Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-09-23
WICHITA BY THE LIGHT OF
THE INDIAN CAMP FIRE.

w lOhlIA ID I1b AlGhl OE
THE INDIAN CAMP FIRE.
This is state town, and no
doubt a highly civilized and en-
lightened place, but still "there
are some things that look strange
TO the eye" even in the bright
electric light.
The first thing that we notice is
that they have ondeavored to pat
tern after our Indian Territory
laws, by not allowing any whisky
sold, but remembering that this
would not be popular with ihe IN
dian, they have established, nj
easy intervals, what are well
known by the suggestive name of
-''joints." This word is sup.
posed TO be derived from the
Chinese but when used by a native
American, it simply means a place
where they can make the connec-
ton on a "bender.
Even the poor Indian is not slow
in catching on" No indeed; he
is familiar with all anatomy, from
the first joint on the wing of a
spring chicken, to the vertebra in
the neck of a horse thief. When
he hears Of the 'joint," f" his imagi.
nation takes a wide range. and he
beholds at once, a place where he
can indulge in almost any social
violation the civil or moral law
with very little aside from his con-
science to hinder him.
Those who work the 'Joints"
can make them bead 10 suit ol,no oat
any en1ergency, as they bend
readily in any direction. We
judge by this that they should be
as "ball and socket joints. "
That is what our teacher calls 'em.
Most of the "joints" in Wichita
are Of this class. We think that
the drug stores are attached to the
shoulder joint, while the hotels,
and lodging houses also have their
place in the body, rs do the
grocery stores and restaurants. SO
you need have no fear about our
welfare while here, as we have no
more trouble in getting our regular
allowance here than we have in
Vinita, or any other town in the
territory, the only difference being
in the name. What we call "white
mule" at home, is known here in
Wichita by the name of "joint
water" This caused some con-
fusion with our folks at first, but
now every thing is understood here
about as well as in Fort Smith or
at home.
The manner of doing business in
the United States court here looked
very strange at the first TO those
who have become so well acquaint-
ed with the road to Fort Smith and
%e were scared until we came near
having a stampede. Some of our
folks did make a break and run
back into the territory but return
ed in time TO tell the whole truth,
etc, even in the court here.
The witnesses all appeared on
the 9th as they were summoned to
do, but could find no one to enroll
them as such. We were kindly
told that we were in Kansas and
that they did not do things in that
way here.
The court did not convene on
the 9th, owing as we suppose to
some "joint" being out of order.
On Tuesday, however, court was
called and the grand jury enrolled
and instructed in very brief talk
of about three minutes. II ended
by the court saying that he could
think Of nothing more at present
TO communicate TO them, but that
they were a grand jury Cor words
TO that efiect.)
The jury acted with great
promptness and repairing to their
room began at once TO hear the
witnesses in the Tobler cases. In
about half an hour they had found
a true bill against them for the
murder Of Goodykoontz and Cass.
When that was told to the judge
he Immediately took a Ncess Of
six days, leaving the witnesses as
a committee of the whole on ways
and means with the hard problem
of how TO make LOO pay the eX-
pense Of $3.50 per day. This
looked like a hard "joint" to make
but as Wichita has a peculiar bend
for everything, the committee were
able to make this connection in the
following way. Good, well fur
nished rooms can be had at very
reasonable cost and good meals can
be had at the restaurants, which
are almost as plenty as 'joinls. f"
After each meal a tooth-pick is Sc
cured, if possible. with which we
repair at once TO the steps Of some
first class hotel where we can sit
aud talk leanedly OF tie growth
Of the country and Wichita In par
ticular. This will secure seat
anywhere. Then with our feet on
the door post of the house We give