The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-02-19
MAD RUSH
FOR BRIDES
IN OKLAHOMA
European Mania for HeiresSes
Extends TO the Indians.
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT
Reveal the Desperate Sorid-
ness of European Lovers.
LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT
FEARFUL RESULT OF FAKE
Paris Newspaper Announced
Bonuses With Indian Squaws


ton correspondent Of the Capital relates
some interesting gleanings from the in
terror department concerning the Indians
as follows:
Much amusement prevails IN official
circles in washington over the receipt of
a large number Of applications from per
sons. in almost all parts Of the world.
who are DESTROYS Of wedding Indian heir
esses. From almost every country in Eu-
( rope has come showers Of letters from
4 persons who are anxious to marry Amer
lean squaws. As mas been charged in the
/ case of impecunious but titled foreigners
/ who seek wives on this side Of the At
| lantic, the chief object OF inquiries IS
lucre. The rush has been caused by an
I apparently grave announcement in a
Paris newspaper that the United States
government. DESTROYS Of civilizing the FIVE
Indian tribes, had decided TO place over
5000 Indian girls on the matrimonial
market, with each Of whom would be
given a dowry of $4,000 and some hun
dreds OF acres OF land.
A month or more ago President McKin-
ley's foreign mail showed a decided in
crease and Secretary Cortelyou was sur
prised to read numerous letters asking
for information as to the alleged mar
riage offer. He know nothing Of the
matter, but as official communications,
the letters were referred to the commits
sioner of Indian affairs for report Here
the first letters were placed in the cata-
logue Of unique communications, but In
time, as there was no cessjon in the flow
of letters. an inquiry was started The
origin Of the nuisance was traced to the
Paris newspaper. Leading journals in
other countriesf deeming nothing too
strange TO be true IN America, copied the
article in full without taking the trouble
to verify It. The article stated that 500
ceremonies had been performed within n
fortnight after the offer, but there were
over 5000 desirable girls left.
Typical Of the letters sent by seekers
after prize Indian beauties, Is one from
La Rarve, France. which reads:
"His Excellency, the President OF the
United States:
ST learn from a French newspaper Of
the offer made by the United States gov
eminent 7 am disposed to accept the
same Inform me Of particulars by tele-
graph at my expense. Have been brought
up in the country. am familiar with horse
raising, and have practiced them many
years with success.
Awaiting an early reply, am your
obedient servant.
Photographs galore have been added TO
the flies Of the interior depa rtnent BIZ
Hon. william A. Jones, commissioner of
Indian affairs. One applicant. who evi-
IDENTIFY placed much reliance upon HIS
looks. sent four OF five pictures. with the
request that they be distributed among
the Indians and asked that the best
looking girl who had the best property
prospects be reserved for him. One Ger
man also wanted wife. He stated that
he worked in a factory. but was tired OF
the old country. He IS something OF q
musician, he said and might be able TO
Join one Of the Indian bands
One OF the most curious letters was
penned by a man in Switzerland and from
the permanent and general makeup e
was evidently that OF a business man. IN
his Imagination the United states was
overstocked with Indian females and
while he might tage one for q wife Re
was frank enough 20 state that the money
was not to ne sneered at He declared
that Il was his intention 70 enter upon
a business venture and sid bis prospec-
tive bride must hold onto her property
here so that IN case he failed he might
come here and become anAmericau sub
ject-but only in case his wife was pref
T.. She was % meet him in Switzerland
and the money wac % come In advance
Among other requirements his letter
contained the following:
'I want a Seminole. sixteen Or seveu-
teen years oh. 1s5 OF J = metres IN height
Of fine figure. not stout or thtn. As for
my part viii say that I am not nl-fav-
ored.'t
Thsn he proceeds to state THE atiDula-
lions IN regards 20 his semino's wife f
meeting him n Europe and directs that .
she select 80 acres ~ land 1et1re setting .
ont 70 see him
Another vain individual, rather tar5y .
in sending III hss appI cation. advances f
reason Why On indian maiden EiTht -
Fra dto receive hIm f1r a hra5anf aug
thu T-nites states for cf,lzen. Tna uawe-
7aoar wef-h he read stated fhat rep 80
must - IN ~ January l. lie admitted .
being ftt-e late tgt re- advanced fss
opinion that from shat law hs Rad sts3-
fes. morally. ire contrsrt Rad been made
when BE decided r. cake urto bluseif RI
kr-erican VIE w1e re matter ngh-
rot reaeh this country Il tirra. r. ,efs IS
~ tbs rerurlic - feai fatty n .e eases
re Thought TIE Law ~ ecutract strgl8
A-rs a~z s-~sw sra rrzrtrT unutE raeret