Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1883-01-26
THE CREEK REBELLION.
Letters From Two Prominent Indi-
viduaIs Detailing the Condition of
Affairs.

Affairs.
Chicago Times.
The following letters from Judge G.
w. Stidham and A. p. McKillop, re-
s%pectively, furnish a clear understand
ing of the rebellion which has been in
progress in Indian Territory, and of
which the telegraph has furnished mea-
ger and unsatisfactory particulars. 1t
appears that the nation has its north
and ''south" and bitter animosities as
well. The 'south," intimated that it
was coming up to siege the capital,
but the government ordered out one
division of its militia, and an engage
nent with q scouting party resulted in
the killing of seven of the latter, Judge
Stidham is q Creek, and for many
years has been one of the important
factors in all Indian matters. He is
well known in Washington, having for
several years been Il delegate in con
gress from the territory. His patriotic
efforts for his people and his thorough
understanding of questions which con
Germ them make his contributions real
ly valuable rs history. McKillop is al
so a thoroughly well-informed young
Creek, active in legislative and martial
matters, is the clerk of the house of
warriors corresponding to the United
States house of representatives,, and
deeply interested in the welfare of the
nation.
Judge G. w. Stidham, living at
Eufaula, writes: THE Creek nation
has been divided into two bands from
time imlnemoriel, known as Upper
and Lower Greeks, each with a prin-
cipal and assistant chief, but living
under one government, the two chiefs
and assistants acting together rs one
executive. This form of government
existed until after the close of the war,
in which they were divided into north
and south. When they reunited and
returned home, Sands, acting chief of
that portion of the Creek who support
ed the United States government,
proposed that we do away with
the two chiefs and unite under
one head. This was agreed
to, and q committee with equal num-
bers from the two parties was appoint
ed to draft a constitution and code OF
laws. This done, the people in con
v%ention adopted them. Chief Sands,
who expected to be elected, was de-
feated, and he rebelled. At the second
election the rebellious party ran anoth-
er candidate, who was also defeated,
and they undertook by force of arms
to install their candidate. A fight be-
gan, but the United States Indian
agent, Mai. Lion, caused a settlement
without blood. Since then they have
raised armed forces twice. Sands died
soon after the first troubles, but other
leaders kept up the fracas until last
summer, when II of their young mer
was arrested for violating the law
They raised q mob, followed and killed
the sheriff and deputy, and rescued tn,
prisoner. Knowing that such act
would not be tolerated, the whole fac
ton took up arms to protect them
The constitutional or government partl
called out the militia, followed them
arrested some of the murderers. killeC
two or three, and pardoned the others
The present trouble grows out of tina
affair, as many of Sands party hay,
never come home. But they pretenC
: now to have discovered that the an
thorities gravely wronged them in sell
, ing TO the United States government 70
l the use of the Scminoles that portion
of the country occupied by them. Tn
> party now in rebellion received il
Z share of the proceeds of the sale. TIL
Creek authorities opposed scllin,
, but were forced to. because the Unite
! States government had located Sem.
: noles on our land through mistake an
, would not remove them, but they PIC
posed to buy the land. The Creek
thought it was better TO take pay 70
:, the land than to loose it wlthou
:, pay. This is the whole history of tn