Evening star., 1898-12-26
AN AMBITIOUS COMANCHE.
Hopes to Establish an Indian State
and Represent 1t in Congress.


Chief Not-Afraid-of-T Thunder or, as he
writes himself, Storm King, is one of the
finest specimens of physical manhood that
walks the earth. and he is very proud Of
his education, which makes him a leader
among his people. He is a -blooded Co
nanche, and from his earliest youth he
has devoted all his energies to study.
Beginning with natural talents of a high
order, and possessing an extraordinary
memory, he no sooner learned to read and
write than he almost startled those most
familiar with him by the rapid progress
that he made in- n-acquring knowledge 1t
Is SAID that when a boy he learned the
multiplication table in one night, and be-
lore he was sent, to school he frequently
amazed his friends by repeating whole
chapters from the Bible or long newspa per
articles, after reading them two or three
times.
His father was a wealthy chief and en-
couraged his boy to learn the white man =
books. After the Conlanches were settled
on their reservation the old chief had the
good fortune to meet with Arsayne Beau
jen frenchman. who had made plenty of
money trading with the Indians.
1his old yoyager was going back to
FRANCE to marry and enjoy life beneath the
only skies that are bright and pretty in
the eyes Of Frenchman, and he offered to
take the Indian boy with him TO Paris ard
give him the opportunity to obtain a first
class education. The shrewd old Comanche
was pleased with this proposition, and the
boy bade his people farewell and started
away with his benefactor with the deter
mlnaton to secure good education.
In less than three months the old French
man wrote the Comanche chief that his
son was speaking French like a native and
was astonishing the many friends he had
made by the rapidity and ease with which
he mastered everything he attacked.
The young Indian stayed in Europe four
years, during which he visited almost every
'great city and was frequently the guest of
royalty. The Car of Russia was so much
pleased with his colloquial powers and the
wonderful knowledge that he displayed in
discussing military matters that he gave
him beautiful sword and sum of money
to enable him to pursue his travels and
complete his education.
When about to return home the lad Wis
lted England and was much pleased
with the great universities that he attend
ed a series OF lectures at oxford, where he
devoted most of his time to the study of
law and oratory
He came back to his people about two
years ago, bringing with him a library of
several hundred volumes. He speaks six
languages fluenuy-Comanche, English
French, German, Spanish and Italian-and
says 1t is no more trouble for him to learn
a language than it is for child to learn
a little song"
Storm King was admitted to the bar
OF several important cases he has shown
that he is a lawyer Of no mean ability. He
was pitted against the eloquent son of
General Sam Houston a few weeks ago
and after a hot battle, which lasted three
days, he won his case
Storm King still dresses after the custom
of his people, and no amount of persuasion
can induce him to change his ideas on the
subject of clothing.
Il am an Indian" he says, and l shall
not make myself conspicuous, and prob
ably unpopular, by abandoning the COM
Portable and picturesque dress of my peo-
ple.'
Chief Storm King expects to start a news
paper in the territory and says he is writ
ing a book which he thinks will greatly
benefit his people. He is devoted to the
interests Of his tribe, and firmly believes
he is predestined to do a great work for
all the Indian races and rescue them from
the dark, ingiorious fate toward which
they seem to be drifting.
He is developing a scheme to unite all
the tribes and form great state, which
he hopes to represent in Congress.