The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-07-01
SAM. HOUsTON'S INDIAN LIFE.
Interesting "Reminiscences OF the old
Texan President.
[Talequah Cor. n. Y. SUM-

[Talequah Cor. N. Y. SUM-
The episode in the career Of Sam.
Houston is we'll known. In the prime OF
life, and with every prospect of useful.
ness and ambition opened before him,
having been elected Governor Of Ten
nessee, he resigned his Office and aban-
doned his home on the morning succeed
ing his wedding, from cause never
definitely ascertained, but which was
supposed to be the confession of his
wife that she loved another better tina n
! himself. All efforts of his friends to
induce him to change his purpose were
in vain. He descended the Tennessee
River to Cairo, where he fitted out a
a small fatboat with whisky and Indian
trading supplies, and foated down the
Mississippi to the mouth of the Arkan.
sas. 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 princi'
pal Cherokee Chief, whose log cabin
stood about three hundred yards from
the high bluff forming the banks of the
continent rivers, under the shade of a
thick growth of cottonwood and syca-
| more. Houston got a most hospitab1e
| welcome.
John Jolly was full-blooded Cicero
kee, speaking no English, and at this
time about sixty years ofage. He was
of massive build, although not tall,
with rotund but commanding counte-
nance. His long locks were plentifully
sprinkleG with gray. Hc had several
negro slaves, who cultivated his clear
ing, and a large stock of cattle and
horses, but he lived after the Indian
fashion. His cabin contained only a
single room. He wore the Indian
dress. Houston became his permanent
guest, adopted the Indian dress of hunt
ing shirt, moccasins and leggings, and
becoming thorough Cherokee in lam
guage and habits. The boat load of
whisky soon disappeared in hospitable
libations. Soon the supplies were gone.
Houston lived by his rifle, supplying
game to the common larder, and par
taking of the common dish of hominy,
or kanau-ha-na, great wooden trough
which stood always in the center Of the
cabin for all who wished to help them.
selves. Judge keyes remembers to
have seen Houston and jolly seated on
the ground feeding each other with
great friendliness from the single COM
mon spoon.
Houston soon became thorough
Indian inhabits and appearance. TX-
cept upon occasions of ceremony he
was as naked and careless as any Cher
okee, and at council he was as gorgeous
grow and braided ii until it hung in a
single long lock to the small of his back,
but he did not pluck out his beard. He
shaved his moustache and wore a long
goatee upon his chin. His tall and
stately form and dignified carriage
enabled him to assume the "big Indian"
with great effect. He presented a very
striking appearance when Ell grand
terme, with turkey feathers in his hair,
white embroidered hunting shirt,
yellow leggins and moccasins, and sit
ting in dignified 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 a tall negro in
caricature of Huston and stationed him
behind him in conncil. Houston en-
dured it with stolid impassiveness,
taking no apparent notice of his imita-
tor.
Councils of the tribe were held year
~ at Tah-lon- tees-kei. Sometimes they
lasted for week. At these councils
laws were enacted, and affairs with
the Government of the United States
were settled. Houston was adopted as
a member of the tribe, but was never
elected n chief, as has been stated. He
never took part in the deliberations
except as silent spectator. He was,
however, sent with delegation of the
tribe to Washington to obtain the full