Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-12-11

west, SO he accordingly went TO western
| Texas and Joined the hostile Comnnches.
| Here he roamed with unbridled fice-
dom over the western plains, and was u
| leader In many bloody expedition
against tho early settlers OF that
country.
| When the war broke out Old Tom ref
| turned TO tho Cherokee nation ana
again entered upon his death. SnfrM
mission among Ills own people. W
| then at the heighth Of his GLOW
| earnestly prayed that the big tRllU De-
| tween the states would last forever and
terminate like the famous Kilkenny
cats-both sides be extorminated.
As the war progressed and the value
OF slaves deprecated, Starr found that
| his negro-stealing enterprises were not
as profitable as he desired. 70 no began
| turning most Of his attention n, horses
and cattle. He stole horses N@A. the
Confederatos in Texas and q I11|A 10
the Federals IN Kansas. and t0ihwopld
steal cattle from tho blue-coats In Kan
sas and Missouri ana drive them TO the
southerners Ia Arkansas and Texas and
sell them.
Just aftce the close of the war old
Tom performed one OF the mos, re-
markable and daring feats OF his life.
with one exception Starr was the most
powerful man, physically, In the Cheso-
keo nation. Thai exception was his
brother-in-law, Bill West, who was con
coded TO DO the strongest man In the
country. A blow from his fist was Ill
most as deadly as Winchester bullet.
He killed several mon with his fist, and
the Cherokee legislature, recognizing
his terrible strength, passed Il law de-
claring Wdsts fist q deadly weapon,
and making It felony for him to strike
fellow man with IT, This law is on
record in the executive Office OF the
Cherokee nation today, aud may be
seen by any one who may doubt the
truthfulnoss Of this statement
West and Starr were boon compan-
ions, and were partners In many
bloody enterprise, but 1t so happened
that these mon did not agree later
on Us they did at first, and rs there were
big rewards offered for each Of them nj
that time by tho chief Of the nation, Old |
Tom decided 10 put West out OF the |
way, and ut the same time secure the |
reward offered for his head So accord |
ingly Tom picked quarrel with West |
one day about the division Of spells OF |
plunderiug expedition. West struck out |
az Tom with his fist but the willy red |
man eludod tho terrific blow and nj the |
same time landed long-bladcd knife |
between the ribs OF his old companion. |
As West fell 10 the ground Starr, with /
another stroke Of his huge knife, severed /
his head from his shoulders. lie then |
put the head In a gunnysack and with
his CORY charge proceeded 10 Table
quah, where lie entered the room OF |
the chief Of the nation, throw II ON
table, with proof that II was Vests
hond, and demanded the reward. The |
chief was fceble old man Of sixty and
he well knew the character Of the man
who was now before him, IIo also |
knew that while the reward offered for
Vests head WAS but $1,000, that the ro-
ward for Starr was 900. But the old
thlefs life was at stake, and NJ the mtiz-
zlo Of II revolver he paid tho reward
over TO the terror and ne left town-to
the delight and surprise Of tho trcmbl-
ing inhabitants Of Tahlequah, without
single person.
A TREATY or PEACE.
Old Tom at length became tired OF his
life OF outlawry, and determined TO sue
iarpeace with his nation. He had be-
come such terror 70 the ChorolSees
that they were glad Of chance 10 make
peace with him, and accordingly uogo-
tiatOns to that end wore begun. Starr
sent an envoy from his rendezvous on
the Canadian river to Tahlequnh, the
capital, 70 represent him before the
Cherokee Legislature, which was at the
tim0 IN annual session. The matter
was taken up by that body and serl-
onsly cons dered. Arrangements were
finally made whereby starr was TO
be acquitted OF all his past crime aud
on condition that he ever NJ
tor live in peace with his people and
abide by their laws The bill was
passed by the legislature and approved J
by the chief. The document was then
sent by tho envoy to Old Tom and he
signed itahd thus wax peace proclpimed.
This is, | believe, the only Instance
known in history where a treaty of
peace and amity was entered into be-
tween an individual man and sover-
elgn nation Of people This treaty was
never brokon by Old Tom, he ever af.
forwards religiOusly abiding by Il.
Oh Tom starr was an extraordinary
P2pfnn In appearance, standing six lest
and i've inches in his moccasins. and
Weighing 10 pounds He was 90 wears
Old when he died, and as sprightly us
young man OF 20,
For 21 years Tom Strar lived at peace
with mankind mud made an exemplary
ciliIen, but many OF the people OF tho
indian country entertained " profound
fear of the old man even unto the day
OF his death. WILL 4. CANUP.