The Osage are one of five tribesCOmaha, Ponca, Osage, Kansa (Kaw), QuapawCthat form the group known as the Dhegiha in the Siouan linguistic family. They occupied the Piedmont Plateau between the James and Savannah rivers in Virginia and the Carolinas for a long period, then began a westward migration, descending the Ohio River to its mouth, where they crossed the Mississippi River and eventually came to the Missouri River. They then separated, the Quapaw going downstream to the Arkansas River, the Osage remaining on the Osage River, and the Omaha, Ponca, and Kansa ascending the Missouri.

Osage Indians had hunted in Cowley County since the 1600s. They did not settle in villages until after the Wichita Indians were driven out between 1758 and 1800. White visitors observed Osage camps and gardens along Grouse Creek in southern Cowley County as early as 1820. In 1825 the Osage signed a treaty at St. Louis, ceding all their lands to the United States: all of Oklahoma north of the Arkansas and Canadian rivers, northwestern Arkansas, western Missouri, and nearly half of Kansas. The 1825 Federal Treaty defined the Osage Diminished Reserve, which included all of Cowley County except the southern two and one-half miles above the present Oklahoma border.The Osage were moved north to their reservation in Kansas in 1828 when the Government gave their country in northeastern and northern Oklahoma to the Western Cherokee.

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The Civilization Act of 1820, which led to Protestant Osage Missions, failed. The Osage Missions were closed in 1837, and for ten years, the Osage people had no mission or school.

In a petition to President Tyler dated June 14, 1843, the Osages pointed out the Osage education fund created from the sale of lands under the Treaty of 1825. Since it was their money to be spent on education, the Osages asked for Jesuit missionaries. They were familiar with the Jesuits, known by them as the ABlack Robes,@ almost from their first contact with Euro-Americans. While many marriages between the French traders and Osage women were performed under Osage law, some were performed by the Jesuits as early as 1750. It was natural for them to want the familiar Jesuits as their teachers.

On August 8, 1845, the contract for erection of two school buildings was granted. Fifty acres of plowing was also included. By January 1846 this work was finished.

The United States government was reluctant to pay Osage education monies to the Jesuits. After examining the monies offered, the Jesuits refused to sign the contract; the Indian Commissioner Afound@ more money. At least $55 per pupil was available, but only $50 per pupil was paid to the Jesuits. Financial problems, government Ared tape,@ and travel difficulties delayed their arrival until April 28, 1847. Osage Mission school was officially opened May 10, 1847, and was called AMission of St. Francis de Hieronymo (Jerome).@ Believing that it would be a waste of funds and effort to educate an Osage boy, who could only marry an uneducated Osage girl, the Jesuits also instigated a girls= school, established by the Sisters of Loretto from Nerinckx, Kentucky. Mother Concordia and her assistants, Sisters Mary Petronilla, Bridget, and Vincentia, arrived at the mission October 10, 1847.

The following Jesuit fathers arrived in 1847: Fathers Schoenmakers, Bax, and Ponziglione. In a letter written June 1, 1850, to Father Peter John De Smet (then located among the Osages in Missouri), Father Bax gave the location of the various Osage bands. ABig Hill, situated on the Verdigris River, forty miles off, has a population of 600 souls. Les Cheniers, or Sanz q-Shantka-Sape village, fifty-five miles off, contains 400 inhabitants.

Father John Schoenmakers wrote to Mr. C. M. Scott, editor of the Arkansas City Daily Traveler, June 7, 1876, relative to the Great and Little Osages.

AThe States of Missouri and Arkansas were once territory belonging to the Osages, and some of the tribe who lived in 1847 were born where now is the city of Jefferson, and also along the Osage River, Missouri. They had a school near Pappinsville, in Bates County. In 1847 several half-breeds of the tribe had still farms on Mormento River, near Fort Scott. The tribe had now come to Kansas, and numbered 5,500, where whiskey did much harm among all classes. The Great George White Hair had a double log house for a dwelling place on a large farm, and owned a saw and grist mill five miles from Missiontown. This property the Osages destroyed by fire as it did not pay expenses. The White Hair band was kept within a few miles of the Mission school, and during the summer months the young men were always ready to work on the farm, and to split rails or firewood in the winter. Clammoretown was then where now is the town of Coffeyville, on the Verdigris River. Black Dog and Wolf towns were only three miles distant. The Big Hills were located ten or more miles away, sometimes north and at other times south of the Verdigris.

AThe Little Osages came formerly from Missouri and had joined the Great Osages and in 1874 were living south of the Neosho River. The owl family, however, pushed a few miles away and up Big Creek. In 1850 the number of Osage children began greatly to increase, and in 1852 fell victims to disease and 800 died of measles. Scurvey, a disease which is more generally thought to belong to sailors and those whose lives are spent upon the seas, then appeared with its train of alarming effects, and of the four hundred who lived near the Mission, forty died of this disease within one month. The tribe was also visited by small pox, some even suffering the third attack. In 1860 health and hope again prevailed; the Little Osages commenced raising corn and beans. The White Hair band fenced large fields, built houses, and raised cattle and hogs. The civil war that followed so soon destroyed their fields, houses, cattle, and other stock, and blasted even their hopes.@

Fr. Schoenmakers= statement in a letter to A. J. Dorn, Indian Agent, dated August 28, 1856, was more than a little prophetic. AOur Osages are well aware that their former mode of living is fast closing upon them; ten years ago they numbered 5,000 souls, at present they hardly exceed 3,500.@

By the end of the 1850s, the Mission School under Father John Schoenmakers had reached a peak in attendance, and the Catholics who were supervising it had much to show for their sacrifice and efforts. The full-blooded Osages began to see that the time would come when they would be obliged to exchange their mode of living for a more civilized life.

With the approach of the Civil War, Andrew J. Dorn, the Indian Agent, sympathized and sided with the south. Without waiting for the appointment of his successor in office, he began to persuade his Osage Indian wards, whom he had treated fairly, to take up the southern cause. A loyal supporter of the North, Fr. Shoenmakers did, by his influence, succeed in keeping most of his former Osage students in allegiance to the Union. Dorn spent most of his time with the Indian bands on the Verdigris. Chief Black Dog and Second Chief, Wa-po-pek-eh, were most susceptible to his influence and soon joined in spreading his propaganda. Dorn later became a Quartermaster at Bonham, Texas, in the rebel service.

The Confederacy sent Albert Pike, the superintendent of Indian agencies for the Confederacy and a persuasive orator, to form the Osage and other tribes into an alliance. Pike induced the Five Civilized Tribes and many Plains tribes as well to sign treaties with the Confederate government. On October 2, 1861, 57 Osage chiefs and councillors also signed a treaty. In Kansas only the Blackdog band remained loyal to the south.

Leaders of the Little Osage (Four Lodges, Little Bear, Hard Rope, and Striking Axe, and others) refused to sign the agreement. Chief Little Bear enlisted with some of his tribe in a Union force, the Ninth Kansas Infantry. These were the only Osage Indians who actually donned uniforms and attempted to become American-style soldiers. Chetopa=s band mustered 200 into the second regiment of the Indian Brigade of the Union Army. While the Osages furnished at least 400 men in the Union forces, the Little Osages who were not in the military made the greatest single contribution to the Union. For every Osage who supported the Confederacy, there were at least five who supported the Union.

Captain John Mathews, a trader, who lived at Little Town (near the present Oswego, Kansas), was married to an Osage. He had sent his sons to the Mission School, and hoped to influence the Mission to the cause of the South. Unsuccessful, he gathered a large force of pro-Southern whites and Osage warriors and engaged in several skirmishes against civilians sympathetic to the Union cause in July and August, 1861. He made plans to march against the Mission and burn the town. One of his sons, however, had been a pupil of the Mission and was very attached to Father John Schoenmakers. He rode all night to alarm him of the danger. Father John lost no time in leaving for St. Mary=s in Pottawatomie County, where he remained eight months. A heavy rain fell the night planned for the attack, which kept Mathews and his gang from crossing Flatrock Creek; this saved the Mission. In September 1861, Lieutenant Colonel James G. Blunt and the Sixth Kansas Cavalry defeated Mathews= company, routing it completely. Mathews was killed in the battle, and his death left the Confederate cause in southeastern Kansas without a leader.

On May 15, 1863, the Osages undoubtedly saved Kansas from a series of devastating Indian attacks. All three of the independent Little Osage bands had located their villages on the Verdigris drainage. The Claremore Big Hills were on Big Hill Creek downstream from Independence, Kansas. All the Little Osage villages were north of Independence. Both the Big Hills and Little Osage villages were on the east side of the Verdigris.

Hard Rope and eight or ten of his men had left the Big Hill village after a visit. Their intention was to go to Osage Mission before returning to their village. They had crossed Drum Creek southeast of Independence when they spotted a group of mounted white men. Approaching the party of about twenty-two men, Hard Rope asked them to identify them-selves. The men replied that they were a detachment of Union irregulars stationed at Fort Humboldt. Hard Rope told them he knew the men stationed at Humboldt and he did not see any familiar faces among their party. The men ignored the request of the Osages to accom-pany them to Fort Humboldt for identification. As they started to move away, the Osages tried to restrain them. In the ensuing scuffle, one of the white men shot and killed an Osage. Being outnumbered, Hard Rope withdrew his men and sent a messenger to the nearby Big Hill village for help. The Osage chiefs, Hard Rope and Little Beaver, set off with about 200 warriors in pursuit of the Confederate officers. When they overtook the soldiers, the Osage split into several groups, herding the Confederates about five miles from a loop in the Verdigris River, which ran swift and deep, cutting off an escape. During the chase, one Osage warrior and two Confederate officers were killed. The Osages used the timber on the flanks of the white men for shelter and ultimately forced the Confederates out on a gravel bar. From the tree shelter, the Osages fired upon them. Out of ammunition, the soldiers dismounted and faced the Indians in hand-to-hand combat. Eighteen were scalped and beheaded and two escaped. Finding that one of the dead was bald, the Osage warriors removed his long beard and added it to the scalps they carried off. From the uniforms and recovered papers, it was determined that these men had been Confederate officers. Their mission was to disperse among the various northern Indian Nations and to stir them into attacking northern settlements. Thus, the Osages saved Kansas from a series of devastating Indian raids.

By the terms of the treaty of 1863, made at LeRoy, Kansas, which was signed by the Osages but not ratified by the government, the Osages sold part of their land to the government and agreed to move westward to the Verdigris. It was understood that the government would sell the land thus acquired to settlers who began to come in great numbers even before the close of that year. In fact, the white settlers were so numerous, and insisted that their children be allowed to attend the Osage Mission School, that the Indian children were almost forced out, as pupils, by the overwhelming white children. This was quite a strain on the Mission, since Osage Mission was primarily supported by the government for the Indians.

During a thirteen day council held in September 1865 at Fort Smith, Arkansas, four basic concessions were forced on the Osages and other tribes between 1865 and 1907.

1. Each tribe must enter into a treaty for permanent peace and amity among themselves and with the United States.

2. Slavery must be abolished and steps taken to incorporate the freedmen into the tribes as citizens with rights guaranteed.

3. Each tribe must agree to surrender a portion of its lands to the United States for colonizing tribes from Kansas and elsewhere.

4. Tribal leaders must agree to the policy of uniting all tribes of the Indian Territory into a single, consolidated government.

Concessions three and four were the two that had the most effect on the Osages. It was the third requirement that made it possible for the Osages to buy their present reservation. The Osages clung to the fourth requirement, which was meant to create an Indian State, until 1907. They were the last Indians to give up the dream of the Indian State. In lieu of an Indian State, the Osages demanded that their reservation be kept intact as one governmental unit if they were to agree to become a part of the proposed State of Oklahoma. This is why Osage County and the Osage Reservation have identical boundaries.

The first missionaries who ministered to the Indians and afterwards to the few Catholic first settlers in Winfield, Cowley County, were Reverends John Schoenmakers and Paul M. Ponziglione, the Jesuit Fathers from the Osage Mission, now St. Paul=s Mission in Neosho County, Kansas. Later the Catholics in Winfield were attended by priests from Indepen-dence and Wichita. (NOTE : There are no known records of other missions being established in Cowley County.)

Emporia News, June 2, 1871. A new Catholic church is to be built at Osage Mission. It will be sixty by one hundred and fifty feet, and is to cost $75,000.

Winfield Courier, August 7, 1873. Father Paul (Ponziglione), of Osage Mission, will hold mass here next Saturday, the 10th inst., at the usual hour in the morning.

Winfield Courier, October 16, 1873. The Catholics of our city are notified that Paul M. Ponziglione, of Osage Mission, will hold mass next Sunday the 19th inst.

Winfield Courier, August 21, 1879. Rev. Paul M. Ponziglione, S. J., of St. Francis Institute, Osage Mission, is said to be a near relative of the present king of Italy. The people of Winfield will remember that Father Ponziglione had the Catholic Church of this place in his charge during a few of the first years, and was highly esteemed.

The August 8, 1883, issue of the Arkansas City Traveler informed its readers that John Schoenmakers, S. J., died at St. Francis College, near Osage Mission, at 4:30 p.m., July 28, 1883, aged about 75 years. AFather John Schoenmakers was one of the first settlers of Kansas. In 1847 he established the Osage Indian Mission, and has been connected with that institution since that time. He was dearly beloved by all classes for his Christian virtue and noble traits of character.@

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Emporia News, April 24, 1868.

A NEW OSAGE TREATY.

Commissioners are now on their way to the headquarters of the Osage Indians to make a new treaty with that tribe. We sincerely hope the treaty may result in the government getting possession of all their valuable lands in the south part of this State, and in sending the Osages south into the Indian country. Their lands are not exceeded in value, as an agricultural region, in Kansas, and the sooner they can be opened to settlement the better for Kansas and the country at large. After the treaty is made, if its terms are satisfactory, we hope our congressional delegation will use every exertion in their power in urging its ratification, in order that this valuable body of lands may be speedily opened for settlement. There are thousands of citizens waiting for the consummation of such a treaty, and not long after its being made available for settlers it will become one of the most populous regions in Kansas.

Emporia News, January 14, 1870.

The Sac and Fox and Osage Indians were camped close by. They are perfectly quiet and harmless; perhaps over-awed by the number of settlers. We made the acquaintance of a few of them: the superannuated chief, AHard Rope,@ ALittle Bear,@ E-keep-son-Ge, whose name is, translated, ALong-tailed Rat,@ and some others. Like all the other settled Indians, the Osages are a dying race. Very few children now grow to maturity. AStrike-axe,@ one of the principal chiefs, told one of our party that he had lost nine children, and only one remained. At the present rate of decrease, these tribes will soon disappear from the earth. AWhite man=s food@ and consanguine intermarriages are mentioned as the most apparent causes.

We have the best evidence that the number of the Osages has been greatly exaggerated by interested parties; that 2,000 is above the figure. While encamped near them for some days, we were particularly struck by a sort of prolonged and unearthly wail, which rose every morning at daybreak from their villagesCa sound that wonderfully harmonized with the note of the owl and coyoteCrising and falling for several minutes in strange cadence. This was said by some to be their mode of worship; but Col. Manning, who has spent much time among them, told us that they were mourning for their dead. To us it seemed as if these pre-Adamite people were singing their own death-song.

Walnut Valley Times, Friday, March 4, 1870.

Washington, Feb. 16, 1870. The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs have agreed to rec-ommend that the Government purchase lands of the Osage Indians at $2,000,000, with the privilege to all present settlers to buy not to exceed 160 acres at $1.25 per acreCthe Government to pay in four percent bonds, and guarantee the interest for support of the tribe.

The committee expect to pursue the same course with other large Indian tracts. This is the tract covered by one of the railroad treaties lately withdrawn.

Walnut Valley Times, March 11, 1870. Enoch Hoag, Indian Commissioner, in company with other grand sachems, passed through here on Tuesday on their way to the Osage Indian Nation. Friend Hoag said the Indians would soon be removed and that the treaty would be ratified, giving the lands to actual settlers at a dollar and a quarter per acre.

Walnut Valley Times, April 29, 1870.

The House Committee on Indian Affairs has agreed to report a bill providing for the extension of the general law concerning town sites over the Osage lands in Kansas.

Walnut Valley Times, May 20, 1870.

[Correspondence of the Times.]

OSAGE INDIAN LANDS.

EDITORS TIMES: Pursuant to notice, the people of Cowley County met in convention at Creswell on Tuesday, 10th inst., to consider the questions connected with the Indian occupancy of the Osage lands. After some discussion, the following preamble and resolutions were unanimously adopted.

WHEREAS, We, the citizens of Cowley County, in mass convention assembled, believe that the time has fully come in which the interests of civilization demand the extinction of the Indian title to the Osage lands, and

WHEREAS, We regard with regret and distrust the inactivity of our Senators upon this question, therefore

Resolved, That we urge upon our Senators, Pomeroy, Ross, and Representative Clarke, immediate and definite actions looking toward the removal of the Osage Indians from these lands and opening them to actual settlers.

Resolved, That while we are opposed to all great land monopolies like those contem-plated in the "Sturges Treaty," we favor the policy of aiding the construction of railroads by granting to them alternate sections of land now unclaimed, or the proceeds of the sale thereof, to the amount of ten sections to the mile, reserving to the immigrant upon said lands the right of pre-emption and ultimate purchase at a fixed maximum price, not to exceed two dollars and fifty cents an acre.

Resolved, That we regard immediate action upon this subject as of permanent importance, and we earnestly urge that the question be finally settled before the close of the present session of Congress.

Resolved, That copies of the above preamble and resolutions be forwarded to each member of our Congressional delegation, and to the WALNUT VALLEY TIMES, Emporia News, Topeka Commonwealth, and Lawrence Tribune. H. B. NORTON, President.

C. R. SIPES, Secretary.

Creswell, May 11, 1870.

Walnut Valley Times, May 20, 1870. On Thursday last, the Senate occupied almost the entire day over the house Osage Indian bill.

The question in order, was on amendment of Mr. Ross, of this State, to take the land from the Indians, at 20 cents an acre, and cede them to certain railroads in Kansas in specified quantities and at specified rates giving settlers on the reservation the right to purchase 160 acres each at $1.25 per acre.

Several SenatorsCnotably, Mr. Morrill of Maine, spoke against the bill at length. Mr. Morrill declared that the passage of such an act would be a "legislative scandal." Finally, a motion was made to recommit the bill, with instructions to report a bill for the removal of the Osage Indians to the Indian Territory, and for the sale of their reservation in Kansas for cash, as other public lands are disposed of. Pending discussion on this motion, the bill to abolish the franking privilege came up as the special order, and the Osage business was laid aside without definite action.

Walnut Valley Times, June 10, 1870.

Editor Walnut Valley Times: Understanding that reports of Indian hostilities are being circulated in your vicinity, I will ask the use of your columns to correct misapprehensions.

The sum total of casualties is as follows: nobody killed or scalped; nobody hurt; two men scared by some fast young Osages. The gist of the matter lies in the fact that the Osages are camped on the Arkansas, below the mouth of the Grouse, and desire that no homes be built by the whites on this part of the valleyCnot quite three miles in lengthCor on Chilocky Creek, which flows from the west into the Arkansas near the State line. They therefore ordered out of this region one family, and one young man who was there at work. No violence has been used toward anybody, and none will be used.

Certain exaggerated reports have been spread by parties who wanted to keep certain tracts of land vacant till their own particular friends should arrive from the east; and by others, who wish to keep emigrants from passing through Eldorado, Augusta, etc., into the country below.

Permit me to say that the policy of certain merchants and other parties at Eldorado is rather short-sighted in this matter. To build up a wealthy and prosperous county here is to insure the prosperity and future greatness of Eldorado. Your town is now growing rich from the stream of immigration pouring hither through your streets. Your people cannot afford to so treat this current as to force its diversion into other and more direct routes.

Creswell was never more prosperous than now. Before November 1st, this will be the largest town in the Walnut Valley, Eldorado excepted. There are houses and places of business now under contract to insure this. We have been blessed with heavy and abundant rains, two showers falling on the night of the 23rd and morning of the 24th, which completely saturated the soil.

The Osages have gone out upon the plains. We have enjoyed an interview with Chetopah, Numpawalla, and others. They are friendly and peaceable. If the average of white men would be as orderly and law-abiding as the Osages, the legal profession would soon become extinct.

H. B. NORTON.

Walnut Valley Times, June 17, 1870.

THE OSAGE LANDS.

Dispatches of June the 8th state that the Osage Indian reservation question was disposed of in the Senate by adoption of Pomeroy's amendment, with some modification. The whole reservation of eight million acres is given up by the Indians, and sold to actual settlers only, at $1.25 per acreCthe usual school sections being reserved to the State of Kansas. The Indians get the entire proceeds of the sale, and go to a new reservation on the Creek and Cherokee lands, in the Indian Territory. These Osage lands were included in the Indian treaties some time ago withdrawn by the President. The treaty was made in Johnson's term, and conveyed the tract to a railroad company at about twelve cents per acre.

Walnut Valley Times, July 15, 1870. Front Page.

[From the State Record.]

We have already stated that the House Committee on Appropriations reported against the Senate amendment to the Indian appropriation bill authorizing the sale of the Osage land in Kansas at $1.25 per acre. The House concurred in this recommendation of the Committee, and Messrs. Sargent, Niblack, and Paine have been appointed a Committee of Conference on this and other rejected Senate amendments.

It is regretted that this matter should drag along as it does. The Indians are anxious to sell and quit the lands; and settlers are equally anxious to secure titles to homes upon the same.

Walnut Valley Times, July 22, 1870.

A brief dispatch states that the Osage Indian Lands will be disposed of to actual settlers at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre, except school lands. This will be good news to the settlers on the thirty mile strip. The land will probably be surveyed soon.

Walnut Valley Times, July 29, 1870.

We take great pleasure in being able to present to our readers an official copy of the Osage bill as it passed Congress and became a law. It will be recollected that provision was attached to the Indian appropriation bill, and of course we omit all that portion relating to Indian appropriations. This is a triumph for Kansas. It reads as follows.

Sec. 15. And be it further enacted, That whenever the Great and Little Osage Indians shall agree thereto in such manner as the President shall prescribe, it shall be the duty of the President to remove said Indians from the State of Kansas to lands provided, or to be provided, for them, for a permanent home in the Indian Territory, to consist of a tract of land in compact form, equal in quantity to one hundred and sixty acres for each member of said tribe, or such part thereof as said Indians may desire, to be paid for out of the proceeds of the sales of their lands in the State of Kansas, the price per acre for such lands to be procured in the Indian Territory not to exceed the price paid, or to be paid, by the United States for the same.

And to defray the expenses of said removal, and to aid in the subsistence of the said Indians during the first year, there is hereby appropriated out of the treasury, out of any money not otherwise appropriated, to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, the sum of fifty thousand dollars; to be reimbursed to the United States from the proceeds of the sale of the lands of the said Indians in Kansas, including the trust lands north of their present diminished reservation, which lands shall be opened to settlement after survey excepting the sixteenth and thirty-sixth section which shall be reserved to the State of Kansas for school purposes, and shall be sold to actual settlers only, said settlers being heads of families or over twenty-one years of age, in quantities not exceeding one hundred and sixty acres, in square form, to each settler, at the price of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre; payment to be made in cash, within one year from the date of settlement, or of the passage of this act; and the United States, in consideration of the relinquishment by said Indians of their lands in Kansas, shall pay annually interest on the amount of money received as proceeds of sale of said lands, at the rate of five per centum, to be expended by the President for the benefit of said Indians in such manner as he may deem proper. And for this purpose an accurate account shall be kept by the Secretary of the Interior of the money received as proceeds of sale, and the aggregate amount received prior to the first day of November of each year shall be the amount upon which the payment of interest shall be based. The proceeds of the sale of said lands shall be carried to the credit of said Indians in the books of the treasury, and shall bear interest at the rate of five per cent per annum: Provided, That the diminished reserve of said Indians in Kansas shall be surveyed under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, as other public lands are surveyed, as soon as the consent of said Indians is obtained, as above provided, the expense of said survey to be paid from the proceeds of sale of said lands.

SEC. 16. And be it further enacted, That there be and is hereby appropriated out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, as compensation to the Osages for the stock of farming utensils which the United States agreed to furnish them by the second article of the treaty of January 11th, 1839, and which are only partly furnished, twenty thousand dollars; and as compensation for the saw and grist mill which the United States agreed by said treaty to maintain for them for fifteen years, and which were only maintained five years, ten thousand dollars, which sums shall be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Interior, in the following manner: Twelve thousand dollars in erecting agency buildings and warehouses, a blacksmith's dwellings, and a blacksmith's shop, and the remaining eighteen thousand dollars in the erection of a school house and church, and a saw and grist mill, at their new home in the Indian Territory. Approved July 15, 1870.

Walnut Valley Times, October 7, 1870.

The Land Office at this place has received the following letter from the department at Washington, from which it will be seen that the Hon. Secretary of the Interior has decided that the State is not entitled to the 16th and 36th sections on the Osage and Indian Trust Lands for school purposes. These sections will now be open for settlement, and purchase under the Joint Resolution of April 10th, 1869, as the balance of the Osage Lands. This decision will not effect those sections on the Osage Ceded Lands. Humboldt Union.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

GEN. LAND OFFICE, Sept. 21, 1870.

GENTLEMEN: I enclose herewith for your information a copy of decision of Secretary of the Interior, dated 26th of August, 1870, relative to the claims of the State of Kansas to the 16th and 36th sections or equivalent therefore in the Osage Ceded and Trust Lands.

Very respectfully, JOS. S. WILSON, Commissioner.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,

WASHINGTON, D. C., Aug. 26, 1870.

SIR: I have received your letter of the 5th of March last in regard to the right of the State of Kansas under the Joint Resolution of April 10th, 1870, to equivalents for 16 and 36 sections within Osage Ceded and Trust Lands where the same may have been settled upon prior to survey.

In reply I have to state that by the act of January 26th, 1861, there were granted to the State for Schools, Sections 16 and 36 in every township of Public Lands in said State, and where either of said sections or any part thereof has been sold or otherwise been disposed of, other lands equivalent thereto, and as contiguous as may be, shall be granted to said state for the use of schools.

The lands embraced in the 2nd Article of the Osage Treaty (of Sept. 29th, 1870) are required to be sold in trust for the benefit of the Indians.

The United States acquired no beneficial interest in them, and in no sense can they be considered public lands. The State therefore has acquired no right through the United States, to any part of said lands and is not entitled to equivalents for such of the 16 and 36 sections as may be disposed of to pre-emptors.

The United States, however, purchased under the treaty the land embraced in the First Article, and therefore they became public lands, and for such of the 16th and 36th sections of them as may be sold or otherwise disposed of the state will be entitled to select equivalents, which must be taken as near as may be to the ceded tract.

Yours respectfully, Your ob't servant, J. D. COX, Sec'y.

Hon. Jos. S. Wilson, Commissioner of the General Land Office.

Walnut Valley Times, November 25, 1870. Col. A. J. Angell, Contracting Surveyor of Leavenworth, accompanied by his assistants, O. F. Short, of Leavenworth, Jeremiah Ellis, of Adams Co., Ohio; Lieut. Ludwitz, and M. Athey passed through our town on Monday last, en route to survey the Osage Indian Trust Lands, in Sumner and Cowley Counties. They expect to complete the survey by the middle of next April. The outfit consisted of 25 men, 6 horses, 9 yoke of oxen, and six two-wheel carts for hauling corner stones.

Emporia News, December 16, 1870.

ARKANSAS CITY, KANSAS, December 9, 1870.

As most of your readers will know, this new city is built between the Walnut and Arkansas Rivers, within a mile and a half of their confluence. It is also within a few miles of the southern line of the State, dividing our territory from that of the Osage Indians. The extract I enclose from the Arkansas Traveler, will give a correct idea of the present state of these natives.

AThe Osages are all out on the hunt yet. Chetopah=s band are up near the head of the Nenescah. Hard Rope and Beaver are on Shawacospa and Little Salt Plains. The Big Hill=s are on Salt Fork and Medicine Lodge. The Black Dogs are still further south. The Cheyenne and Arapaho are hunting on the Salt plains, and seem friendly. The Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, Caddo, Wichita, and other plains Indians held a grand council on the north fork of the Canadian about ten days ago, at which they all agreed not to go on the warpath this fall provided the Osage behaved themselves. All the plains Indians were represented except the Comanche. This report comes from good authority: Mr. O. P. Johnson, an old scout and plainsman.

ATwo of Hard Rope=s little chiefs were in town last week. They brought in a number of wolf skins, buck skins, furs, etc. Some of the wolf skins (brought from the Timber Mountains) measured near seven feet long, and were the finest we have ever seen. They were the White Mountain wolf.@

The land in this region is quite similar to that throughout the States excepting the sand mingled with the soil along the Arkansas bottoms. This improves it for tilling, and defends it somewhat against the consequences of both floods and drouths. For Irish and especially sweet potatoes, and all kinds of vines, melons, etc., it is superior. Fruits likewise flourish, and will in a few years greatly enhance the comforts and health of the people, if they will but take the pains to rear orchards. Strange, however, to say, that this luxury is about the last which enlists the attention of the settlers.

Near Manhattan I asked a thrifty farmer why he had not grown a young orchard during the five years he had lived on his farm, and he replied that cattle growing would pay much better. While somewhat thankful that he said cattle rather than swine, yet I could not avoid the sad reflection that he was missing the chief end of his life. Let it not be so with the readers of the Union. Since a thriving orchard of well selected fruit will bring more luxury into a family than all the stock, and the more money it brings, ever can. In this little city people are paying five cents per apple, and will do so for years, unless they at once begin to plant the seeds and the young trees. Inasmuch as their lands have not been surveyed, leaving them in uncertainty as to their future lines, they have a better excuse for delaying their orchards than others. But this obstacle is soon to disappear, since the Government surveyors are now in the field.

This city is but six months old, and has now attained to 63 houses and some 400 inhab-itants. Considering the difficulties of getting lumber and other building material, the success of the settlers is indeed commendable. Nearly all are comfortable and still improving. Two saw mills are now running day and nightCwhich with good timber nearbyCbegin to supply the demand, and make it much easier and cheaper to erect houses. A kinder, more hospitable, or on the whole, better class of people, I have nowhere found in Kansas.

But on the western frontier of Kansas, extending as it is said from Junction City into the Indian Territory, there is an organization of thieves, constituting the greatest of all draw-backs to the peace and prosperity of this, otherwise, most prominent region. For years the desperate reign of these desperadoes has been undisturbed, seldom has the law even so much as arrested them, and never, it is said, placed the first one in the place appointed for thieves & robbers. Two of them four or five weeks ago, at Emporia, stole the last dime ($65) a poor teamster had, and at the trial for the crime, were promptly turned loose to resume the practice of their profession. The next thing I heardCas they returned to Wichita and DouglassCwas of the detection of four of the gang, two Booths, Corbin, and Smith. In two or three weeks after this a number of honest citizens were arrested, charged by one of the thieves (as is generally believed) with murdering his four comrades. About the same time one Quimby, a leading merchant in Douglass, Mike Dray, his partner, Dr. Morris and his Son, were arrested, tried, and held to bail for stealing horses. While being guarded that they might procure the bail, Quimby and his wife made strong threats of raising their clan and taking vengeance upon the citizens, who were staking their all on Acleaning out@ the thieves. On Thursday night, 2nd inst., some seventy men came to relieve the guard, and end the practices of these wretched men. They were hung a mile and a half south of Douglass. This makes eight of the band that have been put out of the way lately, and I am assured by the best of citizens, that the battle being joined, never will they hold up, nor cry enough till it is decided whether thieves or honest men are to rule the valley, and upon this frontier.

Last May I wrote you of the slaughter of two Aunknown men@ near Wichita, labeled when found AHorse Thieves.@ It has since transpired that they were honest emigrants from Knox County, Illinois, and were murdered by this band for their team and money.

Now while all good people deeply deplore the necessity for this violence, but few can fail to see that this is the only available remedy. Honest citizens must surrender their homes and their all, and flee for refuge in quest of protection, or remove these thieves and robbers. The law, as I have said, and as all may know, has failed for years to regulate them, and there is now little hope of its doing so.

Corbin confessed and gave the names of some 50 of his clan, told where would be found stolen stock, and so it was. Hence it would seem, since they have deliberately and persis-tently outlawed all order and law, they have no right to complain that honest citizens deal to them summary justice, though not in accordance with the forms of law. W. P.

Emporia News, December 30, 1870.

We learn from the Arkansas Traveler that Capt. Norton has just returned from a trip to the Little Osage=s camp, on Slate Creek, where he has been for some days trading with them. He informs us that about thirty of the hunters had just got in from a twenty day=s hunt, and brought with them over 400 robes. This was an unusually good hunt. The balance of the hunters, about 150 or 200, are expected to come in a few days. They state that they did not see any wild Indians on the plains, and think they are below the Cimarron. Big Hill Joe=s band killed over 300 buffaloes on their first day=s hunt on the Salt Fork. The Osages will get about 5,000 robes on their first hunt, this winter. Their second hunt will come off early in January. It is calculated, from the way the hunting has been going on this winter, that 200,000 buffaloes will be killed by next spring.

The February 10, 1871, issue of the Emporia News had a clipping from the Schoolmaster, an educational periodical published at Chicago, concerning H. B. Norton, late Associate Principal of the Kansas State Normal School, and his brother, Gould Hyde Norton. It stated that there were nearly one hundred buildings, including mills, etc., in Arkansas City and that a large trade had been opened with the Osages and Texan drovers. ACapt. Norton will handle $30,000 in furs and robes this winter. As the Norton boys have a large share of the land, and as two railroads are sure to pass through their town, we, on the whole, are not disposed to blame the >Sage= for leaving the school room.@

Emporia News, March 3, 1871.

A great deal of embarrassment and trouble has been occasioned among the settlers on the Osage lands by the survey recently made by the engineer corps. They find that their original lines did not fall in the correct places, however pleasant they may have or would have been if properly located. Some find that their improvements are in one section, and the larger part of their original claim in another. The idea prevails that they must take a particular quarter of one section, and in order to adjust matters by this rule, they have been trading off, buying up, jumping, and quarreling. To get information in regard to the matter, our townsman, Mr. C. E. Kelsey, addressed Commissioner Drummond a letter, in reply to which he received the following letter.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, GENERAL LAND OFFICE, Feb. 15, 1871.

Mr. E. C. KELSEY, Emporia, Kansas. SIR: I am in receipt of your letter of the 3rd inst., relative to the form of claims made upon Osage Indian lands.

In reply I say that a claim of 160 acres may be made in one section, or in different sections making 160 acres provided they are contiguous to each other, but not with other lands intervening. Very Respectfully, WILLIS DRUMMOND, Commissioner.

From the above it will be seen that a man who has made improvements upon his claim does not necessarily lose them if the section or quarter lines happen to divide them from the larger part of the claim. He can retain a forty of one quarter and three forties of another; if it so happens that his claim is divided by the newly established lines; or he can hold his claim if one forty should be in one section and three forties in another, provided, in all cases, that his 160 acres are in one body.

Emporia News, April 7, 1871.

The Washington correspondent of the Lawrence Journal writes to that paper saying that Senator Pomeroy informed him that the Commissioner of the General Land Office has made a decision, of which, if it be acted upon, the settlers on the Osage diminished reserve will be glad to hear. This decision as furnished by the Journal correspondent is as follows.

1. All settlers upon the Osage diminished reserve and trust lands, who have settled upon these lands previous to the passage of the act for the disposal of these lands, will not be required to make payment on the 10th of April, but will be required to make payment on the 15th of July, 1871. In other words, payment is postponed from April to July.

2.All who settled upon the lands subsequent to the passage of the actCJuly 15th, 1870C

will have until one year from July, 1871, to make payment, or until July 1872.

3. The department construes the provision for re-entry in square form to mean as follows: Entries can be made in legal subdivisions. A settler can take four forties in a row, if there is no settlement on either of the forties. The quarter-section cannot be entered in ell shape, but can in the form of a parallelogram, or, of course, in square form, as provided by the act.

4. Actual settlement is a condition precedent to entry. Actual settlement is to be construed to mean six months continuous occupation and residence, and actual improvement of the lands to be entered.

Emporia News, April 7, 1871.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, GENERAL LAND OFFICE, March 16, 1871.

GENTLEMEN: By the twelfth section of the act approved July 15th, 1870, making appropriations for the expenses of the Interior Department (pamphlet laws, page 363), provision is made to continue the disposal of the Osage trust lands upon the same terms as the Adiminished reserve,@ therein provided for. By these terms payment is to be made within one year from the date of act, or one year from date of settlement where made subsequent to the act.

By this extension, settlers on the Atrust lands@ need not make payment for their claims prior to the 10th of April next, the time when the resolution of the 10th of April, 1869, expires.

You will, therefore, allow no claims after the 10th of April, unless you shall have received definite instructions under the act of July 15th, 1870, which instructions are for the present delayed, in anticipation of additional action by Congress amending said act.

The AOsage lands@ (first article treaty 1865) are not covered by said act of July, 1870, consequently the settlers upon said lands must make proof and payment prior to the 10th of April next. Very respectfully, WILLIS DRUMMOND, Commissioner. Humboldt Union.

Emporia News, April 28, 1871.

Robert Armstrong, Deputy U. S. Surveyor, has finished his portion of the work on the Osage Reservation. Last Monday he paid off his hands, some forty in number. The boys were not long, after receiving their currency, in laying in good clothes and other little tricks for human comfort and appearance. We are pleased to state that we did not see or hear of one of them getting under the influence of benzine. As a general thing they purchased what they were compelled to have and then put for home. Wichita Vidette.

Emporia News, May 19, 1871.

We find the following in the Humboldt Union.

WASHINGTON, April 26, 1871.

GENTLEMEN: It has been represented to this office that parties endeavor to speculate in the Osage lands by making claims, and then selling out and taking others. It is also represented that during the temporary absence of bona fide settlers, either for the purpose of bringing their families, or while engaged in their calling of Aherdsmen,@ their claims are Ajumped@ by other parties, etc.

With a view to protect the interests and rights of bona fide claimants, you will, therefore:

First, Require of all parties an affidavit, when filing, that they have not, since the passage of the act of July 15, 1870, for the disposition of said lands, sold their rights, or voluntarily abandoned any tract of said Osage lands, or settled upon, improved, or filed for any other tract of said lands than the one designated in said filing. This affidavit you will also require when the proof is made.

Second. Where, in contests between adverse claimants, it is shown by the first settler that he made a bona fide settlement, and that an absence from the claim was due to the reasons herein alluded to, you will give him the preference, provided he has in other respects complied with the requirements of our former instructions, giving of course, to the adverse claimant the right to appeal to this office. Very respectfully,

WILLIS DRUMMOND, U. S. Land Commissioner.

The following is extracted from an official letter received at the office of the superintendent of Indian affairs, giving an account of the attack recently made in the Indian Territory upon a party of Osages by white men, on the 13th inst.

No-pa-walla, chief of the Little Osages, and some of his head men, ten in number, started in the morning from their little village, which is about eight miles south of the Kansas line, to trade robes and furs of one of the border towns of the State. They were met when about two miles on their way, by seventeen border white men, armed with guns and revolvers, who demanded the return of a horse which they alleged had been stolen by some of the Osages. The chief assured them that his braves at the camp would find the horse for them if he was in their herds. The white men after consultation presented their arms and ordered the Indians to dismount, which some of them did; and others attempted to escape. The whites commenced firing at the Osages, and pursued them, the Indians making no resistance whatever, as they were unarmed. The chief was wounded slightly in the shoulder. Two of his men, inoffensive and peaceable like himself were badly, if not fatally wounded, and another was pursued to the river and killed. Another saved his life by diving into a lake.

Some of the Indians escaped to the village, and amidst great excitement about seventy-five warriors left in pursuit of the whites, and overtook them before they reached the state line, and as they refused to stop and deliver the ponies and robes which they had taken, they were fired upon by the Osages. One white man was killed, and two were taken prisoners; five horses were captured. The remainder of the marauders made their escape and spread the report that the Indians were perpetrating a general massacre of the women and children of the border.

The Indians released the two prisoners whom they captured, and also have given up the horses taken by them in the fight.

A delegation from the settlers on the border have brought down to the agency the pony which the thieves and murderers took with them, and seemed desirous of doing all they could to restore friendly relations with the Indians. Lawrence Tribune.

Walnut Valley Times, November 24, 1871.

Two men were found murdered within a short distance of Arkansas City a short time ago. Supposed to be the work of Osage Indians.

Walnut Valley Times, February 2, 1872.

[From the Arkansas TRAVELER.]

The Osages have about completed their fall hunt and will return to their camping ground on the Shawkaska in a few days. Considering that the buffalo have been driven so far west, they have made a good hunt. There are about four hundred lodges in the whole tribe, and it is said they will average about twenty-five robes to the lodge. The main herd of buffalo is about one hundred and twenty miles west of Arkansas City. Straggling heads are found within a distance of thirty-five miles west. As the Indians return, the buffalo will follow, and by next spring the bulk of them will be within a radius of thirty miles west.

We learn from parties on the Grouse that settlers are continually crowding into the Territory, near the mouth of Beaver Creek, on to the so-called Cherokee Strip, and that some have made permanent improvements. It does not seem right to have this tract of land set aside and held for Indians when there is not an Indian residing on it; and if any should be located thereon, they would not be able to gain a subsistence, as all the game has been frightened off and the buffalo driven far from them. Let the lands that are occupied by the Indians be held for them, and those that are not occupied and never will be, be brought into market for the settler. Although this land is very fertile and would make the best of farms for the settler, an Indian would starve to death if he were compelled to stay on it.

Walnut Valley Times, February 16, 1872. Settlers upon the Osage lands are to have one year's extra time to pay for their homes, upon paying ten percent interest.

Walnut Valley Times, April 12, 1872.

SETTLERS IN THE TERRITORY.

Senator Morrill of Maine recently introduced a resolution asking the Secretary of the Interior to furnish what information he might have respecting the occupancy of the Indian Territory by unauthorized persons. The reply was as follows.

I have respectfully to report the latest information on the subject is contained in a communication addressed to this office, 28th ultimo, by John B. Jones, United States agent of the Cherokee Indians, in which he quotes from a letter received by him from Isaac Gibson, United States agent for the Osage Indians, to the effect that the latter had been across the Arkansas River, twenty miles south of the Kansas line, where he found hundreds of settlers who informed him that all the good lands for fifteen miles down the river were claimed up; that most of the timber lands and valleys are claimed from Coffeyville to Arkansas River for twenty or thirty miles into the Indian Territory; that the settlers are sanguine of holding their claims, and say if they are not molested until the 1st of March, their numbers will be so great that the Government will not dare attempt their removal.

Agent Jones adds that there are also many intruders east of the ninety-sixth meridian in the Cherokee country. In addition to the foregoing, it is known that there are many intruders along the lines of the railroad in the Indian Territory, but this office is unable to give their number from the date at present in its possession.

Winfield Messenger, June 28, 1872.

WINFIELD, June 27th, 1872.

EDITOR MESSENGER: I fear many of the settlers, through a misunderstanding of the late act of Congress, will allow the time to pass at which they should prove up and enter their lands.

All parties whose date of settlement is subsequent to July 15th, 1870, and before the filing of the Government township plat in the local Land Office, must make proof within one year from the date of such filing of the plats. The plats of the Osage Diminished Reserve, as far east, and including range four, were filed in the Land Office then at Augusta July 10th, 1871.

This is as I understand the law, and as it is understood at the Land Office at Wichita.

Respectfully, J. M. ALEXANDER.

Winfield Messenger, September 20, 1872. Front Page.

Winfield Courier, April 10, 1873.

The following important order has been received at Wichita.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, GENERAL LAND OFFICE,

WASHINGTON, D. C., March 17, 1873.

GENTLEMEN: I am in receipt of numerous applications through your office, from settlers of the Osage trust and diminished reserve lands, to prove up and pay for their claims, after the expiration of the year from settlement, and allowed by act of July 15th, under which said lands are sold. This question has been carefully considered, and you are now advised, that I can see no objection to applying to the settlers on these lands the same rules governing similar cases, elsewhere, to-wit: Where a party fails to make his proof and payment within the time required, but does subsequently appear and offer such proof, and tender payment, the same may be received if found satisfactory in other respects, Provided, no adverse right has attached to the land, and provided further, that they pay the 5 percent interest as required in the 2nd section, act of May 9th, 1872, when the claim is made under its provisions.

Of course, the settlers will understand that if they allow the time to expire, they do so at their peril, for in all such cases a subsequent right, with full compliance shown, will defeat the original claimant. * * * * Very respectfully, W. W. CURTIS, Assistant Commissioner.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 8, 1873.

Suits have been brought in the United States District Court to determine the rights of parties on the Osage Ceded Lands, as between railroad grants and settlers.

Winfield Courier, May 27, 1873. W. B. Webb has filed in court a petition for a mandamus on the secretary of the interior to compel him to issue land patents for certain lands in Kansas. This land is a part of the Osage ceded land, and it is said that this case is a test one in which two or three hundred thousand acres are involved.

Winfield Courier, February 27, 1874.

Och-tun-ba-ka, and Nan-hunk-gah, stopped with us last Wednesday night and breakfasted with us the next morning. The former is a runner, and had a number of dispatches for different Agents. The latter was sent in by Hard Rope, who is camped on the west side of the Skiskaska, to have someone come down there to trade, which he failed to do. Och-tun-ba-ka is known as "Stanislaw" among the whites, and will be remembered by the early settlers. The peace treaty between the Osages and Cheyennes is very uncertain, and the Osages say, "maybe we fight, maybe we not when we meet. Don't know." Traveler.

Winfield Courier, March 20, 1874.

EXTENSION OF TIME.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1874.

MR. JONESCDear Sir: In reply to your favor in reference to the Osage lands, I have to say that it would give me great pleasure to be able to secure the points desired, time payments, etc. But it may be impracticable to accomplish it. Time payments on sales at minimum prices is entirely without precedent, and so embarrasses the operations of the land offices and the departments that there is great opposition to it. Taxation before final payment is also impracticable for the reason that taxation of lands can only be enforced by a sale of the land, and the Government will not allow its own rights to be prejudiced or defeated by tax titles. I think, however, we shall be able to get a bill through extending the time and thus give substantial relief. Yours, very sincerely, D. P. LOWE.

The above letter from Hon. D. P. Lowe to Mr. Jones will show what the Judge thinks about the matter of extending the time for the payment of the Osage lands and taxation of the same. Judge Lowe makes the same mistake that most of those high in authority generally make, viz: do nothing without a precedent. Now we have great respect for precedents, and think that it would be well for some of the servants of the people that we could name to model after some others, who have gone before; but when it comes to a matter of this kind we beg that precedents, of whatever name or description, will be discarded. Ours is just one of those conditions that want to get away from precedents. There is no precedent in the land laws of the United States that will suit our case. Just the opposite of all precedents in the management of these lands is what we want, and what we must have if we get relief at all. Away with your straight jacket precedents, and give us some original common-sense legislation.

Winfield Courier, March 27, 1874.

NOTICE.

COMPLAINT having been entered at this office by William Marshall against Swan B. Huff for illegal Osage filing, No. 8822, dated Oct. 13, 1873, upon the Lots 1 and 12 and northeast 1/4 of N E 1/4 Section 30, Township 32 S, Range 3 East in Cowley County, Kansas, with a view to the cancellation of said filing; the said parties are hereby summoned to appear at this office on the 10th day of April, 1874, at 9 o'clock A. M., to respond and furnish testimony concerning said alleged fraud. W. J. Jenkins, Register.

Winfield Courier, May 8, 1874.

C. M. Scott of the Arkansas City Traveler, has been invited by his red brethren, the Osages, to accompany them on an extensive hunt, but declines with thanks.

Winfield Courier, July 10, 1874.

Bill Conner, an Osage Chief, married a Miss Angie Pyne, of Osage Mission, last week.

Winfield Courier, July 10, 1874. One of the last things Congress did on the eve of adjournment was to pass the bill extending the time for making proof and payment on the Osage Trust and Diminished reserve lands.

Winfield Courier, August 7, 1874.

On the morning of the 22nd inst., as Mr. H. H. Wiggins and son were returning from Medicine Lodge, and when about twelve miles southeast of that place, they were suddenly surrounded by about thirty Osage Indians and robbed of their teams. The men were not otherwise molested. The Messrs. Wiggins had been to Barbour County attending a lawsuit in which they were interested, and were returning loaded with cedar posts. The two teams are valued at six hundred dollars, and the loss falls with crushing weight upon the owners. Sumner County Press.

Winfield Courier, August 14, 1874.

While Captain Reeker's company of Kansas Militia were scouting down the Medicine Lodge in Barbour County on the 10th inst., they encountered about thirty Osages, whom they engaged in a lively tussle. Five Indians were killed and thirty ponies taken. The militia didn't lose a man. The fight took place some ten miles north of the line in the state of Kansas.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874. Capt. Kager's company (G.) will meet Saturday at the courthouse at 3 o'clock p.m., as seen by the card published elsewhere.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874.

Attention Battalion! Let every able bodied man attend the meeting at the courthouse tomorrow (Saturday) night to organize a Militia company.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874.

The Osage Land Case.

PARSONS, KS., August 22. Three years ago the title to one million acres of land in the counties of Neosho and Labette was considered perfect in the L. L. & G., and the M. K. & T. R. R. Companies; then the average price was $2.50 per acre. A mistaken land policy was adopted by Mr. Denison, Vice President, and Land Commissioner Goodnow, against the protest of the General Manager, Mr. Stevens. The appraisement was raised to five dollars and as high as twenty-five dollars per acre. It was oppressive and they could not pay for their land. Governor Osborn called the attention of the President to the existing facts, and aided by powerful friends and the State of Kansas, the settlers succeeded in having a suit brought by the U. S. District Attorney, to grant a title. Justice Miller and Judge Dillon have rendered a verdict which it is generally conceded will be affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States, giving the land to the settlers.

There is general rejoicing here tonight. At least five thousand people are here to celebrate their deliverance from the R. R. Companies. Speeches have been made by prominent citi-zens, and the little city of Parsons is wild with enthusiasm. Hon. M. W. Reynolds was particularly severe upon what he termed the suicidal and blundering policy of the Railroad Companies.

Reynolds said the beauties of the brother-in-law system was illustrated in the inefficiency and imbecility of Land Commissioner Goodnow, brother-in-law of Vice President Denison of the M. K. & T. Railroad, by which the road is now a loser to the amount of $2,000,000. Goodnow insulted the settlers, and Denison had upheld him in his weak and vacillating policy. He said if the liberal policy of General Manager Stevens had been adopted, it would have saved the road the lands of the company, and would have secured the good will of the now hostile people, among whom they now operate the road. He appealed to the Railroad Companies to employ only those who were competent, and who, by their western sense and gentlemanly demeanor, command the confidence, respect, and esteem of the people in the hour of the people's triumph. He counseled aid and encouragement to all legitimate enter-prises for the development of the country. There are thirty thousand people upon these lands

whose friends will rejoice with them at this glorious decision. Speeches were made by Mayor Matthewson, Ed Davis, T. C. Corry, and others. At a late hour the people adjourned, feeling that for the first time they could go to their own homes.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 22. The following telegram was received here today from Gov. Osborn, of Kansas: "I have information through Indian Agent Stubbs and other sources, that the Osage tribe of Indians have, at a general council, declared war against this State. Depredations have already been committed by them on our southern border. The State has but few arms, and the United States troops, before guarding the line, being new in the Indian Territory, at a great distance from the Osage Reservation, exposes the frontier settlements of this State to great danger. With arms we can defend our border. Can you furnish 2,000 carbines and accouterments, and 100,000 cartridges on account of the State of Kansas!"

The telegram has been referred to the war department.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874. On the 24th inst., Agent Stubbs, of the Osages, and Enoch Hoag, had a conference with Gov. Osborn, on affairs of the Osage tribe today. They asked for the restoration of horses and ponies captured by Capt. Ricker's troop of militia.

Agent Stubbs said that the Osages had given them but ten days to return with the ponies, during which time they would maintain an armistice; if they were not returned, he intimated that trouble might be feared from them. Governor Osborn said that he would not temporize with the Indians by any such concession; that the Indians must prove that they had no knowledge of the existing order as to the return of the Osages to their reservations or any hostile intention and disprove the claim made by Captain Ricker's, that they fired upon them first. These conditions are impossible for the Osages to comply with.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874.

The militia meeting which was advertised for Saturday night was so poorly attended that the meeting was postponed until Monday evening, the proceedings of which will be found elsewhere. There are some fourteen companies in this and adjoining counties, already organized, and others are rapidly being formed. Gov. Osborn has telegraphed to the President for arms and ammunition and when they arrive, we think the people along the border will be abundantly able to protect themselves against all Indian invasions.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874.

Pursuant to a call, the citizens of Winfield and vicinity met at the courthouse on Monday evening, the 24th, electing J. J. Williams as chairman, and W. W. Walton Secretary; E. B. Kager stated the object of the meeting to be the organization of a company of State Militia.

Capt. J. B. Nipp, being called upon, made some very good suggestions besides giving the latest news from the frontier. He thought that there was more danger of an invasion by the Indians now than there had ever been. The Osages demanded the return of the ponies and one thousand dollars each for the Indians killed in the recent engagement with the Militia. These terms will not be conceded by the Governor, and an open war on the extreme border this fall and winter is threatened.

A sufficient number having signed the necessary oath, they were sworn in by Capt. Nipp. They then proceeded to the election of officers, resulting as follows: Capt., E. B. Kager; 1st Lieut., A. T. Shenneman; 2nd Lieut., L. J. Webb; Orderly Sergeant, W. W. Walton.

Recruiting has begun in earnest, and a large company will be formed here, the necessary arms and accoutrements will be sent on immediately. Yesterday Capt. Kager received the following from Col. Norton which explains itself.

ARKANSAS CITY, August 26, 1874.

CAPTAIN KAGER: Please report to me the number of effective men in your company that you can count on to go, both mounted and unmounted. This is by order of the Adjutant General. He says: "Have all the companies carefully inspected and accept none but first-class men for service." Yours, G. H. NORTON, Lieut. Col. Kansas Militia.

Winfield Courier, September 4, 1874.

A. C. Williams, special agent of the Kickapoos, whose agency is about twenty-five miles below Arkansas City, sent in word to Capt. Norton a few days ago for assistance to protect himself and little band of Indians and the agency from the Osages. Mr. Osage had been making some hostile demonstrations. The Captain provided the required aid.

Winfield Courier, September 4, 1874.

Items from the Traveler.

TO THE PUBLIC. Whereas unfounded rumors greatly exaggerating the present Indian difficulties have within the past few days been put in circulation, this is to give notice that any person caught in the act of originating and circulating falsehoods tending to disturb the peace and quiet of the community will be arrested and handed over to the proper authorities and dealt with according to law. G. H. NORTON, Capt. Militia.

Winfield Courier, September 4, 1874. The Militia of Barbour County scalped the Indians whom they killed at Medicine Lodge recently.

The following dispatch was received by Captain Norton on Saturday evening.

TOPEKA, KANSAS, August 28th, 1874.

Capt. G. H. NortonCArkansas City: Your company is ordered into active service, to commence from this date. Orders will be sent tomorrow. Supplies shipped to Wichita.

C. A. MORRIS, Adj. Genl.

The fifty ponies captured from the Osages by the Barbour County Militia are herded at Medicine Lodge daily and brought within the stockade each night for safe keeping. They are held by Captain Ricker's company subject to the order of Gov. Osborn. The Governor will not deliver them back to the Osages unless they can prove:

1st. That the Indians from whom they were taken were a hunting party without hostile intentions to the citizens of Kansas.

2nd. That the Indians had not learned the order of their Agent to return to their reservation.

3rd. That the Indians did not fire first upon the Militia.

Winfield Courier, September 4, 1874.

Arms. 120 stand of arms arrived at Arkansas City the other day, for the use of the Militia.

Capt. W. S. Coburn, at the mouth of Grouse Creek, has a Militia company of forty men.

A Militia company has been organized in the vicinity of Maple City in the southeast part of the county. R. W. McNown, Captain; John Babbitt, 1st Lieutenant; and B. C. French, 2nd Lieutenant. L. W. Graham is Orderly Sergeant.

Winfield Courier, September 4, 1874.

Prof. L. B. Kellogg, after spending two days at the Osage Agency last week, and learning the deliberations of a two week's council of all the Osages, says there is no danger of an outbreak by the tribe. He says, however, that small parties of the young men in squads of ten or fifteen, may slip out and do mischief to isolated settlers.

Winfield Courier, September 4, 1874.

Allison says that A. H. Green isn't fit to be general of the Militia of the southwest. Mr. Green was a captain during the rebellion, and carries recommendations signed by six or eight generals, among whom is the name of Gen. Sherman. Whether Green is capacitated for commanding the Militia is only a difference of opinion between Allison and Gen. Sherman.

Winfield Courier, September 11, 1874. Quite a number of "the boys" of this city are serving in the Arkansas City militia: Wirt Walton, Bob Sheather, Billy Anderson, and Douglas Hite, a former employee of this office. They are now doing their duty as soldiers. L. J. Webb went down to the City to enlist, but was taken sick and brought home.

Winfield Courier, September 11, 1874.

Agent Gibson canceled the contracts for flour from this place to the Osages, and declares that we shall have no more of the Indian trade as long as the Militia remains on the line. We had better let the contracts go than to have no farming along the line. Arkansas City Traveler.

Winfield Courier, September 11, 1874.

The following act passed by congress in the last days of the session, will no doubt be of benefit to some few of the settlers on these lands. Most of the papers publish it under the head of "Homesteads," which will have a tendency to mislead some.

TO OSAGE SETTLERS.

An act to extend the time for completing entries of Osage Indian lands in Kansas.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled.

That all actual settlers on the Osage Indian trust and diminished reserve lands in the State of Kansas shall be allowed one year from the passage of this act, in which to make proof and payment;

Provided That all purchasers who avail themselves of the provisions of this act, shall pay interest on the purchase price of their lands at the rate of five per centum from the date when payment was required by previous laws to date of actual payment;

And, provided further, That no further extension of payment shall be granted, than that provided for in this act, and that all occupants on said Osage lands shall file their applications to purchase the lands occupied by them, within three months after the passage of this act, or forfeit all right or claim to the same.

Approved June 23, 1874.

Winfield Courier, September 18, 1874.

Arms From the Government.

A short time back Governor Osborn asked of the president five hundred stands of arms, with which to equip men for the defense of the southwestern and western frontier. He was curtly informed by the secretary of war (to whom the application was referred) that Kansas could get no arms unless she paid for them in advance, as she had already owed for some before received.

In Tuesday's Commonwealth, a lengthy letter from the Governor to the President is published in which the whole matter is shown up in its true light. The Governor shows that nearly all the arms charged to the state are inferior muzzle loaders which were furnished Kansas militia to assist the federal troops in driving back General Price when he invaded Missouri in 1864. He holds that as Kansas militia gallantly assisted in the defeat of the rebel army, the arms with which they then were furnished should not be charged to the state, at least not without permitting an exchange of the same for breech loaders.

The last position he grounds upon the fact that the Indians have the best Winchester and needle guns, and that it is folly for militia with muzzle loaders to attack them.

The governor further shows that first and last Kansas has expended $350,000 in defending her citizens against Indians whose good behavior the general government guaranteed. The governor further shows that the United States military in this state is entirely inadequate to protect the settlers whenever the redskins conclude to go on a marauding and murdering expedition, and that for the last two months, almost daily news has been received of citizens in this state being murdered or robbed by the pets of the Washington officials. In short, he makes out a case that will meet with the endorsement of every man on the frontier except the bloodless Quaker agents, who, as a rule, are determined to report peace so long as the stealings are remunerative. It is to be hoped that the action of the governor will materially assist the agencies at work to secure a transfer of the Indian affairs to the war department. The miserable muffs and fools in the east who know nothing practically about the redskins have had their say long enough. Let the advice of the west be honored with an experiment, at least.

Winfield Courier, September 25, 1874.

Items from the Traveler.

Fight. A couple of the regular privates had a set-to, at their camp, last Friday. The row was occasioned by general growling, common to camp life.

Camp Moved. The Militia camp has been removed from the mouth of Grouse to near Polk Stevens, on the State line on account of water.

Go West. One half of the Militia company will be stationed west of Caldwell, this week. There will be a demand for one or two more companies then.

Fired On. A report was brought in last Monday that three white men were fired on by three Indians, last Sunday, while in the Territory, a distance of about ten miles.

Winfield Courier, October 2, 1874.

Items from the Traveler.

Prof. Norton will remove his family to Emporia next week.

Major Upham, of the U. S. Army, has been in town for several days, ascertaining the truth of reports concerning the late Indian depredations. He is under Gen. Pope and has charge of the U. S. troops between Caldwell and this place. Since his arrival here, he has been very energetic, and made every effort to secure all possible information.

More Scalping Soon.

We learn from several reliable sources that from sixty to one hundred Osages left their Agency for the plains last Friday weekCthey said to hunt buffaloCbut it is pretty well understood by all that it is for the killing of their two last comrades, in Barbour County. Mr. Gibson did all he could to persuade them not to go, but he could not. Killing and scalping will undoubtedly take place, but, of course, it will not be by Osages, as they are always on their reserve. Word should be sent to the Medicine Lodge country, and more militia called out at once, to send aid to the western counties if they prove too many for the white settlers. Capt. Norton is already in that vicinity, but with only twenty men.

Winfield Courier, October 2, 1874. Bob Shethar returned from Arkansas City this week looking very much like a shadow, caused by a siege of the intermittent fever. Soldiering didn't agree with most of the boys, and certainly not with Bob.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 15, 1874.

A GOOD WORD FOR KANSAS.

Mr. S. P. McKelvey, who headed the "farmer's excursion" from Illinois, a short time ago, writes to the Clinton, Illinois, Register, concerning Kansas and Cowley, as follows.

Time nor space will permit us to give but an extract. . . .

Leaving Winfield, I visited Colonel Norton's headquarters in the Indian Territory. Found quite a number of soldiers encamped there. Saw a scouting party of Kansas militia form in line of battle and start for the interior. Saw Mr. Williams (the broad brimmed hat Quaker Indian Agent), with a party of friendly Indians, who were fleeing for safety. After a pleasant conversation with Col. Norton, I began to retrace my steps back into the state of Kansas. As I had "lost no Indians," I could not see the necessity of going farther. . . .

Winfield Courier, October 22, 1874.

A Telegraph dispatch says: The commission appointed to investigate the facts relative to the recent alleged murder of five Osage Indians by the Kansas militia have submitted their report to the commissioner of Indian affairs. They find that the attack on the Indians was unprovoked and utterly unjustifiable, and presume that when the attention of Kansas is called to the evidence in the case they will not hesitate to direct the return of the property captured from those friendly Indians, and it is recommended that in any case the government of the United States should see that the Osages are reimbursed.

The cold-blooded murder was the commencement of the "Indian war" on our Southern border, and if Governor Osborn had done his duty, he would have had the murderers arrested long ago. He and they are virtually responsible for the death of all the whites killed down there by the Indians since that time. Manhattan Nationalist.

Be it remembered that the meaning of the above, so far as the Nationalist is concerned, is its bitter hostility to Gov. Osborn. And because of Griffin's hatred of Osborn, it is willing to brand the brave men who are defending our homes and our scalps from the cruel blood-thirsty savages, as thieves and murderers.

Winfield Courier, December 10, 1874. A. A. Chamberlain was elected First Lieutenant, in the militia, in place of A. J. Pyburn, resigned, and William Wilson, instead of A. D. Keith, who also resigned. Others in the company were promoted.

The Militia are stationed in town for a few days, awaiting rations. It is not definitely known yet whether they will be mustered out, as Indians are frequently seen on the plains.

Winfield Courier, December 10, 1874.

MEDICINE LODGE, Nov. 25th, 1874.

EDITOR COURIER: Please announce through the columns of your paper the death of J. W. Palmer (familiarly known as Chubbie), son of Minor L. and Eula Palmer, early settlers and for a long time residents of Winfield.

The deceased came to his death on the 28th day of October, 1874, by the accidental discharge of a shot gun while he was duck hunting. He was seventeen years of age, was a member of Co. A, Barbour County Militia, and took part in the engagements had between the Osage Indians and Company A at Red mounds in Harper County, August 7th, 1874, where he distinguished himself for his bravery in his efforts to overtake the fleeing savages. Though the youngest, yet the foremost in the pursuit.

His remains were escorted to their last resting place by Company A and many citizen friends. His death was a severe blow not only to his parents, but to his many friends and associates, as he was loved and esteemed by all who knew him.

M. W. SUTTON, Co. Atty. Medicine Lodge, Barbour Co., Kansas.

Winfield Courier, January 7, 1875.

The law that has just passed congress allowing pre-emptors and householders who have been driven from their homes by the destitution caused by the grasshoppers to leave for a year without forfeiting rights does not apply to the Osage lands.

Winfield Courier, January 7, 1875.

Orders have been issued from Washington, requiring every Indian to remain upon the reservation, and only leave when given a written permit by the Agent. If found off the reservation, without a permit, he is to be treated as a hostile Indian.

Winfield Courier, February 11, 1875. The bill establishing a territorial government in the Indian Territory is virtually killed in congress.

Winfield Courier, February 25, 1875. There is a small paper printed at the Osage Indian Agency, called the Indian Herald. It contains considerable spice.

Winfield Courier, March 4, 1875.

Our old friends, the Osages, are doing something at their new home fifty miles southeast of here. From the Herald published there we learn that 534 families have selected homes, 324 families have land in cultivation, 110 have houses. They have 400 cattle, 8,240 ponies, 176 horses, 110 mules, 20 oxen, and 2,400 hogs, besides other stock and improvements.

The tribe numbers about three thousand persons. During the year 1874 they built 3,000 rods of fence and near 600 Indians were engaged in agriculture and other civilized departments. They raised about 6,000 bushels of wheat, 2,000 bushels of oats, 10,000 bushels of potatoes, and many other vegetables, which are conducive to the comfort and health of the human race.

They have near 17,000 ponies, cattle, and hogs. They have good saw and grist mills at the agency, where many full bloods have rendered competent service. There may now be found on the reservation near 140 dwellings, occupied by members of the tribe, more than half of whom are blanket Osage.

Winfield Courier, March 11, 1875.

Bill Conner, an Osage chief, was recently in Arkansas City. Pausing in front of the little meeting house for a moment, he went in and took his seat among the congregation. The preacher was discoursing on the text of the "sheep and the wolves," and had evidently been drawing a contrast between the two subjects. "We who assemble here from week to week and perform our duty are the sheep, now who are the wolves?" A pause, and our friend Conner rose to his feet: "Wa'al, stranger, rather than see the play stopped, I will be the wolves!" The preacher was vanquished. Arkansas City Traveler.

Winfield Courier, April 8, 1875. C. M. Scott, of the Traveler, struts around Arkansas City now with the scalp of a Cheyenne chief dangling to his belt. It was not taken by C. M., but was given to him by an Osage admirer, who has taken eleven in his time.

C. M. Scott passed through town Tuesday morning on his way to Manhattan to meet his brother quill drivers.

Winfield Courier, May 6, 1875.

Andrew Cock, an old and valued citizen of this county, came here some years ago and improved a farm. Under the stringent laws of congress in relation to the Osage Lands and harsh rulings of the Interior Department, Mr. Cock had to mortgage his claim to raise the money with which to enter the same. Unfortunately for him, he fell into the hands of the genus money shark. And now, at the end of two years, the mortgage of $200 reaches the sum of $442, and the old man loses his home. Yesterday morning he departed for California to end his days. Let us hope, without again falling into the hands of robbers.

Winfield Courier, June 10, 1875. Front Page.

WASHINGTON, May 24. The commissioner of the general land office decides that the benefits extended by law to preemptors who, by reason of the ravages of the grasshoppers, are compelled to leave or be absent from their lands, may also be extended to preemptors where crops have, in like manner, been destroyed, but who have nevertheless continued their residence upon their claims.

Those whose crops were destroyed or seriously injured in 1874, will be entitled to an extension of one year from said affair July 1st, 1875, and when injury occurs in 1875, the extension will date from July 1st, 1876.

Winfield Courier, June 17, 1875.

The following is the latest from headquarters in regard to the Osage Trust and Dimin-ished Reserve lands. Notwithstanding the hint thrown out by the Hon. Commissioner, we would advise settlers to bide their time, rather than mortgage at a ruinous interest.

GENERAL LAND OFFICE,

Washington, D. C., May 31st, 1875.

The Receiver's letter of the 21st inst., concerning the matter of allowing entries on the Osage Trust and Diminished Reserve lands after June 23rd, 1875, has been received.

Claimants for these lands under the act of July 15th, 1870, will be allowed to make entries on due proof after June 23rd, 1875, when their settlements were initiated prior to June 23rd, 1874; and after the expiration of one year from settlement when the same was made subsequent to June 23rd, 1875, and payment of 5 percent interest from date when the entry should have been made, to the time of actual settlement; providing no adverse claim shall have intervened. They will, however, postpone entry beyond the legal period at their peril.

S. S. BURDETT, Com. To U. S. Land Office, Wichita, Kan.

Winfield Courier, June 17, 1875.

The old settlers of Cowley remember No-pa-wal-la. He is gone. We take the following from the Coffeyville Courier.

From Jessie Morgan we learn of the death, at the Osage Agency, last Friday, of No-pa-wal-la, Chief of the Little Osage Band. He was well advanced in years, and at one time the most noted warrior of the tribe. Of late years, however, he has taken a peculiar interest in the work of Indian civilization, and proved a valuable assistant to the agents and others engaged in the work. He was respected and admired by all who knew him, both white and red, and his funeral, which took place last Saturday, was perhaps the largest ever witnessed in the Territory. His remains were taken to agent Gibson's house, where an appropriate ceremony took place. During the ceremony speeches were made by several Indian chiefs, and many were moved by the touching pathos and sensible points contained in those impromptu addresses. The remains were deposited in the Agency Cemetery, and were followed to the grave by an immense concourse of Indians and white men.

Winfield Courier, June 17, 1875.

Attention, Company G!

In pursance with an order from Headquarters, Co. G., of Cowley County Militia, will meet at the Courthouse in Winfield, Saturday evening, the 19th, inst., at 8 o'clock sharp, to elect officers to fill the present vacancies in said company, and to transact such other business as may possibly come before them. By order.

A. T. SHENNEMAN, 1st Lieut. and Acting Com.

Winfield Courier, June 24, 1875. Frank Gallotti wants another Indian war since he is Quartermaster Sergeant of company "G."

At the meeting held by Company "G," last Saturday night, A. T. Shenneman was elected Captain, W. M. Boyer, 1st Lieut.; and J. E. Saint, 1st Sergeant. 2nd Lieut. Webb gave notice of his intention to resign, and Wirt W. Walton was recommended to fill the vacancy.

Winfield Courier, July 1, 1875. Henry W. Cook, senior member of an extensive law firm of Wyandotte and Kansas City, passed through here last Sunday en route for the Osage Agency, to attend to business concerning a cattle lawsuit.

Winfield Courier, July 29, 1875.

Indian Affairs.

By request of Mr. Berkey, of Arkansas City, on the 14th of this month we wrote Mr. Enoch Hoag, inquiring whether it would be any violation to existing government regulations of Indian Affairs to sell flour or wheat at the intermediate points along the Arkansas River in the territory should flat boating prove successful down said river. The following letter is an answer to ours. OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS,

CENTRAL SUPERINTENDENCY,

LAWRENCE, KAN., July 22, 1875.

T. A. WILKINSON, Supt. Pub. Instruction, Winfield, Kansas.

I am in receipt of the communication of 14th instant, inquiring whether the sale of wheat and flour along the Arkansas River, in the Indian Territory at points where the demand and price would be sufficient to induce such sale, would be any violation of Gorvernment regulations, etc.

In reply I have to call thy attention to the 2nd section of the "Intercourse Law," the first clause of which I quote, to-wit: "That no person shall be permitted to trade with any of the Indians (in the Indian country), without a license therefor from a Superintendent of Indian Affairs, or Indian Agent, or Sub Agent," etc.

Section 4 says: "And be it further enacted, That any person, other than an Indian, who shall attempt to reside in the Indian country as a trader, or to introduce goods, or to trade therein without such license, shall forfeit all merchandise offered for sale to the Indians or found in his possession, and shall moreover forfeit and pay the sum of five hundred dollars."

I am of the opinion that the traffic proposed would be a violation of the foregoing, and perhaps other clauses of the "Intercourse Law." Very Respectfully, ENOCH HOAG, Supt.

Winfield Courier, July 29, 1875. Tolles was his name, Dan Tolles, he said, and he was from Beaver Creek, in the southeast corner of the county. He had run all the way from the state lineCon a hair line. The Osage Indians had killed his brother, Sam Tolles, and he, Dan Tolles, had killed as many of them as they had of him and the remainder of them pursued, fired at, and tried to kill him again, but he had out winded 'em and give them the slip, and now he wanted to raise a company of men (Capt. Shenneman and his militia company would do if he couldn't get boys and private citizens enough) to go down and massacre these cruel savages, recover the body of his brother, and stop them in their murderous work.

The above we caught from the hurried and excited conversation of a travel-soiled, hair-disheveled, badly frightened, crazy looking individual who suddenly appeared on our streets last Thursday.

We thought at the time the man was crazy and our surmises have since been proved to be correct. From Mr. Wm. Bartlow, of town, we learn that last Thursday morning while coming home from his mill on Grouse Creek, he was overtaken by this same man, who was at the time terribly excited. He said the Indians were just behind him and were trying to kill him. He wanted Mr. Bartlow to hide him. Mr. Bartlow thinking there might be some truth in the statement, hurriedly helped him into his wagon, covered him up with some blankets, and drove on. Soon, however, he came to a place where the road was new; being in doubt, got out and went ahead to reconnoiter. Returning in a few moments to his team, he saw this strange man jump from the wagon, and on seeing him, started off down the hill at breakneck speed, screaming at every jump, and he only stopped, as we suppose, when he reached our city as above described.

From parties living in the neighborhood we learn that there have been no Indians except a few begging Kaws down there since the Indian war and that this man Tolles must actually be crazy. He left town Friday and we have heard nothing of him since.

Winfield Courier, August 5, 1875.

The Wellington Press says: "The Osage Indians who have been collecting toll from the Texas cattle herds on the trail near Skeleton Creek, have been attacked and dispersed by United States cavalry. The Indians fled in confusion, their camp and equipage in possession of the soldiers. This will probably stop their depredations for some time to come."

Winfield Courier, August 12, 1875. The Indians will hold a grand "Indian Inter-National Fair" on the 15th, 16th, and 17th, at Muskogee, on the M. K. & T. R. R., while the Osages, only a hundred miles west, will keep right on bagging cattle drovers as they pass up and down the trail. The one will not conflict with the others in the least.

Winfield Courier, October 14, 1875. We have been informed by a reliable gentleman living on the State line that the war the Traveler and leading citizens of Arkansas City have been making on Osage Indian Agent Gibson have caused him to give to Coffeyville the trade which naturally belongs to their City and our county. We don't know that to be the real cause, but give the information for what it is worth.

Winfield Courier, December 23, 1875. The contract for supplying beef cattle to the Osage Indians was awarded last week, in Lawrence, by Superintendent Hoag. Of the several bids received, that of Hewins, Lawrence & Titus, of Chautauqua County, Kansas, was considered the most satisfactory, and that firm received the award. The bid was $2.45 per hundred, and the entire contract amounts to over $20,000.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 26, 1876. The U. S. Army Medical Department furnishes medical supplies for the service at the Osage Agency.

The Indians can play seven up as well as other people.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 26, 1876.

I have on hand constantly a large assortment of INDIAN PICTURES, OF THE OSAGE, KAW, KICKAPOO, AND OTHER TRIBES.

VIEWS Of all sizes, from Card de Vista to 11 x 14. Also Stereoscopic views of this vicinity on hand, and made to order. Views of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Look Out Mountain and vicinity, made during the war for sale. All kinds of pictures copies and enlarged, plain or colored. All Work Warranted Good or No Pay.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 2, 1876.

POND CREEK, I. T., Jan. 26, 1876.

I thought I would drop you a few lines and give you some of the news from this locality. A number of the Osage Indians have been camped here all winter, and have sent out hunting parties to the plains. The parties met with little success hunting buffalo, having to go 50 miles beyond Camp Supply. On their return, when about twenty miles east of Supply, they commenced killing cattle, thereby getting the soldiers after them. On or about the 22nd, the soldiers struck a camp of the Indians, killed one of the Big Hills, and took one girl, one woman, and a small boy prisoners, with about forty head of stolen ponies and mules. They struck one old woman on the head with a revolver, and left her for dead; but the old lady has come in, and is in a fair way to recover. I will write again. W. J. KEFFER.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 2, 1876.

On Tuesday, January 25th, twenty Osage Indians, of the Bill Hill band, camped at the mouth of the Shawkaska. Two of them went to Wilcox's herd of cattle, killed a beef, and were carrying it off, when one of the men with the herd saw them, and shot a load of buckshot into one of them. He fell from his horse, and is supposed to have been killed. They had killed nineteen cattle altogether and would probably have taken more if rash measures had not been resorted to. Fifteen men were sent for to come down and help the herders.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 2, 1876.

A BAND OF THIEVING OSAGES JUSTLY DEALT WITH.

(Special to Leavenworth Times.)

CAMP SUPPLY, I. T., Jan. 27.

As the settlers on the border between Kansas and Indian Territory are periodically troubled by thieving bands of Osage Indians, it may interest your readers to know that at least one of their raids has ended in disaster to the noble savage.

On the night of the 19th inst., a messenger arrived at this post with news that a party of Osages had stolen about fifty head of cattle from the camp of Lee & Reynolds, about thirty-five miles south of this place. The herders had followed the trail for about fifteen miles, but being unable to overtake the Indians, one of them was sent into this place to procure aid.

Major Gordon, of the Fifth Cavalry, commanding this post, immediately ordered pursuit. Lieut. Bishop, of the Fifth Cavalry, with fifteen men, started the same night at 12 o'clock, with orders "to punish the Indians should the latter be overtaken; if necessary, to pursue them to their agency and demand the surrender of the thieves and stolen stock." Scout Amos Chapman accompanied the command as guide.

Lieut. Bishop arrived at the scene of the robbery, and started at once upon the trail.

The detachment returned today, bringing as prisoners, three squaws, one boy, and thirty-five Indian ponies.

I learn that at about noon on the 25th inst., Lieut. Bishop arrived near the Indian camp, located in high grass, their ponies grazing on a neighboring hill. Dismounting his men, and favored by a heavy atmosphere, the Indians were taken by surprise.

The latter, being dismounted, were unable to escape; and rather than surrender, made a determined fight. Three Indians were killed, several wounded, who escaped, and the whole band dispersed.

With one exception, all the lodges were burned. One old squaw declared she would rather be killed than go as a prisoner. She was left, the sole occupant of the camp that a few hours before contained so many thieving Indians. The stolen cattle had been slaughtered before the Indians had been overtaken. The prisoners acknowledged the guilt of their band.

The loss they have received will serve as a check to future raids, and the punishment upon them has been richly deserved, for their depredations for some years in this section.

Lieutenant Bishop is deserving of great praise for the prompt manner in which he executes orders and Osages at the same time. C. M. L.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 16, 1876.

Col. Hiatt and Dr. Dougall, of Osage Agency, have just returned from the plains, where they have been looking after the Osages. Col. Hiatt's health was not the best during the tour.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 16, 1876.

MR. HIATT, of Osage Agency, has in his house a barometer, so arranged that twenty-four hours in advance of fair weather, a puppet image of a lady appears at the door of a miniature house, and in bad weather a man appears. A number of the Osage Indians watched it for a long time, until they found it never failed, and were ready to worship it; but on being convinced a white man had made it, they exclaimed: "Whity man purty near a God." They are generally inclined to a Catholic view of religion, if they accept orthodox principles at all.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 23, 1876. Editorial Page.

In conversation with Col. J. M. Hiatt, a gentleman of more than ordinary education and culture, who has spent years with the Osage Indians, we learn that the tradition of the first landing of the Indians in the New World has been repeated over to the chosen young braves of the tribes, from one generation to another, until today they have what is supposed to be nearly the original language and words of their forefathers.

They claim their pilgrims came from the West in a boat; there were seven in number, and landed on the Pacific coast, where the Great Spirit rested on their shoulders and told them this land was their own. Until the whites came among them, they lived in happiness, but now begin to realize that step by step they must go backward, until they are driven into the waters of the ocean.

Indians are generally of a melancholy disposition, and their religion tends to make them more so. When one of their number dies, it is their belief that the spirit of the departed hovers about in agony until the scalp of an enemy is taken to accompany it to the happy hunting grounds. For this purpose they organize "mourning parties," and go on the warpath when they are otherwise peaceable.

Among the Osages are Masons, which it would seem could hardly be creditable, but is nevertheless a fact. It is supposed they were taken into the Order by the French, in the early days, and they return part of the workings of the craft to this day.

As proof of this, Mr. Hiatt (who is a member of the Commandery) was asked to walk out one day by a more than ordinarily intelligent Indian. After walking some distance, the Indian motioned him to sit down. He could not speak a word of English. Mr. Hiatt sat down, and after strict trial, found the red man to be a Master Mason.

We have been informed that among the Cheyennes there are also MasonsCwhich goes to show that they are adepts in secret orders, and pride and enjoy themselves in secrecy. There are many remarkable traits yet with our red brethren, which would make a volume of history if properly understood.

Among the Pawnees who grace our streets every day are men who have held responsible positions of trust in times of trouble, and whose experience would be a lesson to the world, could it be given as they only give it to those of their own kin.

There is a vast study and wide scope for the philanthropist in this region, of which few avail themselves, when it is within a stone's throw of our door.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 23, 1876. Mr. John Florer came in from the plains last Friday. The Osages made a very poor hunt, and returned home very much chagrined.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 1, 1876.

Many Osage Indians who were the first to adopt a life of civilization commenced raising hogs, and the result is that they have not only had all the pork necessary for their own use, but have sold a great many hogs to settlers in Southern Kansas. Quite a number of sales have been made by them recently, and one sold as high as $150 worth. These facts show that the present policy of dealing with the Indians has, so far, been the most successful, and if continued for a few years, the Osage Indians will show a record which will put to shame the majority of those who have been opposed to the policy. The health of these Indians who have left their former mode of living for a life of civilization has been better since than for a good many years before. They notice that such is the case and are thereby greatly encouraged.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 8, 1876.

We give below extracts from the annual report of the Hon. Edward P. Smith, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, in reference to affairs at Osage Agency.

The Osages in the northern part of the Indian Territory, between the Arkansas River and the 96th meridian, number 3,001; of these, 323 are mixed bloods, who are self-supporting and may be considered civilized.

Great changes have been wrought among the full bloods during the last two years in the direction of abandoning the wigwam and blanket and the chase. Owing to the failure of their first crop, one year ago, they were entirely subsisted during the winter on supplies, purchased by Government with their large annuity, but issued only in return for labor.

The crops raised by both full-bloods and half-breeds this season are 5,500 bushels corn, and 19,200 bushels wheat, and 9,500 bushels vegetables, which, if ever distributed, would be sufficient to supply the whole tribe with bread for a year.

Most of 150 families who have not recovered claims have fenced fields and have raised good crops, but have been influenced by evil-designing men outside the reservation to disregard survey lines, and in other ways to resist the agent in his efforts to induce the adoption of civilized methods of living.

The two schools have an attendance of 104 pupils, about the same number as last year.

The Osages have, as a tribe, been fast friends of the Government. They have been somewhat restless and difficult to control during the year, owing to unwarrantable inter-ference by outside parties, and to causes for grievance which were fully set forth last year and which are still unsettled.

Attention is invited to the statement of the agent respecting the intrigues and bribery practiced upon the chiefs and handmen to induce them to urge the payment out of their tribal funds of $180,000, in addition to the $50,000 already paid in satisfaction of a claim for attorneys' fees. The recommendations of the agent for such decisive action as shall at once quiet all expectations of the claimants are eminently practical.

* * * * * * *

This commission was instructed to inquire into Agent I. T. Gibson's administration of Indian affairs, giving the subject a particular and thorough investigation, in order that the proper remedy may be applied if the service has in any way suffered, or is suffering, by a reason of inefficiency, fraud, or neglect on his part; and also if he is in any manner unjustly accused, that his conduct and administration may be vindicated and the Indians informed accordingly.

* * * * * * *

This commission performed their duties and submitted its report and proceedings September 14, 1875. They find the charges against Agent Gibson to have been mainly frivolous in their nature, and arising out of contentions and disturbances in the tribe; that the agent has administrated his affairs with strict integrity and that the Government has suffered no loss from any fraud or neglect by any officer or employer of the Government.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 8, 1876.

It is said of Cyrus Beede, the new agent of the Osages, that after taking charge last Monday, his first duty was to marry a half breed couple who just dropped in as the new agent assumed the robes. Beede turned to the old agent, Gibson, and said he did not propose to commence business there, so he would resign long enough for Gibson to tie the knot for the waiting bride and groom. Courier.

Winfield Courier, March 9, 1876. Editorial Page.

The following private letter from our Congressman contains so many items of interest that we are constrained to give it to our readers. The idea of graduating the Osage lands and finally throwing them open to private purchasers is an excellent one. It would enable parties to purchase large tracts of grazing lands to the west of us that are of no value for agricultural purposes. We hope that our readers will feel at liberty to send us their opinions upon the topics mentioned or will confer with Judge Brown direct.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. 28, 1876.

DEAR COL.: I have been thinking whether it was not possible for some legislation in reference to the Osage reservation, in order in the first place to have actual settlers on the land prove up and get their titles within a reasonable time, and to reduce the price of all the refuse land east and west of the Arkansas River say to $1.00 per acre from and after Jan. 1st, 1877; 75 cents per acre from and after Jan. 1st, 1878, and to 50 cents from and after Jan. 1st, 1879, and all remaining on Jan. 1st, 1880, to be opened for sale at the latter price to all parties wishing to purchase. A provision, perhaps, that those on the lands have till 1877 to prove up, which in case we have a good crop would be as much as they would need. The idea is not very well developed even in my own mind, but I have a desire to see the Western end of the reserve settled as the eastern end already is, and to have the portions on the Eastern end that are rugged and broken and have so far remained unsold, disposed of at a lower rate, and so made taxable, and compelled to brave its proportion of the public burdens. Have you any suggestions to make in reference to the matter? How much land is today unclaimed in Cowley Co.? How much in the counties East? Any information we receive will be of importance. . . . W. R. BROWN

Arkansas City Traveler, March 22, 1876. Major Beede, the new agent for the Osage and Kaw Indians, is finding a warm reception in this, his new home.

Joseph Pah ne-no-pah-she, Governor for the Osages, has ordered the chiefs and counselors of the tribe to meet him in council at this place on Monday next. Indian Herald.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 29, 1876.

[Humboldt Union.]

Parties who lately arrived from the Osage Indian Agency inform us that everything is passing off quietly as well as harmoniously at the headquarters of the Osages. Many of the Indians sowed wheat last fall and the crop looks well. The dusky sons of the forest, or some of them at least, have gone to work with the determination of doing something for themselves, and it is confidently believed that many more will follow their example. The Indians like their Agent, Major Beede, who labors energetically for the comfort and advancement of his charges. A wise, humane, and liberal policy is being pursued, and the Indians seem to take to it. Our informants were very well pleased with the evidence of prosperity and enterprise, that is everywere manifested about the Agency.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 12, 1876.

MR. BEEDE, Agent of the Osages, talked with the Kaw Indians last week. They think they will like him.

MR. CRANE, of Osage Agency, made us a short call last week.

MR. M. E. WELCH, a stone cutter from Osage Agency, has located among us.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 19, 1876. The Osages number about 3,000 souls, and are located south, and adjoining the State of Kansas, and west of the ninety-sixth meridian of west longitude. Their reservation contains about 1,500,000 acres, and is held not simply by suffrage, nor a donation by the Government, nor under the provisions of a treaty wherein the United States grants gratuitously a tract of land for a tribe of Indians during their compliance with treaty provisions, nor for hunting purposes. On the contrary, they hold this title in fee simple purchased from the Cherokees, at the rate of seventy cents per acre, and confirmed by act of Congress, approved July 5, 1872. Topeka Times.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 19, 1876. The New York Herald of the 11th inst., gives the following synopsis of the famous decision of the Osage Ceded Land Case.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 19, 1876.

Yah-hah is the Creek name for wolf. 700 Creek Indian children are now in school.

Augustus Captain is President of the Osage Council.

Large flocks of mallard ducks dot the waters of the Arkansas River.

Some of our Kaw neighbors have been dancing at Osage Mission, Kansas.

The missionary's wife who struck at an Indian, in her dream, hit her liege lord.

The only flouring mill in the Creek Nation has just been started at Muskogee.

If you want to avoid trouble, keep away from miners and Indians in the Black Hills.

To-ho lah, a Creek Indian, owned fifty slaves at the beginning of the war in the States.

There are now more than 300 colored voters in the Creek Nation, who were once slaves in the tribe.

T. L. Roger, of Cherokee and Osage blood, is secretary of the council now in session at Osage Agency.

Seminoles and Creeks live in the same Reservation, though each tribe makes laws for its own Government.

"Big Jeff," a darkey who weighs 300 pounds, was once a slave in the Creek country, but is now judge of the Creek Nation.

"No co-sil la" is a member of the Creek Nation, and served as a scout in the service of the U. S. for a term of three years during the late war.

"Yah ma-cah" and "It u mar-tle," of the Creek country, have more than 500 hogs and think that more than 10,000 may be found in their reservation.

Owing to continued snows and swollen streams, chiefs and counselors have been unable to return, and of course nothing of importance has yet been done.

The Methodist members of the Seminole tribe hauled stone, made lime, and built for themselves on We who kah River, near Seminole Agency.

Fortunately, the people of this Agency are now practically temperate, hence the contin-uance of old time frog-ponds in the street is excusable in the absence of funds to be used for "civilizing purposes."

Mr. Conner, who has been so prominent in the service of Major Gibson during his official administration, is building an excellent border farm, near Sedan, Kansas, and expects to give us the parting hand at an early day.

The Osages have unanimously petitioned Congress to make one more liberal appropriation of their money. They are in earnest about it this time, and are urging their new Agent, Beede, to represent them in Washington at once.

The people of this (Osage) country are suffering another financial panic, and our landlords cannot afford hotel keeping without occasional settlement of board bills, though they have been made by representatives of the "fair sex."

A tornado nearly 60 feet wide passed through the Delaware country on the night of the 5th inst., and blew to pieces the Delaware Baptist church. The loss of this new and well finished structure will be keenly felt by our Delaware neighbors.

As wolves gradually relinquished their hold upon our town-site and vicinity rabbits took their place, and on Monday last, since the earth has been so deeply burned in snow, the Osage school boys got loose and picked up twenty-four of them without the aid of dogs.

The Independence Courier says that the new agent of the Osages made a speech to the Indians the other day, telling them that he came down to make them quit stealing and running in debt. After he got through the Indians "Resolved, New agent heap dam rascal; worse than Gibson."

Arkansas City Traveler, April 26, 1876.

[From the Chicago Inter-Ocean.]

WASHINGTON, April 10. The Supreme Court today rendered a very important decision in the Osage land case, in which is involved the title to 960,000 acres of land in Kansas. This is the largest and perhaps most important land case ever presented for adjudication. Under certain acts of Congress passed in March, 1863, and July, 1866, grants of land in Kansas were made in the usual form in aid of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas, and the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston Railroad Companies. At the time these grants were made, the Osage Indians held a large tract of rich and valuable land in Kansas known as the Osage Reservation. The Osages DEEDED THEIR LAND TO THE UNITED STATES by a treaty proclaimed Jan. 21, 1866, the Government undertaking to sell that portion known as the Osage treaty land, about 960,000 acres, the proceeds to be applied to the general civilization of the Indians. Another portion of the land was called the Osage trust land, and this was to be sold for the benefit of the Osages themselves. A third portion was called the diminished reservation, which remained in possession of the Osages until recently, when, by an arrangement with the tribe, this diminished portion was also sold, and the Osages went to the Indian Territory. On April 10, 1869, Congress passed an act authorizing the sale of the Osage ceded lands to actual settlers at $1.25 per acre, and under this act settlers entered the ceded lands. The railroad then set up a claim that these lands belonged to them by virtue of the act of March, 1863, and July 1866. They claim that, although when the acts were passed these lands did not pass under the grant, that the grant attached when the Indian title was extinguished. Attorney General Williams, at the instance of Congressman Lawrence, of Ohio, AUTHORIZED SUITS TO BE BROUGHT in the name of the United States against the railroad companies, to adjudge that they were not entitled to the lands.

The case was decided by Justice Miller, of the Supreme Court, and Judge Dillon, of the Kansas District Court, January, 1874, the decision being against the railroad and in favor of the settlers, to protect whom the suit was brought by the Government. The railroads appealed the case to the Supreme Court, before which it was argued last October by Judge Black and Mr. Lawrence for the settlers and Colonel Phillips and Senator Edmunds for the railroad companies.

There are on these ceded lands a population of at least 15,000 people, possessing schools, churches, and various industrial establishments. The decision, which was read by Justice Davis, affirmed the judgment of the lower court in favor of the settlers. Politicians say Judge Davis' opinion in this case is a good campaign argument for him as a Presidential candidate.

The stipulated fees for the lawyers employed by the Osage settlers in that great land suit were $40,000, and of this sum Governor Shannon will receive $13,000.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 26, 1876.

We were pleased to entertain a call from Mr. Beede, Agent of the Osage and Kaw Indians, and Mr. Gay, of Osage Agency. Many persons of this place were happy to meet Mr. Beede, whom they found to be a practical, sensible, and efficient man. He assumed control of the affairs of the Agency under embarrassing circumstances, caused by the blunders of the former Agent; yet beneath all has proven himself a man equal to the responsible position he has been appointed to fill. The wives of Mr. Beede and Mr. Gay accompanied them to this place.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 3, 1876.

Three fully grown centipedes were found under the carpet at Agent Beede's residence the other day.

Indian Odd Fellows will have a public demonstration at Caddo, Indian Territory, on the 26th inst.

The Osage Indian doctor never makes a charge for his professional services, but accepts whatever is given him.

Judge Murdock, a student of Indian antiquities, will construct facsimiles of the work of mound builders at the Centennial.

On Thursday of last week friend Larson, the shoemaker, mistook poke root for parsnip and came near losing his life in consequence.

Osage men of physic never treat a case for a longer time than four days. The patient, if not cured, is then left to wrestle with death unaided.

Agent Beede was out looking over the Agency wheat field Thursday morning. R. W. Hopkins, his clerk, was out on the same occasion.

The Pawnees and Osages are now on friendly terms with each other, and Pawnees are frequently visitors here. They talk with Osages by signs.

The House passed the bill to transfer the Indian Bureau to the War Department, on the 21st inst., by the large vote of 139 yeas to 64 nays.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 3, 1876.

The bill to transfer the Indian Bureau to the War Department was taken up.

Mr. Hunton moved an amendment allowing officers on the retired list to be employed as Indian agents. Adopted.

Mr. Sparks offered an additional section providing for the admission to the United States citizenship of any Indian who may prove to the satisfaction of any court nearest to the reservation of his tribe or nation, that he is sufficiently intelligent and prudent to conduct his own affairs and interests, and that he has adopted the habits of civilization, and has for five years been able to support himself and family; but such Indian shall not, on that account, forfeit his interest in the property of the tribe. Adopted.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 10, 1876. Front Page.

Marriageable parties have but little to say, and in fact, not half of those who marry ever converse with each other previous to the performance of the marriage ceremony. Osage parents raise their children with great care, and feel that no member of the tribe can upon just grounds object to the union of his daughter to another's son, or his son to another's daughter. Such being the case, the parents, or whoever else may have the care of children, feel it obligatory upon them to make selections most desirable and without regard to the feelings of the parties to be united.

The girls are brought up with the same care that is given their brothers, and the selections of husbands are nearly as frequent as the selections of wives, and the rule that governs the one regulates the other.

After the parents have determined upon the woman who shall be a wife of their son, a large quantity of the choicest buffalo, elk, antelope, bear, or other fresh meatCfood for the savageCis prepared after their most inviting manner and taken to the wigwam of the girl's parents where the object of the visit is made known and if it meets their approbation they are feasted upon the richest and most sought articles of food which nourishes the aboriginal race. But if the girl has a brother or sister who is absent, or some valued friend in the distance, the food is not accepted, but the projectors of the marriage scheme are advised to return home, where the food is kept until the girl's most intimate friends have arrived at her residence, when and where the before mentioned delicacies, in conjunction with a number of ponies are again presented, and if the proposed marriage meets the approbation of the parties, the food is then accepted and the feast enjoyed.

After the feast is over a distribution of the ponies among the woman's relatives and friends takes place. This occurrence is invariably in the latter part of the day. The proceed-ings now stop until the afternoon of the following day when she is attired in all the gaudy colors of which they have commanded, and placed upon the finest steed of which her brother may be possessed. Her father's sister, we-che-me in the Osage language, acts the part of bride's maid, and by the lariat leads the pony from the home of her childhood. Her brother

accompanies them with a loaded rifle a distance from the lodge and fires a signal, when the young man's mother and sisters advance and upon a new red blanket stretched from its four corners, receive the woman from the back of the proud buffalo horse.

While the young woman's soon-to-be father-in-law takes possession of the horse and rifle, she is carried into the young man's lodge, where she is redressed. After the rearrange-ments in her costume are announced, the "Town crier" or "Kettle-tender" calls the young man from a neighboring bush or lodge, and he is seated beside her in the presence of two or more clans of their people assembled for the occasion.

They now partake of luxuries prepared for the occasion and then comes a performance on the part of the elders of clans assembled, and the exercises for the day now close.

Early in the morning of the next day all the goods owned by the young husband are packed and transported to the lodge of the bride's father, where they are distributed by her mother among those of her friends who failed to get horses in the beginning of the ceremony. The young couple are also mounted upon a pair of the best horses to be commanded and escorted to the home of the bride by clans that participated in the ceremonies of the day before. The bridegroom is now redressed, and this lodge is made the home of the newly married warrior. He is accorded privileges that no other of the family is allowed to enjoy. If his newly made wife has sisters, they too, become wives of him as they arrive at the age of maturity. Osage New Year's Gift.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 10, 1876. Many papers of the State express surprise at the border people speaking in high terms of Indian Agent Beede. The people of the border are always fair in their expressions, and had the former Agent treated them with half-way civility and respect, they would never have acquired the hatred heretofore manifested.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 10, 1876.

Lewis Grayblanket, a young full blood Osage, was arrested in this place on Tuesday last. He was charged with theft, and, though for some time after his arrest his manner was somewhat defiant, he at last comprehended an odd reality, when he confessed having stolen a jacket, a smoothing iron, shoes, etc., from the school, and a revolver, leather, whetstone, etc., from the shoe-shop. These confessions gave his troubled heart so much relief that it was hard for him to resist the temptation to tell more, so he acknowledged having stolen a $10 note from a Mexican in the tribe, John Twogiver, which he said had been spent at the stores, excepting fifty cents, which he claimed had been returned. He next put on a coat, when at the school, and wore it away; but he says the Osage boys took it from him, thus showing that others of the tribe may at times enjoy a nature similar to his own.

He says that he also stole a comb, but inasmuch as he had nothing but a "roach" on his head it was of but little use to him, so he lost it. When speaking of his last theft, he said that he went into the mill building through the "saw-dust hole" and got Hard Rope's flour, and that it was natural for him to lie, and that it accorded with no one's advice, which facts leave Louis lone responsible for this much-to-be deplored habit. The young man was before a jury of Osage chiefs and counselors, who realize that in matters of this kind it is folly to be Indians any longer. From the subjoined paragraph the reader will learn how hard these Indians are trying to imitate their white brothers in the execution of a civil custom of law, and this, too, be it remembered, is not being done within a hundred miles of a soldier of the United States. COUNCIL ROOM, OSAGE AGENCY,

April 18, 1876.

Resolved, That the chiefs and counselors of the Osage Nation earnestly pray our Agent, Cyrus Beede, to sentence Louis Grayblanket to thirty days' hard labor, and not to exceed thirty days unless he, our Agent, in his judgment, thinks that justice demands it. Blackhorse will have charge of prisoner, and will be paid one dollar per day for his service as guard.

A. CAPTAIN, Chairman.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 17, 1876. The enlarged edition of the Indian Herald, published at the Osage Agency, has reached us. It has grown in interest as well as size.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 24, 1876. Miss Lizzie L. Hiatt, daughter of J. M. Hiatt, has been appointed postmistress at Osage Agency.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 24, 1876.

The whites and Osages are to have a picnic at Osage Agency, on the 24th inst.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 24, 1876.

Half breed Pawnees wear long hair.

W. S. Marsden has been confirmed Agent of the "Five civilized tribes."

The Chickasaw Nation has corn enough on hand to do another year without making any at all this season. Star.

W. L. Boyd is a candidate for the office of governor in the Chickasaw Nation.

The Post Office at Caddo, Chickasaw Nation, is soon to be a money order office.

Editor Scott, of the Arkansas Traveler, has our thanks for a supply of roller composition.

R. W. Hopkins has our thanks for the head of a fish, probably a gar, that is so long that in the hands of an infuriated savage, it would render efficient service as a war club.

W. W. Burgess, our Nebraska printer, can write editorials for a daily before breakfast, stand at the news case until sunset, and, with melody from the king of instruments, break your heart before midnight.

Osages have manuscript written in Spanish on parchment that is one hundred and thirty-nine years old, and it is now in a fair state of preservation. Several of their ancient documents were dated at New Orleans.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 7, 1876. Front Page. We regret to learn that a mourning party of Osage young men, who still cling to their ancient religion under what they conceive to be strong provocations, have crossed the Arkansas River, and are heading toward the Salt Plains. This movement was in open opposition to the earnest entreaties of the chiefs and headmen of the tribe. We will say more of this next week.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 14, 1876.

The name of Osage Agency has been changed to Paw-hus-ka, and means "White Hair."

Arkansas City Traveler, June 14, 1876. The Osages oppose the bill before Congress making a new provision for the sale of their Kansas lands.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 28, 1876.

A few Osages who have been out on a hunt recently, represent buffalo as being scarce.

The printer failed to find the copy of Gov. "Joe's" speech which was promised our readers this week.

The Osages are now more nearly united than has ever been the case since their removal to this Territory.

Agent Beede is getting material ready to repair the damage to the roof of his house, by the late hail storm.

The majority of the full blood Cherokees enlisted in the service of United States during the late war, while the majority of the mixed bloods joined the Confederate forces.

As will be seen at the head of our paper, the name of Osage Agency gives place to Pawhuska, which has been the name of the head chief of the Osage tribe for generations, and means white hair.

Seven of our Pawnee neighbors have recently visited Chetopah, the Chief Counselor of the Osage Nation, smoked the pipe of peace, and received from our distinguished incumbent a pony each in token of future friendship. Pawnees and Osages converse with each other by signs only.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 12, 1876. J. L. STUBBS and Mr. Tisdale, of Paw-hus-ka (Osage Agency), favored us with a call. They report great damage done to the wheat crop in that vicinity, and state that the water in Bird Creek was fifty feet high.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 2, 1876.

Editor Traveler: While it is not my purpose to worry the readers of your columns, yet knowing that the antipathy which has so long and unjustly existed between this place and yours has been overcome by the new administration of affairs here; and that we are now ready to lay aside the "scalping knife," "bury the hatchet," and "shake hands across the bloody chasm"CI thought perhaps a few items might not prove void of interest to some.

Affairs here are in an unsettled condition, owing to the fact of Congress having failed to make any appropriation so far, and no final action having been taken on the bill providing for the transfer of the Indian Bureau to the War Department. This bill will no doubt be defeatedCa fate which it justly deserves, and but a fitting rebuke to its originators. However, just in itself the measure may be, having once been defeated by a square vote would have satisfied anybody save an honorable (?) Democratic House of numbskulls, who in defiance of this, an established law of Congress, attached it as an amendment on the general appropriation billCand that just on the eve of adjournment; when there are not funds on hand to meet the necessary expenses of the Government, hoping thereby to force its passage. This, however, is only characteristic of their action throughout; and if such "tomfoolery" (I do not call it legislation) is to be tolerated much longer, it would be policy to declare their seats vacant and substitute therefor full-blooded Osages, who would certainly do as much good and perhaps less harm.

Fearful hot! is the universal cry, and there is a general stampede among the inhabitants in search of a cool place, but without success, and everyone is wondering whether it is so hot elsewhere; but we think not, as we are down in the region of "china," where a breeze to reach us must come from above, a thing unheard of since the day of Pentecost. We had a good rain last night, however, and there is quite a change in the atmosphere todayCcool enough to make one think of overcoats and fires. It is a timely visit to the crops, as they were suffering for want of it, and would have been cut short had it not come soon.

The flood did much damage to the Osage crops, besides sweeping away fences, etc. They would have had nearly wheat enough to have breaded them, could it have been saved, but as it is, supplies will have to be shipped in for their support, which will furnish a good market for the surplus grain not exported by the Arkansas River Navigation Company.

The past week or so has been a gala time with the Osages. They are having their medicine dance, but a scalp is an essential article in order to arouse the necessary enthusiasm on such occasions; yet it being impossible to obtain a genuine one, a lock of hair minus the scalp was obtained from a Pawnee as a substitute, for the insignificant sum of a pony. Around this the young "bucks," void of all the necessary clothing such as blankets, leggings, and shirts, and bedaubed with mud, tar, wagon grease, etc., gave vent to their war whoop and performed their apeish feats.

Agent Beede has been quite sick, but is improving rapidly, and we hope a few more days will see him on our streets again. More anon, J. L. S.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 9, 1876. Listed at the Central Avenue Hotel during the week ending Tuesday, August 8, 1876, were the following:

Stan-I-Slaw and Nip-I-Sink, Osage Agency, Indian Territory.

"Lo, the poor Indian! whose untutor'd mind

Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind."

They waltzed into the Central Avenue the other day, and ordered dinner "like pale-face," forking over the requisite one dollar William in advance. They crawled outside of 12 biscuits, 8 slices of bread, 8 plates of meat, 12 cups of coffee, telescoped all the pies on the table, and were only checked in their mad career by a general "giving out" of hotel supplies. The landlord ordered a fresh beef and two barrels of XXX flour, pending the arrival of which the noble reds concluded to seek

"Some safer world, mid depth of woods embraced,

Some happier island in the watery waste."

Arkansas City Traveler, August 30, 1876.

The Osage Indian name for Little Arkansas is "Weshutsee Shinka."

Arkansas City Traveler, August 30, 1876. J. L. STUBBS came up from the Osage Agency last Monday. He reports everything quiet. Agent Beede is visiting the East.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 30, 1876. J. L. STUBBS, Henry and Will Mowry went out Monday afternoon and brought back thirty-nine chickens.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 6, 1876.

Hard Rope, one of the distinguished Osages, says that Gen. Custer did not know how to fight Indians, and that ever since the killing of Black Kettle, he has known that Custer would some time meet his fate at the hands of Indians.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 13, 1876.

A HAPPY DAY FOR ARKANSAS CITY.

We learn by letter that the bids of A. A. Newman, Haywood (of Channell & Haywood), and McLaughlin (of Houghton & McLaughlin), for flour and transportation to the different Agencies south of us have been accepted as follows.

This will give a cash market for wheat at our very doors, freighting for a number of teams, and employment to many men, and build up for the town a business greater than known before.

Mr. Thomas Lannigan, of Fort Smith, Arkansas, has the contract for beef, and will purchase largely in Cowley and Sumner counties. His contract is for beef on the hoof, at $3.732 for Kiowa and Comanche, 2,650,000 lbs.; for Cheyenne and Arapaho, 3,000,000 lbs.; Wichita, 550,000 lbs.; Osage, 500,000 lbs.; Pawnee, 1,500,000 lbs., at $3.56.

With the prospect of the Walnut Valley Railroad, the steamboat that is now on its way, and the general prospects for good crops, we look forward to a bright dawn of the future.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 13, 1876.

Full-blood Osages come 30 miles for quinine. Agent Beede's health is improving up north. Governor Joe recently visited the Sac Agency. The State Normal School at Emporia will commence next Monday with about one hundred students in attendance.

The Commissioner of Indian Affairs has given permission to Sheridan to raise 100 Pawnee scouts for the Sioux war.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 20, 1876. Front Page.

Pat-teck quaw, a Sac chief, recently died of pneumonia.

Indian Agent Burgess and his family have gone north.

Instructions to the Sioux Commission are nearly complete.

B. F. Overton is newly elected Governor of Chickasaw Nation.

The Government favors the removal of the Sioux to this territory.

Full blood Sacs and Foxes talk of building a church on their reservation.

Alex Rankin garnered 1,550 bushels of wheat this year in Kansas.

The Choctaws will put into market nearly 3,000 bales of cotton this year.

The sale of arms and ammunition to Indians at nearly all the Agencies is prohibited.

Chief Keokuk, of the Sacs and Foxes, lives in a brick house and has 200 or more cattle on his farm.

The Ute Indians, after having been feasted and armed to fight the Sioux, skedaddled when on Cheyenne River.

250 tons of hay have been made on the Pawnee Reservation this year by the "blood thirsty and thieving Pawnees."

In meetings for the religious worship at the Sac and Fox Agencies, I. T., Dr. Cook reads aloud one of his ancient dreams of heaven.

The stubborn Mexican Kickapoos, who have persistently objected to the building of a schoolhouse, are now successful grain growers.

The Caddo Star thinks the financial condition of the Choctaw Nation is as rotten as New York was during the palmiest days of Tweed.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 20, 1876.

Prairie fires are of daily occurrence. Hops grow wild in the Territory. An Osage has 127 cattle in Oklahoma. Wolves kill the young cattle of the Osages. Peter Perrier has 160 hogs on this reservation. The watermelon crop is a failure. Negroes have murdered a policeman in Dallas, Texas. Some half-breed Osages are successful bee hunters. Shawnees keep up smudges in which their ponies stand all day to keep away from flies. Two Arapaho Indians have gone to Fort Smith, charged with murder at Cheyenne Agency. Thousands of buffalo range between the North and Salt forks of the Canadian River, west of Skeleton Ranch. Cheyennes and Arapahos are hardening their ponies' necks for the collar, so they can do their own freighting.

George Waite, a white man and an accomplice of George Keeler, furnishes liquor at horse races on the Cherokee line.

"Pa she Tow-wah," "Hay Town," is the name given Independence by the two Osage Indians. There is some significance in it, and it has reference to the material first used in the founding of this smart town, and also keeps alive the Indian traditions which will one day be eagerly sought after.

Coker, the murderer of Johney cake, a respected Delaware Indian, was shot and severely, if not mortally, wounded while in a saloon in Coffeyville, Kansas, on the evening of the 3rd inst. The town on this occasion was full of Delawares, some of whom have long sought this white outlaw, and, though the shot was fired by a party in the rear of the building, and in the night time too, it is supposed to have been the work of an Indian who had sought this opportunity to avenge the death of his friend.

Hon. Wm. Penn Adair, a Cherokee who has ably defended the interests of the Indian people before Congress, is now at his home in Vinita, Cherokee Nation.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 27, 1876.

UCH-TUN-BA-KA, an old Osage friend, called on us last week.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 27, 1876.

Osages are daily asking for the return of their Agent, Beede.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 4, 1876.

Four lodges of Osages are over trading with the Cherokees.

An Osage fell dead on Saturday last.

S. Matlack reports one half of the Pawnee tribe now sick.

Pony buyers from New York have made their second appearance this season.

Daniel Moulton, a white man from the New England States, died from hemorrhage from the lungs, on the prairie, in Coo-wee-scoo wee district.

Upon the subject of Indian affairs, nothing has yet been heard from the Yearly Meeting of Friends in Iowa.

Indian Agent Cravens reports all the buildings at his agency, excepting three, as being carried away by the flood. His records and papers are all gone.

The removal of 40,000 Sioux Indians to this Territory will badly shake the imaginary castles that now occupy so much space beneath the Star of Oklahoma.

Dr. Daniels, of the Indian commission, was once agent at Red Cloud, and now finds many old friends among the Sioux.

A family of three persons have recently been found dead in Missouri. The parents evidently died of congestive chills, and the child in its efforts to obtain nourishment fell into a bucket of water and drowned.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 11, 1876.

It is with pleasure that we call the attention of our readers to the fact that Messrs. Finney Brothers & Hopkins, formerly of Osage Agency, Indian Territory, are conducting the "City" livery stable. The Finney boys, A. T. Gay, and J. L. Stubbs, all of "White Hair" town, were here last week. The Finney brothers leased Mr. R. Hoffmaster's livery, and will devote their time to accommodating the traveling public. J. L. Stubbs came home to prove up on the Arkansas, and Mr. Gay as company for the crew. Rudolph will go into the blacksmith shop with Henry Franklin, and assist in the work.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 11, 1876.

On a little mud island, where the fresh water of the Mississippi River and the salt water of the Gulf of Mexico meet and mix, stands a brick fort, built by the Spaniards more than one hundred years ago, when they traded with the Great and Little Osage Indians. As the long years have flown to the past, this ancient structure has been gradually sinking into the sea, but the portions yet above water are intact, and was no doubt well remembered by Bigheart and Strike Axe of this once powerful tribe. They yet have Spanish manuscripts upon parchment, one hundred and forty years old, which they have carefully preserved and passed from father to son.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 25, 1876. The Osages are without money and have but little to eat, though they are quiet and have confidence in Agent Beede, believing that by the aid of his friends, he will better their condition.

Wah shah-sha-wah ti an kah, a leading Osage, who has remained at home for two years and advised his people to abandon the chase, now says that in the absence of help from the Government he is forced to abandon his little home and, with his people, hunt buffalo. He

regrets the necessity to do this, but says that he will hunt before he will starve.

In the southeast corner of Osage Reservation, and about fifty miles distant from Pawhuska, there lives four Cherokee familiesCCockram, Lookback, Bull, and SkytookeC

who do not invite the attention of, or mingle, with anybody save themselves. They are well armed, and are said to be outlaws or refugees from justice, depending upon the products of a corn patch, and the use of a rifle for support.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 25, 1876. TOM CONCANNON, formerly of Winfield, is down at Pawhuska, taking Indian photographs.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 25, 1876.

Wolves continue to howl. Another pet deer in town. Wild geese are going south. Deer die of the black tongue. Cattle are dying of black-leg. Grasshoppers are freezing out. The prairie is nearly all burned. Wolves catch hogs in daytime. J. L. Stubbs has been to Wichita. Horn frogs are in winter quarters. No more tarantulas hop this year. Anna J. Tompson teaches the Kaws. Pawnees come to Pawhuska for quinia. Quapaws are settling among the Osages. Salt in your shoe is the latest remedy for chills. Hungry Osages raid upon Captain's herd of cattle.

A horse thief passed through town the other day. Eight centipedes died in the schoolhouse last week. Dr. Schneider still labors among his friends on Bird Creek. Kaw school opened the 1st inst.; C. L. Hunt and wife in charge. Augustus Captain sold a pig the other day for 350 pounds of flour. A Pawnee came in the other day wrapped in 48 American flags.

The Osages want to go after buffalo, but first want permission from their agent.

Much sickness prevails among the Pawnees, and deaths are reported almost daily.

The United States flag waves over Pawhuska, and is not married by "Tilden" or "Hayes."

Creditable specimens of Osage bead and needle work will be on exhibition at the great Indian International Fair.

From the number of Pawhuskans who seek homes in Arkansas City, Kansas, we judge that place to be the first of future greatness.

The return of Agent Beede to Osages would gladden many hearts.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 1, 1876. Front Page.

Osages are becoming restless. Choctaw Council is in session. Pawnees beg ponies of Osages. One Osage has gone to the Fair. The Kiowas have not yet arrived. Farmers have sown but little wheat. Indians are bringing in fresh venison. Rattlesnakes are still crawling around. Sickness among the Pawnees is abating. Four Pawnees died at the ferry in one day.

Osages think buffalo meat better than poor beef. The Little Osages are having a big war-dance. Osage women are wearing mud on their heads. Osages have killed another panther below town. Osages say they don't want to go around and beg. With Indians there are water gods and winter gods. The "Lame Doctor" says he has five more men to kill. The happy hunting ground is beyond a world of sorrow. Whites bring wheat from Kansas to the Pawhuska mills. Osages want a reliable white man to go with them after buffalo. Osages eat bear meat and pumpkin in the happy hunting ground. Piute Indians are going into Virginia City, Nevada, to winter. Officer Martin, commanding officer at this place last winter, is at Fort Laramie, Wyoming Territory. Governor Osborn remonstrates against the concentration of the Indian Territory. Cah-he kah wah ti an kah is sowing a 40 acre field of wheat. He is a full blood Indian and wears a blanket. Gen. Merritt is said to be after the Indians who murdered a man by the name of Monroe, near Fort Laramie. Indians think the world to which the spirits of the dead go is separated from this by mountains or bodies of water. After being detained in the world of sorrow a sufficient time, some Indians pass into the happy land, pure and holy.

The Indian Bureau will soon send a special Committee to treat with the Nez Perces Indians in the vicinity of Idaho and eastern Oregon.

Two wolves went into the village of Sac and Fox Agency last week, and amid the howling of dogs and the firing of guns, caught and carried off a pig.

Ticoga, a son of Chochise, an Apache chief, died in Washington, on the 27th ultimo, and was buried in the Congressional burying ground. His home was in Arizona.

Hard Rope and Big Chief made us a splendid visit this morning. They do not talk English, but can think as correctly upon matters with which they are familiar as anybody else.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 1, 1876. Front Page.

Accident at Pawhuska.

On Tuesday last, an Osage boy of about twelve years, went into the second story of the Agency flouring mill at this place, and threw his arms around an upright shaft while the mill was running under a full head of steam. His blanket was caught and instantly rolled, and when the boy realized his inability to help himself, he frightened, went blind, and sank near enough to the floor to be hurled against the sacks of flour sitting around the shaft, with a force sufficient to knock them over and away. The Indians gave the signal of distress, and J. P. Soderstrom, the miller, rang the bell, but the engineer not being at his post, the machinery continued to run, carrying the boy rapidly around, until the miller ran to the engine room and shut off the steam.

He then went to the boy's rescue amid the cries of terrified Indians. Dr. Dongan, the Agency physician, was summoned, and found an oblique fracture of the shaft of the femur bones of the right thigh, and a compound fracture of the upper third of the humerus bone of the left arm.

In the absence of other physicians or surgeons, the doctor called in N. P. Delarue and E. W. Hopkins as assistants, and dressed the wounds, and at this writing the boy is doing well, though his physician thinks the bone of the arm was so badly crushed, and so near the neck, that it cannot be kept straight. The Government has no hospital accommodations at this place; consequently, the practice of medicine and surgery, in many instances, must be attended with more or less dissatisfaction both to patient and practitioner. Indian Herald.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 1, 1876.

BULL WHACKERS. Ox teams leave this place every day now for the different Agencies, generally attended by a man on horse back, carrying a monstrous whip, which not unfrequently cuts the hide open when it strikes. We noticed one that measured sixteen feet, and was one and one-half inches thick at the butt end.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 8, 1876. Front Page.

Brants are going south. Pelicans are on the prairie. Turkeys are reported around town. Another centipede in the schoolhouse. Agent Beede is in Lawrence, Kansas. Freight for the Pawnees pass every day. With some Indians, the good world is below. About 45 children are in the Kaw school. The Indian International Fair was a success. Agent Burgess has returned to the Pawnees. The Sioux were not in attendance at the Fair. Osages are becoming clamorous for their annuity. The Delaware Indians are holding their fall feast. Since the rain, Osages have sown considerable wheat. The happy hunting ground is sustained by magic. The Government will feed the Pawnees on "hard tack." More whites than Indians attended the late Fair at Muskogee. Indians have a god for each mammalCbear god, wolf god, etc. Buffalo robes to the number of 2,250 were recently brought into Fort Dodge.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 8, 1876. The Quapaws had an abundance of whiskey last week, and gave enough to Osages to make some of them drunk.

Turkey shooting by moonlight is good sport for the Pawhuska boys. Stubbs of the Indian office thought he would try his hand recently and after tramping through brush until weary he saw the birds in a tree overhead, took aim, and fired. One bird came down while the others from appearance continued to roost; so he tried his hand a second time and brought down the second turkeyCbuzzard.

On Thursday night of last week while the Quapaws were dancing around a large bonfire a woman suddenly broke ranks and when but a few feet from the ring, fell dead. The medicine men of the band were assembled, and after communing with the Great Spirit they informed the excited multitude that about a year ago an Indian woman had died in that vicinity and that her spirit had got inside of their recently deceased sister, causing her instant death.

Mother Baltimore, a leading Quapaw, is cutting down the pecan trees on the Osage Reservation, and we predict for her trouble, if she does not quit it at once. Osages will not stand oppression from whites and Indians at the same time. Indian Herald.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 8, 1876.

Little Chief and several members of the Osage tribe were in town last week.

The Indians are making sad havoc on the pecan trees in the Territory. They cut the trees to get the nuts. PECANS sell from two to three dollars per bushel, when offered by the Indians. R. C. Haywood has sixty bushels.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 15, 1876.

The Indian Territory contains 71,200 Indians, consisting of over forty different tribes.

The Osages received an appropriation of $255,000 last year, to advance them in civilization.

John Florer, one of the licensed Indian Traders at Paw-hus-ka, paid this place a visit this week, and made us a pleasant call. Come again.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 15, 1876. Front Page.

When we think how little the whites of the border care or think about their dusky brethren whose home is only across the line, and beyond the stone mounds Uncle Sam has placed along the southern portion of the State, as a warning to whites not to trespass, it is surprising that natural curiosity does not tempt them to make further inquiry. But then, when we remember that we lived "next door" to them for two long years, we are impressed that our curiosity was exhausted, burdened, and disgusted.

Few have any idea now of the number in the "Nation," and what they are doing. From the "Superintendents and Agents Report," furnished us through the courtesy of some of the new Agents, we find complete statistics of the number and their progress.

The following are the tribes and numbers.

The Potawotomies, Kickapoos, Chipewas, and Muncies, all under the agency of Mr. M. H. Newlin, number in round numbers, 1,000.

Quapaws, Peorias, Miamis, Ottawas, Wyandottes, Shawnees, Senecas, and Modocs, under H. W. Jones, as Agent, at Quapaws Agency, 1,300.

Cherokees, Creeks, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Seminoles, at Union Agency, under S. W. Marston, number 54,000.

The Great and Little Osages under Mr. Cyrus Beede, number 2,700. The Kaws, who speak the same language as the Osages, are also in his charge, although they have a separate Agency. They number 500 souls.

The Pawnees located 60 miles southeast of this place, under charge of Wm. Burgess, number 2,000.

The Sac and Foxes of Mississippi, Absentee Shawnees, Mexican Kickapoos, Southern Cheyennes, Southern Arapahos, and Apaches are controlled by John D. Miles. They number 4,000.

The Wichita, Caddo, and affiliated Bands, at the Wichita Agency, are under Agent A. C. Williams, formerly special Agent of the Kickapoos, near this place. They number 1,200.

The Kiowas, Comanches, and Apaches, are under J. M. Haworth, and number 3,000.

In all, there are 71,200 Indians in the Territory.

Among the Osages there are 1,397 males, 1,282 females.

Among the Kaws, 229 males, and 214 females.

Among the Pawnees, 866 males, and 1,160 females. The Pawnees usually half support themselves by labor.

174 Osages live in houses, and they sold $5,000 worth of robes last year.

The Kaws and Pawnees sold $590 worth each.

The Osages own 12,000 ponies, 100 mules, 600 head of cattle, and 1,500 head of hogs.

The Kaws own 300 ponies, 8 mules, 15 cattle, and 125 hogs.

The Pawnees have 600 ponies, 12 mules, and 15 head of cattle.

Some have been making rapid progress in education, and others farming, but the ratio is very small. Out of the 2,679 Osages, only 25 of them labor in civilized pursuits, 25 live by hunting, 244 wear citizen's clothes, 50 adults and 100 youths can read, and 15 of those have learned this year, during the nine months school. The school this year was maintained solely by their own funds, at a cost of $7,000 and a donation from Orthodox churches and private parties to the amount of $300. Where the children come to school, they are clothed and fed.

During the past year the Kaws have sawed 10,000 feet of lumber at their new mill, and 40 of them are now living in houses. 59 Kaws wear citizen's dress, and most all of them labor. They have cultivated 600 acres of land this year, and have 350 acres fenced. They raised 10,000 bushels of corn, 500 bushels of wheat, 150 bushels of beans, 800 bushels of potatoes, and put up 160 tons of hay. They employ one teacher almost constantly, and 20 adults and 24 youths can read; 18 have learned this year during the ten months school.

Of the Pawnees, 12 of them live in houses: three of which they built themselves, and nine that the Government built for them. 264 Pawnees wear citizen's dress, and one-half of them labor. During the last year they have cultivated 150 acres of land themselves, broke 20 additional acres, and fenced 280 acres. They raised 1,600 bushels of corn, 100 bushels of beans, 150 bushels of potatoes, and put up 100 tons of hay. 25 of the adults and 115 youths can read, and 15 learned during the last nine months of school.

Considering the lack of funds, and embarrassments they have had to undergo, the progress they have made is very commendable.

While we have but little hope and less faith, of the Agents being able to accomplish much in the way of civilization, yet we believe they are making strong and earnest efforts.

To any who have the time to spare, a trip to the Territory will not only be a rare treat, but a very profitable one, educationally considered.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 29, 1876.

Two men returning from the Salt Fork made the statement that they had been told by parties on the river that two men were supposed to have been killed by Indians, about one mile and a half above the Pawnee crossing. The grounds for their supposition is as follows: AWe were on the river gathering pecans. The day before we saw two men on the opposite side of the river with a lot of nuts piled up, who had a mule team. The next day we were near the same place when we heard a man moaning and crying: >Oh! Lord! Help! Help!= as if in terrible pain. Shortly after we saw Indians riding ponies and leading the mules of the white men. The pecans laid where they were the day before. We did not wait to see what the trouble was, as we were unarmed, but started at once for Arkansas City; driving rapidly. We have not heard anything further from the men, and believe they were murdered by the Indians.@

The above statement can be taken for what it is worth. The party giving the information gave it as he received it, and was earnest in what he said, yet, everything considered, we believe there is little foundation for supposing anyone was killed under the circumstances. The man calling for help might have had the stomachache, or have eaten too many pecans, and the Indians might have stolen the mules without disturbing peaceful rest of the sleepers. And even though two men were murdered, it is yet in doubt whether it was done by Indians, and if by them, there would be no cause of another hullabaloo or Indian excitement.

A few days ago one white man killed three others, and there will be little said or thought about it. Yet if some of the unruly whites infesting the Territory should quarrel and get shot by an Indian, the whole of Southern Kansas becomes alarmed, and many are ready to flee to a place of imaginary safety.

With Agent Beede at the head of the Osages, if there is any difficulty, he will have them brought to justice if it has to be done at the point of the bayonet, and the Indians know they have a different person than grandmother Gibson to deal with.

And we might as well say here, that the whites who have been guilty of cutting the vast amount of pecan trees in the Territory should be held responsible for their acts. Enough trees have been felled, we are told by responsible parties, to make 3,000 fence rails, and the whites have assisted in the work.

Let us be fair. If an Indian commits any depredations in Kansas, we believe in following him to Texas, if we have to, rather than let him escape; and on the other hand, if a white man destroys their timber, he should be brought to justice. It is injustice to destroy their trees, and they do not hesitate to tell the perpetrators of it wherever they find them.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 29, 1876. CAPT. HUNT and others who have just returned from the place where the two men were reported killed, say there is nothing to it.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 6, 1876.

The report of the two men being killed by Indians near Pawnee crossing last week proves to be erroneous, and the price of freighting remains the same.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 6, 1876.

OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS,

SEALED bids will be received by the undersigned at the Osage Agency, Indian Territory, until 12 m., Tuesday, the 19th day of December, A. D. 1876, for furnishing material and building one hundred rods of fence, more or less, at the discretion of the U. S. Indian Agent, enclosing and partitioning Mission School Building at this Agency; also, re-roofing a portion and otherwise repairing said building, as the Agent may direct. The bids on fence must state price per rod.

In order to bid understandingly, bidders should make a personal inspection of the premises. The successful bidder will be required to give bond with satisfactory security for the faithful performance of the work.

Specifications will be furnished on application to this office, or can be seen at the TRAVELER Office, Arkansas City, Kansas, or office of the Wichita Eagle, Wichita, Kansas. The right to reject any and all bids is reserved. CYRUS BEEDE, U. S. Indian Agent.

Winfield Courier, December 7, 1876. The Commonwealth is probably mistaken about there being "an organization in Butler and perhaps adjoining counties numbering 13,000 members, the purpose of which is to keep others from filing on their claims in the Osage diminished reserve. It is certainly mistaken if the impression conveyed includes Cowley County. It further says: The probability that eleven of the organization had been arrested is made the occasion of giving the secret of the organization to the public. They are indicted and will be tried in the U. S. district court next April under the Ku Klux act.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 13, 1876. A gentleman writing from Salt Lake, asks the editor of the Indian Herald, published at Osage Agency, whether the paper is edited by half- or full-blood Indians. That's tough on Doc. Dougan.

From Utah Territory.

[From the Indian Herald.]

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, October 27, 1876.

W. McKay Dougan & Co.:

I wish to ask a few questions to be answered in the Herald. 1st. Is the Herald edited by half or full blooded Indians?

2nd. How far is Pawhuska from the western boundary of Missouri and Arkansas?

3rd. Is your Territory governed by whites or Indians?

4th. What is the prevailing religion? Or, are all religions tolerated?

5th. By whom are your churches and schools kept up?

6th. How many newspapers are published in your Territory? And by what Nations and where?

7th. Are the Indians of your country self supporting?

8th. Have you regular mail facilities?

Very Respectfully, F. KELSER, Bishop.

The Journal by the Creeks at Okmulgee.

The Star by G. McPherson, a white man, at Caddo.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 13, 1876.

The Osage annuity payment is yet to be. Osage braves and warriors shave their heads. The Pawnees think the Bad Spirit is in their sod houses. The Kaws have agreed to quit choking horses over their dead. John Jumper, chief of the Seminoles, is a minister of the gospel. Fourteen of the Sac & Fox Indians have been recently converted. Osages think that toothache is pain caused by worms eating the tooth. A Choctaw woman, a full blood, is President of a missionary society. Osages mourn the death of relatives or friends for the term of one year. Cana half breed Osages are coming in to receive their annuity money. Rev. Daniel Rogers and wife are appointed missionaries to the Cherokees.

Pawnees destroy their best made lodges in their efforts to route the Bad Spirit.

Before the break of day, the cries of weeping Indians may be heard for miles.

The native Indian preachers of this Territory are persevering in a noble work.

Everything is quiet in this section of the vineyard, but Kansans of the border shed blood.

The Governor of the Osage Nation says that his children are suffering for the want of food. Osages wear roaches on their heads and think that a long growth of hair would be followed by baldness. Osage women wear long hair and refuse to part with even a "lock," except when at a funeral or in battle. Osages spend large sums in securing the services of their favorites as mourners in the loss of their relatives. Osages think that the spitting of blood in pneumonia and consumption is caused by worms eating the lungs.

There is a similarity in the languages of the Sioux and Osages; and the Sioux think the Osages belong to their tribe.

Mrs. Blackall, of Chicago, organized the first Indian Woman's Missionary Society among the women of this Territory.

Osages think that the spirits of their white enemies will act the part of servants to them in the happy hunting ground.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 20, 1876.

The Osages are at peace with all tribes. Scalp locks still hang over Indian graves. The Kaw annuity payment was made last week. The Indians are in a good humor and full of fun.

Osage women are painted and in their finest. Mad dogs have fits and bite stock on Bird Creek. The Osage council is dealing with cattle thieves. Eagle feathers flutter from ponies manes and tails. Street dancing by the Osages is of daily occurrence. A buffalo was killed near Pawnee Agency last week. There are two Quapaw colonies on the Osage Reservation.

Farmers make rails of wild grape vines on Elk River, Kansas. There are four half breed Osage girls at the Osage Mission, Kansas. While Indians' thoughts remain unchanged, they are Indians still. There are nine ordained ministers among the Sioux. There is a similarity in the languages of the Sioux, Osages, Kaws, and Quapaws. Spotted Tail and his people are on their way back to the country of the Black Hills. The World Carrier, a paper published among the Sioux, receives material aid from the full blood Sioux. The interpreters for the Sioux delegation say they will come to this country, and bring the Sioux tribe with them. Spotted Tail doesn't want to live in this Territory. He can't find timber, and there is not enough rock with which to build out west. The Indians of Neah Bay Agency, Washington Territory, make more money by seal killing than any other Indians on that coast, and depend upon the success of their labor for a living. Osages sprinkle ashes around their lodges to keep witches away.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 20, 1876.

We have a few specimens of Mr. T. M. Concannon's Indian photographs, that compare with the best. Mr. Concannon has a variety of scenes from Indian life, that make a very interesting picture.

Among the number purchased by ourselves is a "War-dance," "Issuing Rations," and the chiefs "Governor Joe," "Chetopa," "Strike-Axe," "Hard Rope," "Jump-Over" "Sassy-Chief," "Black Dog," and several others.

Joe is chief ruler of the Big and Little Osages, Hard Rope, the war chief, and Black Dog is one of the most unruly Indians of the tribe. Among them, we recognize many familiar faces. The advertisement of the artist will appear next week.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 20, 1876. Ed. Finney returned from the Osage Agency last Monday, where he had been for several weeks assisting in the payment of the Osages.

Winfield Courier, December 28, 1876.

A new affliction seems imminent to the settlers upon the Osage Ceded lands along the line of the M. K. & T. railroad, in the form of a bill pending in Congress to allow the parties who purchased lands from the railroad companies that claimed the land to come forward now and purchase it from the Government at $1.25 per acre. This lets in a lot of speculators who purchased large tracts of land. But T. C. Sears, the attorney of the M., K. & T. railroad, knocks the anti-monopoly buncombe out of the movement by promptly saying that the company he represents will do all it can to prevent the consummation of this new move. Much of the land that would be affected by this bill is occupied by actual settlers. People coming to Kansas should come to Cowley County where there is no trouble about land titles.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 3, 1877. "TOM" FINNEY is back at Osage Agency again as though it was his fate to be there. We regret to lose him from our social circle.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 3, 1877.

Ing gro heh tow ah: Osage name for ADead folks town@ or AHappy Hunting Ground.@

John Twogiver is a full blood Mexican, and the Comanches sold him to the Osages when a little child. Quapaws are good wood choppers. Ah hu shin-kah died last Monday. Red Eagle says that black wolves kill hogs on Bird Creek. The Cherokees have over eighty common schools. The Miami Indians have just received a payment of $200 each. The Chickasaws have four public and about ten district schools. Spotted Tail wants pay for the gold in the Black Hills. The Choctaws have two public schools and over fifty district schools. The Indians have sold over 20,000 pounds of pecans to Hiatt & Co.

One of the greatest wants of the people of this territory is civil law well administered. Indians should not be compelled to attend court in the State any more than whites should be compelled to come here to attend court.

W. P. Mathes has quit selling goods because he makes money faster selling religious manuscript.

The Cherokee National Council tried to impeach the second Chief of the Cherokees and failed. The Cherokee Council legislated one of their school commissioners out of existence and created two more. The Cherokee Council has ordered the M. R. & Ft. S. R. R. Co. to pull up and get off Cherokee soil.

The payment of annuity money and the issuing of blankets is over and the Osages are quiet This is freezing winter weather, but Osages strip to the breech cloth before running foot races.

J. W. Burns, of Coffeyville, Kansas, has the contract for building 100 rods of fence and roofing a portion of the school building at this place.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 3, 1877.

INDIAN PICTURES,

The pioneer artist of Kansas, after spending the most of one year and a great deal of many in the Indian Territory, has taken the greatest variety of negatives, and has the largest and best assortment of Indian photographs, ever offered to the publicCa few of which will be mentioned.

Negative of the elegant Osage Government buildings in the TerritoryCthe magnificent Osage University, the Commissary, the U. S. Agent's, Government physician's, and black-smith's residences; a view of the dusky counselors as they sit on the brow of Council Hill; the Chief and head counselors photographed in groups or singly; a group of Indians in their war dance; photos of Indian families, men, women, and children; the elegant Osage Government stone mill; the traders' stores; the large hewed log farm house with citizens and family of Saucy Chief on his farm; the slaughtering yard on butchering day by the Osages; the University as the Indian children are at play. Also a splendid photographic view of the large Osage Agency farm, taken from the top of Council Hill, with Indian cabin and wigwams, and an Indian squaw standing by a tree with papoose strapped on her back, in the foreground, and large hills in the distance in the background. Any of the above can be obtained by mail, in any desired quantity, on receipt of price mentioned.

Pictures on 8 x 10 card sent postpaid, single copy, $1; 1/2 dozen, $5; 1 doz., $9. Pictures on card 7 x 9, single copy 75 cents; 1/2 doz, $4; 1 doz., $7. Pictures cabinet size, single copy, 50 cents; 1/2 doz., $2.50; 1 doz., $4. Photo cards, album size, single copy, 25 cents; 1 doz., $2.50.

Pictures sent by mail on receipt of price to any part of the United States, Canada, England, or Ireland. Address T. M. CONCANNON,

Arkansas City Traveler, January 3, 1877.

Sitting Bull is resting. Osage Indian dogs are part wolf. Osages want to go to Washing-ton. The Osage Legislature is in session. Osages are drawing new blankets. The Osage annuity payment is over. Osages are no longer in pursuit of buffalo. Osages call the spirits of the dead witches. Kaw Indians use pole cat skins for tobacco bags. Locher Harjo is principle Chief of the Creek Nation. Soldiers are leaving Fort Sill en route for New York. Spotted Tail says that his country is covered with gold. Gray wolves howl and kill young cattle on Bird Creek. Two teachers and 85 pupils constitute the Pawnee (Indian) school. A Quapaw hunter has found one old panther and four young ones. Spotted Tail and his people were warmly welcomed by the Creeks. Indian dogs and wolves do not fight, but play together on the plains. The Creeks are sensible in wanting northern Indians to occupy lands in this Territory. Santanta, the Kiowa chief, hung himself recently, but was discovered and cut down. The Creeks will send eighteen young men of their tribe to the States to be educated among the whites. The law making powers of the Creek Nations consists of two Houses, one of Kings and one of Warriors. Spotted Tail wants to see President Grant before deciding upon matter of his removal to this Territory. Members of the Cherokee Delegation are paid $5 per diem and necessary expenses while at Washington.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 10, 1877. Front Page.

The Lord's Prayer.

We have been asked many times for a translation of the Lord's prayer into the Osage language, and for a long time we tried in vain to obtain it. There are but few people now living, who are conversant with both the Osage and English languages, and a translation of this kind, properly made, is regarded as one of the most difficult tasks undertaken by the translator. However, we induced Wm. Conner, one of the best translators in the tribe, to try

his hand, and after much study, with the following result, which is probably the best interpretation of it that has ever been made, and as good as is likely to be made at any future period.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 17, 1877.

CHETOPAH, a noted chief of the Osages, is very low with consumption, and is not expected to live. He is one of the most intelligent and probably the best Indian of the Osage tribe. The members of his band are daily mourning for him, and paint their faces. If he dies, there will probably be the largest mourning party organized that has ever left the Agency. The Agent has been assured by leading men of the tribe that they will not commit any depredation when the mourning party goes out, but that they will merely go through the form of sending an enemy's scalp with him to the happy hunting grounds. On such an occasion, it can hardly be expected that they will lay aside all religious rites and the established customs of their forefathers, and we would not like to be caught in the Territory alone while the party is out.

"Che-to-pah" means four lodges, and the name is derived from the old chief attacking and capturing four lodges of his enemies many years ago. He will be remembered by many of our citizens, who always had considerable esteem for him.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 24, 1877.

Osages killed no buffalo. The Indian pecan trade is over. Sleigh bells jingle in Pawhuska.

Some Osage words resemble German. Mourning Indians are wailing in the snow. White Hair says the ice is 14 inches thick. Most of the Osages have gone to their lodges. 59 Indian children are in school at this place. Tommy Adams has shown us a five-footed pig. Ferry boats have stopped and teams are driving over ice. Locher Hargro, Governor of the Creek Nation, has been impeached. Sermons by Supt. Nicholson are highly appreciated by Pawhuskans. It is said that 12,000 Sioux Indians will come into the Territory next May. Many houses built by the late Agent Gibson for the Osages have been abandoned. John Robinson's absquatulated giraffe was recaptured in the streets of Catawba, North Carolina, last week.

S. A. GALPIN, of the office of commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C., made Pawhuska his first visit last week.

The Dodge City Times says a hunting party has returned from the Cimarron River where they killed 125 turkeys, 300 quails, 4 deer, and 4 buffalo.

Oliver S. Hiatt, of Fairmount, Kansas, is now Superintendent of the Pawhuska school, and will remain until the return of Supt. Huddleston, from the Kansas Legislature.

Hon. Aaron Huddleston, Superintendent of the Osage School at this place, has gone to Topeka, where he will represent the people of the 16th Representative District in the Kansas Legislature.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 24, 1877.

CHE-TO-PAH, CHIEF COUNSELOR OF THE OSAGE NATION, who gave Agent Beede and Governor Joe a horse each as the last act of his life, is dead.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 31, 1877.

It is well known by those of our readers who are acquainted with Indian history that rank or position in the tribeCof Osages especiallyCis accorded by hereditary right, either with or without qualification; but Che-to-pah was an exception to this rule. Royal blood did not give him position, above others. He was a self-made man among savages, who had forced his way, step by step, from one position to another, and ending his earthly career just one step below that of his highest ambition.

He was a politician among savages, and at an early day he sawCas few of his race didC

that the advancing hordes of civilization were encroaching upon the rights of Indians. At a time when it was unpopular among his people to advocate the cause of civilization, he saw before him two roads: the way of his ancestors with the enchantments of the chase; and the road to civilization and self-support by tilling the soil. In the absence of buffalo and the scarcity of other wild game, he saw necessity for the abandonment of the former and the acceptance of the latter; and though clad in a blanket, he put his children in school and advocated the civilization and education of his people.

Che-to-pah was a Chief CounselCor for the tribe, and the subject upon whom presents and favors were not unfrequently bestowed by the Agent, thus continuing his fidelity and alienating him from a portion of the tribe.

A little more than a year ago, the rupture assumed such formidable proportions that bloodshed among the Osages was loudly threatened, and in evidence of which we here quote from Agent Gibson to Supt. Hoag under date of Oct. 21, 1875.

"Last night I sent a request to the nearest military station (Cheyenne and Arapahoe Agency) for 100 cavalry for the purpose of preserving life and Government property at this Agency." . . .

The cavalry came and the bitterness of feeling that had been fostered in both factions culminated, but was lessened in no degree. The military remained two months and possibly prevented an outbreak and the shedding of blood, but still the party strife, in all the force of savage nature, was yet obvious and continued up to and on the advent of Cyrus Beede, the present U. S. Agent.

Che-to-pah was at the head of one party; and Joe Pah-ne-no-pah-she was at the head of the other. Each desired to be Governor of the tribe. The friends of no two Presidential candidates ever resorted to means more questionable to secure election or installation. Both parties claimed the electoral vote, and in this condition Agent Beede found the Osages less than one year ago. Two days were spent in tumultuous council before an opportunity was given him even to suggest a remedy for the trouble, which they felt their inability to settle in peace.

At the close of the second day's council, when both parties were in despair, they were ready for the advice of their new Agent, which was an acknowledgment of Joe Pah-ne-no-pah-she as Governor, and Che-to-pah as Chief Counselor.

The fact of their being the leaders of contending factions gave them power to harmonize a distracted people, and also to lead them on to a higher and better life. This advice being so unlike that given by their former Agent was a surprise; but at last accepted, and Joe and Che-to-pah were made Governor and Chief Counselor. The heated term now rapidly passed, and at the instance of Agent Beede, the Osages elected a Business Committee which, in conjunction with the Governor and Chief Counselor, transacts the necessary business of the tribe, and of whom mention was made in a former number of this paper.

Che-to-pah and Joe now became warm friends, and in proof of which, with the esteem in which Agent Beede was held by Che-to-pah, even to the last, there is no better evidence needed than which was witnessed in Che-to-pah's camp by Acting Commissioner Galpin, Superintendent Nicholson, and ourself on the 31st day of last month.

Che-to-pah had for some months suffered from disease, and being conscious of his near approach to death, runners were sent to invite Agent Beede, the Business Committee, and the gentleman above named, to his wigwam. After giving general instructions as to the disposition of his affairs, he referred to his life as a public servant and said he had hoped that he might live to do still more for his people; but that now death was near. He had two favorite ponies at the door of his lodge, one of which he requested Agent Beede to accept as a token of his friendship for him, and his confidence in his fidelity to the interests of the Osages; and the remaining one was his last present to Governor Joe, for whom he cherished no feeling of bitterness, but one of friendship.

Under the best treatment and nursing that could be given him in the absence of sufficient medical supplies and proper hospital accommodations, he rallied; and for eight days gave hope of ultimate recovery, but relapsed and died on the 9th inst. Indian Herald.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 7, 1877.

On last Wednesday evening a man rode through this place on his way to Winfield, and gave the startling information that six freighters from this place had been killed by a mourning party of Osages while returning from Fort Sill. But few people gave the matter much thought that night, but the next morning, as the rumor spread and became more widely known, some of our citizens began to think there might be something in it, as it was known that the Chetopa mourning party had left the Agency.

Hank Endicott started for Caldwell in the morning, to learn more about it if possible, but meeting a man from that place who told him they had heard nothing of the rumor there, he returned, satisfied that the whole affair was a canard.

Friday evening A. A. Davis, one of the freighters, came in from the Territory, and relieved everybody by saying that all the boys were together, safe, and sound, and had seen no signs of redskins.

It is now plainly evident that the story was started by someone for a purpose of his own, and it may not be a very difficult matter to guess either the person or the purpose. The time has passed when the people along the border are to be easily frightened by plausible tales of Indian massacres, but the practice of inventing such rumors is one that cannot be too severely condemned. Rest assured the object will never be accomplished in that way.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 7, 1877.

Erysipelas is in school. Chetopah had two wives. Wolves are yet killing hogs. The Pawnees have gone after buffalo. The Little Osages are without a leader. Osages still want to go to Washington. Chetopah's grave is in Pawhuska Cemetery. Chetopah's wives walk the streets and mourn. A cruel Pawhuska lad killed 27 birds at one shot. Osages think assafoetida makes their ponies run fast. A $40 American flag waves over Chetopah's grave. "Oc la no-wa" is a traveler in the Choctaw language. Strong hog meat and no bread is hard living for Osages. At the commencement of the war in the States, the Choctaws owned 3,000 slaves.

Osages don't want Cherokees or Delawares to steal timber from their reservation. Whites do enough of it. Osages are looking for fresh beef. They say the contractor delivered hides and bones some time ago, and the meat will come next. Some of the Kaw Indians say they know of a vegetable, the root of which is 5 or 6 feet long, and a facsimile of a human being. Peter P. Pitchlynn first attended school in Tennessee, 200 miles from his tribe, where he thrashed the bully of the school for poking fun at him.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 14, 1877.

The Superintendent of the school for Indian children at this place reports one hundred and fourteen Osage children now in attendance. Of this number forty are young men and women, aged from thirteen to twenty years. They are pleasant, obedient, and attentive, readily adapting themselves to the customs of, and learning the language of, whites. Most of them read and write while many of them are making fair progress in arithmetic, grammar, geography, and drawing.

They are great lovers of music, and are never so happy as when collected in the school room or chapel, mingling their voices with their teachers when singing the beautiful songs found in the books so kindly furnished. The school is happily supplied with musical talent. The teachers, Gertie Finney, Mamie Beede, Lizzie Hiatt, and Luella Carey, assistant matron, are all fine singers, as well as accomplished perfomers on the organ.

It is believed that much good will be accomplished by the development of this natural talent to the school. These children readily learn the words of a song and their meaning, and while we would not encourage the culture of music to the neglect of any other other branch, we do believe it to be essential to the success of the Indian work, and we unhesitatingly commend the Superintendent for the wisdom he has manifested in his selections of the above named parties as instructors and guardians of the children under his care. The school was never so large, and never in so prosperous a condition as at present. Indian Herald.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 21, 1877.

WM. CONNER, well known in this vicinity, and the Territory, as the most intelligent Osage Indian in the Territory, made us a call last week to renew acquaintances. "Bill" was on his way west, as a guide to the party of Ponca Indians inspecting the country west of the Arkansas. Since leaving this place some years ago, Wm. Conner has donned citizens' clothes and has a farm of 107 acres on the Cana River, with a number of ponies and hogs.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 27, 1877.

Watsa-shin-kah and Wah-kon-tike, members of the Ta wan-ge-he's band of Big Hill Osages, were in town on Monday with their families, doing considerable trading with our merchants. Peru Journal.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 11, 1877.

[Written for the Indian Herald.]

In the chart prepared by Lieut. Montgomery Pike, U. S. A., who explored the Arkansas to the Great Rocky Mountains, and thence across to the Rio Grande, after whom Pike's Peak is named, we find the following locations of Indians of 1806.

Main village in fork of Kansas and Blue Earth rivers, numbering 1,565. Old villages were above the mouth of the Platte on the Missouri.

This tribe was located on White River, Arkansas, near where Forsythe now stands.

Grand Osage village on Sac River, at the head of Osage River, in Missouri, in Big Bend, on east side, numbering 1,695; Principal Chief, Cahagatonga, White Hair; Second Chief, Wat-cha-wa-ka.

Shen-ga-Was-saCBeautiful Bird, became most known from being a great deal with Pike.

This tribe was situated lower down on the west side of the Sac River, numbering 824; Principal Chief, Sut ta-sug-gyCThe Wind; Second Chief, Watch-kes-ingarCSoldier Dog. Arkansas Osage village in forks of Vermillion (Verdigris) numbering 1,500.

Republican village on Republican Fork of Kansas, had 1,618. Chiefs Char-ac-ter-ishC

White Wolf, and Is-ta kap beCRich Man. Grand village on south side of Platte, near where Benton, Nebraska, now is, numbering 3,120. Pawnee Loups on Loup Fork of Platte, above the forks in Nebraska, numbering 1,485.

Or Tetans, as the French called them, numbering 8,200. The names of the other Osage Chiefs are given as:

Ta-wan-ga-ha, he who drives villages.

Ic-he so hun-gar, wise family, (Son of White Hair).

Hapense Pointed Horn (first soldier).

Ona-po-ran-ga Go-ha-gat che, the Chief himself.

Wa-sa ba-gun ga, without nerve.

O-ga hawass, the Son-in-law.

Tonemancara, the heart of the town, Great Osages.

Nezuma, the rain that walks.

Tetobasi, without ear rings.

Taichem, the yellow skin deer.

Mandgraide, the big rogue, Little Osages.

The Osages warred with Pottawattomies, Arkansas, Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws, Creeks, Comanches, Caddoes, etc.

The Canadian River was called on Pike's chart Nesonchebrara.

The Poteau River is called Otter River.

South Fork of Canadian is called Nesconregasca.

The Cimarron is called Nesewketonga.

The Salt Fork of the Arkansas is called Negracka River.

At the mouth of the latter it is marked "crossing place of the Osage."

A little Osage camp is also marked on the Missouri, about where Lexington now stands, and "Satasuggy camps," near the mouth of a stream (apparently Buck Creek), running into the Arkansas, in the Indian Territory.

There was a camp of Missouris near the mouth of Grand River, Missouri, and remains of Oto and Missouri villages; in one, two hundred men, nearly opposite Shell River south side of Platte, now in Nebraska.

It is said that a party of Osages were at Braddock's defeat in 1755, and had to eat their horses on their return home. In their narrations of the circumstance, given early in this cen-tury, they said the party rendezvoused at a great waterfall. It might have been the Niagara.

I forgot to state that on Pike's chart, a Choctaw village is located opposite Arkansas Post, a Quapaw village on the Arkansas River, a short distance above; a Conshalta village on the Red River near Conshalta Shute, and old Caddo villages near where Fulton, Arkansas, Jefferson, Texas, and Shreveport, Louisiana, now stand.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 18, 1877.

[From Indian Herald.]

The old feud that has existed between the Pawnees and Osages for so many years came near culminating last week. The territory occupied by the Pawnees has long been used by the Osages as a pasture ground for their ponies, and, ever since it has been owned by the Pawnees, the Osages have herded their ponies on it.

The Pawnees recently requested the Osages to keep their ponies on their own side of the Arkansas, and stated that if they were driven into their reservation another time, they would take care of them, but the Osages were unwilling to yield to a set of men whom they compare to women, and drove their ponies over again.

The Pawnees, though small in stature, have long been used to fighting the Sioux, and not being much afraid of the Osages, made their word good.

This, of course, raised a rumpus with the Osages. The Osages then sent runners all over their reservation, calling for volunteers to attack the Pawnees, and before the ponies could be returned to the Osages, they had mustered a force sufficient to whip the world (in their estimation). It, however, terminated ty timely interference, without the loss of blood.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 18, 1877.

Osages have quit eating dogs. Osages found buffalo near Salt Plains. Osages paint in black and play "shinny." Osages think wheat straw poisons their hogs. Osage hunters are at home feasting on fat buffalo. Osages need fresh buffalo skins to make lodges. The Big Hill Band of Osages is the wealthiest of the tribe. Half breeds danced in Big Chief's hall on the evening of the Fourth. Osages report white hunters scarce on the plains of the Territory. Nearly 800 Indians with 2,000 ponies were at the wedding last week. Osages have nothing to keep them at home, and need fresh meat. The old time Osages killed panthers and bears with bows and arrows. Osages say their horses were overjoyed at the sight of the buffalo ground. Osages found a herd of wild horses west of Salt Plains, and captured two of them. They are fine ponies. The Big Hills are anxious to return to the buffalo pasture, near Salt Plains. Osages don't like to tell bear stories in summer time. They are afraid of snakes. The Osage brave smokes under a coffee bean, while his squaw mauls a pecan into rails. Osages don't like to kill snakes, and when they find a rattlesnake in camp, they let it go. Dog Stealer's son married Mo-show-ka-she's daughter last week. He gave ten ponies for his bride.

Tah-wah ga-reh, Queen, is a name eagerly sought by belles of royal families, and is both bought and sold. Wah-co Cab he-cak, Chief Woman, is an honored name among Osages, and it takes ten of the fleetest ponies to obtain it. How-kah, is the name of an old Osage ceremony. It was abandoned for 20 years, but is now being revived by western Osages. Osage women do most of the outdoor labor, and Sam Bevenue wants them allowed to vote and hold office instead of painted dandies. Dr. Frank Trumbley, the only professional Osage, has fifty acres of corn, from which he expects a yield of more than fifty bushels to the acre.

The bear, panther, and beaver skins are used by the Osages in their "medicine works," but the skin of the wild cat is prized higher than all others.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 1, 1877.

An Osage mourning party met some plum-hunters in the Territory last week, and captured one man, living near Elgin. They took him to camp and informed him that one of their friends had died, and according to an ancient form and custom existing among all Osages, it would be necessary for him to leave with them a lock of his hair; not for its intrinsic value, but as a memento that they had performed their duty toward the dead. In former ages (when Gibson was agent) it was their custom to first kill and then scalp the victim, but under the existing circumstances over which they have no control, they concluded not to kill, but merely clip a lock of hair, which they did. The frightened man was then turned loose and he was not long in reaching the Kaw Agency, where he related his perilous adventure. When he left Kaw Agency, he declared his intentions to go to the State, raise a company of whites, and whip out the whole Osage tribe. If that man ever goes into the Territory again, it will be a wonder.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 15, 1877.

The Vinita Herald, formerly Indian Herald, published at Osage Agency, says: Mrs. J. N. Florer, Mrs. J. L. Stubbs, Mrs. J. E. Finney, and others were thrown from a carriage last week.

GEORGE BEAVER, an Osage chief, sold a pony in Kansas the other day for $40 (and took part of his pay in whiskey). For the same pony he refused $60 in this place but a few days before.

Two half breeds of Osage Agency by the names of Kennedy and Shote, got into a quarrel about the delivery of 150 bushels of wheat, and resulted in Kennedy shooting and wounding Shote. Kennedy has been ordered to leave the Nation.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 22, 1877. Front Page.

PAWNEE AGENCY, INDIAN TERRITORY, July 20th, 1877.

I found so much work awaiting me here, that it has been impossible to fulfill my promise sooner. However, the facts connected with the meeting of Alexander, Broome, and Walton, with a party of Osages, on Gray Horse Creek, June 19th, are as follows.

Upon approaching the creek, they were startled by yells and running horses from the rear, and were at once surrounded by a dozen Indians, who were mounted, armed, and painted.

They produced a trade dollar of Dunlap & Florer's, and from signs made the whites understand that they wanted to trade it for hair. It was thought best to comply, under the circumstances, and Harry Broome, for and in consideration of the dollar check, allowed them to cut from his head a lock of hair.

The Indians were now satisfied and left while the whites crossed the creek and stopped for dinner. While in camp they discovered an Indian on a bluff in the distance, who seemed to be signalling someone on the opposite side of the stream, and as they were about resuming their journey, they were again approached by Indians; this time three in number. This party was unarmed, and one of the number spoke tolerable good English. They were talkative and said a large party of Osages were mourning the death of a chief. They also stated that they were poor and had no money, but that they, too, wanted some hair, so that they could have a dance that evening. Broome was asked to furnish the article.

They objected to Alexander's hair upon the ground that it bore too close a resemblance to the hair of the horse and Walton was in no trouble as his hair was too short to admit of a close cut. I have written a faithful account of the affair as detailed to me by one of the party, in whose word I place implicit confidence. Very cordially, S. MATLACK.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 22, 1877.

Indians have sins enough of their own to answer for without being with those committed by the whites. The border white man, or plainsman, knows better than to receive money from Indians as an excuse for supplying them with hair and getting an opportunity to make impressions that are both false and damaging.

On his return to Pawnee, Harry Broome stated that he had been scalped by a mourning party of Osages, and then to put it beyond question, he exhibited the localities which had been shorn in accordaince with his own will, at his own instance, for pay, and also for the vile purpose of setting a mark of disgrace upon the very people whose friendship he covets.

Old Mrs. Gossip was among the first to see how the young man's head had been skinned, and heard him say (as she went off into an hysterical tantrum) that it was done by a murderous band of mourning Osages, and the world was then on wheels. Broome went to Canaville, Kansas, and made a similar statement of his hairbreadth escape from death at the hands of Indians on the war path. Old men who had been neighbors with Indians for half a century, and must soon go to their graves, leaving behind them no prospect of sensational inscriptions for their funeral monuments, felt aggrieved to think that the obscurity of their lives had been the decree of fate; yet, everybody pittied poor Broome, and were full of doubt and curiosity as to how he felt as he set under the scalping knife of a wild Osage.

And as we have seen him passing each week, carrying the U. S. mail over the same route, nobody knows how we have wished we could have been brave and distinguished like him. We have admired the manner in which people approach and address him; we have courted and even stared at him until now, Stacy Matlack, the Pawnee (Indian) trader, says that Broome sold his hair to the Indians, and we learn that he was never scalped at all!

Two or three times a year we read of brutal murders and robberies of white settlers on the frontier by the Indians. And until the present Indian policy is perfected (instead of being abolished) and a provision is made for the care of the reckless whites, will the loss of life and the destruction of property in the future as in the past occasionally be cut. In nature prone to evil the hot blood of overbearing whites will continue to boil over in the way long familiar to the Indians.

Whites have taken but little pains to instill into the hearts of the Indians a feeling of confidence, but on the contrary, they have always tried to perpetuate the feeling of bitterness and distrust that exists between the two races.

There are now about two hundred and fifty thousand Indians in the territory of the United States, and they know and keenly feel their inability to cope with a nation numbering more than forty millions in the struggle for existence.

This emboldens bad white men to the commission of murder, treachery, and theft upon the persons and property of Indians. How then can it be wondered at that they do sometimes retaliate? They are not, today, accountable for the many blood conflicts that grew out of encroachment upon the rights of their ancestors by whites in years long gone by; nor are they answerable for the insatiable desire of the whites to pervert their innocent, devote, and ancient ceremonies into acts of bloodshed and rapine.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 31, 1877.

An alligator or some other monster is causing great uneasiness among the Osages, on the Arkansas. They keep fires blazing all night and refuse to sleep near the water.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 19, 1877.

Almost all of the border settlers have heard the oft repeated song of the young Osages.

Hor-e du-wa-ah,

Lue-bin-de-sha.

Hoop-an-up ana ood-e-quah.

Very few knew the interpretation, although they have heard it hundreds of times. The translation, as we received it from one of the tribe is:

1st line: My darling,

2nd line: Will you marry me?

3rd line: Sit on my knee and I'll kiss you.

And the "darlings" generally do as requested.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 20, 1878.

The Osages were paid $31,491.25 a few weeks ago, averaging $13.75 per head. They have nothing to sell now, and you can't buy a pony of them for double its value. The Pawnees, however, are fearful poor, and almost in a starving condition. They are returning from their buffalo hunt without meat, and some white men stampeded and drove off a number of their ponies. They had a squad of eight soldiers with them, but the Indians were only armed with bows and arrows, and the thieves were well armed. There were not enough soldiers to take them, and they could not overtake them.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 20, 1878.

We were favored last week with visits from several distinguished gentlemen from the Territory in the persons of Agent A. C. Williams of the Wichita Agency, Agent Searing of the Pawnee Agency, and Mr. Hopkins and Tom Finney of Osage Agency.

Agent Williams came up on business connected with his department, and to see his new sons-in-law and daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Schiffbauer and J. A. Stafford and wife. Mrs. Williams accompanied him. We believe this is the first leave of absence Mr. Williams has accepted since he took charge of the Wichitas. He meets many old friends at this place.

Agent Searing was compelled to make a trip on official business, which he transacted in a short time and returned. Mr. McFarland accompanied him. The entire community, and especially those at the Pawnee Agency, regret that Mr. Searing is not to be retained in the Indian service, as he is a thorough business gentleman.

Mr. Hopkins and Tom Finney seemed perfectly at home, and made it pleasant for all to meet them again. From them we learned that Agent Beede intended coming up with them, but was delayed.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 17, 1878.

AN ATTEMPT IS NOW BEING MADE TO DISPLACE AGENT BEEDE, of Osage Agency. Whether it will be successful or not, we cannot say, but we know that no agent in the Territory enjoys the confidence and friendship of the border people to so great an extent as does Cyrus Beede. The fight is instigated on purely personal grounds, as was the affair against Agent Williams, who is above reproach, and proved himself one too many for the gentleman. We are confident that no spot can be found on the official character of Mr. Beede, though affairs have come to such a pass that the breath of suspicion, by whoever blown, almost carries conviction with it, and a man is unceremoniously bouncedCeverything urged against through personal spite being taken for granted. We hope Mr. Beede will be retained.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 14, 1878.

The removal of Cyrus Beede, Agent for the Osage Indians, does not meet with satisfaction among the people of the border. Mr. Beede enjoys the friendship and confidence of the Western people probably to a greater extent than any other agent in the Territory, and as there are no specific charges against him, his friends naturally regard the change as unjust.

Under the present system of appointment, however, when personal spite rather than inefficiency causes a man to be suspended from office, little can be hoped for in the matter of regarding the wishes of the people.

The new agent is Mr. Laban J. Miles, and he will have better luck than the majority of men if he succeeds in holding the position any length of time.

Winfield Courier, February 6, 1879.

EDITOR COURIER:CEverything is quiet. Wheat looks well now that the snow is gone, and the sages are prophesying a big crop and the croakers say it won't be worth anything; however, there is very little sown in Cedar.

About one-half of our populationCthanks to Granny HughesChave their names enrolled as trespassers on Indian timber. Last Friday they were in the Nation getting wood when along came the Osage agent, accompanied by a half wolf, half nigger, half "injun" lying, thieving cutthroat, and the citizens of this poor, puny, Indian-deviled Kansas had their names enrolled with the information that they would be called on to go to Fort Smith. Now there is not one of us who believe we will be taken to Fort Smith for what we have done, but it makes us mad all the same.

Horse owners are having a bad time down here. There is some kind of a disease going around that is almost certain death to the horse. Within a short period there have died or become almost wholly worthless a great number of horses. Mrs. Wells lost two valuable mares, M. T. Wells one, James Baker three, J. P. Gregg two, D. W. Wiley one, W. A. Metcalf one, Dr. Phillips one, and others too numerous to mention.

Yours truly, JOHN LONDON.

Winfield Courier, June 5, 1879.

EDITOR COURIER:CI haven't much to say this time, as I made but a short, quick trip. Leaving Arkansas City on the 20th and returning on the 26th, going to Ponca, Pawnee, and Kaw agencies, taking in Governor Joe's camp on Salt Creek as I came by, cutting across the country from Pawnee to Kaw agency.

I like the Pawnees. They are men all over. When they go on the plains, no Indian can cope with them, and when they talk, they are listened to. It is not so with the Osages. With them it is "how" to your face and an arrow to your back. Of course, there are exceptions. My friend Ah-hun-ke-mi, is one. (I put this in for fear "Bill Conner" will see it, and "Bill," or Ah-hun-ke-mi, is a special friend of mine.)

Arkansas City Traveler, July 24, 1879.

J. L. Horning returned Monday from an extended tour in the Territory, in the interest of the Tunnel Mills. He visited the Kaw, Ponca, and Osage Agencies, and relates some interesting stories about the home life of the reds. The Tunnel Mills furnishes the first of August two hundred barrels of flour toward keeping the poor savage in food and idleness.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 9, 1879. Dr. Dougan, well known by our citizens as the former physician for the Osages and later for the Pawnees, furnished the Semi-Weekly of last Wednesday with an account of the capture and escape of Mrs. Fanny Kelly, who was held in captivity by the Sioux for several years. He is a pleasing writer, but from the wind-up of the article, we fear that "handsome face, graceful figure, cheeks bedecked with dimples, and the blush of the rose," were a little too much for him.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 20, 1879.

We had a pleasant call this morning from Dr. W. McKay Dougan. For eight years he has had charge of the medical department at Osage and Pawnee Indian Agencies, Indian Territory, during which time he founded the Indian Herald. This was the first newspaper ever published among the Osages, and the largest paper ever published in the Indian Territory. He now visits Salt Lake as a correspondent for the Kansas City, Mo., Times, and was yesterday shown through the Temple Block by Bishop Kesler and others, and we hope to see in the Times what we expect of few Gentile papersCthe truth about "Mormonism."

The above is clipped from the Deseret News, the Mormon church organ at Salt Lake. A letter from Dr. Dougan will be found in the Times this morning. We have no doubt of his truthfulness in writing about Mormonism, while associating with the saints in Zion, and we also think he will quit the New Jerusalem without tasting the sweets of polygamy. The whole heart of one true woman is enough for Dr. Dougan. K. C. Times.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 29, 1879. We notice from our exchanges that the courts are overthrowing the titles to the school sections on the Osage Indian lands. The treaty with the Osages made no provision for any of these lands to be appropriated for a school fund, but are in trust for the exclusive benefit of that tribe of Indians.

Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, December 10, 1879.

The Osages derive a large revenue from the sale of ponies, and they have thousands of them. They receive five percent per annum interest on $69,120 for educational purposes, and five 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, bearing five percent, besides $7,000 of Missouri State bonds drawing six percent, the interest of which Missouri has failed to pay since 1861 to the present time.

The Osages cultivated 44,112 acres of land, and raised 4,000 bushels of wheat, 75,000 bushels of corn, 500 bushels of barley; put up 500 tons of hay, and cut 100 cords of wood. They have 3,177 ponies, 29 mules, 2,030 head of cattle, and 5,227 hogs.

Most of the Osages that make any pretense of religion are Catholics.

(Signed) C. M. SCOTT.

Winfield Courier, June 10, 1880.

Mr. Drury Warren, who lives in Silverdale Township near the mouth of the Grouse, called on us Monday. He has about 300 cattle grazing on the Kaw reservation near his home. About two weeks ago a party of Big Hill Joe's tribe of Osages seized and slaughtered thirty-seven of Mr. Warren's cattle without cause or provocation except mere cussedness. The agent has promised to get pay for the cattle if possible.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 16, 1880.

Some of the Osages have been on a cattle raid lately, and intelligence is brought that the herd of Drury Warren was attacked and quite a number of fine stock were driven off and killed. A search was at once instituted throughout the Osage settlement, and resulted in the finding of the heads and hides of thirty-seven cattle stowed away in the different huts. A friendly Indian assisted Mr. Warren in his search, and mainly contributed in discovering traces of the stolen property. It is needless to say that the thieving Indians did not appreciate the labors of their red brother, but unhesitatingly denounced him as "bad Indian," to bring white man to hunt cattle. Mr. Warren laid the case before the Agent of the Osages, and is promised pay for the damage done him.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 23, 1880.

A notice has been issued by Agent Miles, of Osage Agency, in which all cattlemen are warned against driving cattle over Osage or Kaw lands, and the Indian police have orders to arrest all trespassers. The cause of this order is the loss claimed to have been sustained last year by the spreading of Texas fever among the Indian cattle. Cattlemen will do well to pay heed to this notice, thereby saving themselves considerable trouble.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 30, 1880.

To whom this may concern: Complaint having been made by the Osage and Kaw Indians in reference to the driving of cattle across their reservations, it is hereby ordered that no cattle be allowed to pass over these reservations, and the U. S. Police are instructed to prevent any cattle from entering the reservation, and to arrest all parties found on the reservation moving cattle unless they have a sufficient pass, which must have been issued by the Hon. Secretary of War, according to law. L. J. MILES, U. S. Ind. Agent.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 12, 1881. The Government has asked the Osages for ten children, to be sent to Carlisle to be educated.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 31, 1881. Quite an excitement prevails among our people by the shooting of Little Buck, an Osage Indian, by U. S. Deputy Marshal L. W. Marks. The facts are as follows: Marks came upon Little Buck, who is wanted at Fort Smith on a charge of horse stealing near Barnettsville, Cherokee Nation, and ordered him to surrender, whereupon Little Buck drew a butcher-knife and started toward Marks, saying at the same time that he would die before he would surrender. Marks drew his pistol and fired. Little Buck is a noted thief and has been on the scout for some time. He has also said that he wanted to kill one marshal, then he would be willing to die. Indian Journal.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 14, 1881.

The Geuda mineral springs, which are just coming into prominent notoriety, are situated in the southwestern part of Cowley County, near Salt City. They were known by the Osage and other Indians, and used by them as a medicine before any white people had settled there, and their traditions are that big medicines, or in common parlance, their pow-wows, were held there every third moon far back in the dim past. They take their name from the Indian word Ge-u-da, which means healing. There are seven of the springs, all very near together, and each of them appear to have a different taste.

They were not known by white people as mineral springs until about 1870, when by accident, they were tried by Robert Mills, who was cured of scrofula and rheumatism. There being but few settlers in that section at the time, no particular attention was called to it for some time afterward.

The water being very bright and sparkling, however, and a road passing close by, many persons, of course, took a drink of them, and pronounced them almost invariably, unfit to drink, as the taste was not agreeable, and they had the effect of a cathartic.

Hackney and McDonald, of our town, purchased the land in 1878. The springs were soon afterward tried by many persons for skin diseases, and we believe invariably with success. They were soon after purchased by Newman & Mitchell, of Arkansas City, Kansas, who paid $4,000 for them, and in the spring of 1881 built a large bath house, and they have since been tried for all the diseases imaginable, almost, and prove to have remarkable effects in most uterine troubles, liver, kidney, and skin diseases as well as rheumatism. Up to the present time only a qualitative analysis of the waters has been made.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 14, 1881.

The leading men of the above tribe in years past are rapidly passing away as will be seen by the following items, but we trust that their places will be filled by men who are better calculated to lead them in the paths of civilization, which it is imperative upon them to follow if they desire to still live in the annals of American history.

Big Chief, for fifteen years the head chief of the Osages, under Governor Joe, took his departure for the Happy hunting grounds on Dec. 1st, 1881. He was in every sense of the term a good Indian and his influence upon the members of his tribe had been most salutary for many years past. No stronger proof of his having overcome the superstitions of his race is needed than when visited on his deathbed by his Indian friends he particularly requested that no scalp be taken for him and not even a mourning party be sent out, thus verifying in a singlar manner the appropriateness of his Indian name, "Che-sho-hun-kah" or the "Peace clan." He will long be missed in the councils of his tribe.

Wah-cun-tah-o-ke-ah, in English, "Talk to God," for many years Great Medicine Man of the Big Hill band of Osages, has shaken off the mortal coil and we presume is now talking face to face with the Great Father in the Happy Hunting Grounds that constitute the heaven of the primitive Red Man.

Old Beauregard, being known as an habitue of the Agency where he was a general favorite, has recently been gathered to his fathers.

Strike Axe, the head chief of the Little Osages, is reported being at the point of death.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 14, 1881.

We received a pleasant call last week, from L. W. Marks, the Deputy U. S. Marshal, at Osage Agency, last week, and gained from him some valuable information among which was a late notice from the Department of Indian affairs at Washington in reference to trading with Indians, etc., which concerns the larger number of our citizens. The notice in full should be read, as trouble thereby may be avoided.

The following is a verbatim copy of a circular sent out by the Indian Department last month, with instructions to the officials to enforce the regulations therein contained, to the very letter. It will explain itself.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, OFFICE INDIAN AFFAIRS,

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 1881.

Special attention is called to the fact:

That it is illegal for any person to buy, trade for, or have in his possession any annuity or other goods of any description that has been purchased for or furnished by the department for the use or welfare of the Indians; and also

That it is a crime, punishable by fine or imprisonment, to dispose of by sale, gift, on or off an Indian reservation, anything that will intoxicate, no matter by what name it may be called, and in all cases the extreme penalty of the law will be enforced against any offender. H. PRICE, Commissioner.

Winfield Courant, June 29, 1882.

Doctor Mendenhall now has a fine ranche on Beaver Creek, near the state line. He has a herd of cattle embracing upwards of three hundred head, and all in fine condition. He, in company with Mr. Conklin, returned on Thursday from a four day's trip to the Osage Agency, where the Doctor was obliged to go to renew his permit. The council commenced on Tuesday and there were about two thousand Indians present.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 10, 1886.

The people of Kansas living on the border, so closely connected both in business interests and location with the Indian Territory and its dusky inhabitants, probably entertain as vague ideas of the red men, and are as ignorant of their many superstitions, manner of government, and living, etc., as people living in the eastern states so far removed from this much talked of people. Thinking that a few lines from this part of the country would be interesting to your many readers, I will give you a few peculiarities characteristic of these people.

I have been a resident among the Osages for a number of years, and it is of this tribe I desire to speak. They are noted for their aptness in naming people, towns, locations, etc., and the names they give, beside being picturesque, are applicable as describing some prominent characteristic. A great many of the older towns in Kansas have Osage names, but the name is hardly recognizable to the Indian, as spoken by the white man.

Neodesha is an Osage word, but should be spelled Neo-tah-shin-kah, meaning Little Islands.

Arkansas City has the very pretty name of Ne-scah-scah-towah, meaning rippling water. It very likely gets this from the Walnut, as from its mouth up the stream some distance there is very little current and the action of the wind makes almost constantly a ripple on the water.

A little town on the Arkansas above Arkansas City is called by them Ne-Ne-skah, meaning white springs.

The name of Winfield is a very peculiar one, and they tell a strange story about the naming of the place. The legend as told me is as follows: Long before the white men came to the country, the Indians traveled to and from their reservation to the buffalo country west, and one of their trails led across the present town site of Winfield. Near the ford on the Walnut was a great camping ground of the tribe. A large hole filled with water near the ford supplied drink for their ponies, and they were in the habit of driving the animals into water; and for a swim. They say on one occasion, while quite a number of ponies were in swimming water, a large animal came to the surface and took one of them down under the surface, and they never saw it again. They were ever after afraid to water there. Thus the name of the town, Wah-grooskah-ope-sha, wild animal ford.

Independence bears the name of Pa-she-chi-towah, hay house town, as the first settlers there built their houses of hay.

Che-to-pah means four lodges. And so I might enumerate.

This same peculiarity is also noticeable in their own names. They are under the same tribal organization that held them together fifty or one hundred years ago.

The clans consist of Eagle, Elk, Deer, Buffalo, Peace, War, etc., and the individual names of the members are identified with the clan to which they belong, unless the person named has some striking peculiarity, and then they often make mistakes. As for instance, an Indian of my acquaintance is named ANot Stingy,@ when it is a noted fact he is the most miserly Indian on the reservation.

They carry no family names as we do, but as above stated, are given a name belonging to the clan.

They keep no record of time, and have very vague ideas about their ages. If you ask them how old they are, a man of 40 is likely to tell you he is one hundred and ten or twenty. Some will tell you they were large enough to use the bow and arrow when the stars fell, or he was so large when there was an earthquake.

They have names for all the months or moons in the year, most of which are named after some peculiarities of animals:

November, Tah-heh-pah-he, the deer loses his horns.

December, Wah-sappy-va-tila, the black bear has its young.

And so on through the year. . . . TAHO.

Osage Agency, February 4th, 1886.

Arkansas City Republican, July 10, 1886.

Recently I received a call to visit a couple of patients at the Osage reservation. The cases not being urgent, I concluded to combine a little pleasure and recreation with business, take my family with me, and see some Indians.

In company with the messenger, Mr. McKaig, we left Arkansas City Tuesday, June 22, at 7 a.m. We arrived at Kaw Agency about 1:30 p.m., and were soon under the hospitable care of our genial friend, Dr. Isom.

Kaw Agency is about 30 miles southeast from here, and beautifully located at the mouth of Beaver Creek, just before it empties into the Arkansas River. The entire agency is built in an oak grove and is said to be the most pleasantly located of all the agencies. The reservation is entirely surrounded by a wire fence and contains 100,000 acres, most of which is fine land and well cultivated for agriculture or grazing purposes, or both. After a little rest and refreshments, in company with Mrs. Dr. Isom, we visited the Mission School and surroundings.

The Mission is under the supervision of Mr. Keenan, with his wife as matron. Mrs. Kennan took pleasure in showing us around and imparting all information asked for. The Mission building proper is a fine building of stone, three stories high, with a basement and cellar. The sleeping rooms are large and well ventilated. On one side of the hall are the rooms for the boys; on the opposite, for the girls. Then there is a sewing room, a dining hall, a wash and bath room for the girls and one for the boys, a large ware room and, in fact, every convenience to insure comfort. The grounds about the building are very fine indeed, just as nature made it with its stately oaks and shady ground. In the same enclosure is the stone schoolhouse, with two departments built in modern style, with the improved patent seats.

A short distance to the rear of these buildings, and also in the woods, is the Mission barn, an elegant stone structure, and conveniently arranged. Not far from the Mission building and in the same enclosure, is the Commissary Department building and superintendent=s office. Dr. Isom lives at home in quite a nice place, and his duty is to look after the physical disabilities of the Apoor Indian.@

Joseph Pusket is an old resident of the place and is, perhaps, one of the most useful men at the Mission. He is detailed or appointed as blacksmith; but being one of those good fellows, acts in the capacity of blacksmith, wagon maker, shoemaker, cabinet maker, clock tinker, etc. So you see Joseph is a useful man.

The Industrial Department for the boys is under the tutorship of I. T. Sands, whose duty it is to see that the boys don=t get lazy, and that the corn gets the start of the weeds. When any of his charge is in need of medicine, he furnishes it and sees that it is taken. Last but not least is our friend, Mr. Brenner, of Mississippi, who is the present trader, and whose duty it is to look well to the finances of the tribe. Mr. Brenner is very much of a gentleman.

There are now at school 59 pupils under the charge of Miss Lizzie Johnson. There are forty-two boys and seventeen girls; twenty-four of them are full-blooded Kaws, and the remainder are half-breeds. The school is well organized and conducted like our town schools in the states.

In fact, everything in the agency appears to be in a prosperous condition. I am of the opinion that the vigilance of Dr. Isom has much to do with the present healthy condition of the tribe. There are 220 of the tribe yet alive, counting full and half breeds jointly.

The Kaws are rather a fine looking set of Indians. The full bloods wear their blankets and scalp lock, and do much painting. They wear huge bunches of rings in their ears and pride themselves in gaudy feathers, while the squaws like bright colors. They are called dog-eaters by the Osages, just because they have an appetite for dog meat, either rare or well done. Once

a year the Kaws draw a small annuity and receive a small amount of lease money. They have a rich reservation, but not much money.

Wednesday at 9 o=clock a.m., we started for Osage, a distance of about 40 miles. Five miles out of Kaw we passed through the reservation line. We forded Salt Creek on the way; also, Half-way Creek. When between the last named place and a place called Timber Hill, we had our curiosity aroused by seeing a large wolf. He rested near the trail until we got close by and then trotted off toward the timber. When on top of Timber Hill and six miles away from the reservation, we got a glimpse of the dome of the water works.

When within about one mile of the agency, we came upon quite a camp of Indians, called the Big Hill band, which consists of about 300 all told. They informed us that the whole tribe was in camp nearby, and that they had come in to get their annuity money. They looked tired. It would not sound well to call them lazy.

Crossing Bird Creek brought us directly into the agency, and though 70 miles from home, we were soon made to feel that we were among friends and would be cared for, as we were during our short stay at Osage.

Osage Mission is 35 or 40 miles from Kaw and is situated in a valley with considerable timber and broken country about it. This is quite a little village and has some good buildings. The Mission has about 150 pupils and its building is a fine structure with a hospital nearby. They also have a good mill. About 250 persons reside at the agency. This population is made up of the traders and their families, the agent with his assistants, doctor, minister, and blacksmith. Then comes some five or six employees at the school. There are five or six stores with stock to the amount of $12,000 to $15,000 each; two hotels, and as many livery and feed stables. The balance of the population is composed of half breeds, who have selected locations here and built them residences.

This reservation consists of 1,500,000 acres of fine land and but little of it is under cultivation or leased. It is just a large meadow with here and there a corn patch.

As I said before, the tribe was all assembled in camp around the Mission. They had come in to draw a portion of the yearly interest due them from Uncle Sam. This debt is immense. It was contracted years ago in some treaty with this tribe relative to lands purchased from them in the state of Kansas. The interest on this debt amounts to $500,000 per year, and they get it in four quarterly payments of $125,000 at a time. We can see at once that these poor fellows are rich. There are yet sixteen different bands of them. Each band has its chief and over these bands is a governor, who, with the lieutenant governor, is elected by ballot and so is the council of the administration. The salary of each of these officers is paid from the lease money, and ranges thus: governor, $500; lieutenant governor, $400; council of administration, $300 each. Each Indian gets about $175 annuity money cash a year, no matter how young or how old. Thus some families receive $1,200 or $1,500 per year, and all this outside of their leases.

Black Dog, the present governor, is a fine specimen of his race, and in their language, a fine orator. He is well liked by his people and is considered an upright man by the whites. The Osages are called the most powerful Indians, physically and financially, of all the tribes in the Territory.

The full bloods dress, eat, sleep, and retain the same habits as they did fifty years ago. The young warriors, or braves, wear blankets, moccasins, and feather their limbs, paint their face hideous, wear the scalp lock, immense ear bells, just as they have for the last half century. The papooses are still tied to the board, while on their heads swing little bells and trinkets which jingle and keep time with the war songs of the Indian mother.

To read of the old time Indian dog is exciting, but here you come in direct contact with them; and too direct, if you are not careful. They are a vicious looking lot of canine specie. I think the tribe owns about 600. We visited their camps, while they were cooking and drying their meat. Perhaps while a squaw was working at one end of a piece of meat, two or three dogs would be carrying their dinner from the other end. AThe brave, Osage warriors, no work.@ Their squaws are haggard and look old and beat from hard work. The braves, although lazy, are huge looking fellows.

While among the Big Caney fellows, I saw a bright little blue eyed, flaxen curled girl, and on inquiry received the following history from the dusky faced mother.

About three years ago while the band was in camp, on Big Caney, a pale face came to camp, with a little babe. In a few days she departed with some renegade, leaving the child with the old squaw. She is now four years old, but cannot speak a word of English, but talks Osage just as well as her little red skin playmates. Not being an Indian either by birth or adoption, she cannot enter the school nor get her annuity. She is a bright child and deserves a better home.

On the night of the 23rd we learned that the Big Hill band was going to have a dance. We rode over to their camp and there sure enough was a dance. In front of a large wigwam was a spot of ground made smooth and to the limbs of the trees were torches. All around this circle were seated the braves, who were to be the dancers. They were dressed in gaudy costumes, bells were fastened to their clothing, and they were painted in all colors, with an immense head dress, and a painted feather of wonderful length fastened on top of their head dress. Just off to one side of the circle was the orchestra and choir. The orchestra consisted of an Indian drum and four old warriors sitting on the ground around it. Each had a long drum stick with which he hit the old drum. The choir consisted of these drummers and several more old warriors, and about a dozen squaws and as many pappooses.

Shortly the drum began to beat just a little, then some old brave gave a whoop, then hit the drum, then another whoop, and then the old drum had to take it. Then the choir would go after a lingo as AHi-ko, hi-ko.@ The noise began to stir up the dogs and all the dogs in the band were brought in to bark for the dance. Up would jump some young brave and hop to the center, stoop over them backwards, then he would give one of those terrible whoops and say Ahi-ko@ and then the whole gang would begin to come in, and then such motions and whoops until about 30 braves were dancing and not less than 150 dogs barking. On went the drum, on sang that choir, on went the dance, and on went the whoop, and on barked the dogs, and away out over the prairie went the echo. I thought now of olden times when to make this more hideous, a white captive tied to a tree, looked on with a hopeless heart to his coming death.

Well, when they got tired, they quit for a short time and sat down and talked Osage. Then the same tune and the same dance would be repeated. No squaws are allowed to dance with their braves, but they have their own dances. There are no changes in dancers; the same braves that commence the dance will close it; they may dance all night and they may not.

June 24 we took in all the camps and took a good look at their ponies; they have fine ponies. These are to them what money is to us. They will not sell them unless at an enormous price. Their ponies are in excellent condition.

ABig Nose@ is the name given to one of the tribe, on account of such a wonderful nose and yet the nose is in perfect health. He is a fine formed fellow outside of his nose, and like Rip Van Winkle, you will exclaim: AOh, what noses.@

The oldest Indian is Gray Horse. He is 90 years old, very deaf, but full of fun. Both ears are slit to the point from wearing heavy ear bells; they are slit so that there dangle two pieces and he cannot wear any more bells.

Ex Governor Jo=s son is a fine fellow and well educated in our language, but has gone back to the blanket.

At night we all took in the Winnebago dance. The Osages just recently bought it of the Winnebago=s; they gave them nine ponies for it, yet to save my life I can=t tell any difference unless at the Winnebago dance the dogs barked a little louder.

Friday, June 25th, we left Osage, at 10 a.m.; we would have liked to stay and see the payment, but had to go home. We had a pleasant ride back to Kaw, where we arrived at 4 p.m., and once more partook of the hospitality of Dr. Isom.

The 26th, Saturday morning, we had intended to come home; but the Doctor informed us that today the school will close and the whole tribe will be in to visit and get their children to take home with them until school commences in September. About 10 a.m., the Kaws began to come in and put up for an all day=s visit. Soon the grove about the Mission was full of Indians. Some went to gambling, some smoking kimkam=s, some asleep, and some loitering about the trader=s store.

About 5 p.m., they commenced to leave, taking their children with them; and I think this looks like a shame. These little girls and boys dressed up today like white children, all clean and neat, and now the question is what will they be when they return.

There is a marked difference between the Osages and Kaws. The Osages are large and healthy men of wonderful strength. Their squaws are healthy, only overworked. They are the wealthiest people in America to their number. Let them sell their domains at government prices, and call for their money, and each male, female, and pappoose will have in cash $75,000.

How different the Kaws. They are fast dying of blood disorder. Their wealth is in their lands and unless they lease more, they will be compelled to work; but Uncle Sam won=t have that. He will have Congress pass a pension bill for their benefit before he will let them work, and thus bring them on a level with the white trash.

There is some of the finest land in the Kaw reservation that I ever looked upon. One question has been settled in my mind, during this trip, and that is that neither the Kaw nor the Osage reservation will be opened for settlement very soon.

Sunday morning, June 27, we left Kaw at 10 a.m., and arrived home at 4 p.m., having been absent six days. Six days of genuine recreation and quite a treat to myself and family.

DR. C. R. FOWLER.