The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-29
CHEF BUsHYaEAD.
The Old Man is Sill Hal, ami Hearty at SIX
ty->tven

Hon. Dennis ". Bushyhead. for eight
years principal chief of the Cherokee
nation OF Indians, is spending few days
in the city. At the Carey last night he
was sitting in the center Of a heavy OF
friends entertaining them no doubt with
some choice stories OF the early days OF
California. The veteran chief never gets
tired of talking about California. 1t is
not generally known that he spent the
best years of his life in the gold mines o!
the slope. but he did. On the 10th day OF
April, 1919 he fitted out at Westport, Mo-,
and crossed the desert. There was no
Kansas City in them days" said he, land
Westport contained only few houses. l
crossed the state OF Kansas and Tli
tell you that it looked barren.
The man who would predict
at that time that the magnificent
state Of today would be carved out OF the
desert which we crossed would be consid-
cred and adjudged lunatic by any twelve
men in the country. | will never forget
the trip and its privations and hardships."
''How long did you live in California -
Il went there in 1S49, and did not return
to the Cherokee nation till 1867. My
brother lives there yet, and was elected
sheriff OF San Diego county two terms"
''Did you make a fortune there :"
mo. When / returned / had about
$1,000. was we'll fixed many times while
l lived there. but had my ups and downs
like the other forty-niners' who engaged
in mining. California was great place
to make money, and It was also great
place in which to lose money"
do you remember the exodus of the
Cherokees westY
''Oh, yes; very well. 1t was in 1888 that
/ came west. was IL years old then, and
1 distinctly remember the morning of the
Sth of June, when Gen. Scott came to my
fathers house and ordered US to pack up
our baggage and move toward the setting
sun. That was in Tennessee and the
times were exciting among the Cherokees.
presume about ], 600 of them who did not
like the idea of being farced any farther
west hid in the hills and General Scott's
soldiers were kept busy rounding them up
He never succeeded fully and doubtless
there are some members of the race there
vet who have since assimilated with the
white people,"
do you remember Sam Houston ?"
No, he was really before my time. He
was governor of Tennessee in 1921 and
when he was adopted into the tribe l was
not very old. His life, however, among us
some very interesting stories about him.
He was a remarkable man."
"The Cherokees have had "A very inter-
esting history" suggested the reporter.
Yes, indeed" said the veteran chief,
who seems to take great interest in Cnero-
kee history.
"Do you know" said he continuing.
"that the written laws or the Cherokee
nation date very far back. Why, we are
the pioneers of the prohibition idea that
your people have here in Kansas. Yes,
sir, our nation passed prohibition law as
early as 1919. We have some old statnJes
yet in orr nation that contain this law and
it is very interesting. Aud, by the way,
we were far ahead of the United States in
the suppression of poIygamy. Our nation
pessed law against this evil as early as
1870, and that, too, is still among the Old
records of the nation"
''Is civilization now complete in the
Cherokee nation?"
Yes. sir. civilization is complete. l do
not know OF single man in the nation
who has not adopted the habits and Gus
toms of the white people. We have good
schools, churches and, in fact. all the
institutions of civilized aud advanced life
and we ale proud of them and give them
a hearty and enthusiastic support. The
population OF our nation is now, | think,
about &c, GEO. all of whom are happy, pros
porous and contented."
Chief Bushyhead is, Notwithstanding
his age, hale and hearty and is II very
intelligent gentleman. He does not look
to be more than 30 years or 60 ut the most.
He says the Cherokees are ii healthy race
of people and that they live to he IA ripe
old age. His father died when he was
So aud the chief promises to remain on
this side of the Jordan fully as long. His
habits are regular and he takes good care
of himself.