Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-03-21

pected sufficiently TO indicate accurately
their character or value. It was origi-
nally granted 10 the Indians for hunting
grounds, to prevent any necessity for
their encroaching on the lands Of their
neighbors in the pursuit of game, and
extends westward from the Cherokee
reservation to the Rocky mountains.
As the game disappeared the Indians
ceased 10 use the land for hunting and
rented it ont to cattle raisers for grazing
purposes. The boomers claim that the
Indian title lapsed when the hunting
stopped. and that it is now within the
power of the government TO declare the
land open for settlement. These claims
they urge with very forcible arguments
and "A great deal Of acumen, making out
for themselves a very strong case.
Pawnec Bill, their leader, is a unique
personality. He was the INTERPRETER of
the Pawnee agency before the Oklahoma
rush and acted al manager of one OF
the biggest ca' J." ranches in the territory
several years ago He has been school. |
teacher, ranger and guide, and may
be considered an extra fine specimen Of /
intelligent frontiersman. He is de- |
scribed as little, young, active, shrewd, /
with bright eyes and repose Of manner
only acquired by long reliance on self" !
AT the time Of the settlement Of Okla
homa he was dubbed the Little Giant"
His real name IL Gordon w. Lille. and
the boomers selected him for their
leader at convention recently held AT
Guthrie. Major Lille has figured az a
frontier detective, and in the summer Of
1884, at Medicine Lodge, Kan, he was
Instrumental in breaking mp desperate
gang Of bank robbers.
He has counseled the boomers to ego
slow and wait for the government. and
If his ADVICE is followed, as it was by the
1000 people whom he personally led into
Oklahoma, he will very probably once
more successfully lead his people 10 the
land Of their desire
Major Lille proposed an alternative
scheme for the settlement Of the strip in
case the government refused 10 accede
TO the demands Of the boomers. He Of.
fered to lease the strip from the Indians.
paying them at least twice AZ much ne
anybody else was willing to pay for it. az
he said, 'lust TO save trouble and avert
a row"
Chief Harris Of the Cherokees refused
to consider the proposition. His answer
was, 1--WE will settle it ourselves and
then sublet it TO the whites" This would
seem TO indicate that Chief Harris is moi
uniformed as to the advantages 10 be
derived from the ownership If land.
White men have already improved n
great deal Of the land Of the gtrip as
enants Of the Indians, and the boomers
'harge that the Indians now want the
government to evict their tenants 80
hat they may let the lands TO others at
higher rents. AS the leases Of some of
he present tenants have several years
o run, this course would probably Gre
tie another difficulty and would. the
'oomers say, undoubtedly cause trouble.
AS to the objects Of these men who
re waiting on the borders Of their prorn-
sed land, Pawnee Bill said to a reporter.
I'VE want to create new state. and
7e will, speedily at that. Oklahoma
means to do it; the boomers now ON the
orders mean TO do it, and let me tell
on that nothing can stop us from doing
7. VIII the boomers 20 in upon the
IMP If congress does not order round
p for keepai Well, you can bet so Of
le best ponies on the reservation they
ill!
Whats the use Of letting another
1r1pg and harvest pass by wasted? The
lack Hills country and southern Kansas
ere settled in this way. Nothing
rong came Of that The Cherokees
ave no title to the strip. Judge Green
IRE declares IL to be uublic domain, and