The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-08-28
9maerspa gutelligeasss.
A VISIT TO THE CHEROKEES.


the State, the Indians of North Caro-
lima are Cherokees and are something
more than one thousand strong, the
number of men and women being about
equal.
In the early years of this century a
large number of this tribe drifted West
and now form one Of the five civilized
tribes of the Indian Territory, and is
known as the Western Band of the
Cherokees. The emigration is still
Westward, and in this way the Indians
of North Carolina are gradually be-
coming less numerous.
My introduction to the Cherokee
Indians was through baseball team
that had driven twenty-five miles to
Waynesville from across the mountains
in four-in- hand. These young bucks
had come to test their skill and strength
or the diamond with the white boys
of Waynesville. There were features
of this game that made it unique. For
an Indian to do wonderful shooting
with the bow or to make himself hid
eous in war-dance, seems quite in
keeping with his nature, but Indians
on baseball field is novel sight.
There was no need Of uniforms nor
colors to distinguish the one team
from the other; it was the white man
against the red man. The game put
the two races on the same social plane.
The Indians were entertained at the
village hotel and ate in the dining
room with the other boarders. An
Indian has thus expressed his side of
the social question: "Indian first,
white man next, then dog and Negro
last.'
,4e home of the East Band of the
CT -:okees is group of four counties
Jackson, Swain, Graham and Cherokee
lin the extreme northwestern part of
North Carolina. This section OF the
State is called the Qualla Boundary, a
wild region of great elevation laying
between the Blue Ridge and the Smoky
Mountains. Here one finds unmeasured
forests of choice timber, hickory, wal
nut, pine, holly, chestnut, sourwood,
mulberry, spruce, hemlock poplar and
oak. The fertile coves are watered by
streams as swift and as clear as crys-
tai. Bass and speekled trout furnish
sport to those who have the skill and
endurance to catch these splendid
specimens of the inny tribe.
A stout horse and strong buggy
carried my wife aud myself from
Waynesville through Soco Gap to Vel
low Hill, distance of about twenty
five miles. Every rod Of the way was
full of interest, and for fifteen miles
the steep, narrow and rocky road, frin-
ged VITA ferns and rhododendrons,
winds amid the widest of all noun
tain scenery. For miles there is not
a ahuman habitation, and the stiffness
is;at times oppressive;p not sound ex-
cept the splashing Of the waters of
Jonathan's Greek on the one side of
the gap and Of Soco Greek on the other
side; not bird nor a wild animal of
any kind did we see along the entire
route-all game, big and little, had
been killed by the indefatigable Indian
hunter.
AS we neared the government school
the Indian cabins came in view, and
one seen all are seen. The first cabin
is the residence Of an old Indian, Mr..
Pheasant, situated several hundred
yards from the road; corn patch in
front without the sign Of path lead
ing to it, built. Of ;hewn logs closely
fitted, and with one room. The num-
ber of long, wide and high foot-logs
spanning the creek attracts attention.
By careful count there are twenty
eight within two miles. Here we came
on squad Of Indians lolling by the
way-side, againwe meet an Indian rid
ing bareback, who tries to give us as
much space as. possible; at another
point a young squaw with pappoose
fastened to her back makes her way in
the opposite direction, with quick step
and eyes fixed on the ground. They
will let the traveller 60 by without
look or word. I have been told that
they watch strangers very closely from
some hiding place but when met on
the highway they seem to be in hur-
ry to get out of sight. The men wear
citizens dress and the women delight
in dresses of the most brilliant red.
A group of squaws arrayed in red,
filing along the road, with their babies
and burdens strapped to their backs,
is picturesque.
The government makes every effort
to keep out of the reservation settlers,
both whites and Negroes, and the laws
of the State forbid intermarriage, yet
there are many half-breeds, and it was
my observation that the cross between
the white men and the red man makes
a handsome man and beautiful wo-
man, but they arc said to be of a more
evil disposition than either race.
The Indian has no fondness for town
life and hence the centres Of popula'
tion arc few and hardly worthy of the
name Of village. Wolf Town, Big
Cave, Bird Town and Yellow Hill are
the principal places, and it is at the
ILL.,. 4l,t rovorp,nopf cohoo1 hoe