The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-10


Creek and Choctaw Indians were so COM
mon until a few years ago that the whites
of Oklahoma and Indian Territories re-
garded as worthy of especial notice the
departure Of spring without one. None
In late years. however, assumed so Sc
rious an aspect as the recent one. The
majority CT the uprisings, which seldom
attained fatal proportions, were traceable
to the hot blood of the young braves who
yearned for the glory their fathers had
found on the warpath. Nevertheless, such
demonstrations were not always free from
bloodshed, though the casualties we're
never great.
In all the outbreaks OF the Creek ma
tion Crazy Snake has figured prominently.
He has been the cause of no end OF trouble
TO the authorities. civil and military, and
efforts have been made time and again TO
fasten upon him the guilt of instigating
outbreaks. but he has thus far Guided
confinement for any long period.
Crazy Snake is the chief CT the Snake
warriors, who are part of the Creek
nation. and who call themselves the Creek
Snakes. He is a sen of Crazy Horse,
former chief whose death, with that of
standing Wolf, was the sequence of the
uprising OF the fall of 1891. wnen several
lives were lost and four troops OF cavalry
kept continuously in the saddle three
days before the leaders of the rebelli0us
braves were rounded up and escorted TO
Fort Riley.
.-lhe putting to death of Crazy Horse
and Standing Wolf forms one of the most
tragic events OF Indian history, though it
is little known beyond the country OF the
Greeks and Chcctaws. Among the Indians
It is precious tradition, and about these
two warriors has been woven as pretty
wool of mertyrdom as ever crowned the
memory of Joan of Arc. 1t is the pet
hobby OF Crazy Snake to relate the story
to a group of "tenderfeet," and his audi
tors are invariably treated TO picture of
two immortal heroes in the death strug-
gle. for ''honor's sake" against odds be-
fore which Napoleon must quail and
pa ssing al last in undying triumph TO
the Happy Hunting Grounds, there to fol-
low the hunt on either side of the Great
Spirit, by whom they had been chosen as
sub-deities.
Eut the story a cow-puncher or a set
tier of the Indian Territory will tell you
is much different, though none the less
interesting. 1t is a death punishment
Unique in criminal annals, and serves TO
depict mere faithfully than could any
tion Of honor"
In the fall OF 1891, the Indians of the
Creeks and Choctaws were worked TO
high pitch of resentment over the alleged
thefts OF agents. The Indians asserted
that they were being literally starved.
while the rations that were intended for
their use by the Government we're being
disposed of by the Indian agents. In re-
talistion the Creeks and Choctaws raijed
the herds OF the cattlemen OF the Terri
tory, wantonly Strengthening hundreds of
beeves.
In The hope OF putting a stop to the
depreiatioEs the ranchers organized bands
CT watchers with the result that Charlie
Hill. a Choctaw, was arrested and COM
victed at Stroud, o. T. James Richardson
and John Baker cowpunchers, of the Owen
Calender ranch. were the prosecuting wit
pesses.
To an Indian there Is no disgrace SO
deep as that Of being confined in the
white mans prison. and the incarceration
Of Charlie Hill aroused intense indignation
among the Creeks and Choctaws. Ven
geance was sworI upon Richardson and
Baker, and the Indians proved themselves
true to their word. Several days after the
sentencing of Hill, the bodies of Richard
son End Baker were found near the Deep
Fork River. They had been shot down
from behind while riding over the Callen-
der ranch, and their bodies riddled with
bullets
Circumstantial evidence pointed con-
cIusively TO Crazy Horse a chief OF the
Creeks, and Standing Wolf, sub-chief of
the Choctaws. as the murderers. The two
chiefs were arrested and hurried to Eu-
faula. where they were lodged in Jail
The Creeks and Choctaws were now
aroused 10 a murderous pitch at the in
dignities heaped upon Crazy Horse and
Standing Wolf for what they considered
just retribution. The news Of the arrest
Of the chiefs added fuel TO the already
dangerous fame of hatred against the
Government and the whites. Indian run
ners were despatched all over the nation
and into the Choctaw country. In two
days several bands had gathered in the
hills ard threatened to go on the war
path Matters had assumed serious
phase and il looked if bloodshed would
be unavoidable, when Governor Stahl, OF
the Choctaw nation, offered a compro-
mise by which the Indians could be paci-
fed and the murderers of Richardson and
Baker be made TO pay the penalty of their
crime.
Governor Stahl informed the military
authorities at Fort Riley that the Indians
would consider their honor INDICATED IL
Crazy Horse and Standing Wolf, in case
of conviction by a military court he al
meant an execution in which the murder
ers should have an opportunity to make a
display Of resistance against the troops.
To this the authorities of Eufaula finally
agreed IL being evident that bloodshe1
rouiG 10 avoided in no other way. though
the civil authorities regarded the sur
render Of Crazy Horse and Standing Wolf
as a practical release. saying that on pre-
vious occasions the military had been lax
in dealing with Indian lawbreakers
Crazy Horse and Standing Wolf, how
ever. were found guilty in December by
a military court at Fort Riley and SEN
fenced to be shot January IS, 1892, Just
three months after the murder. Excite
ment had died out among the Creeks: the
ChoctaW's had long since returned 10 their
reservation in Oklahoma and preparations
were made for the execution as for some
great feast day of the two tribes.
After sentence Crazy Horse and stand
ing Wolf were paroled upon promising
not to leave the reservat ton without per-
mission from Captain Parker, of the Tenth
United States Cavalry. two troops of which
were then stationed at Fort Riley. A
keen judge OF Indian nature. Captain
Parker trusted the Ind and the day
before that set for the execution Stand
ing Wolf was allowed to ride unattended
O distance of fifty miles. The chief re-
turned the following day
The morning OF January IS opened clear
and pleasant. All night long the two
tribes had been preparing for the eXecu-
ton which was set for noon, near the
scene OF the murder, twelve miles from
Deep Fork postofiice. Early in the day
the squaJs and braves began TO assem-
BILE on the hills which commanded a view
OF the site feie etei by Captain Parker The
settlers and cattlemen and many residents