The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-06
The Honesty of the Indians.

The Honesty of the Indians
Among the many other .conoc,asts OF the
vest are those who abuse the American
Ind.sn He 5 not ali he should be, but he
Is more than he Is gwen credit for
|. Many writers held that Indians are tricky
and dishonest. II Is universally believed
that Indians are lazy. Il the following
personal experience M J. P Mead OF
Wichita refutes both these accusations The
stories have an added interest as they deal
with the Caddoes who along with the
Wichitas are now taking their alot-rents
from the government
Nj Mead says: Were Indians honest
Wen. 1 wish white mans note with al
the machinery Of The courts 10 enforce il.
vas as good as e wild Indians word was
n those days 1 trusted them often and
never had occasion 10 regret IL In the
spring OF 1855 a party OF seven caddo In
dams. with one white man. who was Lv-
ing with them. came across the wild plain
from the Washita 30 miles TO my place az
Towanda. with pack animals loaded with
furs. buckskirs and robes 10 trade They
were so highly pleased with the result.
They insisted / should return With them
with wagon loads Of goods guaranteeing
a risk in an unknown country with SO
many dangerous rivers 10 cross into the
country OF rebel Indians. so declined They
then wanted credit. sold them $50 worth
OF goods each. amounting 10 s2.Ao. they
promising 10 return il the fan and pay me
pretty Wild venture, you say, something
like trusting wild geese Wei, about the
first of November. on a cold, snowy day.
L. -. N ~ 49,
nately had gone TO the happy hunting
ground They pad me II fun. in furs. and
the friends OF the deceased (~good IN
o-an'D sent along has 500 % square his debt
Some were good Indians before they
were dead. The name Of the white man
was Doc Sturm," the leader OF the In
dams. George Washington
Once a band OF Indians traded me
number Of ponies. and went on their way
10 the plains That night one pony made
his escape and followed the party. About
noon the next day an Indian boy came Lead
ing the pony back. He said they had found
him az their camp in the morning. about
twenty miles distant, and his father had
sent him bach with IL 1 gave him MS
dinner: he refused anything else for has
trouble.
''Yes. have had some interesting expo
r,ences on the plains in the COS and before
scue Of them funny and some very much
otherwise Did you ever hear Of Towakina
jim Now. l believe. chief OF the Cad
does. and living at A2nadarko. l. T. We
were young men on the plains together.
and more genial. pleasant. bright young
msn 1 never met on one occasion we
were returning from trading expedition
On the north fork OF Canadian, az some
where. with two four-horse teams loaeed
with robes. Jim" myself. young whitl
man, and an Indian boy. comprising the
party. On arriving a. the Arkansas Just
above the mouth of III. Little river. We
found the eouptry burned off clean We
were out Of. psav!sion. no feed for our
horses. and The r3ver covered with = shee,
Of rotten dee eight to ten inches thick. ex-
tending ffem bank to hank, about 1900
feet :. Weshad to got cyer or starve cur
horses. Anf purseNss- Sc in the morning
We toe1, our axis sfnd proceeded 10 chop
a road G2aDngS shsshe- The icy water.
being frcrns2 tos{ fest deep. we had to take
o our boots as they were too heavy TO wori-
in full of water. We would chop the ice IN
long cakes and shove il under down stream
When we felt our limbs become too cod,
we would stand bare-footed on the ice TIL
they warmed up a little II was a thawy
day and sun-shiny. jim worked ike he
TO all day IN the Icy water with me.
laughing and joking. though we had moth
ing 10 eat: not a word OF complaint from
him. We were the entire day cutting a road
through, and got our teams across through
the avenue We had made IN the ice Just IT
sunset In ten minutes afterwards the
whole body OF ice moved down and shu:
up our road There was but one habifa-
ton this side OF Whitewater; Jessts CHS
hoim's family were w.ntering in comfort
able cabin in the forks OF Chisholm creek
While he was down On the WaxhitA trading
We drove over there. told Mrs G. Cher
okee lady. our hungry. chilled condition,
and she made US welcome We turned our
horses loose at a haystack. she furnished Us
dry clothing. some of 9fr. ChtsholrHs. q
world too large for me, and we lay down
on buffalo robes before n big IRE while
she prepared a royal meal OF hot biscuits.
hot coffee and other good chings- How we
did eat and sleep rha; night before the
fire. Jim was as happy and cheerful as a
lark IN the morning. ready FOR The next
adventure, and none Of us were any the
worse for our ten hours icy bath In the
river. Jim was darling"