Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-19

Cherokoes and the Apachcs-in Court.
tco~ros,,,,rence ~ the Richmond DispatchI

CherOEces and the ApaChcs-in court.
tcorrcsp1ndence Of the Richmond Dispatchl
Asugv111r. \. c., November 10, 1889.
The question Of the removal of Geronimo
and his remnant of Apaches from Alabama
20 some point in Western North Carolina
has been much discussed IN tins section
lately. and the subject continues To attract
local attention inasmuch as there Is d.
vision Of sentiment regarding the matter.
The idea originated IN the Department OF
the Interior, and finds no scarcity OF
endorsers here. The plan proposed ls tina a
purchase of several thousand acres be
made from the eastern band OF Chero-
KEGS, whose reservation lies IN the counties
of Macon and Cherokee. The Chcrokees
will welcome their western brethren.
though some of their white noIghbOrs may
look with disfavor upon their coming. A
half-hreed Of marked intelligence and OF
popularitv among the Cherokeca Saws that
his people are entirely willing TO have
these Apaches JONI them. some Of the
North Carolina Indians hold thelr IaIus
separately, individually IN fee sample. HE
majority Of them, however, are simply
tenants in common OF land granted them
bv the Government. Those who own midi
yidual tracts are anxious for the depart
fnent to locate these Indians here for
the reason that they hope 10 eject
sale Of their lands to the Gov.
ernmentfOr this purpose. Inc remalnderot
the part of the Cherokee tribe here are for
the most part willing to receive them and
secure from the Government consideration
for rights and privileges granted them. 1t
was in the year 1898 whom a similar cOnsOll-
datiOn of Indians was made IN TINS section.
The remnant of the Catawbas then living
east of the Blue Ridge were removed TO the
reservation OF their Cherokee brethren and
were cordially received into that tribe. and
81 a fta
and lost itself in that of the Cherokees.
But wherever these hitherto troublesome
Indians may be located 10y the Government
ii is we'll understood that garrison OF
United States troops VIII he established
near 10y. And If these mischieVous wards
of the nation are removed to this section 1t
is said that the garrison VIII likely be
"A very large one. Barracks viii be built
10 accommodate four or five thousand
troops. This location here of such large
numbers of soldiers VIII not be on account
of the presence of the small remnant Of
yexatiOus Apaches. but will be for the pur-
pose of allowing the men IN the standing
army the opportunity of Strengthening
and invigorating themselves IN tins health
giving climate. Nothing now, however,
will toe done in the matter before spring,
since the Secretary of the Interior has de-
cided that the winter Is not the best time
. for removal of the braves to the NOUN
taips, fearing that they may contract colds
which might prove fatal, owing TO the
great change in climate and altitude.
AprODOS OF Indians, gOOdly number OF
CherOkees have for some days been IN the
city attending the United States Court,
both as witnesses and defendants. The
charges against them are chiefly Illicit dis
filling and selling whiskey without license,
for they are not slow TO learn OF thor
neighbOring white brethren ways that
l. N...A
OF the descendants Of "tho noble red men
Of the forest have abandoned the chase,
hung up the aTrowand the bow. and turned
their attention 10 learning the dangerous
secret Of cOaXing from the kernels of their
own maize the beverage 10 the average
mountaineer's heart so dear spirits born
beneath the mild moonbeams while burly,
swarthy mOonshiners were the dCcOuchauS.
Conspicuous among them during court has
been Chief Nimrod Jarrett Smith. who
comes along with his people. who have
been summoned and arrested and tried ia
every way possible TO render them affec-
tionate assistants. Chief Smith is striking
figure. Six feet two inches. straight as the
arrows he made IN boyhood, with long.
slightly curling black HAIR falling TO the
shoulders, wearing "a broad brimmed black
hat, and clad IN tailor-made well fitting
broadcloth suit, he attracts universal at
tentlon. Aman Of education, having strong
common sense, he has wonderful infu-
ence over his people and commands the re-
sPect and confidence Of his white neigh
boTs.