Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-01-07
TyhE TEARING AWAY Of Tho odd

opera nOuSc across lne street
from this Office that is now in progress
brings TO mind some interesting and
some funny "reminiscences. For years
and years the old opera house was
used for all kinds OF mass meetings
and conventions. 1t was there In the
summer Of 1885, after the murder OF
Frank III. Cass, and A. p. Goodykootz
out near the Sac and Fox agency, and
the two negroes who had murdered
them were captured and LODGED la the
old calabOose on the east side, that
the people OF this town gathered to
dissuade the mob from hanging the
perpetrators Of this foul murder. IL
was Sunday evening and as the wealth
er was warm, the whole population
seemed 20 be out on that occasion.
After service was over at the churches,
everybody repaired to the opera house
where crowd had gathered early in
the evening. IL was only after earnest
work and number OF speeches we're
made by such men as Rev. HawOrth,
Judge Clark, DIR. Fortner and Others,
that the crowd Of infuriated citizens
gave up the idea OF lynchlng the ne
groes. That was one OF the most not
able gatherings ever held In Vinita,
and II is pleasant TO reflect at this
distant day, that the right course was
pursued, and that law and order was
allowed tie right OF way.
Again in the fall OF 1889, when the
sale OF the strip was the leading issue
In Cherokee politics: shortly after the
Wilson commission had been appoint
cd, ALI Wilson, the appointee from
Fayetteville, Arkansas, eager to get
10 work, and without waiting for the
organization or instruction TO the
commission came over 10 Yinlta and
began TO urge the sale OF the strip,
which at that time was unpopular
with the masses, lnasmuch as the ma
tion was.reallzing $500, 900 per annum
from the cattle companies who were
occupying that country then. A mass
meeting was called mt the old opera
house, and II was packed with men.
A great many promlneut fellows from
different portions OF the Cherokee
nation were present. Uncle All Will
son made speech, aud In the course
OF his remarks, he, as the boys say,
stopped over' little. The old man
was earnest and eloquent In his APP
peals for the early sale OF the coveted
strip. lie declared that the cattle
lease would be annulled by congress,
(and IL was) and that he would agree
then and there TO eat as much grass
ON the strip the following season, and
henceforth, as the herds OF the cattle
companies would. When IL Is remem-
bcred that the cattle were not entire
ly cleared from the strip tlll the fall
OF 1913, four years later, All Wilson'S
bad break may be appreciated. But
the climax OF that famous meeting
had not yet been reached. w. J..
Hendryx, who at that time was a renter
on Jim Canolowey's farm a few miles
southeast OF town, arose In the meet
log aud stated very solemnly that he
had come 10 purchase the strlp, and
was ready TO offer $500 per acre then
and there. Some how the manner OF
the man, the dignity with which he
so grandly rose 10 the occasion, took
the assembly by surprise, aud for a
minute or two pin would have been
heard TO drop, when John @. Butler,
(Redl rose and said he objected To a
non-cltlzen being allowed 70 bid; that
none but Cherokces should be allowed
a chance TO purchase the six million
acres OF Cherokee land west OF the
Arkansas river. Both men were In
dead earnest aud no joke was meant,
but the house came down" and they
were given the "horse laugh
But the old opera house with It's
memories, aud It's Incidents, Is being
cleared away and ere long better
and more commodlous struSture and
one more modern In architecture will
stand on It's site, but the old brick
house with It's drum top, and It's
quantity funny frOnt that was model
10 is day, Will remain In the memor.
les OF some OF our old timers I'm tina