The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-06-29
SAW HOUsTON,s INDIAN LIFE.
Interesting "Reminiscences of the
Old Texas President.
GTaleouah Cor. NY SUM-

interesting "Reminiscences of the
Old Texas President.
[Talequah Cor. N. Y. SUM-
The episode in the career of Sam
Houston is well 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 cause never
definitely ascertained, but which
was supposed 10 be the confession
of his wife that she loved another
better than himself All efforts OF
his friends to induce him to change
his purpose were i'll vain. He de-
scended the Tennessee river to
Cairo, where he fitted out small
flatboat with whisky and Indian
trading supplies, and floated 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 bluff forming
under the shade of thick growth OF
cottonwood and sycamore. HOus-
ton got most bospitable welcome.
John jolly was full-bloOded CherO-
kee, speaking no English, and at this
time about sixty years of age. He
was of massive build. although not
tall, with rotund but commanding
countenance. His long locks were
plentifully sprinkled with gray.
He had several negro slaves, who
cultivated his clearing, and large
stock of cattle and horses, but he
lived after the Indian fash
ion. His cabin contained only
single room. He wore the
permanent guest, adopted the Indian
dress of hunting shirt, moccasins
and Logging, and becoming
thorough Cherokee in language and
and habits. The boat load of whis-
Ky soon disappeared in hospitable
libations. Houston lived by his rifle,
suppling game to the common lard
er, and partaking of the common
dish of huminy, or ka-nau-ha-na, a
great wooden trough of which stood
always in the center of the cabin tor
all who wished TO help themselves.
Judge Keyes remembers to have
seen Houston and Jolly seated on
the ground feeding each other with
great friendliness from the single
common spoon.
Houston soon became thorough
Indian in habits a I'd appearance.
Except upon occasions of ceremony
he was as naked and careless
as any Cherokee. and al council he
was as gorgeOusly and carefully
arrayed. He let his hair grow and
braided it 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 aud wore
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 striking appearance
when en- grand terme, with turkey
feathers in his hair, white en-
broidered hunting-shirt, yellow leg
gins and moccasins, and sitting III
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
faD in rio 4 Of ii nj
ton and stationed him behind him
in council. Houston endured it
with stolid impassiveness, taking no
apparent notice of his imitator.
Councils of the tribe were held
yearly at Tah-lon-tees-kei. Some
times they lasted for a week. AT
these councils laws were enacted,
and affairs with the government of
the United States were settled.
Houston was adopted as member
of the tribe, but was never elected
chief, as has been stated. He never
took part in the deliberations ex-
cept as silent spectator. He was,
however, sent with a delegation of
the fulfilment of the terms of a
treaty. He wore his Indian cos
tune, and lived and slept like his as
sociates throughout the journey.
The councils were held in an open
shed rooted with boards, but with
out a floor, the members sitting upon
benches of hewn plank. 1t was a
great gathering OF the tribe, as
well as of the members of the
council. Sometimes thousand or
more sat upon the ground. Every
afternoon was devoted to ball play,
and every evening to a dance, in
which both young men and women
took part. Sometimes flatboat of
whisky would arrive, and then
there would be perfect pandemodi-
um of whooping, riot, and debauch-
cry in the blazing fires under the
canopy of the giant trees. Houston
took no part in the games or dances,
and preserved his sobriety on occa-
sions of public drunkenness, reserv-
ing his not unfrequent debauches
for private occasions, and perhaps
as a relief from the solitary misery
of thought.
Houston remained as the house
hold guest of his friend John Jolly
for more than a year. Then he fell
| in love with half-breed woman of
great beauty. named Tyenia Rogers.
She was as stately for a woman as
he was for man. He removed to
the west bank of Grand river, oppo-
site Fort Gibson, where, in the delta
of the Grand, the Arkansas and the
Verdigris, be made a small clearing
in the rich bottom land, which still
forms a part of a small Cherokee
farm, and has log house upon it.
although probably not the one built
by the hands of Houston. Here he
lived for two years or more. He
was a frequent visitor to the
military post of Fort Gibson, and a
generous consumer of the srtler's
whisky. His tall form was OCCASION
ally seen lying in the street in the
stupor circumstances. This life OF
sayagery and drunkenness finally
palled upon the nobler elements OF
his nature. The struggle of the in