The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-28
A FAMOUS INDIAN DEAD
aBig jim Grandson of Tecum-
sch, a Victim Of Smallpox.
His Was n Unique Character, Typi-
cal of His Fami1y-Pecuiiaritfe OF
the Aged Absentee Shawnee Chief
Frequently visited Washington.

News mas been received at the Indian
Office of the death of Wah-pah-me-ah-pe-
10, commonly known as Big JIM" chief
of the tribe of Absentee Shawnees. This
famous chief died In Mexico, where he
went for the purpose of consulting with
President Diaz regarding a claim of the
tribe The chief was accorded the inter
view with the Mexican President, but, 1t
is believed, did not succeed in his mission
big Jim was said to have been a
grandson OF Tecumseh and visited Wash
ington several months ago on behalf OF
his tribesmen. While here his interpre-
ter. Joe Blackburn, died Of smallpox. the
disease to which the chief himself after
ward succumbed. big Jim" was over
seventy years of age at the time of his
death and was a remarkably fine speci-
men of his race.
1t is understood that President Diaz. in
according an interview to the chief ex-
pressly stipulated that no mention was
TO be made of the claim of the latter
tribe now pending against the United
States Government, which involves the
right of possession of certain land In
Texas. originally ceded to the tribe by the
Mexican Government, the cession of
which was afterward ratified by the pro-
visional government of Texas. under Gen.
Sam Houston.
This claim is one of the most peculiar
ones with which the Interior Department
has yet had to deal, and appears impos-
sible of settlement, inasmuck as the Shaw
nees according to their ancient tribal Gus
tom, will accept no recompense in money
for land, which they esteem sacred. The
land claimed by the Indians has long been
occupied by white settlers, 1t being one Of
the most fertile regions in the State. The
history of the claim of the former is
briefly told as follows:
1t appears that some years previous to
the breaking out of the Mexican war the
Mexican Government, which was then
harassed by the depredations of hostile
Indians, offered to pay the Absentee
Ghawnees a certain amount of money for
each scalp of a hostile Indian brought In.
The result was the production of so many
scalps by the Shawnees that the Mexican
Treasury was threatened with depletion,
10 that a grant OF land TO the warlike
Indians was substituted for payment in
cash.
Upon the cession of Texas to the Uni
ted States at the close of the Mexican
war the Absentee Shawnee grant was
ratihed, as before mentioned, by the pro-
-EislOnal government OF the Lone Star
State The Indians occupied the lands
thus conveyed to them until the break
ing out of tsle civil war in this country,
when they 1listed, almost to a man. in
the Union Army, and rendered efficient
and valuable services as soldiers and
scouts. When, at the close of the war.
they returned to Texas they found their
lands occupied by white settlers, and they
were compelled to move farther north to
an arid and non-productive region Dor
dering upon Oklahoma Territory, which
they at present inhabit.
The Absentee Shawnees, although they
have become. 1t is said expert farmers
and stock raisers. find It almost impos-
able TO make bare subsistence on their
arid lands. and are therefore in extreme
poverty. Yet. in accordance with tenet
Of their ancient religion. they will not ac-
cept the money which the Government is
willing to pay them for their former
lands. This faithfulness in holding to
their religious belief is, according to the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs. the rea-
son why their claim cannot be satisfac-
torally settled by the Government. as no
svsfisble fertile lands can be given TO the
tribe. and they will not accept any other
form OF recompense.
Thus the tribe Of the Absentee Shaw
zsss. now reduced TO q mere handful, is
gradually dying out and in a few years
may be entirely extinct. The death Of the
cid chief. Wah pah ms-ah-pe-to. who rep