The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-10-16
a WEALTHY INDIAN.



Old Dplif1cg ~ tie Wynndottss worth . hag
Pile ~ Moneys
! have Just returned from . trip
through ArkansAs and Indian Territory.
and in the course Of my travels ! met
what l never expected to sec In this
worlds millionaire Indian l had
heard Of this unique parsonage, but was
not prepared to meet such strange
combination OF opulence and ignorance.
He is known ~ Matthias 6plitlog, the
chief Of the Wyandotte tribe, and lisa
powerfully built man s feet 8 inches
tall, with swarthy countenance, but
not the high cheek-bones usually found
in the Indian. This is accounted for from
tho fact that Splitlog IL half-breed,
having been born in Canada and after
wards adopted into the Wyandotte tribe
in 1913, before its removal from North
ern Ohio to the West SpIftlog is now
1seyenty years old, and can not read or
write. He speaks English imperfectly,
but is great money-getter, and is con-
stantly growing richer by the advance
which he owns in Southwestern Mis-
souri, and the Indian Territory
A story will give an idea Of the old
chiefs manner Of transacting business
About two years ago syndicate OF
Kansas City capitalists persuaded him
: to part with 140 acres Of land on the
Kaw bottoms, between the two Kansas
Citys for $40, 900. The trade was to be
completed at one of the banks on Min
neseta avenue, Kansas City, Kan, AT
ten o'clock ON certain morning.
Promptly few minutes before the time
Spfftfog walked into the bank and took
seat He kept his eye on the clock,
and as tho hands pointed to the hour OF
ten, and the other party had not yet
.matcriafized, tho chief put on his hat
and started down the avenue. At a
shopt distance he met the capitalists on
their way to close the bargain. They
said they were ready for business.
Not to-day" replied the chief.
Knowing that persuasion would be
useless they asked when he would meet
them.
* Tomorrow, ten O'clock" was the
Aaconic response.
At ten O'Clock all were present at the
bank.
Cant soil for S14o, 900; must have
$780, 0oo," said the Wyandotte chief.
The surprised purchasers held hasty
council and decided that they must
hustle up the s160, 600 or the figures
would go still higher. They raised
so, 600 more and counted out the money
in crisp greenbacks.Z As the chief saw
the paper money he shook his head.
Cant take paper; must have gold"
said he
Quickly half dozen hacks were
called, and the banks OF Kansas City
were ransacked for the required amount
of the yellow metal.-After itwas fixed
upon a table before the CHI eff he paved
it over like m ser, and then saidSr@
Give 'em deed. !" 7--7-
The money was deposited in the bank,
but Spiitlog would have opened his
eyes had he seen the same hacks used
in collecting the gold, receiving it again
and being driven rapidly back to Mis-
souri, That ,40 acres .of land. is now
selling at tho rate of So, 900, 600, and
proved one OF the best speculations
ever entered into at the mouth OF the
Kaw.
Splitlog is married and has seven
children. He never stops at hotel
when visiting Kansas City, Kan, where
he owns valuable property, but always
puts up with a negro, whois one of his
tenants. One of Splitlog's daughters is
married to a negro. He is building
railroad in Southwest Missouri In re-
ligion he is a Roman Catholic. There
is rather peculiar history given Of the
origin of his name. At the time of his
birth his mother was at with other
Indian women in a field near log that
had been split. As she gave birth to
him near that log he was christened
"Splitlog.5S He is still robust and act
i've and DIS fair to live to a great age.
Denver (Col. News.