The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-02
An AMERICAN KING.
Creek Indian Whose Subjects Are
Few but Faithful.

Washington Post.
Sixty miles southwest of Muscogee. as
the crow flies, is a community of Creek
Indians, known as Muscogee Circle. 1t
occupies several thousand acres of the
best farming and grazing lands lying be-
tween the junction of the North Fork
Canadian river and the We-woka river.
vation. The king of the town and mem
Der of the house of kings of the Creek
nation is Muscogee Circle, after whom the
His followers number about two hundred
all Of whom are faithful subjects. His
the temerity to question his authority.
King Circle is rich and his broad acres
give one the impression that their owners
are prosperous and thrifty people. Cir
cle's people are very exclusive and do not
encourage the visits of travellers. In fact,
MED the necessities of life. no stranger is
ever invited within the Enclosure that is
reserved for the King and members of his
court
This Enclosure, which is known as Fort
Circle; stands upon the summit of a high
are score, are built on the pattern of the
frontier stockade and the whole is sur
rounded by a thick oak fence twelve feet
poses of defense No stranger is ever 70 p per-
mitted to pass the massive gates that form
the entrance to the fort. Inside the ncos-
ure is large spring that provides suffi-
cient water for the many horses. cattle
and hogs that feed upon the big Circle
ranch. Inside the fence is a walk on which
King Circles standing army consisting of
men, walk to and fro armed with the
latest pattern of rifle. doing sentry duty
with loopholes at regular intervals. King
Circles army, though small. is we'll dis
enlisted during the past eight years. out
law bands and marshals' posses are ac-
corded the same Treatment. and both usu-
ally give the Circles ranch a wide berth
The determination of the King to protect
his property and that of his subjects is so
well Known that for years his stock has
DeaCefuIlV mol d;-
turbed by marauding bands that frequent
the country.
people,. but their religion is peculiar to
themselves and no man outside of the King
and his subjects has become acquainted
with the doctrine that is expounded by the
sovereign's preacher. Like Mohammed
King Circle and his house keen every Fri,
day as the Lords day, and the religious
services are conducted with profound SOL
emnity within the fort and under Winches-
Ter protection The chaplain goes through
the I0rmahry OF baptizing the entire garri-
son-King, warriors. squaws and papooses
every Friday in the goose pond Just out
is most thorough, for it performs the
double purpose of cleansing the soul and
This part of the religious ceremonies is
all that any person not initiated into the
mysteries of the faith has ever been per-
mitted to see. for it is as difficult to enter
the inner court of Fort Circle as to dance
under the leaden coffin of the renowned
prophet of Mecca King Circles subjects
and they are all fall-blooded Indians. in,
termarriage with whites or the mixed
races being strictly prohibited. This is the
only one of the forty-eight Kingdoms in
the Creek nation that is made up entirely
of full-bl0oded Indians. King Circle is an
hon0red and influential member of the house
of kings of the Creek nation, and he Jour
neys every year TO Okmulgee to attend the
annual session of the Creek lawrnakine
body, which is composed of the house of
kings. corresponding to the United States
Senate. and the house of warriors whidsl
takes the place of the House of Representa-
tives.
King Circle is said to be among the best
educated of the full-blooded Creeks. AL
though his subjects are not up to the aver
age of the intelligence of the nation. in
Guiding the mixed bsecds When in Oknui-
gee, attending meetings of tli. council he
mingles freely with all classes and talks
entertainingy all subjects save those
pertaining to the inner life Of Fort Cir
Gle. He shows no aversion to association
with white men at the nations capital
but whenever the proprety of admitting
whites TO his little kingdom is suggested.
he positively refuses TO discuss the question
in any way. He treasures the old tradi-
tons of his fathers and is doing every-
thing he can to preserve the individuality
of his race. He no longer processes to be-
lieve the legends or his people, but adj
vances the idea that through them many
truths are told in metaphor, hence he
would preserve them.