Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1873-08-29
A cHERnKEr ErEcrInN

A CHEROKEE ELECTION.
On the Sth instant we saw in the st
Louis Democrat, Geographic an
nouncement to the world that &he Che
rokees were having bloody war among
themselves at Coody's Bluffs, growing
out of political differences. There was
no account of battle, or even of blood
shed. A most extraordinary circum
stance connected with this exciting de-
spatch was, that though Coody's Bluffs
is distant only sixty-five miles from this
place, no inkling of the report had yet
reached our office.
Coody's Bluff is precinct in Coo-we.
skee-wee District, Cherokee nation. On
Aug. 4 an election was held, and the
neighborhood gathering to vote. About
nine O'Clock gang of rowdies rode up
with pistols about their waists, drunk.
We would here remark that if any
American is under the impression that
liquor and rowdies, so often seen to-
gether at American elections and else.
where, are things unknown to India n
elections, he does us too much honor.
1t is true our elections are almost al
ways free from these causes of Interrupt.
ton, but Coody's Bluff at the time men
toned was an exception. Perhaps the
reason may be found in the fact that
the precinct is the nearest to the Kansas
line.
The principal rowdies' names were
Jim McGlathlin, a white man, and
three Indians-Tiner, Nicholson, and
Terrell. A small guard had been post
ed on the ground to keep order. The
solicitor, anxious to disarm the new
corners, invited volunteers to join the
guard to help keep the peace, and re-
CURED all others to disarm themselves
for the day. His plan miscarried
badly. The rowdies arrayed them
selves with the guard, kept their fire.
arms, and had the unarmed concourse
at their mercy.
About four o'clock p. m. the row be-
gan. Jim McGlathlin, charged an
adopted Delaware minister of the Cos
pei with an utterance disrespectful to
him (McGlathlin), made some time
previously. The Rev. Journeycake
discreetly denied it. McGlathlin, ready
for either answer, said the denial was
lie, and in fit of virtuous indignation
shot at the reverend's head, barely
missed it, Journeycake hastily dismount-
ed, being assisted by the act of dodg-
ing, was shot at again, and again for
tunately missed, and fled with all speed
into a small house close by with the
whole gang of roudies at his heels.
Here his unframed friends got bravely
in the way, and after some adroit hiding
and running he managed to escape to
Armstrong;, about two miles distant.
The rioters then turned their attention
to others of their disliking. They were
gone also.
Three of the desperadoes leaving
Timer and few harmless sycophants on
the ground, then mounted and paid
visits to the residents of obnoxious men
of peace in the neighborhood, breaking
windows, destroying furniture, shooting
and swearing and soaring promiscuously,
after the manner of hateful and fearful
outlaws.
We had forgotten to state that these
men were protested, isolated law break
ers, generally known and detested as
such, and had only combined for the
time to do this devilment. 1t is enough
to say that under the influence of
Kansas liquor and their own evil pas
sions they made that night literally hid
eous to families within circle OF five
miles.
Rev. Mr.. Journeycake and friends after
dark went back for their horses-now
duly armed and naturally offended.
They found Timer and friends still at
the Precinct, and gave him salute of
about sixty shots, more in sorrow than
in anger, as Timer only received one
misshot through his arm to serve him as
a reminder. The party got their horses
and kept that gentleman (?) under ar
rest. The other three were arrested by
a party in two days afterward and are
now held to answer their various mis-
deeds then and previously.
These are the facts of the Cherokee
war" An election, set of ruffians,
white and half-breed, and riot. Is
this the first time such a thing ever
happened ?