The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-12-25
MORE "REMINISCENCES.
To the Editor OF the Eagle.

| To the Editor OF the Eagle.
In your interesting article yesterday en-
titled, "A Railway Renaissance and an
Incidental Buffalo Hunt" the portion re-
lating to railways and Buffalo may be cor
rect, but you are little off on the Indian
treaty business. There was no treaty held
with the Usage Indians between the rivers
in the walnut grove, on Maj. Davis place,
in 1865, nor at any other time / had a
trading post in the grove at that time.
The treaty with the Osages by which they
ceded to the United States the territory
comprised in Sedgwick and other counties,
was held on the Neosho river on the 2lst
day of September, 1866, if my memory Is
not at fault. The Treaty of the Little
Arkansas" with the Cheyenne and Ar
rapahoe Indians was held on the Little Ar
kansas, on the east bank of the stream, on
land now comprised in the farm of Hon.
| +. p. Thompson, and was concluded
on the 14th day of October, 1865.
! The commissioners on the part of the
! United States were William 5. Harvey,
! Kit Carson, John B. Sanborn, William
| w. Bent. Jesse II. Leavenworth, Thomas
/ Murphy and James Steel
| The Indians were represented by Moke-
/ ta-ve-to BLACK Kettle, Onto sh-ne-so-to-
wheo Seven Bulls, Oh-has-tee little
/ Raven, Oh-hahmah-ha Storm and
other chiefs and head men on the part of
the Indians. The Indians, several hundred
! in number, camped along the river, on
either side. as did the one or two COM
panies of soldiers, who were present. The
Wichitas, Wacos. Caddoes, lroneyes,
Tocwaccanoes, Kechis, and other Indians,
some 1900 in number were living here at
the time and were scattered along down
the river to the junction. They had cul-
tivated extensive gardens, and had scat
folds covered with sliced pumpkins, beans
and corn drying for winter use, with
plenty of melons in their gardens, which
were feast to visiting brethren. Kit
Carson came down the Arkansas river
from Toas, New Mexico, with an officers
ambule, and army wagon with teamsters,
cook, and an escort of six soldiers, and was
well equipped with tents, provisions, etc.
Col Bent came down from his Fort on the
Big river. up near the mountains. Gen.
Harmy and Kit Carson were the most
noted persons present, the former a noted
Indian fighter and athlete, was as slim as
our senior senator, six foot four In his
moccasins, his luXuriant hair as white as
snow, he was a famous story teller. Kit
Carson was his opposite in everything but
fighting qualities. he was very short legged,
standing 1 should think about five foot
four. stoutly built, short arms, rudy face,
red eyes with rays running from the
pupils like the spokes in a wheel.
his silky, haxen hair reaching almost
to his shoulders, he was a man
of fierce determined countenance
With reticeDt and unassuming DISPOSE
ton, he combined the courage and ten
ascity of a bull dog. His prominent char
acteristic seemed TO be instant decision
and action.
Carson and Bent were much together
the latter famous Indian trader, very
dark Completed, with jet black eyes and
hair. BY invitation camped with Carson
while the treaty was in progress and heard
from his lips some of his adventures on
the plains and mountains. Carson died at
Toas, y. NJ. Col Bent at Westport. No,
believe and Gen. Harvey in louisiana
Black Kettle was killed by Clusters men
in the battle of the Washita, and most of
the other participants in the treaty, both
white and Indian, have gone to their long
home.
If these hasty notes are Of interest TO
your readers you may use them as slight
contribution TO the history OF our locality.
J. r. MEAD