Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-13
TOM STARR, DESPERATE.
Career Of the Man Who Made a Nation sue
for Peace With Him.

1 AOA SAAAkff, DESfEkADO.
Career of the Man Who Made a Nation sue
for Peace With Him.
The Cherokee Indians are celebrating the
| death OF one OF the most noted Of Indian des-
peradoes that ever lived. His history was the
most remarkable in the known world He died
one year ago. at the age Of ninety-six years. at
peace with his people. but most Of his life had
been passed in warfare against mankind. Yes
'erday the Cherokee people celebrated the ami
Sersary OF his death as a holiday. This Indian
was old Tom Starr, who for a quarter Of century
was terror to the whole Cherokee nation. He
was fuil-bood Cherokee but his origin was
| somewhat obscure. All that is known is that
he came to this country eighty-one years ago,
wheR he was twelve years old, with his father.
HIS father was a desperate man. and soon after
ne arrived became involved in some trouble
ana Killed man or two. A sheriffs posse was
sent to arrest the old man. but he resisted and
was killed Young Tom was with his father at
the time and held him in his arms as life went
out There. while stained with his fathers
blood he took an oath Of vengeance and swore
TO XIII every man connected with the murder
before the hair grew on his face.
FULLY AVENGED.
In less than two years, and before he was
eighteen years old. he carried out his vow, and
the entire posse about fifteen in number, had
| fallen victims to his deadly aim. This was the
beginning OF Tom Starr 8 eventful career. He
was now an outlaw, and youthful one at that
He joined a band of the most desperate men in
the west and soon became their leader in their
deeds OF daring crime. In 1874 and 1916 re-
wards aggregating 900 were offered for his
head. but his capture seemed an impossibility
and he defied Cherokee and United States au-
thorities alike.
Starr did thriving business stealing negroes
He would steal them in Texas and sell them in
Missouri and then steal another lot in Missouri
and run them back to Texas. He formed @
business relation with q New Orleans slave
trader and would meet him at the confluence
OF the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers aud
exchange his human merchandise for arms and
ammunition.
As Starts reputation grew so did his band of
followers. In 1851 he had about forty men in
his band, OF all colors and races. 1t meant in
slant death for one of his men to betray him or
| show the white feather in the least. On one
occasion Mexican betrayed him BY leading a
sheriff and his posse to the rendezvous the
Canadian river. Part of his band was cap
tured and killed, but old Tom made his escape
by swimming the river in the dead OF winter.
Starr subsequently followed the Mexican to San
Antonio, Tex, and killed hin. on the streets of
that city. With one exception Starr was the
most powerful man physically in the whole
Cherokee nation. His brother-in-luw (Bill
West) was conceded to be the strongest man in
the country. One blow of his fist was almost
as deadly as Winchester bullet. He killed
several men by striking them and the legsla-
ture OF the nation recognized its terrible force
and passed law declaring Vests fist deadly
weapon and making it felony for him to
strike any one with it.
PUTTING WEST OUT OF THE Way
West and Starr were boon companions and
were partners i'll many bloody enterprises, but
1t SO happened that these men did not agree
later OH they did at first and as there were
big rewards offered for both men Tom decided
to put West out of the way and at the same
time get the reward for his death. He picked
& quarrel with West and Bill struck Mt Tom with
his fist, but the willy savage eluded the blow
and at the same time landed knife between
the ribs OF his assalant. AS West fell to the
ground Start severed his head from his shout
ders with one blow of his knife and put it into
gunny sack. He carried his CORY burden TO
Iahlequah and entering the room Of the chiefs
OF the nation threw it on table and demanded
the reward. The men we're old and feeble, and
both recognized the head and its carrier and
were afraid to refuse the money SO they paid
1t over to save their own lives.
Old Tom at last became tired of his life of
outlawry and sued for peace with his tribe. He
had become such terror to the Cherokees
that they were glad to make peace with him.
and accordingly negotiations to this end were
begun Starr sent an envoy from his rendez-
vous on the Canadian river to Tahleuuah to
represent him before the Cherokee council,
which was then in session. The matter was taken
up by that body and seriously considered. Ar
rangements were made whereby Starr was for
given for all his crimes and murders on the
condition that he ever afterward lived in peace
with his people and abide by their laws. The
proposition was passed by the legislature and
signed by the chief 1t was then sent to old
Tom and he signed it. Peace then pro-
claimed by the council. These facts are sub
stantiated by the records of the nation. and
this is probably the only instance in history
where a treaty OF peace and amity was entered
into between an individual and a sovereign ma
ton. This treaty was never broken by old
Tom. For twenty-five years he kept the treaty
lnviOlate and made a good citizen.
ONE DEED ON HIS CONSCIENCE
Although the last twenty-five years of his life
were passed in quiet. his neighbors stood in
great fear Of him, and when he died the whole
tribe felt relieved. Starr said at one time that
there was only one death tor which he had to
account that he regretted. That was little
boy less than six months old He said that he
and his band went to the house Of an enemy,
and after numbering the whole family with the
exception Of the infant, the latter began crying,
die by the heels and dashed its brains out on
the door post.
at seemed like could hear the id thing
crying for day or two afterward," remarked
the desperate with a grin.
The celebration yesterday was of quiet Sort
and was more OF thanksgiving day for the
relief OF the terrible incubus than a day Of
jollity among the people.