The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-07-25
THE OATAWBA INDIANS.
THE STORY OF n REM iAIsIXAHI,
RACE.
The Cntnwbn Reservation in York
County-Spccimcn Sketches OF tho
Survivors.

The Cntnwbn Reservation in York
County-Spccimcn Sketches OF the
Survivors.
TO the Editor OF Tho News and
Courier: Washed by the yellow waters
of the Cutawba River is Il piece Of
land less than eight hundred acres,
which may rightly be called tho Indian
yet fingers on IL Il remnant Of the once
great Catawba nation. I had tho
pleasure of spending Tuesday, July 2,
with these people. 1t was my second
visit to them, and tho object OF the
visit WAS mainly to gather material
for writing an article about Billy
George, who is very remarkable red
man. spent the previous night vt
Catawba Junction, and found the pcO-
pic huspituble and friendly. The noxt
forenoon | walked to the Cntuw ba
reservation, three miles distant,
through hilly picturesque country.
The first Indian met was hoeing
corn. Ito proved to be Billy Harris,
known as " Bowlcgs,' whose strong
Indian features showed plainly to what
race he belonged. He is Il former
chief Of the nation, and was born 80
years ago right where met him
working. I got him to go with me to
Billy Georges, or "Unclc Billy" us
| he is called. He is the oldest Of the
Cntawbas and many years ago, in com.
pany with other Indians, signed q
treaty with South Carolina. The old
mans cabin is built OF hcwn logs in
front is hill, at tho back is ~ garden
on both sides Of tho house and garden,
also in front Of the former, corn is
planted.
We found Uncle Billy alone. He
was sitting in his shirt sleeves, with
his hat on and II handkerchief around
his neck. bought the latter as Il
mcmcnto Of him. The weather was
raw, it raincd some, and sat with the
old man long time by Il small fire.
Billy Harris stayed with us for IL while
How strange it was for mo TO be sitting
near an Indian who signed Il treaty
with my State: this man, too, was at his
own house, on Indian land, in South
Carolina
1t is not known how old this vencra.
able Catawba is probably about S5 or
80. Age is Enthusiastically stamped on
his face. lie is not tall man, and
his strongly marked Indian face is free
from beard. Such is brief dcscrip-
ton Of Billy George, who to-day may
he called the most remarkable Of the
Cataw bas.
Ills mouse Is ulVluou ltIO Two FOOlllS.
The one in which ! sat was scaled
inside. Some papers and pictures
were pasted on the wall in one corner
was u press, on the mantelpiece clock
| licked, IL few neat chairs and some
other articles made up tho contents Of
the room.
Uncle Billy talked on various mat
tors. lie seems to feel the decline OF
his nation. He told me that sometimes
he couldn't sleep he was studying 80
about his people. ! talked good deal
with the old man about himself, and
paid IL second visit to his house in the
evening, gathering the following facts
about him:
He was born among the white people
in York County, about five miles from
where Rock Hill now IL. In the Indian
language his name was C0inchee, but
he docs not know what it means. He
has md four wives and has three living
cl drcn, one rf whom, Lucy Jane
George, is q little girl aboat 8 years
old. He is IL member of tho Mormon
Church, into which he was baptized
IIo rcc0llects that tho following In.
dians besides himself, signed the
treaty: JacoL .\yres, Jim Kegg
John, Joe, aId San Scott. He alst
thinks IL at another one named BillN
| Ayrcs signed it too. Ho said he signed
1t ~ "a witness, or somehow tina
way" and also that they say he sign
ed it % Capt. George"