The times., 1901-04-28
A FAMOUS INDIAN DEAD
seBie jim" Grandson of Tecum-
sch. Victim Of Smallpox.
His Was a Unique Character, Typi-
cal of His Famfly-Peculiarftie OF
the Aged Absentee Shawnee Chief
-FreauentIy Visited Washington.

News mas been received at the Indian
Office Of the death Of Wah-pah-me-ah-pe-
TO 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 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.
.'Rig Jim was said to have been
grandson Of Tecumseh and visited Wash
fngton 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 ms
death and was a remarkably fine specl-
men Of his race.
II Is understood that President Diaz IN
according an interview TO the chief, ex-
pressly stipulated that no mention was
20 be made of the claim Of the latter's
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 cessicn Of
which was afterward ratified by the pro-
vtsionaI government Of Texas, under Gen.
Sam Houston.
This claim is one of the most peculiar
ones with which the Interior Department
has Yet had 10 deal, and appears impos-
efble of settlement. inasmuch as the Shaw
nees. according to their ancient tribal Gus
tom. will accept no recompense in money
for land. which they esteem sacred. Ihe
land claimed by the Indians has long been
occupied by white settlers, it being one OF
the most fertile regions in the State. The
history of the claim Of the former is
briefly told as follows:
II 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
shawnees a certain amount Of money for
each scalp OF a hostile Indian brought In
The result was the production Of so many
scslps by the Shawnees that the Mexican
Treasury was threatened with depletion,
40 that q. grant OF land TO the warlike
Indians was substituted for payment in
cash.
Upon the cession Of Texas TO the Uni
te6 States at the close Of the Mexican
war. the Absentee Shawnee grant was
ratified. as before mentioned, by the pro-
visional government Of the Lone Star
State. The Indians occupied the lands
thus conveyed to them until the break
ing out OF the civil war IN this country,
when they enlisted, almost to a man, in
the Union Army, and rendered efficient
and valuable services as soldiers ana
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 bor-
oering upon Oklahoma Territory, which
they at present inbabit.
The Absentee Shawnees, although they
have become. ii is said, expert farmers
and stock-raisers. find 1t almost impos-
eible 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 10 pay them for their former
lands This faithfulness in holding 20
their religious belief is, according 10 the
Commissioner of Indian Affairs. the rea-
son why their claim cannot be satisfac-
torally settled by the Government. as no
available fertile lands can be given 10 the
tribe. and they viii not accept any other
form Of recompense.
Thus the tribe of the Absentee Shaw
xses, now reduced TO o mere handful, Ii
gradually dying out and in a few years
may be entirely extinct. The death of tho
cid chief. wah-pah-ne-ah-pe pe-to. who rep