The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-11-21
DOWN AMONG THE INDIANS.
THE PRETTIEST COUNTRY IN THE
WORLD.
Interesting Letter From Fred
Campbell.

1TucTS nave uO COuCcpGlOu VI Guc Soou |
towns that have sprung up. You
would hardly recognize the country
along the katy route" over which we
went on our trip to Texas twenty years
ago. There are four or five good towns
on that line now, that are away ahead
of Bellefontaine in business way, and
have business blocks and stores that
would be credit to any city.
Wish you could have seen me riding |
around the streets of MuskOgee with |
an Indian Chief, Tuesday afternoon.
Not painted warrior with eagle feath- |
ers down his back, but a polished edu-
Gated, hospitable, elderly gentleman of
the genuine Southern type, and Pres
byterian-Chief Pleasant Porter, of the
Cherokee nation. Strolling over the
town, 1 stopped on a corner just as
fine looking, elderly gentleman came
along. He inquired if 1 was looking
the town over, and told him l was a
commercial traveller and always took
an interest in the different places I
visited, and especially Indian Terri
tory, and we struck up a conversation, the
upshot of which was, he invited me over
to his house to see some books descrip-
tive of Indian Territory, and we after
ward stepped into his carriage, which
was standing at the gate, and took de-
lightful drive over the city. Chief
Pleasant Porter has a beautiful resi-
dence, and two of the prettiest girls in
Muskogee. He also owns considerable
property in the city and several fine
farms in the vicinity.
Icouldn't help contrasting Pleasant
Porter with Chief Lone Wolf, whom l
met over at Chickasha last week. Chief
Lone Wolf clings with Chinese tenacity
to the customs of his fathers, aad COM
ing up to me in store, introduced him
self in broken English, in this fashion:
"You know Lone Wolff"
mo, 1 don't know Lone Wolf"
"Me Lone Wolff" tapping himself on
the breast with his finger.
met rough rider in Vinita, whom
1 recognized as the man who gave me
my first meal in Cuba, when our sup
plies had been exhausted, and the
Rough Riders kept our regiment from
starving, several days. He did not
recognize me ih citizens clothes, es-
pecially as l had my moustache shaved
off at that time, but when 1 told him
the circumstances, he remembered
them.
Came near being in hotel fire al
Wagner. Went to the Valley House
on arriving and accommodations were
so poor, decided to go over to the Other
hotel. Can't tell why I didn't, but IL
the middle of the night was awakened
by the rapid firing of guns, which is the
Indian Territory method of sounding
an alarm of fire. Wasn't sure at frs
whether the whole Cherokee NatioI
was storming the town or whether
was dreaming of some of the events m.
friend, the Rough Rider. and l had re
called in the afternoon, but pulled m.
window curtain aside and beheld th'
big hotel across the way enveloped il
flames. No one was injured.
The autumns down here are grand
AS l told my friend, Chief Pleasan
Porter, Indian Territory is one of tn
finest countries the shining sun eve
beamed down upon; but deliver M
from Kansas. 1t is the poorest plac'
in America in my estimation, and Okla
homa is worse. The foliage is JUS
turning red in Indian Territory (the.
don't have any foliage in Oklahom
and Kansas; nothing but wind and dust
; but real estate is very hlgh-in tn
air. and it is such relief 20 see tree
once more; but the air is still balmy
and we roll along on the railroad wit
the car windows thrown up, and mag
nifcent panorama of cotton and cor
fields, interspersed with gaudily-tinte
forests spread out over the undulatin
l hills before us. In the evening we ii
: our chairs back in the moonlight O
2 | UIO LII lulu u bllO uOUOlo, OIL
. merchants are still doing business wit
| open doors and no fires in the stoves.
4 will say just one good word for Kar
4 sas. 1t rained the other week and TO
: several hours after rain the dus
D doesn't blow. Had occasion to make
| twenty mile drive just after the rair
= and must say, l enjoyed it hugely
e There is something inspiring in grea
# level stretch of prairie, stretching OF
. just like the ocean, as far as the ey
e can reach. A sunset on the prairie ca
; only be surpassed by a sunrise at SET
d We drove across the famous Sherma
e ranch, owned by J. D. Rockefeller, on
e of the largest cattle ranges in Kal
9 sas-40, 900 acres, I believe-and it ce
n tainly was grand sight to see 49,
d head of CATTLE grazing on the sum
d slopes.
s Will work Arkansas and Nilsson
e the next four weeks and expect to g,
II back to Chicago about December L
h Will probably be able to spend Chris
ls mas at home. Your loving son,
: w. B. CAMPBELL.
:. MOB VIOLENCE NEVER PAYS.