Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1890-02-14
AFTER A SETTLEMENT.
shawnee Absentees Appear in District Court
for Power OF Attorney to Represent the
Tribe at Washington.

| ior Power OF Attorney to Represent the
Tribe at Washington.
Yesterday morning 4. W. Grain. OF
Econtuchka, Seminole nation, reached the
city, accompanied by Big Jim, chief of alb
sentee Shawnees, VIM. Shaw. his interpre-
ter, and Chas. Chisholm, an Indian. Grain
has lived in the territory for twenty years
| and knows much of indian politics and
| affairs generally. Chisholm and himself
were delegated by the Shawnees TO appear
| before a court of record and execute power
OF attorney on Big Jim and VIM. Shawnee
to represent the tribe at Washington in
| certain claims. The power of attorney
was yesterday conferred by Judge Reed,
and Big Jim and VIM. Shawnee left last
| night for Washington City.
In giving condensed statement of the
matter under consideration Mr. Grain yes
| terday said: Several years ago the Potto-
| wottomies in Kansas. who had their lands
allotted, wasted their inheritance 10 riot
GUS living and were by special act of con-
gress as relief to the people of Kansas,
| inflicted by the presence of these pauper
Indians after they had got impoverished,
were sent TO the Indian territory on a piece
OF land 30 miles square lying directly east
of Oklahoma. The absentee Shawnees
| had occupied part of this land previous to
| and since the civil war. The absentee
Shawnees are a people that have never had
any annuity from the United States gov
ernment. They had broken off from the
other Shawnees long ago, after several mi
grations went to Texas. Some of them
served in the Texas war of independence
and were tor their assistance regranted by
the republic a reservation that had been
given them by the Mexican government.
Many OF them served in the Mexican war
also. After the admission Of Texas into
the union they, by some Encouragement.
lost the reservation and after several moves
came into the Indian territory, living by
consent OF the SemInoleS and Greeks
among them. They abandoned and lost
all their herds and property when the
war broke out. They had large herds so
long as they can recall, it being maxim
with them not to kill any OF their produc-
tive stock but TO hunt game for meat and
only sell what was at its full value, OR nom
productive. They had many horses also.
losing everything by the war. They fur
nished one company for the Union service,
For the losses they sustained during the
war they were recommended by United
States officials to be allowed S432. 900.
They have not received anything yet"
Continuing he said: When the Potta-
wotomies moved down to the Indian terri
tory they were put among the absentee
Shawnees. The Shawnees found that they
were not congenial neighbors. The
chiefs claimed that their acquaintance
with civilization, had taught them all the
vices, and they were communicating the
morals of the Shawnees so much that the
chief could no longer control their young
men. As it had been IA boast with them
that none of their people had ever been
charged with any crime against the
United States or any OF its citizens, and
if they wished to bear this reputation any
longer. they had best leave where they
were. With this purpose in view they
spoke to the kickapoos, who, having
plenty of land, and sympathiZing with
them, invited them to occupy part of their
country. They moved over there, built
houses, made farms, raised stock, and ac-
cording to their notions, we're recuperat-
ing their losses by the war. They asked
no favors of the whites, onlyto be let alone.
They remained there several years, but |
some cattle barons saw their lands and |
got lease By dint of promises held out
TO the Kickapoos and influence of United |
States officials, there were charges brought |
against them as intruders. They were |
told to leave and go back among their IN
neighbors, the Pottowatomies. |
As they did not feel like leaving their inn |
provements after having come by invita- |
ton. they were slow to go. Pressure was
brought to GUST them. On November 10, |
1886, a party of soldiers came to their set
tlement and forced them to abandon all
her houses, and they were moved forty |
miles away, on Little river. Their stock
and died for want OF the forage /
a abandoned and they in a day were left
destitute and homeless. They had the |
sole comfort of promise of reparation,
but nothing came of it until they sent a
delegation to Washington. The commits
sioner of Indian affairs promised to
recommend an appropriation to to cover
the value of the houses, hay and rails
burned. The consequential damages from
loss of stock. ETC., would not be counted,
but for friendships sake he recon-
mended the amount to be used
for building them houses and fences. They
have in the meantime built themselves
good cabins made fields and gathered up
some stock"
"They are and always have been" he
said, 'self-supporting, but they want this
appropriation paid in cash SO they can in
vest it in what they deem best This and
,he war claims and other matters takes
5he chief and his interpreter to Washing
.on. They will get hearing after the
18th inst"