in addition to the penalties inflicted under the statutes of our own state for liquor selling. The young man has certainly got himself into a very serious predicament unless Mr. Fahey will generously sacrifice himself by coming to his relief. Winfield Courier.
Arkansas City Republican, January 3, 1885.
The senate committee on Indian Affairs on January 6th will begin an investigation of the leasing of lands in Indian Territory and on the Crow reservation by Indians to cattlemen. A number of prominent cattlemen and Indian chiefs will be subpoenaed to appear before the commission. One section of the revised statutes declares that Indian tribes have no authority to lease their lands. A succeeding section allows owners of herds the privilege of driving their cattle over the reservation on obtaining consent of the Indians and government. Cattlemen construe the latter section as meaning that they may lease the lands, and under this construction, nearly all the Crows Reservation in Montana, and Quapah, Cheyenne, and Arapahoe Reservations in the Indian Territory have been leased for a period of from five to ten years at from two to twelve cents per acre per annum. In the Cherokee strip, also in the Indian Territory, nine cattlemen have exclusive control of 60,000,000 acres at an annual rental of $10,000. The object of the investigation is to enable congress to take intelligent action on the subject if additional legislation is deemed necessary.
Arkansas City Republican, January 10, 1885.
Bad for the Boomers.
CALDWELL, KANSAS, Jan. 2. General Hatch expects to move on Oklahoma early next week, probably on Monday, with seven troops of the 9th cavalry, and one troop of the 24th infantry, one troop from Ft. Hays, one from Ft. Riley, three from Ft. Sill, one from here, and two from Ft. Reno. Forage stores for fifty days campaign are being concentrated here and sent to the front. There is no particular excitement here over the matter, as the local boomers have given up the idea of invading to force the country. They await congressional action. No couriers have arrived from the seat of war in the past six days. The latest report is that Lieut. Day is close to Crouch=s colony on the Cimmarron [NOTICE...2M/2R], and neither party is strong enough to capture the other. Crouch don=t want Day, and Day can=t take Crouch without a fight. This child=s play will close when General Hatch strikes the colony, if they do not move peaceably.
A SERIOUS JOKE.
About 2 o=clock yesterday morning a party of boys on a lark, found a party of boomers in a saloon playing cards. The boys to frighten the boomers kicked the table over. The boomers skipped for camp, but one more bold than the others returned with his pistol. The boys gave him a chase and when nearing his camp, he turned and fired upon them, two balls taking effect in the abdomen of Jake Windalls, one of the boys. The boomer was arrested and by request of the wounded man turned loose, stating that had he been in the boomer=s place, he would have killed the entire party. The physician removed the ball from Windalls= body today and he is thought to be out of danger. [NOTE: THEY STATED ACROUCH@...NOT ACOUCH@ IN ARTICLE.]
Arkansas City Republican, January 10, 1885.
Indian Leases.
Secretary Teller has written a long letter to the chairman of the senate committee on Indian Affairs upon the subject of leases of Indian lands. He says in part that the Interior Department has for years recognized the right of Indians to receive compensation for pasturage of stock on their reservations, and that such right has also been recognized by the courts and the land occupied by the Indians. The secretary says they did attempt to make leases, but the department refused to recognize them beyond treating them as licenses and receivable by the Indians at will. No one can question their right to make such a disposition of the grass growing on their lands as they have made. Concerning the pecuniary gain which the Indians now derive from licenses to use the products of their lands, which they grant to the whites, the secretary says they are now receiving $50 for every dollar received under the old system. With respect to allowing the Indians to control large and valuable tracts suitable for agricultural purposes, the secretary concludes they should not be permitted to own such tracts to the exclusion of settlers when such lands are not needed by the Indians, and that it is a misfortune to any country to have its lands held in a large quantity by a few owners, the more so if held by owners who neither make use of it themselves nor allow others to do so.
Arkansas City Republican, January 10, 1885.
Oklahoma Boomers.
KANSAS CITY, Dec. 29. A Wichita, Kansas, Times special says a number of societies of Oklahoma colonists are forming in this section. Private advices from W. L. Couch, who has succeeded the late Capt. Payne in leadership, state that the boomers are in force in camp on the Cimarron river and menaced by troops, but propose holding their ground. Fresh recruits are joining the colonists daily.
Arkansas City Republican, January 10, 1885.
Messrs. Cooley and Rowell residing on Grouse Creek brought into our office yesterday a large bald eagle, which they had killed down on Coon Creek in the Indian Territory. It measured seven feet and six inches from tip to tip of wing and is two feet and eight inches in height. It is a large monster and could easily have carried off a large size lamb.
Arkansas City Republican, January 10, 1885.
James Park and James Lewis and others returned from the territory Wednesday, where they had been hunting. They were within a few miles of Oklahoma camp, but did not visit it. One of the boomers informed them that there were about 800 [? 300? ] colonists in camp. They were expecting the soldiers and were going to resist.
Arkansas City Republican, January 10, 1885.
P. Pappan has been appointed U. S. Interpreter for the Pawnee tribe of Indians. Monday Mr. Pappan came to the city and subscribed to the REPUBLICAN. This is substantial evidence of the rapid progress of Indians toward civilization. Mr. Pappan brought from the Pawnee Agency 10 children and left them at the Chilocco school. He says they all desire to become educated like the white man. Mr. Pappan is one-half French and one-half Indian. He speaks English well, better than some whites.
Arkansas City Republican, January 10, 1885.
The Oklahoma Boom.
Mr. T. J. Wakefield, marshal of Wellington, Kansas, was seen at the Union depot last night by a Journal reporter just as he was taking an eastern train for Illinois, where he will spend the holidays. Mr. Wakefield has just come from Oklahoma, and he freely gave an extended account of the colony and of the present condition of the boom. By reason of his long residence in Kansas, and his thorough acquaintance with Indian Territory, Mr. Wakefield is one of the best informed on Oklahoma matters, whom one could find in the whole country. He knows the history of the movement, and the original boomers were his very neighbors. When asked what is the present condition of the colony, Mr. Wakefield said.
AAt present the government troops are all on the south side of what is known as Salt Fork, while the boomers all occupy the north side of the river, which is now so high that it would be impossible to ford even if the boomers were inclined to venture into the district occupied by the soldiers. There are many boomers at Wellington, now, waiting for the weather to moderate so that they can go down to the land of milk and honey which they dream that God forsaken land to be.@
AWhy do you call it a God forsaken land?@
ABecause there is nothing there now to hold a man while there is everything to make life a curse. The land itself is all right enough, but it takes a brave man, with lots of grit, to face the soldiers on the one hand, and the frightful weather on the other. The weather at Oklahoma when I left there a few days ago, was a great deal colder than at Wellington or Arkansas City, and you can imagine what it is from the raw wind here tonight. Those who want to live in camps or covered wagons, such weather as this must have an awful amount of faith.@
AAre there no houses there now?@
AYes, but not very many. The houses that are there are structures made of logs and poles, rough boards, or anything that can be grabbed up. But many people live in camps or in common covered wagons. There is great suffering among the people. Most of them are very poor and some of them cannot get back. Very many of them are having a hard time of it during these cold times. There is plenty of snow there now and dozens are hobbling around on frozen feet. Others have had their hands and ears terribly frost bitten and I look for great suffering there very soon.@
AAre there many boomers there now?@
AAbout 1,500 on the north side, I should judge. There were 700 who were from Arkansas City three weeks ago and a good party from Caldwell not long ago. They soon find that it is a life of hardships and severe trials, and the population is changing all the time.@
AWhat has been the effect of Captain Payne=s death upon the boom?@
AI think it will put a damper on the matter, but new leaders are already trying to take his place. There is a man from Arkansas City whose name I do not recall, and this man is assuming to be the bell boomer of the bell boomer of the Oklahoma flocks, but bucks from other fields are also pretending to be leaders.@
AWhat seems to be their business?@
AThey live by studying up new schemes to get people excited.@
AHow do boomers pass away the time?@
AOf course, there are no churches or schools and no houses to speak of, so they loaf and hunt. If it was not for the game down there, some of them would have been buried before now. They live to talk to each other, and the poorest one among them seems to hope that a day may bring something forth.@
The genial gentleman=s conversation was hastily terminated by the departure of the Chicago & Alton, but he said enough to give the outside world a glimpse of Oklahoma life in mid-winter.
Arkansas City Republican, January 10, 1885.
Hatch and the Boomers.
CALDWELL, KANSAS, Jan. 5. Two troops of cavalry arrived today from Ft. Hays, Capt. Duncan in command. Two days will be required to reshoe the horses and put the command in motion for Oklahoma. Thursday the troops will leave here for the boomer camp at Stillwater, Indian Territory, where the Capt. Couch colony of three hundred men are located. This section will there be joined by three troops from Ft. Sill and two from Reno. Gen. Hatch will commanded the regiment. He was seen by the press agent at his headquarters today and from him learned the particulars. He will have two Hotchkiss guns and skilled men to work them with him. He does not intend to lose a man in his short range fights, but will retire and open on the boomer camp with these long range guns. He does not desire a fight, but his orders are iron-clad and specific and will be executed to the letter. He hopes the colonists will not resist when called upon to surrender, but if they will not peaceably, there will be trouble.
A colonist direct from Couch=s camp yesterday called upon the press agent for the scope of Gen. Hatch=s orders and his intentions in matters. From him we learn that they obey Capt. Couch=s orders implicitly, and will resist the soldiers when he gives the word. They are all well armed and prepared for a fight, and they will not be removed by superior numbers and force; they denounce the President, congress, cattlemen, and the war department in unmeasured terms; say they would have cleaned Lieut. Days= company out if he had opened fire on them. No collision was had between Day=s men and the boomers, as was reported. He ordered them to surrender. They refused, armed themselves, took refuge behind their breastworks, and awaited his executing of the order to fire in five minutes. His instructions did not cover that emergency and he retired, but went into camp nearby. Thus do matters rest. It is so stormy now the soldiers cannot move on nor the boomers move out. They say when removed they will burn every ranch out on the Oklahoma and Cherokee strip.
Arkansas City Republican, January 10, 1885.
Frost Bitten Boomer.
Frank Martin, of Hutchinson, Kansas, went with Capt. Couch to Oklahoma about five weeks ago with the intention of securing himself a home. On arriving there Dec. 16, he went out hunting, lost his bearings, traveled two days and nights without fire or food, and, becoming completely tired out, laid down and fell asleep. When he awoke he found that his feet were frozen. But being determined to save his life, he pushed forward till he came to Berry=s ranch, arriving there on the 18th. Here he was provided with a pony and he reached Couch=s camp the same day. He received medical treatment for two weeks and then came to Arkansas City and placed himself in charge of Dr. Sparks, who amputated four of his toes. He is at this time doing well although his feet are in a fearful condition and there is some danger of blood poisoning. He has been well provided for by our humane trustee, Geo. Whitney.
Arkansas City Republican, January 10, 1885.
The Boomers.
Mr. H. F. Sloan, of Sandusky, Ohio, arrived here direct from Arkansas City Tuesday. He reports the greatest activity among the boomers. He says an active, energetic lawyer, E. D. Munn, late city attorney of Braidwood, Illinois, a John A. Logan style of man, is now the leading spirit among them. He is reported to be a diplomatist and depends more on diplomacy than fight. There is where his head is level. It is also said that he has an organized company of two hundred stalwart miners organized in the town he came from and that one hundred of them are expected to arrive here today.
On Monday Mr. Munn indited telegrams to President Arthur, Senator Plumb, Ingalls, Logan, and Vest. The message to the president was a lengthy affair and cost $44. It requested him to restrain the troops and appoint a committee to investigate the affair and that twenty boomers, all honorably discharged ex-soldiers, would go to Washington and testify as to the ravages by the stock-men among the timber, and other matters of interest connected with the territory.
We received a special dispatch last night that the news about Gen. Hatch receiving orders from Washington not to move against the boomers was an error and that the troops are already on the move. The question now is will the boomers fight. Mr. Sloan thinks they will. He says the boomers have been actively engaged in forwarding arms to Stillwater for several days, paying their way and furnishing them with arms and ammunition. In view of these facts, trouble is anticipated and news of a hostile encounter may be looked for before many days.
Wichita Eagle.
Arkansas City Republican, January 10, 1885.
Indian Lands.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6. In the investigation of the Indian land leases begun by the Senate committee on Indian Affairs today, John W. Scott, agent for several tribes in the Indian Territory being called, said all the tribes under his charge had leased portions of their lands. The Poncas had leased 50,000 acres, or one-half of their possessions, at $17,000 per annum. The land was not sub-let, but was occupied by Sherburne, the lessee, for grazing purposes. The present policy of leasing lands the witness considered the best. He was asked if the price paid by Sherburne was a fair one, but was not prepared to express an opinion on this point. He thought, however, it would bring more if open to competition. The Nez Perces Indians leased a portion of their reservation for $20,000 a year. The Pawnees leased 127,000 acres at three cents per acre, for a term of ten years. Witness was present and advised the Indians in making some of these leases. Since the public attention has been so wildly called to this matter, witness thought the lands might now be leased for a higher price.
J. O. Tuffts, agent for the civilized tribes of Indians, testified that the Cherokee strip, 200 miles long and fifty six miles wide, was leased to an association for $100,000 a year. The land would now probably rent for $50,000 more. The witness heard rumors of irregular payments of money to secure the case, but could not trace them to a reliable source.
[Note: Sherburne from Arkansas City, originally from Maine. He was at this time an Indian trader with the Ponca Indians. His sister was married to E. D. Eddy, very early druggist in Arkansas City. Tuffts was a Cherokee Indian, who was at this time acting for the Nation with respect to leasing land to various people. Many formed livestock associations in dealing with the Indians.]
[Early articles said Tuffts...later it was corrected to Tufts.]
Arkansas City Republican, January 17, 1885.
The Trail.
The trail proposed for Texas cattle is to begin on Red River as near the 100th degree of longitude as practicable; thence running in a northerly direction through the Indian territory, following as near as practicable, the Fort Griffin and Dodge City trail to a point in Ford county, on the southern boundary of Kansas; thence over the appropriated public domain of the United States, through the counties of Ford, Hedgeman [? Hodgeman ?], Lane, Buffalo, Scott, Wallace, Sherman, and Cheyenne in Kansas; then in a generally northerly direction through Nebraska, Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana, or any one or more of them, to the northern boundary of the United States. The trail is not to exceed six miles in width, and the grazing grounds not to exceed twelve miles square. The public lands over which it is to be established are to be withdrawn from sale and reserved for the trail ten years. A small appropriation is requested for carrying out the provisions of the bill.
Arkansas City Republican, January 17, 1885.
THE BOOMERS.
The principle theme of conversation now on our streets is the Oklahoma invasion. The news to be gleaned from the special dispatches to our dailies is meager and to us appears very unreliable. It is either unreliable or pure braggadocio. The dispatches from Caldwell are all from the pen of a prejudiced party, it appears. In the specials we glean that Hatch has several companies of soldiers, which is no doubt true, and that they are advancing on to the boomers to remove them, and with very strict orders from headquarters to remove them at all hazards, that the soldiers have long range guns and all such stuff as that. We have read such nonsense as this for three weeks. Now we would like to know if anyone ever heard of a general who divulged his orders from headquarters to newspaper correspondents before executing them. Next, we don=t believe that Gen. Hatch has orders to fire on the Ainvaders.@ Probably he has orders to remove them, and as thee is a law against entering the Indian country, necessarily there must be a penalty attached. There is no law but what has a penalty when violated. For five years now this thing of invaders going to Oklahoma and the soldiers removing them has been going on. Their leader, Dave Payne, violated every law on the statute book during his life on Indian soil. Nothing was done to him. He was always captured, hauled over the country at the expense of Uncle Sam and then finally turned loose without trial to commit the same deeds over again. But Dave Payne was a man no community could not respect. He is gone now and no doubt has long since accounted for his misdeeds on earth to his Redeemer. But to return to our subject. The boomers in their late petition to congress say they have gone there to become husbandmen. They have their farm machinery as well as their rifles. They implore congress to take action upon this question. Plumb introduced a bill tending to the opening of the Oklahoma country, but it was referred to the committee on Indian Affairs. A few days since Plumb called for his bill. Dawes said that the committee reported unfavorably to it and that the senate had received the report. This seems to us only a continuance of the child=s play which has been going on for five years. If the boomers are guilty of violating the law, visit the penalty on them, and stop all this palaver. If they have a right to settle on this land, allow them, and do not attempt to bulldoze them with long-range guns into submission and fear in the interest of a few monied cattlemen.
In 1866 treaties were made between the government of the United States and the Cherokee, Seminole, Choctaw, and Creek Indians, by the terms of which certain lands west of Creeks and Seminoles and south of the Cherokee were ceded to the United States by the tribes named. There was no condition attached to the cession. It was absolute and the title passed unconditionally. The lands were afterwards surveyed, and have been ever since borne on the rolls of the general land office as Apublic lands.@ These are the Oklahoma lands.
During Jackson=s administration in 1834 a law was enacted providing that if an attempted settlement or a trespass of any kind in the Indian Territory by citizens of the United States in numbers too large to be handled by proclamation or unassisted officers, the president of the United States should use the military arm of the government to dislodge the trespassers. The soldiers are cautioned, in the law, to deal gently with the offenders, using only such force as is absolutely necessary to affect their removal. Repeated offenses shall subject offenders to harsher treatment, and a fine of a thousand dollars was affixed to cases of determined persistence. The law also says no one shall go into or across Indian country. That law enacted in 1834 has never been repealed and that is the grounds for removing the boomers by force. In going to the Oklahoma country you necessarily have to cross Indian lands and commit trespass. What is the use of removing the invaders unless the penalty of $1,000 is assessed. They will go right back again. They have been persistent in their invasion and we see no reason why the government should show leniency so often. A horse thief has the penalty visited upon him immediately by the court as soon as convicted of his crime, and so ought the boomer. We all know the boomer is guilty of invasion, but whether it be a crime or not, it remains yet to be decided. We are not a boomer, but we would like to have equity meted out to the boomers if they be guilty of law-breaking or be they but demanding their rights as citizens.
Arkansas City Republican, January 17, 1885.
The REPUBLICAN says the boomers are camped on the Salt Fork. The deuce they are. Where is Salt Fork, Richard? Democrat.
We are not a walking geography, Charlie, but we will enlighten you. You have been here a number of years and ought to know by this time. Salt Fork River takes its rise from Salt Springs in Harper County and flows southeasterly through the Indian Territory, emptying into the Arkansas below Ponca Agency.
Arkansas City Republican, January 24, 1885.
Cherokee Land Leases.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19. Dr. Adair, of the Indian Territory, a Cherokee, was examined by the Senate committee on Indian Affairs, today. He said he was president of the association of Cherokees formed for the purpose of taking a lease of the vacant land of the Cherokees. The association=s agents were authorized to offer $125,000 for a lease, but it was secured by outsiders for $100,000. It was the impression of the members of the active association that there was money used by rivals. Cash was a very rare commodity among the Cherokees before the lease was made. About the time it was made, however, members of the council came to witness= store with $50 bills to be changed.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 31, 1885.
The wareroom at the depot is full to the roof with supplies for the Cheyenne and Kiowa Indians. Though these supplies consist of shoes, blankets, comfortables, underclothing, and other garments which the Indians must really need, they steadily refuse to come after the goods, seemingly preferring to go cold rather than do the work necessary to get these things to the agencies.
Arkansas City Republican, January 31, 1885.
Indian Items.
There are, in the United States, 143 Indian reserves, embracing 151,000,000 acres in the limits of twelve states and territories.
There have been 652 treaties made with the different tribes since the adoption of the Federal Constitution on matters of lands.
There are 123 licensed Indian traders in the United States. The licenses are granted by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The bond of the trader is $10,000.
There are in the Indian service 71 agents, 3 inspectors, and 2 special agents, who have to give bonds to sums from $5,000 to $50,000.
By hunting, farming, freighting, and selling robes, furs, etc., the Cheyennes and Arapahoes supply one-half their subsistence, and the government one-half.
The Kiowas and Commanches draw more than three-fourths of their supplies from the government and only rustle for less than one-fourth of their rations.
The Pawnees make one-fourth their chuck, and look to Uncle Sam for the balance. This is owing to the scarcity of the game and the great distance they have to go for it
The Wichitas earn half of their hog and hominy.
The Osages derive a large revenue from the sale of ponies; they have thousands of them. They receive 5 percent per annum interest on $69,120 for educational purposes, and 5 percent on $300,000 or $15,000 a year paid semi-annually, either in money or such articles as the Secretary of the Interior may direct. They have $39,911.53 in government bonds, of the loan of 1881, drawing 5 percent, besid