Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1881-01-20
THE OKLAHOMA COLONISTS.
History OF the Fertile Plains in the
Indian Territory.
From The Daily Argus, Rock Island. III.

4
dain Territory, gives some interesting
details of the present movement to IN
wade the territory. Mr. Roberts interests
are bound up with theirs, and his story of
the difficulty must be regarded rs sub
stantially the case that viii be submit
ted by the Five Nations at Washing
ton.
oklahoma, said he, (which in,
terpreted means : The Home of the
Red Man, is a rich country in tho
heard OF the lndain Territory. 1t fell
into dispute in this way. In 1850 the
United States Government claimed
that because the Seminoles had been
in rebellion they should be compel
ed to part with their entire territory
and to move to another reservation.
"To punish the Creek and Chick
asaw Nations, who had taken part in
the same troubles, the Government
removed both tribes into other smaller
reservations in the great lndain Ter
ritory. Adding to the Seminole lands
the Chickasaw and Creek lands, the
United Statos Government formed
Oklahoma for the purpose of locating
other friendly Indians and freedmen
thereon. The Seminoles, Greeks and
/ Chickasaws were crowded out in 1866,
and ever since that time there had
existed, in the heard of the Indain
country, great oklahoma, fertile, but
uninhabited by any red men. The
Government never moved any friendly
Indians or freedmen into it; the origi-
nal inhabitants were evicted, and the
place has been carefully guarded by
the United States Army against in
| trusion from the white man. There is
IN this whole country about 100000
acres of good lands.
Capt. Payne is II huge fellow and
a professional colonist He stands
six feet and over in his stockings, has
dark hair and dark beard. He is an
American and n typical frontersman.
His reputation was made by leading a
colony into the Black Hills on the very
heels of the surveying party sent in by
the United States Government. 1t was
a dangerous undertaking. Had not the
soldiers gone to the rescue the whole
party would have been annhiated.
This was eight years ago Then Payne
dropped out of sight. He was met in
Southern Kansas peddling coin salve.
Finally, he brought up at Fort Scott,
so destitute that it is said he stole a
pair Of shoes, was arrested, and inn
prisoned thirty days for the theft.
Payne is a schemer, bold, unprincipled
and venal. He has adopted the extra
ordinary profession of colonist and has
no competitor in vocation he has
chosen.
A little over year ago company,
headed by Payne, went down to the
Kansas border with the intention of
forcing way through the Oklahoma
lands. He was mt this time stopped ON
the border by Gen Mcneil arrested
and taken to Fort Smith for trial before
the United States Court. lie was
| bound over TO appear at the November
term, and his bail was fixed at $4,000.
His trial was fixed for Nov. 20 but ON
the plea of i'll health he got II contin-
uance to the February term Of 1881.
This is the reason that few days ago
he resigned the Captaincy Of the colon
lists now ON the border The Captain
was threatened with rearrcst and for
fixture ofhis bail bond
In this present attempted INVASION
Payne collected his company ut Cald-
well on the very border line Of the
coveted Indain Territory He has scv-
eral hundred men with him. The col
onists are men collected from the
great cities. They are oilers, men I'M
| employed, with love for adventure
but no love for work. They have been
gathered by the railroad companies
and the spectators interested, and are
we'll paid and fed. If there are respOn-
sible men connected with the excur-
sion they are standing back awaiting
! the first break. These men are receiy-
| ing money from the towns on the route,
| Last year Cofieyyille raised 800. In
| dependence 5000 and Law renee. Leay-
enworth and Galveston Railroad $500.
| This year Caldwell and Honeyyllle are
/ probablysupplying them with money.
" The COlCnists are watched by the
soldiers. The Indians are not congre-
eating, and are disposed to fight simply
with the weapons Of the law If the
Government finds its force too small
however, the Indians will furnish, in
ten DAYS posse of 900 men. Ten
| thousand dollars have been subscribed
by them to prosecute Payne at Fort
Smith and the National Council Of
the Five Nations have directed that
either Senator Carpenter or Ben But
Ter he employed. They have also APP
propriated money to urge that appro-
pirate legislation be passed by Con-
gress to punish colonizing. The pen
atty now is a fine, but there is no prov
ision for Imprisonment or for collect
ing the fine.
:. The Indians know almost at once