Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1893-08-17
rHn pnLAwARn rAYMnNr.
ease, ,e44 Disbursed Among e7l
Persons.


The payment Of the remaining bali
Of the Delaware invested funds at
Lightning creek pay grounds near Al
luwe succeeded the election last week
very closely as the central topic OF in.
terest throughout this portion OF the
nation. In fact. very few persons who
attended the payment knew Of the re-
suits until they had been on the
grounds day or so. The payment
was advertised by ex.Cougressman s.
w. Peel Of Bentonville, Ark, special
disbursing agent, TO begiu Wednesday
but there was a delay Of a day. When
the gentleman left Washington on the
6rst of the month he was assured by
the department officials that seven
days was all the time they could wish
in which to have the money in the sub.
treasury at 81. Louis. The ninth Of
the month was therefore announced ne
pay day, but when the date arrived
the money was not available at st.
Louis and a day was consumed in ar
ranging the maie.r. Thursday morn
ing the paymaster announced, after a
few complimentary remarks TO the
Delawares and their honored chief,
Charles Journeycake, that The rolls as
prepared contained the names Of SIl
persons to whom would be paid $780,
644.12, or S527.72 each. The shares Of
George Bullet and family and Lucy
Zulky and family he was directed to
return TO the United States treasury.
As explained heretofore these are the
two parties who did not sign the petit
tions for payment Of the invested
funds and the reason is presumed TO
be that they did not wish to pay the
commission exacted. After deducting
the commission and expense Of dis
bursement the shares were S5Ol.l2. No
member Of the tribe was compelled to
pay the fee but their shares were
drawn in two checks and so far as
learned all turned them over, though
not in every instance without remon-
sirating. The payment closed satur-
day evening.
70 novice the scene was an inter-
esting one. There were probably $500
or more persons upon the grounds,
representing all shades OF character as
well as color aud engaged in almost ev-
cry avocation. The horse traders
were there in numbers but their hopes
of selling scrubs at thoroughbred
prices were not realized; the Delawares
had bought all the horses they needed
at fancy figures. What few sales were
made were at very low prices. Stands,
boarding tents, livery stables, shows
and "fakes" were ON every side. The
grounds we're laid out in order along a
number of avenues and all portions
could be reached by wagon without
difficulty. The old Playhouse was sur
rounded by substantial eight-wire
fence and within this enclosure was
situated the collectors tent, which
was occupied by branches Of the two
Cofeyville banks. There was at first
little Misunderstanding as to who
should be admitted inside this enclos-
ure but most OF those who had busi-
ness finally got in. AS beneficiary
came out OF the pay house he was con-
Quoted to the tent (if this attention
was necessary and there paid TO the
bankers the amount of his indebted.
ness TO all those merchants who were
IN the pool" taking check on d
| CoHeyyille bank for the balance. Just
what amount was traded out cannot
be stated; many got but small check
as a balance and few bad overtraded
Some there were who had bought prac
| ticaily nothing. Most OF lhe beneficI
aries came up 10 the collectors table
promptly and paid tleir bills, while
some needed great deal of urging anc
others refused absolutely. There wa,
considerable rivalry among the "pooi
and the outside, in cases where the
party owed both, and as Vinita wal
largely the outside and Coheyyille anc
Bartlesville the "pool," it was "hus'
tie" between the two sides. II is a
pleasant duty TO state that in every in.
stance where "the play" came up il
this manner that Vinits got the bes
fit. Candor oompels the admission
that there we're one or two notable in
stances when our fellows had very dul
music to march to.
This payment is the last half of th'
invested funds OF the Delawares, oI
which they have drawn semi-annua
interest payments during their twenty
ave years residence in the Cherokee
nation. The first half OF the fund wal
paid out in December, 1891. Their,
will yet be made, probably within
few months, the last springs interes
money which may amount to S25 each
During their residence in Kansas tn,
Dclawares drew regularly about doubl
the amount they have received sine
moving here, from fund of which thi
is a portion aud which was derive,
from the sale Of their lands in Ohio.