The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-01-11

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ktRk,Ntg 81 become consplou-
WOV1& Gus for their dar-
~ MN ina. both as the
iNb1u8f conseryators OF he
E1jE peace and civil
KAN government and a.
dehsrs OF the law.
The most conspicuous fighter and kill
er now living In the Cherokee nation Is
Leke Proctor. ex-high sheriff OF Going
snake district. says the New York
Times. He IA full-blooded Cherokee.
u nearly So years OF age and. notwlth-
standing his numerous battles and
scars made by club. knife and bullet.
he Is siill vigorous. active and keen-
eyed. lie went 10 the nation from
Georgia when boy. when the Chero-
KEGS were removed from their southern
reservation TO their present lands.
When he was yet a young man he he-
came noted among his people as
hunter. trapper and fighter. His first
victim was a man named Ycar-Old.
Young Indian with whom he became
involved In a quarrel. lie buried the
body OF Year-Old and adorned the
grave with flint rocks. a road now
runs near the rocky mound. In what Is
known as Indian Grave Hollow" Not
long after this tragedy Proctor attend
ed a dance In the Golngsnake district
and during the festivities he became
Involved In a fight with two Indians
named Iay-Bird and Big Drum. lie
shot Jay-Blrd dead and sent a bullet
through Blg-Dmm's body. but the lat
ter recovered. This occurred Just al
the outbreak OF the war Of the rebel
lion and a. soon as Proctor recovered
from his wounds he offered his services
TO the United States government a.
scout. In which capacity he was a pow
er as spy. scout and sharpshooter Sub
sequenily Proctor Joined Capt. Scrap
ers company Of the lst Indian regi-
ment Al the close Of the war Proctor
ran for sheriff OF the Goingsnake dis
trlct and was elected. During the sec
ond year Of bis service the council Of
chiefs. Tor some offense on the part OF
Proctor dcposed him shortly after Dc
got into q difficulty with one Jim Kes-
terson. in which he brought his revolt
Yer into action. firing at Kestorson.
missing him and killing a woman spec
tator named Hllderhrand. lie was ar
rested Tor the killing Of Mrs. Hllder-
brand. tried and acquitted Then he was
re-arrested for shooting al Jim Kes-
terson. The trial was set Tor NAV 10.
1872 lie was held as a prisoner At
Goingsnakc court house. In the fore
noon Of that day Proctor was In the
court room with number Of his
friends, Among his opponents were
eight United States deputy marshals.
BY order Of the court the men OF both
parties had stood their rifies and hung
up their revolyers In the corners on
each side o. the judges bench. but
while waiting for Proctors case to be
called sat Beck. nephew OF Mrs.
Hilderbrand appeared In the cour
house door with doubled arreled
shotgun. lie was In the act Of level
ms u at Zeke Proctor when the la
ter's brother johnson Proctor caught
the muzzle % the gun aud pulled d
toward him. Bcck at tina, instant pull
ed the trigger and Johnson Proctor Zen
dead. Beck then shot Zeke Proctor
with the remaining charge. but az that
instant some one from the outside
handed Proctor a gun through "a win
dow and be- began 10 use u most encc-
lively. although growing weak from
loss OF blood Both factions rushed To
their stacked guns aud a battle at close
range followed The smoke became 90
dense ln the court house that the Dr. |
ing was mostly at random. but after |
u ceased and the smoke lifted depu- |
~ United States marshal. a posseman /
and ten others lay dead on the noor
aud IN the ward. Proctor aud his friends |
escaped aud were finally pardoned by |
President Grant with the proviso that |
they cease their sangulnary conten-
lions. Proctor soon engaged after mia |
return TO the Indian territory In rails
ing cattle Tie took a. a partner IN
this enterprise a married man named
Woodruff Of SLOAN Springs. Ark. iust
across the eastern boundary. Their
herds multiplied and grew lat. but one
day shortly before the time Tor mar
ketlng the beeyes Woodruff was found
dead a short distance west OF SLOAN
Springs. Woodruff was popular In
SLOAN springs and In their lndigna-
ton the people conferred their suspI-
clon upon Proctor as the slayer Of
woodruff The excitement grew un-
an a vigilance committee was formed
to aycngo the death OF Woodruff hy
waiting" upon Proctor In a body. 4
prominent citizen led the avenccrs
down to Proctors ranch. A. they ap-
preached the house they saw him site
ting out in the yard, surrounded 5y
about twenty Cherokccs squatted on
the ground. every one of them with
Winchester across hls lap Very few
words were spoken aud they were ly
Proctor. who. pointing TO sprius
branch that flows near biz house
shouted Don't you cross that stream
They took Die advice and returned to
SLOAN Springs aud that ended tho
Proctor. Woodruff deal
Proctor b. SIN riding as deputy Unit
ed States marshal aud with his record
as a KILLER and the government at Dis
back hi. prowcss is feared and HE 5u-
thorlty BE- respected