Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-07
WITH KING CIRCLES PEOPLE
An Interesting Community Of Greek
Indians.
Protected by n StOcknde and n Stand
ing Army of Ten Men-Descend-
ed From Axtecs.
pecial Correspondence of The Evening Star.

MUSCOGEE, /. r., December 20, 1891.
Sixty miles southwest OF Muscogee, as the
crow flies is a community of Creek Indians,
known as Muscogec Circle. 1t occupies
several thousand acres of the best farming
and grazing lands lying between the juno
ton of the North Fork Canadian river and
the We-woka river and extending west TO
the Seminole reservation. The king OF the
town and member of the house of kings OF
the Creek nation is Muscogee Circle, after
whom the community is named. His fol-
lowers number about 200, all Of whom are
faithful subjects. His word in all things Is
law and no one has the temerity to ques-
ton his authority. King Circle is rich and
his broad acres give one the impression
that their owners are prosperous ana
thrifty people. Circles people are very eX-
elusive, and do not encourage the visits OF
travellers In fact, while the hungry ana
thirsty are not denied the necessities Oh
life. no stranger is ever invited within the
Enclosure that is reserved for the KING ana
members of his court.
This Enclosure which is known as Fort
Circle stands upon the summit OF a hiSn
hill The buildings, of which perhaps there
are a score are built on the pattern OF the
frontier stockale, and the "hoie IS sur
rounded by thick oak fence twelve 1eet
high built with an idea single to purposes
of defense. No stranger Is ever permitted
to pass the massive gates that form the
entrance to the fort. inside the lhciosuIe
is a large spring that provides sutIcleht
water for the many horses, cattle ana noSS
that feed upon the big Circle ranch. inside
the fence is a walk on which King circles
standing army consisting of ten men. walk
to and fro, armed with the latest pattern
of rifle, doing sentry duty. Below this walk
the fence is provided with loop holes at
regular intervals. King Circles army
| though small, is well disciplined, for only
| two recruits have been enlisted during the
+, past eight years.
| Outlaw bands and marshals' posses arc
| accorded the same treatment ana pom
| usually give the Circles ranch a VIDE pirth.
The determination of the KING 10 pfo OF se
| we'll known that for years his stock mas
| grazed peacefully upon the ranch, undls-
| turbed by marauding bands that frequent
| the country.
Friday Kept as Lords Day.
| Fort Circle is inhabited by religious
| people, but their religion Is peculiar 10
| themselves, and no man OUTSIDE OF the
king and his subjects has become acqualnt-
cd with the doctrine that Is eXpounded oy
the sovereign's preacher Like Mohan'met'
King Circle and his house keep every FRI
| day as the Lords day. and the relg1ous
| services are conducted with profound sol
emnity within the fort ana unoer vino nes-
ter protection. The chaplain goes throusn
the forrnality of baptiZing the entire gar
| ,.;son-king. warriors, squaws and papooses-
| every Friday in the goose pond just out
| side of the fort. The ceremony OF Daptislii
is most thorough for 1t performs the dou-
| hle purpose of cleansing the soul and the
| body. o
| all that any person not initiated into the
mysteries of the faith has eyer been per-
mitted to see, for it is as difficult to enter
J the inner court of Fort Circle as to dance
under the leaden coffin of the renowned
| prophet of Mecca. King Circles subjects
are all good citizens OF the SreeR ha so,
| marriage with whites CT the mixed races
being strictly prohibited This Is the only
| one of the forty eight Il kingdoms In the
| full blooded Indians. King Circle is an
| honored and influential member of the
house of kings of the Creek nation, and ne
| journeys every year to- Okmulgee 10 at
| tend the annual session of the Creek law
| making body, which is composed of the
| house of kings, corresponding to the United
States Senate, and the house OF warriors,
which takes the place OF the House OF rep
resentatives.
King Circle an Educated Indian.
In 1890, when the government was tax
ing the census of the five civilized tribes in
| the Indian territory, there was great OPP
position among the Creeks. AT meeting
| held at Eufaula Court House in August of
that wear speakers advised the people to
refuse to answer interrogations or to FUR
nish information to enumerators, assuring
their hearers it was scheme lraught win
evil to the Indian and meant opening the
| country to white settlement. loss of domain
| and taxation. The spirit was in turn re-
| echoed by town and clan chiefs and other
local officials to such an eXtert as not only
seriously to impede the work, but to cause
several enumerators to resign their posi-
| tions. So general was this sentiment
among the people that in October the prin-
cipal chief L. c. Pcrryman, sent a message
| to the Creek council. calling their atten-
| ton to existing conditions and recommend
| ing such legislative action as would enable