The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1890-05-30
THE .owAs SIGN.
Over Two Hundred Thousand Acres q
Land Soon to Be Opened For Settle

Land Soon to Be Opened For Settle
ment.
GUTHRIE, Ok, May 2s.-After the
Iowa Council had adjourned Monday
afternoon the Iowas were Toasted and
at 7:30 o'clock again entered the Council
with the Commission at the little white
church An hours talk was INDUCED
in by both sides. Chief Tohee spoke at
some length, saying that the white
brethren sent here by the great father
had been honest with him and his tribe
and that they were now about to sign
the contract providing for their allot-
| ment He said he and his people would
rather never have a patent for their
lands in severalty, but would leave 1t
absolutely in care of the Government,
for his people, he said, were unable to
cope with the willy whites and it was
necessary that they be protected in
some way.
Chairman Jerome and Judge Wilson
explained several important points to
the satisfaction of the Indians, after
which Chief Tohee said: 81 am ready
now to sign the paper"
Then the blind chief placed his sig
nature by mark to the contract, signing
three copies-one to go to the Interior
Department and one each to the Com
mission and to the tribe.
Tohee was followed by his wife, Mag
| gle Tohee, and then in turn came
Charley Tohee, son of the chief; Emma
Tohee, niece of the chief; Dave Tohee,
brother of the chief, and the Indian
policemen, Care Squirrel, Susan SPUR
rel, John Abrockanie, Mary Abrockanie,
Nellie Green, Albert Ely, Julia Ely and
Nav A. Tawny.
This, with the five members who had
previously signed Jefferson White
Cloud, Kerwin Murray, Victor Dupree,
Eliza Keelbolt and Eva White-made a
total of eighteen signers. representing
thirty-six of the tribe. Five more sign
ers were then required.
At eleven o'clock yesterday morning
Old Moses, Lucinda Moses, Willie Dole,
Josie Dole, Tom Darien, Catherine Da-
rien, Mary Squirrel, Widow Tohee,
mother of the chief, Mary Tohee, David
Squirrel and Ellen White Cloud, Chief
White Clouds squaw, all put their
names to the document, making it a
good majority of the tribe. The Iowa
reservation is ready for the Presidents
proclamation and the ratification of the
contract by Congress opening the same
for settlement by the whites.
The Iowa reservation contains 22S, AIS
acres of land. The number of acres re-
quired to supply the tribe under the
conditions of the present contract will
be about 6,S00 acres or eighty acres per
capita for eighty-tiye Indians, thus leaY-
| ing 221 ,61S acres for the white man.
Too much can not be said in praise OF
| Governor Jerome, Judge Wilson and
Judge Sayer. They have been untiring
in their efforts to deal with this tribe
and their success is due to their patience
good management, determination and
kindness in their dealings. No undue
means were used and no strategy was
exercised. The Commissioners hope to
start for the Sac and Fox reservation
Thursday morning at the latest.
When Victor Dupee, Kirwin Murray
and White Cloud signed the Iowas had
determined to ostracise them. These
three men are the only ones wearing
citizens clothes and the only ones who
seem industrious. All the rest wear
blankets and take life easy. But al
this time the full realization of the fact
that this mode of life must change de,
spite what they might do was dawning
on them.
When Chief Tohee decided to sign he
kept the decision to himself. He was
led to the place of meeting by his
squaw and the two put their marks to
what was actually quit claim deed to
23S, 900 acres of home land. 1t was a
solemn sight of handful of red men
signing away their homes.