Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-10-05
CHAPTER VI.
CIIICKASAW JOHN.

along Colonial creek for nearly a mile.
One of its veteran members was ChcSa-
saw John, an old companion of Captain
Paynes, and who had been an Oklahoma
boomer 50 long that his surname and his
nntecedCnts, as Il once prosperous Illinois
farmer. had quite receded into the shift
ing realms Of border tradition. OF all
his former possessions he retained only
/ a lean wife. eancr pair of mules di-
Implicated wagon and an undiminshed
ycalning for forbidden lands
From long contention with govern
ment red tape aud the WEAKNESS Of hopes
deferred he had acquired an irritably
eXpectant air. rs of uncertainty grown
morbid and restless in the light Of rights
denied. Add to this a parched, dusty
aspect, that hrooded over man and beast
alike IA if dry winds, red dust and scant
{ provisioning were shrivelng their bodies
as well as hopes, and you have Chickasaw
John somewhat as he looked in these
evil DAYS
Ever hammcring at one idea. he had
hammered it into Bulls convictions, I'M
til that individual had also come to rec
ognize but two objects as worthy of his
entire ambition here bclow-Arizonv for
wife and enough of good Indian land
TO make them comfortable when good
Indian lands should have passed to their
proper owners, the white man.
Hence the festive trips over the border
10y night on the part Of Yates. Chickasaw
John and other kindred spirits, to whom
the delays of government and the re-
straints imposed by the military were
tho CRYING evil OF the times.
As months passed on and the petition
ing and lobbying at Washington seemed
10 involve only necessity for the con
'inuance Of these pleasing but often I'M
satisfactory privileges Of a free people
the wrath and hatred of the actual
boomers increased Hard times grew
apace in their camps. Many abandoned
the cause and returned home in various
stages Of impoverishment and ruin. 9th
ers. not less distressed. remained to curse
} and to endure, intcnsiiying still moro
their bitterness against the soldiers, who
were the only near by and tangible rep
) resentatives Of official outrage and delay.
Il tell We exclaimed Chickasaw John
before congcnial audience at his camp
fire one night, "a government soldier is L
COVER ment slave. He's only fttin for
n American citizen TO wipe his feet on.
| haint goin to put up with EN- much
longer Look at me. Burl Yates! Iou
never had much to lose, and it's bad
enough on YOU, bullock at me-"
Truly, except as a ragged. rusty epit-
ONE of disappointment, he was not much
to look at now
nav u'T ~, nav i've !'al9 dt;o az" IL
- Nv VI
ii"ii''i GU "''VH vi do 'i"VN 0o''o'i' '.''i's
a. T'VI Sou ,'"CN Il prov i''o' ~ emu V,
ii'''iVa, C''''r, h'eS, 49, w., itO''Io anu
So ~ "a Wv I"'-A' i'''' ia 81
10" ne Sl"Ve" HIS 'ec'" 9"Naeel! dr.
'''e S'D ol1Icl nc sii'''o upon ms con,
SclouS'le's nav nav 'n9se Internal
re'l PialhS' anu 'fltSe ll,iclll'l re-" J''uS'
anu ma iN'i 'e' T 1"Pe so'ei men,
e"aIl're" up u iiii'i'' in'S We S"o"iGo
At an cN'iH III oi' VI II ''iI''' ''o0N'
H",!So' hioArt' ayr anu even III! u"C
ci1l''I0n' ne Ie'Ntu !''H 'iui'io to"aro
T'u KNOB "htre MS ""oi'orS hle"
,l'"' TWO plt"A niue raves were KEEP
pare W l'e pr",rie Ninus' 'ei' Eo"
uoNN' Whcii we nave " Sn' over lne hiit
~, -, -, =,
II Cra"l ana mae anu an long oi lheSt
pi"eC"a.S as lives Oh INC soNer 'Ileil' ;'n'
J. s'afluS 'WlA' Us anu our rlSh'S' "n'''
@ our l"iilllies et"rNe't JuS' aUou' iilahe'
u man ready Tor war "iuI"'F' ehy;Hlhg
II 0oiiic' ines 90" he'i "'ucn WHICH 1t Il
> eit If ........ ..;,.
Il iiioSo ScnI'i"eA's nI'' WI" 'iie "S",
It approval bUri sWore that ne woul'
e rather tlght soldier 'hah cat any tllhe
Inc general OPINION was uh"' soinethih!
/ ought 10 be done ana 'haC soon, thouol
d no one seemed TO hno" exactly what
a something severe an" decisive however
endurance was get'lhS 10 he inuch to
2, tame. Besides 1t was useless; 1t dld IL
y good Whatever. except 10 ther eheihle
It vaguely typilea by All IN authority
mere Arlzohy now san" ClhcNa
a