The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-31
INDIANS LOST
IN WICHITA
Sam Pail and Family De-
serted Wild West Show.
BACK TO THEIR HOMES
Where Life Is Not So Siren
uOus, They Went
BACK TO THEIR HOMES

Lost in Wichita. on ground over which
they once rodned, without food or money,
was the plight of Sam Ball and his
family Of four Quapaw- Bodoc Indians
yesterday. They deserted from Buckskin
Bms wild West show Friday night, be-
cause the father was sick and they did
not get enough 10 eat. They wanted TO
so back TO green fields and running
brooks, where they roamed the woods
until late at night. where their peaceful
slumbers We're not disturbed by the rum
bic and rattle Of the railway train, and
where they did not have man TO roust
them out early in The morning, who made
signs TO them to get on their duds and
prepare 10 show themselves in the parade.
This kind Of life was far too strenuous
for sam Ball aud his family, and after
8 months trial they quit il, and have
gone back to their tribe and home near
WyandOtte, /. T. They slept at the police
station last night, and viii leave today
for Baxter Springs. the nearest railroad
point to their home. and from there
government wagon viii be provided OF
they VIII walk to their homes. They left
the show Friday night. the squaw carry
Ing all their earthly belongings on her
back, and sam Ball and his S0-year-oId
sen leading the little procession.
Sam cannot speak a word OF English.
his son John can say a few words, and
So can his wife. while his little girl and
son can talk English as well as any
children Il and IL years old. They slept
on the hard platform of the Santa Fe
depot Friday night, and early in the
morning they were up and foraging for
something to eat. A few generous people
gave them some bites, but not near
enough 10 allay the hunger CT two husky
Indian men, TWO children with voracious
appeutes, and a woman who could also
eat little. They were driven away from
several places, but the police finally got
hold Of them and gave them a light
lunch. The passengers who were on the
trains passing the depot also contrib
uted 10 the meal All day the family
received contributions, and not one did
they refuse. Some one gave them a big
bunch of spare ribs and three loayes Of
bread, and this was devoured in a few
minutes. and within half an hour the
police provided them with two dozen
sandwiches. and the Indians ate it all.
They also procured several watermelons
and many little bits from people and
these We're eaten with as much relish as
a harvest hand eats after long days
work. IT seemed as If those Indians could
eat all Of the time and still be hungry.
Sam Ball is % years of age. but he is
hale and hearty, and pranced around yes
terday afternoon like q young buck. lie !
talked a great deal and laughed. but his ,
Jokes were kept to himself. for no one
except the members of his tribe could un
derstand him. and they did not seem to
think he was at all funny.
He would gaze around the bGldirss
near the depot and give two or three ma
jestic sweeps of his arm across the he2v-
ems and all the tine jabDering TO him
self and after waiting a few minutes
for his speech 10 soak into his auditors.
would suddenly burst out with a hearty
laugh. OF course the whole crowd laugh /
ed, but no one knew what they were
laughing about Maybe the old Indian
was roasting this town, maybe he was /
bernoaning the advent of the white man
for coming into his country and putting
up big buildings and driving out the wild I
game. He may have been telling stories (
of his escapades in this very country
and how he scalDed hostile Indians. and (
hunted on the ground where Wichita now /
stands Who knows what he was telling? /
His little girl, who could interpret, ala /
not vouchsafe any Information as to what (
he was saying but the crowd laughed just /
the same.
Sam Bah was homesick He has been /
pinin~ for several days for the fields and F
woods where he could DO as he pleased. +
lie was supremely happy when he reach +
ed the depot where trains entered that 4
would carry him nome But bis happi-
ness was short lived. for early in the
morning he was advised that he could not
so home that day. The tears came to his
eyes as his little daughter told him this.
but he frightened up again when he was
told that he would be sent away today
a message was sent % the Indian agent
and transportation was sent 70 Wichita
for the family. and today sam BAH and
his papooses VIII again be in the land OF
freedom