The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1891-07-09

Habits, STYLE and Customs OF the Okla
homa Indians.
The following 10 private letter to Allen
Cook from his brother:
HARPER, Kansas, June %, 1891.
My DEAR BROTHER:
returned q few days ago from short
trip to Oklahoma and the Indian Terri
tory. Itis but a little over two years since
Oklahoma was thrown open for settle
ment, and IL is astonishing to see the pro-
gress made in so short time. Nearly
every quarter section is occupied by
"home builder" and the whole country
presents the appearance OF country
much older. The crops in that country
are very flne this year. Wheat, though
not q large acreage, is fine in quality,
yielding from 20 to 30 bushels an acre.
Corn was tasseling and looking fine. Oats
good. Potatoes selling on the market at
50c!a bushel. Vegetables of all kinds in
The first fifty thousand dollar INSTALL
ment of the two hundred and fifty thous-
and that the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Iu-
dians are to receive from the government
was being paid TO these tribes at the agency
at Ell Reno, while l was there. 1t was all
in silver dollars. 1t took four horse team
to haul IL from Ell Reno TO Darlington.
The wagon was guarded by soldiers from
Ft. Reno. Each Indian, big and little, re-
ceived SIS, besides two hundred and fifty
farm implements, and one million set
apart for school purposes. When each
has received his $40, then he may choose q
quarter section of land anywhere within
the reservation, and IL he refuses the al
lotting agents will choose 1t for him. He
cannot dispose OF this land in any way for
| 20 years. When all this allotting is done
the President will open up the remainder
OF the reservations for settlement. The
same is going on with three or four small.
er tribes. There are more Indians in the
Territory than most eastern people sup.
pose. II is supposed that they number
seventy thousand.
Twas over into their camp or village
Saturday and Sunday the Goth and 2lst of
this month. They live in true Indian
style. They eat roast dog as a luxury and
the wigwams, the pictures at which you
and used to look upon with wonder when
we were boys studying geography, is true
to life.
They are spending their money lavishly.
There are plenty of white men along the
border to assist Poor Lo in relieving him
| self of his wealth. At Ell Reno on Sunday
| the 2lst, thousands of dollars were taken
| in by the merchants from the Indians.
/ A great many OF them bought fine buggies
and carriages. In fact they bought every
thine-baby carriages, valises, trunks,
| parasols, sewing machines, saddles and
harness. The majority of the buck In
Il
braid their hair and tie strips of animals
| hide to it until 1t hangs down like the tail
| of some animal, The squaws invariably
| go bareheaded. Many have their faces
| colored with some kind OF red paint. They
| sit down anywhere. l saw squaws sitting
| fiat down in the dust in the streets of FL
| Reno. The buck Indian does not appear
to be mean with his wealth, for when his
| squaw asked him for money she got the
l wnole"walletn and used what she wanted,
and returned the remainder.
1t is seldom an Indian is seen barefoot
All wear moccasins. While returning
| from their camps last Sunday, just below
Ell Reno, we saw about one hundred In
| dians in a bunch. We went to them and
| found they were having horse race
They were betting freely. One of the
riders removed all his garments
but his shirt, and when the race
came off, his legs clasped around his pony,
his garment tapped in the breeze like
Barbara Fretchie's flag.
There is but little demonstration on the
| part OF the Indian. There was no whoop.
1 ing and yelling when the race was run. 1t
is said they scarcely ever quarrel amongst
each other, and family broils are seldom
heard of.
We expected to attend "ghost dance"
| this day, but none was given. These
| tribes though partially civilized, believe
| that their Messiah will come in the fulness
i OF time, wipe tne Wnue man from tue race
| of the earth and restore the red man to his
| Inheritance, 1t may be we'll that they
have faith and hope in their Messiah, for
surely the foot of the white man is upon
their neck and mercy is unknown TO be
extended to the perpetuity.
1t is my opinion that many of the ideas
| and notions that we formed of the habits
| and character of the Indians are false.
| The great eloquence of Logan, the Mingo
| chief, aud those other lessons on the
| North American Indian found in the
school readers, should be taken with
! many grains of allowance.
His endurance seems to be greatest in
| doing nothing.
The vast territory, which is soon TO be
| opened, is as fine land as ever the Creator
| has made. The Indian, like the buffalo,
will soon be no more. His mission will
| soon be ended and like the mound build
| ers, and Aztecs, he will become thing of
the past. l wish you could have been
with me on this trip. JONAS Cook.