The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1882-08-19
aER. SAM. aaOGIsT0N.
INTERESTING "REMINISCENCES OF The
OLD TExAN PRESIDENT.

Tahlauuali Cor. NJ. II. Sun.
The episode III the career of Sam,
Houston is we'll known. In the
prime Of life, and with every pros
pect Of usefulness and ambition
opened before him, having been
elected governor Of Tennessee, he
resigned his Office and abandoned
his home on the morning succeeding
his wedding from a cause never de-
initely asoertained, but which was
supposed to be the confession of his
wife that she loved another better
thar hi1assIf All efforts ofhis friends
ID induce him to change his purpose
were inavain. He decended the Ten
nessec river to Cairo, where he fit
ted ont a small hatboat with whisky
and Indian trading supplies, and,
fioated down the Mississippi TO the
mouth Of the Arkansas. He pushed
up that river to the mouth Of the
Illinois, which is about thirty miles
south from Fort Gibson There he
found the clearing Of his old friend
John Jolly, the principal Cherokee
Chief, whose log cabin stood about
three hundred yards from the high
blaff forming the banks OF the con-
fluent rivers, under the shade Of q
thick growth of cottonwood and
sycamore. Houston got q most hos
pitable welcome.
John Jolly was o full-blOoded
Cherokee, speaking no English, and
at this time about sixty years OF
age. He was of massive build, al
though not tall, with a rotund but
commanding ooGntenance. His long
locks wece plentifully sprinkled with
gray. He had several negro slaves,
who cultivated his clearing, and a
large stock OF cattle and horses, but
he lived after thC Indian fashion.
His cabin contained only single
room. He wore the Indian dress
Houston became his permanent
g'nest, adopted the Indian dress Of
hunting shirt, meecasins and legg'
ings, and becoming q thorough Cher
okee In language and habits. The
boat load ofwhisky soon disappeared
IN hospitable ihabions. Soon the
supplies were gone. Houston lived
by his rife, supplying game to the
common lardeT, and partaklng OF the
common dish oc hominy, or ka-nsu'
hama, a great wooden trough Of
which stood always in the center OF
the cabin for all who wished to help
themselves. Judge Keyes remem-
beers to have seen Houston and jolly
seated ON the ground feeding each
other with great friendiness from
she single common spoon.
Houston soon became q thorough
Indian In habits and appearance
Except upon occasions Of ceremony
he was as naked and careless as any
Cherokee, and at council he was as
gorgeously and carefully arrayed.
He let his hair grow and braided 1t
until it hung in a single long lock tn
the small Of his back, hat he did not
pluck ont his beard. He shaved his
moustaehe and wore a long goatee
upon his chin. His tall aud stately
form and dignihed carriage enabled
him to assume the big Indian "
with great affect. He presented a
very striking appearance when en-
grand terme, with turkey feathers In
his hair, a white embroidered hunt
ing shirt, yellow leggins aud moe
easins, and sitting in digni6ed
silence at the council watching with
the elders the ball plays and dances
of the youths of the tribe. He was
more Indian than the indians them
selves. Once some wag of the Cher.
okees dressed up q tail negro an
earicature of Houston and stationed
him behind him mcconnell Houston
endured it with stolid impassive-
ness, taking no apparent notice Of
his initator.
Councils of the tribe were held
YEARLY at Tah-len-tees-kel. Some
times they LASTED for a week. A
these councils laws were enacted
and affairs with the government 0
the United Estates were settled
Houston was adopted as Q membe
of the tribe, but was never elected
CHIEF, as has been stated. he heVe
took part in the deliberations excep
aas q silent spectator. He was, how
ever, sent withsa delegation of tn
tribe to Washington TO obtain th
gful6llment Of the terms of a treat.
He were his Indian costume, an
lived aud slept like ms associate
throughout the journey.
The councils were held IN an ope
shed, roofad with boards, but will
ooutaa floor, the members sitting uPo
benches of hewn planks. 1t was
great gathering Of the tribe, as we
as of the members Of the eounea
Sometimes q thousand or more 81
upon the ground Every atternoc
was devoted to a ball playaud ever
evening to a dance, IN which boz
Young men and women took par
Sometimes q fatboat load of SFhisk
would arrive, and then there weul
be q perfect pandemonium OF Hyh0oI
ing, riot, and debaaehery IN th
blazing fires under the canopy Of Il
giant trees. Houston took no pa
IN the games or dances, and pr
served has sobEistyeon occasions
public drunkenness, preserving q
not unfreQuent aehauches for priyai
49,. .stslt