The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-11-25
Sidney Clark Pays His Mem
ory an Eloquent Tribute.
HIS SERVICES RECALLED
As a Citizen, Pioneer Soldier,
Legislator and a Boomer

homa. observed TIE sixteenth ami
versay Of the death Of Hoh. David L..
Payne last Monday night in . manner
thar was highly honola all to people
indebted to a heroic character for a
great and prosperous country. Il was
supposed that Captain Payne died on
November %, 1854, whereas the TACT Is
that he died on November Is. 1854, at the
old De Barnard house at Wellington. The
memorial feature Of the exercises was
observed at the Christian church. Cap
tain E. L. Day presided and the meeting
opened by singing the hymn My Coun-
try IT'S Of Thee" This was followed by
prayer by Rev. Bradford and a memorial
address by Rev. James Craighead. Miss
Radford then sang a solo and Mr.. Stall
ings, one Of the original Payne boomers.
gave a short but vivid description Of The
early struggles Of the early boomers.
sam Howell. who was in Captain Payne ;
company during the war. then pad a
fine tribute to the boomer chieftan 4. as
he knew him.
The chief feature Of the exercises was
the address by Hon. Sidney L. Clark.
After this a handsome Tag was present
ed by the committee 10 J. ]. Carson to be
raised over the grave Of Captain Payne
at Wellington, under the auspices OF
James Shields Post No. 81
Mr.. Clark among other things said:
"On Thursday evening, November q,
1884, a man of stalwart frame OK Wig
orous intellect, and Of determined pur-
pose addressed an assemblage of his
fellow citizens at Wellington, Kansas. In
earnest words. and with sublime faith in
the justice Of his cause, he plead for the
opening to settlement 1t was said at
the time he spoke more fuently than
usual and that it was the finest effort he
had ever made in the city. For months
and years this brave and determined
man. this pioneer of civilization, this gal
liant soldier of the republic, had been
hunted down by the civil and military
officers Of the federal government. though
his only crime was his index1bie purpose
to seek a home for himself and his asso-
ciates upon the public domain So Okla
homa. AS often as he had been arrested,
so often had he demanded a trial by a
jury Of his countrymen. and so often was
a trial refused. He believed with thous-
u
rightly interpreted. which excluded Amer
lean citizens from this fair land, and
every impulse Of his noble nature pro-
tested against the injustice which dstat-
ed the policy of exclusion. In the pre-
ceding summer he had been arbitrarily
arrested by United States troops. dragged
to Fort Smith through storm and heat
and then discharged without even the
formality of a warrant Of arrest. Many
of his followers had been treated with
brutal indignites. rejecting everlasting
dishonor upon those whose duty Il was to
administer the law upon the basis Of
equity and justice to all. smartlng under
these monstrous wrongs, snd knowing
that the government was protecting with
the army the cattle syndicates then in
fun possession Of Oklahoma, HIS address
at Wellington was eloquent in protest
comprehensive in argument unhinching
in purpose. No man who heard IT doubt
ed his fidelity to duty, or that he would
willingly sacrifice his life, If necess AIRY,
that others might enter the land Of the
Fair God. When he had concluded his
address, he retired 10 the De Barnard
hotel and slept soundly during the night
He arose early in the morning, ate q
hearty breakfast, and was unusually
cheerful. Before leaving the table. and
while answering a question relating 10
the status OF the Oklahoma lands, he
swooned and fell, and in a few briee mo
ments his spirit had passed to the world
beyond.
"As his body lay IN state thousands Of
his admirers looked upon his face. and
at the funeral on the following Sab
bath, the procession was the largest ever
seen in wellington. numbering over a
thousand people and extending over one
mile In length. At the grove, after r4-
ligious exercises. the Wellington Guards
fired a volley IN respect TO the soldier
comrade whose. dust they were conslgnins
TO the earth Not only IN Kansas but
throughout the country. the death IL this
man was received with profound regret
and many were the eaiogies passed upon
his lie ana character. Puzzle meeting
were held In many places to give ex-
preston TO the grief that was felt by az
classes Of people at his uutlme death-
And VINO was this man thus cousplc1-
Gus in the great work o. opening Okla
homa TO settlement. ana who vas thus
houored and mourned as his life went ogt
in the cause he lovea 50 weI BE was
none other Than Captain Dsvid Lewis
Payne, the president ~ Payne OLA
hom2 Colony After the lapse " sixteen
years. We come 10 honor again the mem
cry - the fallen chef. ana - bear the
testimony q the living 70 ths fidelity
the dead Alasl how raaHv ~ thc O.