The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-04-17
Harris Of the cherokees

Purcell. ]. T.. April D-While at Ateka
last week we met several men who have
made deep impress upon the history OF this
country and are Interesting studies because
of their strong individuality and the leading
part they have taken in territorial affairs.
One of these is DR.. E. Poe Harris, VINO
makes his home at the pleasant village OF
Savanna, at one time the leading coal min
ing town of the country. This gentleman
las been for years resident of this coun-
try, coming TO the Cherokee nation during
or directly after the war. He came here
from Sedalia, Mo-, knowing that town in
its early days, when only small station on
the Missouri Pacific, a few miles distant
from the then county seat, Georgetown,
and which, he thinks, owes its growth TO
the fact that the war caused road build
ing TO be suspended for some time and left
Sedalia the terminus of the Missouri Pa
cific during the time
DR.. Harris became identified with the
Cherokee nation by marriage soon after
coming here and al once took prominent
part in national politics. He took editorial
charge Of the Cherokee Advocate for time
and was identified with Boudinot in the
advocacy of progressive ideas. for which
advocacy Boudinor was exiled from the
Cherokee country and Harris was also fore
ed to leave, making his home since that
time in the Choctaw country.
The doctor is very striking in his per-
sonal appearance, tall, straight and wear
| ing long hair shivered by the years of ad-
venture he has passed through. He is dis
posed TO regret somewhat the days when
there was less law and much less lawless-
ness in this country. As ne said to friend
- Il a
| morning: "In those old days, il herder
found one of my cows on the range, with
| a calf, he simply rounded them up, branded
| the calf in my brand and sent me word
that they were with such herd. / would
| send them word to drift them up my way
| the first time they were driving in that di-
rection, and in that way would soon get
! them within distance where I could go
| after them. Now they would put their
| own brand on the calf, burn the brand off
| the COW and rebrand her in their own
brand and 1 would never hear Of them.
When a man killed a yearling of mine for
beef, we thought nothing of it, as he would
| tell me about ii the first time he saw me,
| but when he made a practice of the busi-
ness, or was known to be shipping cattle
| rot his own out of the country we would
4
give him so long TO get out OF the country.
| he generally gave good heed to the notice
ard was absent at the time set. If he
didn't go he was found dead at the road
side some morning, and no expense or trou-
| BILE was wasted at his trial and execution"
| The long white hair and beard of DR..
| Harris is enough of itself to draw atten-
! ton to him in any crowd. He wears his
| hair most of the time folded on his head
| beneath his hat, but frequently it hangs
| Gown. sweeping in ionng silver curls below
( his shoulders. He wears it thus in obedience
| TO a solemn VOW. He was an ardent de-
| fender of the Southern cause and in the
| closing hours of the war, when the stars
and bars of the Confederacy were going
down in darkness and gloom, he pledged
| that he would never shave nor cut his hair
until the South had gained her rights, and
| has religiously kept that vow.
W. H. WALKER.