The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-11-25
CHEROKEE FISH POISONING.



Gays ago at Mitchel's mill and dozen
or more other places on the Illinois river
in the Cherokee nation, only a short
distance from Sloan Springs, and will
continue perhaps until late in the fall.
The destruction of fish by the Indian
secret process of poisoning is enormous
and will result in the almost complete
humiliation of the last years growth.
The great tribal fish meet has oc-
CURED annually fromtime immemorial;
but this year it has been made an oc-
| casion of more than usual Importance
and the festivities attending it have
been of the gayest order. Thousands
Of Chcrokees have been in attendance,
and it has been the meeting place Of all
the chiefs and the captains of the two
regularly organized political parties,
who, according to tribal customs, gath
cred together to talk over matters per-
| tanning to the continued perpetuatiOn
of their present political rights and the
continued peace, prosperity and happi-
ness of the Cherokee people in gem
cral.
Before their removal west, a little
more than two-thirds of century ago,
and for hundred years previous there
| to, the CherOkees and other tribes held
undisputed possession of a vast area
of country extending over portions of
what is now Georgia, the Carolinas, Ten
nessee and Alabama. y glance at a map
of those states will discover many
names of rivers of purely Cherokee
origin. Upon all those streams the
Cherokees, in the long ago, held annual
high carnival, and not a few of the old
timers present on the Illinois river now
were present then, for some of them are
more than 100 years old, and cannot
unto this day, speak a word of English.
Extensive preparations are made in
advance. All the members OF the tribe
within region extending sometimes
for many miles are notified by the clan
captains of the date when the festival
will begin. The Cherokees are divided
mp into clans, as the Bird clan the Tiger
elan, and half dozen other clans, and
certain ones are chosen to lead in these
annual gatherings. Several days be-
fore the different clans come together
the poison is places in the river, The
dispensers are captains, selected from
the various clans, who look upon their
official positions as places of great
honor.
The effect of The poison is not instan-
taneous, nor IS it fatal. The fish read
ia. swallow, i ard ,yban tho affaot. h..
DIN 70 he felt they dart abour in a semi
rrayad manner sboo+ipg nm and ort ~
,he water VERY often. or seekino The
surfare arornd old drift,yood where
t,a,. ofter II. a. If na,siro for hraatb
Il i not urcou,uon 70 500 1aroe rod.
syad trout hir catfish or . 15-nound
hnfo1o or red-bor.o lvinu 90 beInIe.a
,h,t i i NO tri,l, at all to staD nm and
fin him ont of ,hp water upon tbe
bnnli The noison sometimes nara
IyIe. tho fish 81 that tbe,. turp over nm
their backs and Hoat as if dead The
noison soon leaves them however and II
they do NOT take another dose of it
tbev rego;p their senses and activity
II i not g, mart of tho nrogromma to
alIo,y any, Ssh 70 ra.ovar Il II c,n Iva
nraranted Whom tho noisor +,Les hold
Sufficiently ia craze or benumb tbe fish
the Indian is ready to commence The
deadly work with his spear or bow.
Rows and arrows are also nsed nsne-
ciaIIv Inv the women and there is scarce-
tx = child vino cannot use them with
DEADLY effect
Sor,a,i,u.. ,yhola hoo+Ioads ors
s,,o,rod dr,.;ro an outi,u If . ys,v
,,a,,,. v,i,,,., ,,,,,,,.t, fst' Co. fao.4
have been slauphtered buUe loo heaps
are prepared and SET ON fire. When re-
ducad 70 GOALS and ashes tho fish fry
ipo harms prerad;po Tho ceremonies
which are - sort Of triba1 religions wor.
chin IN which rho Indians how and nat
with tba;r foot and moan and grnnt
dolafulIr tho fsh AFRO ,vranned sipgIv
+, boo,,. hro,,.,, ,oror and tbro,yr IN f.,
rho bo, oshe. ,ybara tho, are allowed tn
o,,,,i,, mil tbo raliriou, mint Of thu.
faast i comnleted When taken ont
tho All ara yar,. naf,tahIe rho fash
rnad;I, sanarating from the bones max
;na ,nott dnlinious di.b Iorga dir.
| 20 - .I -, =: ,I,..7.