Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-04-19
HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM HAYDEN
TO FORT GIBSON.
LIVELY TIMES At HAYDEN
CRY OF 1O,0O0 PEOPLE SPRING Up
ALMOST IN DAY.
Agent Dixon Explains the Trouble He
Hnd With the CoIIectors-Doubt-
full If Such Payments BEN
eft the Supposed
Benehciarfes.

will pay the remaining siO0,e08 from
that historic old place, which was,
for a time: in the days that are gone, the
home OF JEFF Davis and Sam Houston. Here
it was that the sad romance in the life of
Houston began, which. terminating SO de-
plorably, sent him into the midst of the
Texas controversy, and to fame. a short
distance across the way from the Playhouse
still stands, though in the last stages of
ruin, the old house occupied by the Con-
federate chieftain, while he was Lieuten-
ant Davis in the. United States army. 1t
has long. been spot of interest to travel
ers and tourists. and has lost many pieces
OF store and wood, TO the hands of curio
collectors. 1t has its share Of patronage
from the crowds WHO. have been attracted
hlther by. the present. payment. But it is
the. payment-those magic bits of paper
with the words United States sub-treas-
ury of st. Louis engraved at the top and
the words James, G.. Dixon written in
fire hand at the bottom, that are the OBJ
served of all observers.
I went out to Hayden, the original point
of payment, a few days before the pay
mept was removed. 1t is situated in the
bottom of Big Lightning, some fifteen
miles from Chelsea, the nearest railroad
point. 1t is composed ordinarily of one
store and a. blacksmith shop, and its very
existence, at the time of the announcement
tnat It was to be the point for paying the
freedmen, was unknown to thousands in
the nation, and Its location to but few not
actively connected with it. In a wild and
almost unbroke1, SO far as the, hand of
man Is concerned, section, it lies there like
a sentinel upon the outposts of civilization
"a postoftice at which a half dozen letters
are received weekly; store at which a
Few ranchmen buy their supplies II was
almost shutdown when, after a hard day's
struggle through mud often belly deep to
DIE. we rose. the brink of the high fand
overlooking the Big Lightning and gazed
DOWN onto Hayden-the New Hayden: the
HAYDEN of freedman payment fame. and
1o,0e strong; booming. hustlins canvas
city, created in a day. Ours was but one
OF dozens of vehicles arriving. daily.
9ysa Was aes s o1s sss S'hsT sssk gt the
vas Big tents, little tents, wall tents and
cepfsio eepfnsi were @ @mingisd together in pleasing
Was laid on with the greatest precision.
1here were streets, Sidewalks and alleys
and each,with the usual privileges over the
which four principal stfests emYGSIed sf 1fGa ana
mere. from early morning until far into the
hiSht, hSit ne patent medicine man, the electric
only painless dentist held hish carnival
always attracting. 4 fair share of attention.
nghts egsn 5sR ffesde95 fe
But this was not the only place for spend
ing an enjoyable ~ evening. Further down
cnfoS Sd were dsIeing pavilions for both
Rs s fh,aste sstSny with hned by yophs S
Soloted partners through the entire night.
resorts. Whisky peddlers were plying their
vocation with daring only seen at such
places: Night throughout was rendered
and and revolving TO pen: But this is or those
VINO VINO came to Hayden for no other purpose
than to have good time.
l will tell You of those who were forced to
attend the payment, and how they. Jared
While the snit. brought by the Cherokee
freedmen against the Cherokee nation for
their share of the proceeds of the STRIP
sale, of which this payment is the outcome,
was pending. and after il was decided that
merchants all over the nation sold the benz
ehciaries goods upon the strength of the
payment, some of them having out as high
as $4,000. OF course it was necessary that
these men be present at the payment. and
they Were, as well as hundreds of others
who had something to SELL. or wanted to
checks at small discount of 10 or II
per cent. l had been in the camp but a
worst relations possible existed between the
creditors and Paymaster Dixon After
running run tue gauntlet OF two dead lines
guard, l succeeded in reaching the pay
office. The trouble arises" said Colonel
Dixon, from the fact that heretofore at
ad hsEs s ne R sOd's5o asd 5o dftss hfys
have, have used their privileges in; a manner
and integrity. They have run against au-
thority ut this payment for the first time,
partment, foFbidding collectors The i'm iIn,ne
tfate pay grounds, as arbitrary action on
my part. 1t is not so. All honest creditors
here now, Who, judging from their PROPOSE
tions to me-, are anything but honest, and,
he Iae as nh m pe be s hss
SignS.''
The writer viii digress here long enough
70 ,,o,s say that Seionsi piXon in the main, but
the collectors. During the big Cherokee
payments of 1891. when there was paid out
the pay, grounds We're fairly. controlled by
the creditor merchants from different parts
OF the nation. At eaeh point OF payment
long rows OF desks We're arranged i'm the
form of Il lane leading up to the payrnas-
ters desk, Behind these desks. on either
Tds ne, sat ss shs gStleSSsgTls and between them
fun blooded indian women: ignorant and
fee6ie draw their money (this payment was
made in currency for themselves and, per
lying loose in her apron. / have seen her
turn and pass from one creditor to arioth-
er. waiting until they should have satisfied
sS bin ana foFEet & siFs Sssk 'fnf but sS' So in
SHdHSe. L nave seen a Slub creditor take
from the poor old woman's apfon Il SI00 and
a $50 bill, and in the excitement of the scene
omit to return d dollar, Not once day
did such things occur, but often: not one
day; but every day; NOT at only one Point Of
truStful ignorance and simplicity of these
people betrayed. by their own people In
view OF these things. one can but say Colo
mel Dixon was right. 1t was this class OF
collectors that raised such Il muSs;- and
cursed u government that protected its
wards.
Many laughable incidents Were. constant
~ occurring in the efforts of the beneii6lar-
les 10 secure immediate payment. 4 cold
wave swept down from Kansas. and Colonel
az the camp Would be. paid irst. DaTing
came into the house carrying Il big. Strong |
whcse face was cont65rted With fii:lt! finagiaary
pain. What's the matter. with s5u?' |
asked the clerk as the men deposited their |
buLden with Il grin on a vacant bench.
but iss aRfai pooiy % sis9 ~ ewine shs ib5a 70 ask
. The griyity of the Situation WIS tnme- |
diately appreciated by the clerk. and he |
put the sick man through such |!
gave up. and, throwing on his blanket. left |
the payhouse in rage. Similar shams
We're constantly occurring Doctors who |
had offices in the camp did a thriving {
s. each. On the opposite side OF a little .
stream. about go feet from the Playhouse. !
the collectors from morning 10 night. pre-
sented solid phalanY. Boniires kept tbeE,
went Sareeping out pyer the H,tle stream,
furnished amusepent 70 pass The long; te-
ah9 hou kd o Ghsn5 saas aaes6 R$ 5fy b Ts sSi
Some said they had done guile nicely; while
Others aterred that they had not collected ,
q cent. and would not make expenses. One