The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1870-12-16
ARKANSAS CRY, Kansas,
December 9. 1870.

nut ana ArkhnsaS rivers, WlLnlh u Illle
and half of their confluence. 1t is
also within a few miles ofsthe southern
line of the State, dividing our territory
from that of the Usage Indians. The
extract 1 enclose from the ArAanSaS
IraUeler, will give correct idea of the
present state of these natives:
''The Osages are all out on the hunt
yet. Chetopa's band are up near the
head of the Nenescah. Hardrobe and
Beaver are on .Shawacospa and Little
Salt Plains. The Big Hills are on Salt
Fork and Medicine Lodge. The Black
Dogs are still further south. The Chey-
ennes and Arrapahoes are hunting on
the Salt plains, and seem friendly. The
Cheyennes, Arrapahoes, Kioways, Ca
does, Wichitas and other plains Indians,
held Il grand council on the north fork
of the Canadian, about ten days ago, at
which they all agreed not to go on the
war path this fall, provided the Osages
behaved themselves. All the plains
Indians were represented except the
Commanchees. This report comes from
good authority-Mr. o. p. Johnson, an
old scout and plainsman.
Two of Hardrobe's little chiefs were
in town last week. They brought in
etc. Some of the wolf skins drought
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 SINH
lar to that throughout the States except
ing 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, &C., it is superior. Fruits like
wise flourish" and will i'll few years
greatly enhance the comforts and health
of the people, if they will but take the
pains to rear orchards. Strange, how
ever, to say, that this luxury is about the
last which enlists the attention of the
settlers. Near Manhattan / asked a
thrifty farmer why he had not grown
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, vet 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 I'm
ion. Since thriving orchard of well
selected fruit. will bring more luxury
into 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 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 inhabitants. Considering the diff
culties of getting lumber and other
building material, the success of the set
tiers is indeed commendable. Nearly
all are comfortable and still improving
Two saw mills are now running day and
night-which with good timber near by
begin to supply the demand, and make
it much easier and cheaper to erect
houses. A kinder, more hospitable, oil
on the whole, better class of people,
have no where found in Kansas.
But on TIE western frontier of Kan
sas, extending as it is SAID from juno
ton City into the Indian Territory
there is an organization of there's, con
stituting the greatest of all draw backs
to the peace and prosperity of this, 9th
erwise, most prominent region. Fol
years the desperate reign of these DIES
peradoes has been undisturbed, seldom
has the law even so much as arrested
them, and never, it is said, placed tn,
first one in the place appointed 70
thieves & robbers. Two of them four Of
five weeks ago, at Emporia, stole the las
dime 1862 poor teamster had, and a
the trial for the crime, were prompt,
turned loose to'resume the practice o
: their profession. The next thing
heard-as they returned to Wichita ant
Douglass-was of the detection of fou
of the gang, two Booths, Corbin an
Smith. In two or three weeks afte
this a number of honest citizens wer
I arrested, charged by one of thieves, "a
. is generally believed), with murderin
his four comrades. About the sam
, time one Quimby, a leading merchar
f in Douglass, Mike Dray, his partne
DR.. Morris and his Son, were ARRESTED
i tried and held to bail for stealing horse
While being guarded that they migt
Q procure the bail, Quimby and his vii
n made strong threats of raising their ella
: and taking vengeance upon the citizen
4 who were stalking their all on t'cleanin
r out" the thieves On Thursday nigh
II | I'd inst, some seventy men came TO n
q lieve the guard, and end the practices {
v these wretched men. They were hun
II mile and half south of Douglas
.e This makes eight of the band that haN
" been put out of the way lately, and a.
N assured by the best of citizens, that Il
-e battle being joined, never will they hol
II up, nor cry enough till it is decide
" whether thieves or honest men, are
$ rule the valley, and upon this frontie
D. Last May wrote you Of the sIaught
G. of two unknown men" near WIGHT
n labelled when found Horse Thieves
ht 1t has since transpfred that they we
8. honest emigrants from Knox count
ir ILL.,, and were murdered by this bar
m for their team and money.
er Now while all good people deeply d
to plare the necessity for this violence, b
E. few can fail to see that this is the on
3. available remedy. Honest citizens mu
e. surrender their homes and their all, a
az flee for refuge in quest of protection,