Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-08-14
MILLIONAIRE SPLITLOG.
Some OF the Curious Personal Traits of the
Wealthiest Indian

have just returned from a trip through
| Arkansas and Indian territory, saws a
writer IN the Denver News, and in the
| curse of my travels | met what | never
expected to see III this world-a millionaire
| Indian. | had heard of this unique per-
| sonage, but was not prepared to meet such
a strange combination Of opulence and
! Ignorance. He is known as Matthias
Splitl0g, the chief of the Wyandotte tribe,
and is powerfully built man, 5 feet
inches tall, with swarthy countenance.
but not the high cheek bones usually found
in the Indian. This is accounted for from
the fact that Splitlog is half breed, hav-
ing been born in Canada and afterwards
adopted into the Wyandotte tribe in 1S43,
before It's removal from northern Ohio to
the west. Splitlog is now 20 years old and
can not read or write. He speaks English
! lmperfectly, but is great moneygette1
and is constantly growing richer by the adj
vance upon the thousands of acres of lands
which he owns in southwestern Missouri
and Indian territory.
A story will give an idea of the old
chiefs manner of transacting business
About two years ago a syndicate of Kansas
City capitalists persuaded him to part with
14O acres of land on the Kaw bottoms be-
tween the two Kansas Kitys for $40 900.
The trade was to be completed at one of
the banks on Minnesota avenue, Kansas
City, Kan, at 10 o'clock on a certain
morning. Promptly few minutes before
the time Splitlog walked into the bank
! and took a seat He kept his eye on the
clock, and as the hands pointed to the hour
OF 10, and the other party had not yet
| materialized, the chief put on his hat and
! started down the avenue. At short dis
lance he met the capitalists on their way
to close the bargain. They said they
were ready for business.
mot to-day" replied the chief.
Knowing that persuasion would be use
less, they asked him when he would meet
them.
Tomorrow, at 10 o'clock, was the la
comic response.
At 10 O'Clock all were present at the
bank
Cant sell for $40 900; must have
$3.50 ,000,' said the Wyandotte chief.
The surprised purchasers held hasty
council and decided that they must hustle
up the 100000, or the figures would 90
still higher. They raised $4,000 more
and counted out the money in crisp green
backs. As the chief saw the paper money
he shook his head
Cant take paper; must have gold, -
said he.
Quickly half a dozen hacks were called
and the banks of Kansas City were ran
sacked for the required amount of the
yellow metal. After it was all fixed upon
table before the chief he paved it over
like miser and then said:
Give 'em deed
The money was deposited in the bank,
but Splitlog would have opened his eyes
had he seen the same hacks used in collect
ing the gold. receive it again and being
driven rapidly back to Missouri. That 40
acres of land is now selling at the rate of
S2,000,000, and proved one of the best
speculat1ons ever entered into at the mouth
of the Kaw
Splitlog is married and has seven child
rem. He never stops at hotel when Wis
iting Kansas City, Kan. where he owns
valuable property, but always puts up
with negro, who is one of his tenants.
One of Splitlog's daughters is married to
negro.
LONDON, Eng. = One hundred and
seventy-fve deaths are reported from
cholera IL Mecca