Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-12-27
Row TIsHoMINGO WAS TAKEN
ne Coup d'Etat by Which Gov. Guy Captured
the ChickaSaW Canitnl

The Coup d'Etat by Which Gov. Guy Captured
the Chickasaw Capitol.
Atoka Qnd. To- Correspondence st. Louis Globe
Democrat.
To be with the Chickasaws during the
present period of excitement, when
war of determination is daily expected
by the outside world, would convince the
average stranger that he had met with
race of men characteristically differing
from the rest of mankind. While wires
were t1ngling with intelligence OF prep
aratlons for war, and North Texas Dor
oerlng On Red river, was In a fermeut of
excitement, the Chlckasaws of both clans
were lntermingling with each o.her in
apparent harmony. No excitement was
displayed. Armed to the teeth and
mounted like centaurs, the adherents of
bota parties met aud parted without
frown or angry gessiculation. The storm
ing of the capitol by the Guy men, at
which Jour correspondent was present, Is
a splendid instance of the tact, secrecy
and executive ability of the Chickasaws.
The capitol on the hill, with its glariug
brick walls towering high above Tisho-
lingo, was q scene of coup d'etat that
would have done credit tc a Bismarck.
The Byrd men were In possession, and
the guards were slumberipg in the senate
chamber aud on the flag steps leading to
the front and back entrances. At mid
night, in the dense grove in the rear of
the building, might have been heard the
champ of bit, the click of spur, or
the oreak of a saddle, accompanied by
football almost uudisting A tall,
rather Slender and sandy comp eYoned
man, about 43 years of age, had just off.
saddled and was in the act of lighting
cigar, when he suddenly paused and
listened, with evident anxiety. 1t was
Gov. William Guy, the patriotic, humane
and progressive lsader of his people, who
had been deposed by his opponents.
The distant sound gradually became
more and more audible; then followed the
approach, the arrival, the leap from the
saddle, and the almost silent recognition.
Ten minutes had scarcely elapsed ere
volceless partisans poured In from north,
south, east, and west and bumbly took
their places in the high grass around
their blue-eyed chieftain. Two hundred
men were eagerly awaiting orders. The
night was chilly and dark, yet the stoics
remained immovable until the first streak
of dawn, when the moment for action ar
rived.
"Let no man burn powder, under pen
atty of death, without my command"
Under this Injunction the storming
party devide into attachments and creep
cautiously to the front and rear doors of
the edifice. The guards are asleep on the
great stone steps. Over their outstretch-
ed bodies and up the stairway like whirl-
wind! The Byrd men in the senate cham
Der, taken by surprise, leap from their
hian bats for hair
but they are too late; the tesiegers have
the drop, and their leader, in kindly
tones, is already exhorting the guards to
capitalate. Thus the capitol fell for a
season into the hands OF Guy and his fol-
lowers; but the Byrd men and the legisla-
tive BODY, who were enjoying the com
forts Of civil Zed life IN the other end of
the town, were ignorant of the circum-
stances, so that when the 8 O'Clock couu-
Gil bell calling together the members of
the legislature, chartered and tangled
crafty at the hands of the enthusiastic
Guy man, the honorable body arose fir om
the table, astonished at the turbulence of
the bell-ringer.
AS soon as the lawmakers stepped in
to the capitol the truth was made clear.
The walls of both houses were lined with
Winchesters. There was not single
ejaculation of surprise; no epithets, no
expressions of trium ph or regret used by
either parties. To one uuacquainted
with those people it would appear as if
the rercontre had been prearranged for
the sake of effect. The members of the
council took their respective seats and the
speaker of the house was very reluctantly
induced to declare the majority gained
by Guy in the recent election. The Byrd
men philanthropically accepted the in
evitable and retirtG to their homes to
form plans for regainiug possession of
the government.