The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-09
RICH SLAVES OF RED MEN.
THE FREEDMEN OF THE CHERO-
KEGS RECEIVE 100000.
The Town of Tents Where the Gov
ernment Payments Are Made-DiGI-
cuIties of Identification Our
Wealthy Usage Creditors.

FROM the chicago RECORD.
Guthrie. Okla, April 1S-The most IN
teresting town in the territory, and one
of the wonders of the year, is Hayden,
where the government has been paying off
the Cherokee freedmen. A few weeks ago
it was only postofice, with one store
and a blacksmith shop. In a few days it
became busy town of 400 people, main
ly colored. The one intent of the popula-
ton was to receive checks from the gov
eminent, of which they are the benef-
Charles.
When the Cherokee Nation liberated its
slaves during the civil war a treaty was
arranged between them and the govern
ment that the freedmen should be re-
ceived into that nation as citizens and
hold land in common with the Cherokees.
When the Cherokee strip was sold the In
dams forgot the provisions of the treaty
and wanted all the money, but the court
of claims gave $4,000 to the freedmen,
and it is the distribution of this large
sum that has brought the people together.
Hayden is twelve miles from the rail-
road, and the gathering was all housed in
tents, for there was no time to make per-
manent dwellings if there had been an in
| tention. The Indians and freedmen were
accompanied by a large number of fakirs,
who had the most enticing devices for the
| winning of the money to be paid out. They
| put up Midway Plaisance," where all
| sorts of games were in progress. Then,
to swell the crowd, there were hundreds
| of business men who have been selling
| goods to the freedmen for months on
/ credit, trusting in the coming of this au-
| spicious time for their pay. The total
| number of freedmen on the rolls was over
/ 1850, and each share was worth $l8S.74.
| The payment was made by family, and on
/ account of the tangled relationship of
| race that was so lately slaves the making
| Of the rolls proved to be tremendous
| task. The identification of the members
| of the families was no less Onerous, for
| they all look alike to the stranger. The
| public school is one of the unknown fac
| tors of Indian life in this section, and
there are few who can read and write.
1 There were many new white hairs in the
| heads of the agents of the department of
the interior before they had been at work
| for two days. For instance, an old,
white-haired auntie, who had been
slave, took her place before the paymas-
| ter and presented papers for the payment
| of her own share and that of five grand
/ children whose father and mother were
| dead. Then came the difficulty of iden-
| tifying her. The slaves took the names
of their owners, and there are frequently
| hundreds of the same name, This was
| the conversation that ensued:
| What is your name, auntie?" asked the
clerk in his most polite manner.
Lizzie Raymond, sun" was the reply.
| Don't you mean Elizabeth Raymond"
for after some search the clerk had found
i such a name on the rolls.
| The old lady was confused.
Don't know. sub; always been called
Lizzie. That's what ole missus called
| me-
"Who was your old MISUSE" asked the
clerk, who thought he saw way out Of
| the difficulty
"Ole Missus Raymond"
Sure enough; now, how old are your"
"'Specs I've about so yeahs ole,''
"Well, you are put down here as TO- and
| that will do. Who are all these children?'
'"rhey's the chillun of my gal, Beckie,
| who died"
Then they are your grandchildren?
No; they are Beckie's - she died
| and"
"That will do; they are your grand
| children. Give me their Names"
well, there's Nat and Spronie and Bill
and Bert and Sam-and that's ALL
They were identified, and each got a
check for $1SS.74. This Is an easy case
| but when there comes up a man who has
been married three times and who has
| children by each wife, and there are pro-
tests filed by other relatives, things begin
| to get warm.
The camp has been the most orderly in
| the history of the Indian Territory pay
ments. In former cases there has been
| always a larger attendance of the tough
| element which has made the nights hid
eous. Here the nights become wild about
| the midnight hour and then the ''coons"
| who want to cut dash are in their ele-
| ment. Then it is that the Allkai likes are
| ready to so out and shoot few holes In
| the atmosphere without warning. Girls
| with red ribbons in their hair are here
| and they do the town OF tents in the
! most approved fashion, while the old
| folks are having a. shouting prayer meet
| ing, after the manner of the colored folks
In the south. The brethren from Oklaho-
| ma are numerous and they are usually of
| the sort that has the money-naking craze
we'll developed There is an attempt to
keep gambling off the grounds, but with
| small success. The freedmen are eager to
| get more money and they will bite at any
kind of a game. 1t is, perhaps, good
| thing that. in so many instances, they
| have pledged their money in advance, and
| that it is taken by their debtors at the
! moment they receive 1t. At the best 1t
| will not last long, for they are unused to
having so much, and they know that IN
| Gle Sam will pay them more regularly IN
the future, as he does the NueTOhSeS.
over in the Usage portion of the Terri
| tory every member OF the tribe Is wealthy.
The men are handsome and the squaws
are not bad looking. They are few In
| number and are decreasing every year.
Now there are only S45 voters In the tribe,
and they are the recipients Of the bounty
that might we'll make prince happy. The
tribe has 100000 acres OF land and about
100000 In the United States treasury, on
| which the interest is $4,000 year. This
is paid every three months. and 1t amounts
| then TO S54 for each man, woman, and
child In the tribe. OF the 100000 one-tenth
is set aside for education, and the children
| are an sent TO school. They go to Catholic
boarding schools and are not allowed TO
get the apportionment II they are not In
school. The Indians, too. have large
amount OF rent from their lands. which
| they lease to the cattlemen for cash.
Frequently the leading men go east on
a visit and travel in Pullman cars as do
other luxurious westerners. They take
49, f..,t1too 20 FurOpe and have for their