The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1889-04-20
THE CHEROKEE INDIANS AND THEIR
GAME OF BASE BALL.


Cherokee Indians. This game,
which they call l@soonachaunskee,n y is
far different from any base ball |
have ever seen. 1t is played in
this way: Two flag poles about
ten feet in height, are placed six
yards apartandconsti one base.
Two hundred yards distant, is the
other base, made in like manner.
With body barred and paints and |
feathers donned, each player is
provided with two racquet-shaped |
bats, with which he must catch the
very snail, solid rubber ball; no
player being permitted to touch it
with the hands, except in running
to his base.
Before beginning the game, all
meet at a point equidistant from,
but forming a slight angle with,
the two bases. Here the opposing
players, standing on the side of
their respective bases-apartabout
ten feet, ''bury the hatchet." This
is done by placing their bats on
the ground between them, with the
netted ends meeting on naline. This
ceremony insures brotherly feeling
during the progress of the game.
The players then disperse, but are
Immediately recalled by their re-
spective captains, who are also the
tally-men, each captain keeping
the game for his own side.
After the bats are again dis
tributed, the ball is thrown about
twenty feet into the air, and the
players rush together, everyone
| trying TO catch it between the
netted ends of his bats before it
strikes the ground. The result of
such confusion is that no one
catches the ball, but it is often
knocked some distance away, when
the one that is nearest has the best
chance; but often, when this one
is in the act oflifting his prize from
the ground and is nervng himself
for race to the goal, an opponent
gives him such Il blow that the
fortunate becomes the unfortunate,
and falls to the ground with a
heavy thud. Thusperish his hopes.
BY this time the entire number have
reached the spot, where every one
works manfully to secure the ball
1t is really exciting to watch this
turn Of the game. OF course one
of the number Will be successful.
and with fleet foot, made swiftel
by throwing aside the bats which
are now hesetting weights, h.
bears the ball to the base and makes
a tally. The bats are gathered NJ
by man appointed for this pur
pose. The players again meet a
the appointed place and the bal
: being cast in the air, is followed il
the same way. There is no Ger
tain number of innings to play
this being governed by time; TIL
game generally lastingtill all hand
are exhausted.
These Indians live in NOrtl
Carolina, where many years ag
their forefathers had taken refuge
after having been driven iron
Georgia, Tennessee and portion
of North and South Carolina. The
own 10000 OF 100000 acres of land
given them as a home by Mort
Carolina, and lying in the south
e western corner of the State. TIL
grant was formally established b
the Echota treaty made abou
1887, and the ownership of it
possessors has never been disturb
ed. The land is held in common
and in accordance with law {
Political Economy-division {
property essential to co-operatio
: of LABOR and CAPITAL, there ha
: been but little increasein the wealt
of their district. What is every
body's is nobody's, and noood
takes care of it.
Their schools are kept mp by I'll
State government, and in order
make at least a pretense Ofearnin
his wages, the teacher, general
white, pays each scholar one cel
a day for being in attendance. BI
as the Indian generally distrus
the white man, he puts away u
l. language as he also does hat al
shoes, as soon rs he leaves Il
school house. The Indian alph
Z bet contains eiglity-six letters, v
, little fellows of ten years can re-
and write in e CherOkee.
One or two anecdotes related |
their manager, viii give some ]
ID sight into their industry, and in
their power and subIimity of co
ception. On one occasion the man
;. ger saw an Indian and his squa
pass by on one of their rowing j0r
r neys. The squaw was tuggil
along with pack weighing Il
. less than a hundred pounds, and
papoose Of eight months, strapp
to the pack. Her loving husban
laden with the awful burden Of |
bow and arrows, walked in froi
throwing rocks at a hornets ne
"a After preaching a powerful s
mon to congregation Of them,
eel celebrated minister asked one
the number for his idea of 4
trinity,-three persons in one G.