Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-23

day, pointing out his wife to some Indians,
told them that she was his squaw, and asked
them what they would give for her. A
bargain was struck and that evening they
went for her dressed in their best breech-
clouts, moccasins and feathers, with their
money in hand. They did not get in that
night, and next morning (Sabbath) they
were there bright and early and wanted
their white squaw. They stayed there, first
at the back door and then at the front, all
that day trying to get in. and finally they
were bought off by some presents OF neck
warmers. They did not understand jokes.
A WHITE BECOMES AN INDIAN.
At Hannast0wn in those DAYS there was
fort with a regular garrison which made it
the city of refuga for the whole country out
side of Pittsburg and its vicinity west of
the Juniata. A family named Craig lived
there, and one of their little sons was stolen
by the Indians and kept in captivity for
years. The mother never gave him up, but
she kept asking every Indian she saw about
her boy. Finally an Indian told her he
knew her boy and where he was, and on
his next trip to Washington City he
would try to bring him along. The Indians
even then travelled to Washington very
often to settle their treaties with the white
man for their vast possessions in this coun-
try. Finally after long wait the boy was
brought and surrendered to his mother.
But alas! he had become a thoroughbred
Indian. He had no affinity for the ways of
his brothers and seemed to want to be by
himself. They took him to church, and he
showed his contempt for it BY walking all
around the church during service and try
ing all of the benches. A girl named
Hannah Gilchrist could do more with him
than any other person. He would go to
church and to school with her, but did not
care for any person else. Finally after
being at home about year he disappeared
and was not seen again for long time, until
one dav his two brothers were in Pittsburg
and were passing Harris store, when he
came out and
MADE HIMSELF KNOWN
to them. He was dressed in his Indian best
and was married to an Indian squaw and
positively refused to 60 home with them.
They pleaded with him to go home for
awhile on his mothers account, hoping that
if he would see her and have her plead with
him again, that his flial affection would
cause him to stay with her, as she was get
ting up in years, but to all their pleading
he gave smile and firm refusal He re-
turned to the forest with his adopted tribe,
and finally died a good Indian.
There was among the Indians who came
most frequently to the settlement fine,
brawny chiet called Silver Heels. He was
very honorable as well as very hand
some Indian, and the braves who followed
him were always neat in what clothing of
skins they had on. They had none of the
dirty characteristics of the ordinary savage
Their hair was always clipped, and their
feathers fresh and well set; while their buck
skin leggings, moccasins and accoutrements
were always fresh and new, and covered
with fine bead work. Silver Heels and his
band always encamped on the bottom lands
above Lawrenceville, and rowed down to
the city daily in their bark canoes, making
very wild and picturesque sight. Silver
Heels was friendly with every body, and
the white children were very fond of ride
up the river in his canoes, romp through
the Indian camp and ride back home with
their swarthy acquaintance. Nobody was
afraid of Silver Heels, and when he de-
parted for the happy hunting grounds he
had many a word of sorrow ana sympathy
from his white admirers and friends. When
his word was once given it was never broken.
Whoever had his friendship had passport
through the forest; he was safer than he
would be now, almost 80 years afterward.
BUMBALo.