Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-07-09
SAM. HOUSTON.
Interesting "reminiscences of the Old
Texan President.

Interesting "reminiscences Of the Old
Texan President.
Tshlegaoh Correspondence New York Sun.
The episode in 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
elecved Governor of Tennessee, he
resigned his Office and abandoned
his nome on the morning succeeding
his wedding, from a cause never
definitely ascertained, but which Was
supposed to be the confession of his
wife that she loved another better
than himself. Ali efforts of his
friends to induce him to change his
purpose were in vain. He descend-
ed the Tennessee River to Cairo,
where he fitted out small fatboat
with whisky and Indian trading sup
plies, ard t1ated dow the Mississippi
to the mouth Of the Arkansas. He
pushed up that liver to the mouth
Of the Illinois, WI ch 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 800 yards from the high
bluff fol ming the bank of the confu>
ent rivers, under the shade of thick
growth of cottonwood aud sycamore
Houston got most hospltable wei
| come.
john Jolly was a full-blooded
Cher okee, speaking no English, and
at this time about GO years of age.
He was of massive build, although
not tall, with arotund but command
ing countenance. His long locks
were sprinkled with gray. He
had several negro slaves who cults
waited bis clearing, aud large stock
of cattle aud horses, but he lived
after the Indian fashion. His cabin
contained only single room. He
wore an Indian dress. Houston
became his pei manent guest, adopted
the Indian dress of hunting shirt,
moccasins and leggings, and becom-
ing a thorough Cherokee in language
and habits The boat load of wis
ky soon disappeared in hospitable
libations. Houston lived by his rife,
supply ing game to the common lard
er, and partaking of the common
dish of hominy, or ka-nau-ha,na, a
great wooden through of which stood
always in the centre of the cabin for
all who wished to help themselves.
Judge Reyes remembers to have
seen Houston and jolly seated on
the ground feeding each other with
great friendIiness from the single
common spoon.
Houston soon became 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 it
until it hung in single long lock to
the small of his back, but he did not
pluck out his beard. He shaved his
mustache and wore goatee upon
his chin. His tall and stately form
and dignifed carriage enabled him
to assume the "big Indian with
great effect. He presented strik
ing appearance when en- grand
terme, with turkey feathers in his
hair, white embroidered hunting,
shirt, yellow leggius and moccasins,
and sitting in dignifed 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 themselves Once
some wag of the Cherokees dressed
up tall negro in caricature OF
Houston and stationed him behind