The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-09
INDIAN TRIBE At LAN
Montauks Fighting for the
Home of Their Fathers.
EAST END OF LONG ISLAND
Is the Prize Romantic
History Attaching.

| Acres Of land numbering 5000 and worth
more than a million dollars were brought
! into dispute in consequence of meeting
! between a poor farm boy and a minister
of the Gospel. They had talked but alit-
tie while when the preacher, looking at
the young laborer. said
You are my tribal chief. You are the
| King of the Montauks-of the remnant of
that powerful tribe of Indians who once
ruled Long Island
The boy was Wyandauk Pharaoh, and
the preacher was the Rev. Eugene A.
Johnson, of Harrisburg. Pa, a full blood
ed Indian. a Presbyterian and a man of
education and culture. This chance meet
ing resulted in the series of law suits tim
ed to GUST the Long Island Railroad
Company from the Montauk Reservation
on Long Island, the latest phase of which
is soon TO be decided by the Counrt of APP
peals of the State of New York
In the finest section of the Montauk
Peninsula at the eastern end Of Long Is
land this reserve was situated. When, in
1860 the tribe surrendered their country
to the whites. they retained this land, be-
cause OF it's beauty, its fine streams and
forests and its abundant supply of game
and it was to be theirs so long as a
drop of Montauk blood should flow in the
veins of living beings"
The tribe also retained its hunting right
in all the other lands of their country.
or, as it was quantity phrased. "1ibertie
to fish in any of the creeks or ponds,
and to hunt uppe or downe in the woods.
without molestaton."
For more than two centuries these
lands and privileges were peacefully en-
joyed. From the year 1sgD-a century
ago-the interests OF the individuals Of
the tribe were recorded in a book known
os the list book" This ancient tome.
now yellow and worn. will be exhibited
in evidence. 1t is said that enemies OF the
tribe sought for it for many years TO de-
stroy IL. but the Indians buried Il IN the
woods. so that It might he preserved as
a proof Of their membership IN the tribe
and their rights in the property.
II was not however, until the tribe had
almost vanished that their rights were
suffered TO slip from them. Many had
died. Some had gone 20 other States
Some were laborers and some seamen.
The game had disappeared. AMI the land
was reproductive Even the chief Of the
tribe. young Wysndauk. had gone. and
his mother Maria Banks. was Jeff des-
titute and forced 20 earn z wretched Nv
ing BY doing drudge work for the whites
she is now nearly 10 years old. and was
then said 70 be weak minded Al last &
Is said. she was persuaded 70 surrender
all thu tribal rights IN return for shsnty
lots. she did this in the name Of her son
the absent WyandSuk ard other Indians
supposed 70 have an interest n the laaa
also quilted their Claims They then set
tied Al Freerown. and the tribal domain
passed into the possession q The Long L.
land Railroad
After the discovery Of the missing Wy
andauk Mr.. Johnson called the remain
Ing tribesmea together and Dox-~ow
vas held. IN The Interval some % the
members rad become veI 20 d. Nousy
was forthcoming. and the courts were AZ
peals-i 20. VITA Tysndaek Pharaoh 80
p.alntiT OF The part * the Moatagk A.
ISOLATION
TIE case was t-ss4 Ssso-s Judge Mad {
dox n Brooklyn. 7 va contested - Ire E
Long Island Rzgiroad htat the Mo1fa1ks
"a = tribe had 10 legal existence 7; zss
declared contract o sale was zaae
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