The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-19

Captain ]. c. Price, who went from
here some months ago TO explore the
Wichita mountains and 10 investigate
the condition OF the country, has return
ed. He took TWO wagons. five men, some
saddle ponies, plenty Of arms and ammu-
milton, and went to the bottom Of the mat
Ter. He had a pass from the secretary OF
the interior and had a better chance 20
learn the condition of the country than
perhaps any other white man.
Captain Price would not give out the
particulars Of mis- trip as he has been out
several hundred dollars and wishes 10
make his information reimburse him 10
some exten: for this expenditure; but
he says there viii be clash of interests
down there, and a serious one, this Win
ter, il congress does not open that coun-
try for settlement. He says that the tur-
pentine balls are already made and stow
ed in dugouts along the boundary for fir
ing the range as soon as the action OF
congress becomes known il that action
should be against opening and in the in
terest OF cattlemen. Captain Price says
that the cattle kings, chief Of whom is
Dan Wagner, have control OF the coun-
try for grazing purposes and by paying
the Indians few dollars a quarter are
able 10 hold their leases and keep outsid-
ers away.
The treaty by which the allied tribes
came into possession OF the country was
made between chiefs of the Apacnes, CO.
manche and Kiowa tribes on one side,
and General ". T. Sherman and ex-Gov-
ernor Crawford of Kansas and govern
ment officials, on the other. By the pro-
visions Of the treaty the Indians were 10
have $4,000 annuity and exclusive priv
ileges of the country and the protection
Of them and their hunting grounds by
the national government. They were
given the fullest freedom of the scoun-
try" said Captain Price, supported and
projected by the government on their
promise 10 behave and become civilized
They are just as degraded today as ever.
They live in polygamy. they dress in old
Indian CARDS, they get a quarterly sti-
pend from the cattiemen for their good
will. The country is full of greasy Ind
an police, and people have been shot
down in cold blood for driving across the
country. The catilemen are making mill
ions of money and using 1t to pay the In
dian police and 70 defeat the movement
to open the country. The citizens along
the boundary will not stand il, they say
There are two INTERSTATE miners
or settlers against the cattlemen. II con-
gress does not open that territory, the
citizens say they will start boys out on
ponies at night and drop fired balls over
the country and keep the range burned
til the cattlemen will have 10 go. 1 saw
Quanah Parker. He has as fine a house
as there is in Wichita. The furniture in
it cost not less than five thousand dol
lars
when I met him and began to ask
him questions ne counted on his fingers
and said No sabe.' told him l mad come
in the interests OF several Philadelphia,
Boston and New York newspapers and
he invited me into his house right away
In the second room he said Mr.. Price,
this is my wife In the next room he in
PRODUCED me 10 another woman with the
simple statement: Mr.. Price, this is my
that same way, and he spoke II in just
as good Engl.sa as l speak.
The ca,tlemen nave made him rich
and ne gives tlem he use OF the lands
allotted 10 his tribe. The old greasy
squaws ride around in just as fine car
riages as any woman in Wichita. They
have their medicine dances. which are
nothing more than family drunk. They
have their old superstitions and prac-
eices.
Il was at Quanah Parker's place when
the news came that ne had been killed
The old squaws Immediately set up a
howl that would discount any gang of
coyotes that ever heard. They scream
ed and howled and cut their arms and
breasts with knives and stones. and IL
Quanah Parker had been killed sure
enough / wouldn't have been here 70 tell
of it. There wouldn't be a white man |
left on the reservation.
There are heavy mining interests in |