The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-02
Big Inns Demise Has Weak
ened His Tribes 0bstinacy.
WAS BARRIER TO PROGRESS
His Talent for Telling Very
Marvellous Pipe-StorieS.


Shawnee straightout Democracy, at the
age of 70 succumbed to grim death r
the guise OF smallpox. in a copse at Sa-
binas. Mexico, where he with three
stricken companions were thrown out by
the health authorities Of that enlightened
municipality TO die, last September. is the
opinion Of NJ j. Bentley OF hawnee
special agent of the Kickapoos and Big
band Of Shawnees. With Big jim as a
fell0W-victim TO iuhumanity superinduced
by rarola was Chief Harry. Of the Della
wares Big Jims lifelong friend and fell
low-kicker Whenever Big Jim had more
kicking on hand. or on foot, rather, than
he could conveniently attend to- he just
crossed over into the Wichita reservation
and got Harry TO punt few for him. On
the Wichita reservation are the witch
itas and affiliated tribes The "affiia-
ton consists OF the Delawares and Cad
does Among this group of remnants Of
once-powerful tribes whose numbers
were as the leaves Of the Forest and all
that sort Of thing. the Wichitas hold the
"hegemony' as the diplomats call it, But
ali the same, Harry in his own proper
person, out-hegemonied the whole outfit
qualities of downright obsusacy and the
perseverance with which he eschewed the
white man and all his works-especiallv
the works The delegation to Old Mexico
of which Big Jim was ex-oflclo chair
man. was composed Of one Shawnee chief
besides Big Jim two DeIawares. one Of
whom was Harry and two Caddoes. OF
the six, only the Caddoes returned.
For years and years Big Jim had been
as smoke to the eyes Of the philanthro-
pist and as vinegar to the teeth of the
alotung agent When the Shawnees'
turn came TO take their lands in sever
ally. Big Jim led off the tibesmen who
were of his way of thinking and this ele-
ment has since been known as the Big
Jim band Those who took aIotments
are known as the White Turkey band
But the Big Jim people would accent
neither their alotments nor their share
Of The money realized from the sale NJ
me unallotted residue This fund stn
lies idle in Uncle Sans hands ready if
ever called for and the allotted lands in
ike manner await the repentance of the
recalcitrant Big JimiJes According to
Ar. Bentley there are already signs of
sueb remuneration Of the stubborn vow
imposed by their late lamentad cbief+afn
Likewise the DelaWares are beeornirg
meek and lowly since Harry's translation
l1 the happy hunting grounds both bands
are showing signs Of going to work and
such Il surrender TO Inc inevitable on the
nart of the Delawares. Mr. Bentley felt
sure would hasten the opening of tba
wichita country. While the yielding of the
Sha~nees would mark the final ouencb-
ine of that high and hitherto inexti7-
-u'SAaoie spirit which had made t5e
name of Shawnee dreaded ages before. al
wen as since the days Of the great Te-
cumseh. whose grandson Big Jim was
Agent Bentley has studied the Indian
for years and is especially Interested i,
ms hic6apoos. He says they have baan
Historically the widest. brainiest and
stuooornest Of an the Indian peonles Rut
DO" me hickapoo is becoming good
FARMER though he still as vf1e e.,
habits the frallest and squaIiest of brtz
40 matter how wen-dned his farm nor
no" large and weH-dued his barn The,
possess remarkable mechanical SKIN Fl,
some cases being actually freakish s.,
1AeF ingenuity. AR Bentley wears a sill
yer ring of ordinary weight of which a.
declares this wonderfur nm. '', .. -'-
Indian asked him for two 60 80, sI.'--7
promising to hand ana rb,-i- c... =
-sity Mr. Bentley oo,,,r...7 -,-,-' =. y, 1ui'-
quest In few dsv- t5,s - ,''1
earsmith returned vim ~. ,i-'-'''5 S--
referred 20. He had from one of tb.
arter-d2iiars produced a perfect circle
semi-clrcular I'm seoti,, -. 81 o','
ished as a mirror ON rbs o,tsf7.
having GA the eat f,.f5, 81.