Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-08-14
A WEALTHY INDIAN.
Old Splitlog of the Wyandottes Worth BIZ
Pile OF Money.

Old Splitlog of the Wyandottes Worth . bf8
PILE OF Money.
L have just returned from q trip
through Arkansas and Indian Territory.
and in the course of my travels met
what i never expected to see in this
world-a millionaire Indian i had
heard Of this unique parsonage, but was
not prepared to meet such strange
combination of opulence and ignorance
He is known as Matthias Splitiog, the
chief of the Wyandotte tribe, and is
powerfully built man feet s inches
tail, with swarthy countenance, but
not the high cheek-bones usually found
in the Indian This is accounted for from
the fact that Splitlog is q half-breed.
having been born in Canad3and after
wards adopted into the Wyandotte tribe
in 1S4S, before its removal from North
ern Ohio TO the West Splitleg is now
seventy years old. and can not read or
write He speaks English imperfectly,
but is great money-getter, aud is con-
stantly growing richer by the advance
upon the thousands of acres of land
which he owns in Southwestern Mis-
souri, aasd the Indian Territory.
/. A story Will give an idea Of the old
chiefs manner of transzFting business
About two years ago a syndicate of
Kansas City capitalists persuaded him
+, TO part with 40 acres of land on the
haw bottoms. between the two Kansas
I Citys, for $40. 600 The trade was to be
completed at one of the banks on Min
nesota avenue, Kansas City, Kan, at
ten O'Clock on a certain morning.
Promptly few minutes before the time
Splitlog walked into the bank and took
a seat He kept his eve on the clock.
and as the hands pointed to the hour of
ten, and the other party had not vet
materialized, the chief put on his hat
and started down the axenue- At a
short 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 woulS b9
useless they asked 1hen he would meet
! them
Tomorrow. sea o'clock" was Ha
| laconic response
AT ten O'Clock all were PRESENT 81 cha
bank.
Cant self for $40. 600. must k<va
Sl6O. 600" said tbe Wyandotte chief
/ The surprised purchasers held a hasts
council and decided that they muse
hustle up the S16o. 600 or the figures
| would go still highep They raised
$50. 600 more and counted out the money
in crisp greenbacks. As the chief cav
the paper money h2 shook his heaS
SAINT take paper; Gust aAEe golss .
said he
i Quickly Aslf a dozeR hacks welS
called, and the banks uf Kansas City
were ransacked for the required amount
Of the yellow metal 4tser it wac axed
: upon table before che Oh eff RH paved
it over like misers &nd then slid:
Give 7em deed
The money was deposited IN efls ban81
bus SplitloE Rould inse apene& hig
eyes had he seen tho same hacks usef
in collecting the gold, aeceiving il again
and being driven rapidlF back % Mis-
souri,. That 40 acres oS lad is A@9
selling at the rate Of SaoGe, Oo0. ana
proved one OF the best speculationG
ever entered into If the mouth ef taa9
Kaw.
Splitlog is married ana aaB even
children He never stops sE . hotel
when visiting Kansas City, Kaa.s whe>d
he owns valuable property, but aawayE
puts up with . negro. who il Sne of HE
tenants. One of Splitlogss daughters is
married to negro He is building a
railroad in Southwest Missouri IN a.
ligion he is Roman Catholic 3herN
is rather q peculiar history given of tho
origin OF his name. AT the time of his
| birth his mother was at work With other
Indian women in a field near q log t1sa1
had been split As she gave birth to
him near that Ing ne vas christened
'-SpIitlog." He Is stan robust and act
i've and b ds fair to live TO = great aS3s
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