New-York tribune., 1901-07-29
KANSAS LAND DISPUTED IN 1906
HOW LIEUTENANT PIKE PERSUADED THE
INDIANS TO RAISE THE AMERICAN FLAG.

HOW LIEUTENANT PIKE PERSUADED THE
INDIANS TO RAISE THE AMERICAN FLAG.
From The Kansas City Journal
A correspondent writes 10 The Journal say
ing: How was il that the Pawnee Indians We're
made by Spain to hoist the Spanish nag tWo
United States? In your account OF the Fourth
Of July exercises to be hesd in commemoTatioh
of the first flag raising by Lieutenant ZeouI"h
VI. Pike you did not explain this"
At the time of Pixies eXplOit at the faWhee
village In Republic County there was no dispute
by Spain of the title Of the United states 10
boundaries OF this territory. and Kansas was IN
the debated Now. Spain. or Mexico
claimed all of the lands lying south or the
Platte River. while the United States fixed the
boundary line at the Rio Grande. In lsOt. when
informed Of Pixies expedition, the Spaniards.
some five hundred strong. and led by Malgares'
set out from Santa Fe with the double purpose
Of intercepting Pike and enforcing Spanish SOW
eregnty over the Kansas Indians. Later, Wheh
Pike straved over into New Mexico. he became
the prisoner OF Malgares, though the relations
between the men were cordial ani intimate
Pike and MagareS missed each other on the
plains OF Kansas Malgares arrived at the Paw
village some three weeks ahead or the
Americans and he impressed upon the Indians
the belief that they were subjects or SPAN
Pike. i'm his diary. quantity says;
The Spaniards had left several OF their hags
In this village. one Of which unfurled at the
chiefs door the day OF the grand council. and
among the various demands and charges
made was that the said flag should be delivered
70 me and OF the United states flags raised
and hoisted in its place This probably was
carrying the pride Of nations too far. as there
had lately been so large a force of Spanish
cavalry at the village, which had made great
impression on the minds Of the young men as
to their power. consequence. etc, which my APP
pearance with twenty infantry was by no means
calculated 10 remove. After the chiefs hal rec
piled TO various parts Of my discourse, but were
silent as to the flag again reiterated the de-
mand for the flag adding that u was impossi-
ble for the nation 20 have two fathers, that they
must either be- the children Of the Spaniards or
acknowledge their American father. After "a
silence Of some time an old man arose. went 10
the door. and took down the Spanish flag and
brought IL and laid it at my feet and then re-
CCived the American flag and elevated II on the
staff which had lately borne the flag of his
Catholic majesty This gave great satisfaction
10 the Usage and Kansas, both ~ whom avowed
themselves TO be under the American proteC-
tion. PerceivinE that every face in the council
was Clouded with sorrow. as " some great ma
tional calamity was about % befail them. took
up the contested colors and told them that as
they had now shown themselves TO he dutiful
children I'm acknoW lodging their great American
father I had no desire tn CwharraHs them with
the Spaniards FOR 81 was the wish uf the Ameri
cans that their red brothers should remain
peaccaby around their own fires. ana not en-
broi themselves iu any disputes between the
white people. and that FOR fear the Spnniurde
might return there in force again / gave th"m
back their flag. but with the injunction that SO
should never he holstcd during Our stay. 40
this there was great shout ~ appllur. 1ud
the charge was particularly attended too
Iiut with all the shouting and applause the
Indians ala not grow very friendly with their
American visitors The chiefs strongly urged
PIKE 70 turn back and not % attempt 1lt
further exploration OF the country 80 ifaf a
council served formal notice upon the t.tI.s uald
~ Americans that n they attempted ip go on
they would he stopped BY force 90 arms. My
reply" says Pike. was that / had been sent out
hy the great father 20 explore the western terri
tory to visit all his red children. 20 make peace
between them and turn them from shedding
blood. that he had seen how ! had caused the
Usage and Kansas 10 meet 10 smoke the pipe ~
peace together and take each other by the hand
like brothers. that as yet my road had been
smooth. with clear sky overhead. I had not
seen any blood in paths But he must know
that the young warriors of his great American
father not women 10 be turned back BY
words. that ! should therefore proceed. and n
he thought proper To- stop me he might attempt
H. but We were men well armed and would sell
our lives at a dear rate To his nation. that we
knew our great father would send other young
warriors there TO gather up our bones and re-
venge our death on his people. when our spirits
would rejoice in hearing our exploits sung in the
war songs OF our chiefs
And IL is recounted by another historian that
'thereupon the Indians cringed from the Ameri-
cans like buffalo from lances and the expedition
was suffered to go on though this scarcely
tells the whole tale. The truth is that Pike so
badly 'buffalOed" these Indians that they
fetched him fresh ponies and outfitted him in
other ways for his long journey across the