The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-01-08
INDIAN TRIBES MAY RISE.
Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws
and others verging on Revolt.

Cnerokees, CnOctaws, Cntckasaws
and others verging on Revolt.
Perry, Okla, Jan. 81. III. Reynolds
who has spent nearly thirty years
among the tribes of Indian Territory
has recently returned from a TRIP
among the five civilized tribes with the
report that the Indians are on the
verge of an outbreak. Hundreds oil
them would go on the warpath today
he says, If leader could be found
With them il is fight or go to Old Mex.
leo.
January l was the date set by Con-
gress for the abolition of Indian courts
of the Five Nations and the subsection
OF their Indian councils to the power OF
the President. The first step to end
indian autonomy was taken last June
After January l these Indians are 20
be aliens in the land of their fathers
neither citizens of the United States
nor subjects of any government of
their own-for the time being. United
states Judges in Indian Territory have
notined the Indians that should they
attempt TO carry on their courts after
today they win be prosecuted.
or recent years much fraud has been
unearthed among the Indians. all due
10 their laws. Unpoetic whites say
the reds are rascals.
Ihe hve tribes comprise the Chero-
KEGS, Choctaws, Chickasaws. Creeks
ana Seminoles. The Cherokees are
deemed the most Intelligent and pro-
gressive Indians in the United States.
They number nearly $4,000 There are
Few full bloeds among them. The av-
erage Cherokee possesses all the ont
ward characteristics of a white man
and is well-to-do. They live on good
farms and have plenty 10 eat and wear.
as q general thing they do not work
on the farms themselves, White men
do the farming They have a Ianguage
which is written and spoken by about
one-elghth of the tribe The remain
der speak English.
Inc Cherokee nation occupies about
6,oVo.009 acres of land. which is very
fertile and beautifully diversified. on
II coal, crude oil, lead and zinc are
abundant. The last two minerals
however, have never been mined be-
cause of opposing laws.
The Cherokees sold the Cherokee
outlet In 1891 for over 1000. 600 cash
Whlch was paid out the following year
per capita. Cherokees have a general
SlSo'I5o annual interest TO pay the ex
penses of running their government
The laws of the Cherokees were form
ed In 1875, while they lived in Georgia.
ohder the Constitution the Government
was divided into three departments
executive, legislative and judicial
Ihey have chief with a salary of
sl.5OO year: an assistant chief win
a salary of $1,000. a national treasurer
ana an auditor, who attends to the
PUBIC accounts, whose salaries are
Sl'Voo and $500, respectively The chief
mas power 10 appoint two assistants
ana me treasurer one. Many minor
ofncers ere appointed by the chief. with
the approval of the senate.
The Choctaws and ChickasaWs CLAIM,
10 De the most progressive of the five
tribes from the fact that they met the
dawes Commission half way and did
not oppose an inevitable change. thus
gaming some favor in Congress. The
Ihoctaws. numbering about Is. 600 occu-
py e.bss GOO acres and have an invested
lund OF Sl,1S5.65S, while the Chicks
saws numbering about 5000. occupy
4'o5e,y55 acres and have 81 ,SS6, 6s5 on de-
post at per cent interest. These flo
ures exclude the white adopted citj-
zens of both tribes. The white popuIa-
ton OF the Chickasaw and Choctav
nauons rs more than twice the Indian
population The white people lease
tine farms and coal mines. while the
Indians live in idleness and luxury In
appearance they resemble the whites
but are rather coarse featured. The
tull bloods have about the color of a
Spaniard. Tradition say they formerly
came from Mexico with De Soto.
The lands of the Choctaw and Chick
Try n rr--rl ,s.
thousands of carloads of walnut logs
are shipped from them annually across
the ocean. Statistics show that large
majority of the Indians die young
They inherit ill-health. The Chicka-
saws detest work. and whoever makes
life easy TO them is master of their
pocketbook. Many of them are drunk
ards. Murderers and traitors are
hanged by them; grand larceny sub
jects the criminal to the whipping post
1t costs SIS to cut down a tree and $50
to carry a pistol. When the whipping
post is used the sheriff beats the cul-
prit across the bare back with a hick-
DRY switch.
The Creeks, numbering about l., coo
occupy 9.040, 495 acres of fine land. 10
per cent of which is tiliable Rich de-
posts of coal and iron are prevalent.
The present form of Creek govern
ment was established in 1867. 1t is re-
publican. The constitution is simple
and modelled after that of surrounding
States. All their officers are elected by
the people.
Polygamy is practiced among the
lower classes OF Creeks. FulI-bloods
live very cheaply on ''safky." a dish
made of corn boiled in I've water.
Creek Indians are. as a rule, temper
ate. The half-bIeeds are shrewd. but
the fur-bloods are dull. Old Creeks
believe men are defendants of frogs
and reptiles. About SO per cent of the
Creeks are members Of the church.
The Semioles. numbering about 5000,
including negro citizens, and occupy
s15. 600 acres. They have si,915.l6S loan
ed out at 6 per cent interest This tribe
came here from Florida in 1866. They
are the least civilized of the five tribes.
The men are we'll formed, hut lazy. The
women are ugly and slovenly. The
espoused the Confederate
cause in the civil war. They have no
written law. The chief is the king of
the tribe, and his orders are impera-