The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-11-15
WRETCHED RED MEN.
STARVATION STARES THEM IN THE
FACE.
RATIoNs REDUCED. INTEREST MON.
ny HELD AND NO AID OFFERED
ny THE GOyERNMENT.

EY HELD AND NO AID OFFERED
nv THE GoyERNMENT
GUTHRIE, OKLA, Nov sl5.-Actual
starvation now confronts the remnants
of the Arapahoe and Cheyenne tribes.
Gen. Miles has predicted it, and it is
all because.of broken promises by the
Government.
The two tribes were transferred from
the Northwest some years ago to the
Cherokee strip. On arriving there, for
some reason now forgotten, Old Whirl-
wind, chief Of the Cheyennes and Left
Hand, chief of the Arapahoes, object
ed to their new possessions. They
were then transferred to that section
Of Oklahoma which was opened last
April.
A treaty was made with thetwo ma
lions by which they received 81 800, {
900 for their interest in the reserva-
ton and 100 acres of land apiece. The
Indians had the privilege OF taking
such lands as they chose. That they
selected the best is well-known fact.
There are 2, 900 Cheyenne and !, 200
Arapahoes in the Oklahoma country
that was opened last spring. They are
preparing for a long and dreary wint-
er by stacking about their tents brush
to breaksthe fury Of the storm which
comes bowling over the vast prairie Of
that section. A few of them are on
their allotments, some have broken
prairie and built houses, but. most Of
the houses are vacant and few crops
have been put in. Under the law an
Indian is not permitted to lease his
grounds, so he has no income from that
direction.
The beef issue has been reduced one
half and the fatiens cut down one
half without explanation to the Indian
and in violation Of the treaty. The
first payment was SIS each, and por-
ton of this was stolen by lawyers.
They had received in July, 1891, $3.50
600, that being the first payment. The
second payment, six months ago.
amounted to slS7, 800. That the sec
,ond payment did not amount to as
much as the first is explained by the
statement that lawyers were employed
to make ont the necessary papers in
the case Of allotment for each Indian,
and each Indian was taxed or had a
certain amount deducted from what
was coming to him to pay the lawyers,
and the sum total Of the lawyers fees
amounted to s67 800.
When they received their second
payments, six months ago, $50 apiece.
many of them used the money foolish
II and extravagantly. For instance,
some of them bought phaetons, car
riages, and in two or three instances
some bought hearses. These Indians,
it must be remembered had, previous to
this time, been thrown entirely upon
their own resources and lived just as
they pleased.
In all Of these extravagant and APP
parently nonsensical purchases, no. one
connected with the. Government lifted
a finger. No advice was given, and
the Indian trader at the agency, who
holds his position by permission Of the
Government, never gave an Indian
such advice as he needed, or as he
wonld have given one of his own kind
who might have acted in the same way.
With rations cut down., with inter-
est money held back. with little or no
aid offered by the Government in the
way Of advice, with accommodating dis
ease, the Indians are in a most deplora-
BILE condition. y"
O..