The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1869-09-10
LETTER FROM FRIEND STANLEY.
KIowA AND CoMANCHE AGENCY. 4
NEAR Fort SILL.
9Th No 93d IS4;1

l arrived here eight days ago, after
rather tedious journey. Just afte
getting into the northern part of thi
Territory, we crossed Salt Fork, which
is quite q wide stream, with a very
sandy bottom; but when we crossed i
the water was low. The water is sait
to be quite salty. After travelling tie,
miles we crossed a small creek calleC
Shawnee, and sixteen miles further OIL
we came to Shelton creek, where :
number of Shawnees had died with the
cholera two years ago. From there
to Read Fork we crossed some small
streams and passed about twenty-three
hundred head of Texas cattle. While
we were stopping near the drovers
they caught grey wolf with q lassc
and brought it into camp. 1t is about
sixty miles from Salt Fork to Read
Fork. We tasted the water of Read
Fork and found it to be quite salty.
The Texas cattle trail comes in on the
north side of Read Fork, and from
here to Washita the Texas cattle have
been driven along the road that is
travelled by the trains hauling goods
and provisions to this place and Fort
Arbuckle. Some of them have been
heavy losers by the Texas fever get,
ting among their oxen. In one case,
nearly all the oxen in the train, about
one hundred and fifty head, died, and
the teamsters had to get the mule
teams from the Fort to haul their goods
the rest of the way. From Read Fork
to North Canadian it is thirty two
miles. The latter stream is about four
rods wide. The country from the
south line of Kansas to the North
Canadian, think, is rather poor; but
from this point south, through the Ca,
madam bottoms, and also the Washita,
the land is pretty good. 1 think, not
withstanding, we might let the Indians
have the country if we can get them
to settle down here and be contented.
A new post has lately been estab-
lished here, which is called Fort Sill
about thirty miles from Texas, near
the Wichita Mountains, and ten miles
east of a point called Mt. Scott. There
are several sutler stores at Fort Sill.
General Grierson has pretty good
house, but most of the buildings are
poles about ten feet in length, set in
the ground and covered with dirt.
There are also many living in tents.
There is said to be about four hundred
colored soldiers here. The tents make
quite show on the banks of Medicine
Bluff creek. They are on a raise OF
about sixty feet above the creek bot
tom on nicely rolling ground. Most
of the Comanche Indians nearly
25O0-have come in, and appear in
clined to settle down and be peaceable
with the whites. Their principal
chiefs, Asahava, and Tosa, say that
they are going to travel the white
mans road. Asahava has been a great
war chief and has fought the whites
but he has changed his course, appears
we'll inclined, and tells the Kiowas,
who appear not so we'll inclined, that
he will take sides with the whites
against them if they should be hostile.
They all know he is brave man and
warrior. We feel hopeful that by jul
dicious management and care there
will not be much more hostility to-
wards the whites. 1t is, however, a
very critical time, and we much desire
wisdom from above to enable us to act
in such. way as to promote glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace
and good will to all men. l have of
ten felt desire to use my liGtle infu-
ence in celebrating all hostile feelings
both among whites and Indians, and
encouraging a feeling of charity
amongst all. / hope we will all bear
in mind that like begets like, and
therefore if we act harshly toward the
Indians, they will in like manner act
harshly towards us. On the contrary,
if we act kindly and respectfully to-
wards them it will encourage the same
feeling and action towards US.
The Kiowas, numbering nearly 1000,
are somewhat inclined to commit de-
predations in Texas, as there have eX-
listed, for several years, hostile feel
ings between them and the settlers.
But we are hopeful of getting these
troubles settled.
The agent at this place is our friend
Lowry Tatum, of Iowa, who suppressed
ed Col. A. G. Brown, late of Colorado,
who has exerted great influence
still remains here as clerk in one of
the stores.
Agent Tatum has gained the respect
and esteem of all whom I hear speak
of him. The General in charge of this
post has great confidence in the agents
ability, and Gen. Grierson is equally
appreciated. I have mingled with
them both and think they are just the
men for their respective posts.
The Presidents Commission has
lately been here, and also our friends,
John Butler and Achilles Pugh. They
all had satisfactory council with the
Indians. The agent accompanied our
friends, who expected to go directly to
Emporia, and from there to Topeka
and Lawrence. The agent is going
directly to Iowa Yearly Meeting, where
he will meet with many of his friends,
from whom he is DESTROYS of selecting
suitable persons to come with him to
this place to instruct the Indians in
farming, school learning, &c. L am
expected to remain here during his
absence.
Our dear friend, Brinton Darling
ton, late of Muscatine, Iowa, has gone
to Camp Supply, in order to be amongst
the Indians that he is agent for, viz {:
Cheyennes and Arapahoes. These
tribes are the most difficult to manage,
but we think we have very suitable
Friend for their agent, and believe
that he will be able, with Divine help,
to control them, and thus get them to
abandon their rowing and warlike hab-
iHS nnd settle On their rasarra ton