The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-07-07


cost US ten dollars, and We concluded
to bach it. or do some other way;
so, since last Thursday, the 10Th inst,
we have bought what we wanted to
eat at the bakery, and are new sleep
ing in carpenter shop. which costs
us nothing. It don't cost US now over
five dollars a week for both of us: A
week ago yesterday, we sent, by
young man that was going to Fort
Scott, to get our money and baggage,
which came to hand last night all
right. We knew the man was all
right, or we would not have sent by
him. will now tell you about this
place.
About a week before we came here
there were two men murdered-shot
right down in the street; but to de-
scribe the town:
Parkersburg is a new town-ouly
about six months old. Il is situated
on the Verdigris River, in the south
eastern portion of Montgomery Coun-
ty. VerdiRris River is about as large
as the Neosho. Last December there
were only six houses here. In Febru-
ary there were only seventeen; and
now there are about one hundred and
fifty-three, a very nice little town.
Indians are very plenty. Every
little while they come into town at
night, drunk. ride about on their
ponies, or in wagons, yelling like mad
men. This happens about three times
week, and as they yell they fire off
their revolvers, but DO one notices
them, they are so we'll used to 1t. The
town is only about half a mile from
the Indian Nation, and Cherokees
and Delawares are very thick, but not
hostile. The Indians are always
armed with knives and revolvers, as
is nearly every one else, always ready.
killed. He had been beating his wife
for couple of weeks, and at last she
left him, taking refuge at a neighbor's.
When he at last found out where she
was, he went aud got on big drunk.
On Saturday evening, about half
past 8 o'clock, he started to the house
where his wife was. and went in and
called for her. The woman of the
house told him that his wife was up
stairs, but that she would not come
down, and that made him very mad.
He began cursing the woman of the
house, having his revolver in his hand
all the time. While he was talking,
a man Zone of the neighbors) came Ia
aud told him if he would take his wife
home and treat her like a wife that be
could take her, but If not, he should
not have her. The husband, Louis
Setter, was a Frenchmau, his wife a
Delaware Indian. The man who came
into the house and talked to the hus-
band was a Cherokee, a shoemaker
here in town. and l Isuppose the reason
he talked to Setter in the way he did
was because his (Seifer's) wife was an
Indian also.
As soon as this shoemaker had
said what he did, Setter drew his re-
vOlver up to the shoemaker's breast,
a5ked him if he was ready and at the
same time snapped it, but fortunately
it did not go off. and as quick as
lightning the shoemaker drew his re-
voiver and shot Setter before he could
snap again. Setter lived about twenty
minutes. He was buried on Sunday
aud that was the end of the matter.
There Is no law here but that of force
If you call a man hard names you
had better have your knife or revolv-
er ready, for you may expect trouble.
We are going to have a skiff made
here, and will go down the river, we
don't know where, but think we
shall land first at Gibson, 130 miles
below here. A young man can see
some gay times out here, but he can
see hard times, too. We have made
a little money. but not much. They
may speak about the West who please,
but this is certain, that man with
out money had better remain in the
East. You cannot get work for your
board, but a man with So 600 or $1G,-
600, 10 few years could make a nice
fortune. Now don't thing I am
homesick, for l never spent so happy
time as since | lett home.
This is just the life like. As we
go down the Verdigris, we will see
through the Indian Territory, and
have got to go through the following
Indian tribes: The Cherokees, Della
wares. Chocfaws, Greeks. and part of
the Usage tribe; | say part as most of
them have gone out on the frontier,
and are lighting the white men. The
Osage tribe are very hostile class.
they are all the time fighting with
oOAANObNy II AuSy CduuOB raise uRub
with any of the other Indians, they
will go out and fight the white man.
Since we have been here we don't fear
the Indians at all. as the only way
they can whip white man is to sneak
around behind him and shoot him in
that way
This County yesterday voted to
raise bonds to build a railroad
through this County. and Charley and
voted in favor of same. Any per-
son that happened to be in the Coun-
ty yesterday, and that wanted to vote,
could. 1t did not make any differ
ence In regard to age, or how long
you lived here. All they would ask
you when you went up to vote, was,
what is the name?" So our vote
was just as good as any. Charley
Fendrich is only between nineteen
and twenty years of age, end they
asked him no other question than
they did me.
The rest Of this letter is personal
in its reference, but the foregoing
will be read with interest by the
friends OF the two young men.
@@z--sa
CnNnEEcRn mzT rGUaHEo