Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-01-14
A cHnRoKnn nH1nr

National Republican Of Washing
ton City.
During tho past three or four
years advertisements have at vari-
Gus times appeared in TIE Republi-
can, in the want column. to the
effect that Jcrusha Williams wanted
information OF her mother and faith
or, the following being the latest
form.
hTANTED-Informatio ~ to the where
Wv abouts OF my father. mother, susan
Williams; when last heard from werc In the In-
dian Territory Mr.. William Alhcrty; please
and mother Pomnev wiiiisms AMI susan WI.
liams You were the last person that was seen
with thcm. Address Jerusha Williams, Fourth
alley, between Congress and Jencrson strccts,
Georgetown, ID &.
Jcrusha's name being such an or
dinary one--her fathers name of
Pompey not suggesting anything
romantic--hcr inquiry has been
allowed to proceed quietly, attract
ing no attention. But it now APP
pears that Jerusha's story is one of
great interest, that she is an Indian
princess, so to speak, being the
daughter of Chief Pompey Will
liams of the Cherokee nation.
A reporter for the Republican
hunted up Jerusha last evening and
found her living in n tumbled-down
shanty in an alley in Georgetown
below Bridge street. She is living
with negro family, who, though
poor themselves, extended the
helping hand of charity to Jerusha
four years ago and took her under
their roof.
"You see, :" said her colored host
css to the reporter, "Jerusha came
To. clubhouse one wet and cold day
four years ago, and asked if she
mightn't warm herself. She came
in, and while sitting before the fire
told us her story, and we took pity
on her and said she might stay with
us. Since then we have shared with
her and furnished her with money
to advertise for her parents. 1t
has cost us a great deal to pay for
the advertisements, but we tried to
do what we could for her.
Jerusha herself came in while her
hostess was talking. She is Of me-
dunn height, and though her Indian
blood shows very plainly, the ne
gro element of her makeup is quite
easily seen. She is a mulatto and
has kinky hair. Her features show
the high cheek bone, which marks
her kinship with the red skin race,
and very bright eye gives her an
animate appearance. She appears
quite intelligent, and though hav-
ing the negro accent to a certain de-
gree, still retains a gutteral intona-
tion in her talk that shows her
descent from the aborigines. She
is about 40 years of age, and tells
the story of her life in a straight
forward manner.
"You want to hear my story2"
said she. "lll tell it to you. Many,
many summers ago, tefore the
great war in the south, my father
Pompey Williams, was the chief of
the Cherokee nation, in the Indian
Territory. Then my people were
much more happy than now. They
had been abused much, but were
still strong. My father ruled the
Cherokee nation for many years.
We lived happily on our reserva-
ton. rode my pony and played
about all day long. Then came a
terrible time, and a rebellion took
place in the tribe. A white man,
Ross, came among us and became
the chief. We were shamefully
treated. At this time one night a
white man named William Alberty
came to our tent and stole me with
my brothers and sisters and carried
us to Texas, and from that night to
this | have never seen my father.
~ was separated from my broth.
ers and sisters, and was sold into
slavery in Texas. had changed
masters several times when free.
dom was declared. As soon as ]
could l made my way back to the
reservation, going much of the way
on foot. Sometimes would travel
all night, walking through wood
and prairie, often miles and miles
away from any house. For many
weeks during that trip wandered
with only the food | might get on
the way. Once / chased a rabbit TO
his hole, and following his burrow
in the ground, with my hands dug
until | came to his nest, and the
little rabbits / got there was the
only food l had for six days. Then
| met friendly tribes when reach
ed the territory, and when | told
them who 1 was they did all they
could TO help me back to my
people. But on reaching the
place l found my father had disap.
peared at the time the new chief
had come, and no one knew where
he had gone, though he had done
| evarvfhino, ha oOtiid N find his