The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1903-04-29
INDIAN GIRL HER
OWN AUCTIONEER
!
Fake Correspondent Sings
Weird Story Of Singing
Swan"

ing Oklahoma story upon a credulous
Eastern newspaper;
Singing Swan, the belle of Kiowa
Indian sg..i.sgS in Oklahoma. has just
auctoned herself to pay debt of
honor of her dead fathers
Old Jim Crow, a famous, wealthy
white Indian and a character OF I'M
usual force, originality and honesty,
was the successful bidder. He paid
$4,000 for the handsome young wo-
man Then he took her to his home
and introduced her to his family of
grown-up sons and daughters as an
orphan whom he had adopted. and told
them to treat her as sister
The old man is a widower. but those
who know his sterling sense Of honor
believe that he adopted the girl to
keep her out of bad hands and in the
hope that she would find an acceptable
husband in one Of his handsome sons.
In the meantime the debt of honor
has been Cancelled in an unexpected
way.
si3ging Swans father was Chief
Iron Talk, man of wealth and infiu-
ence in the tribe. He had his daugh-
ter well educated. and was disting-
uished for his hospitality and his pro
eressive and philanthropic ideas. She
rewarded him by developing into wo-
man of vigorous mind, of much sin
oerity of purpose and sterling integri-
ty Her fine qualities and her beauty
attracted many white suitors. but she
held aloof from them and stuck to her
father.
He by reason of his constant wish
to improve his people and to do the
greatest possible good with his for
tune, was induced by INSCRIPTIONS
whites to embark on an enterprise that
swept away every dollar and left him
at his death $4,000 in debt.
This amount he hsS borrowed from
a money lender, and while for years
he had paid the inteaest, he had never
been able TO pay the principal
On Iron Talks death the money
lender seized property belonging to
the estate This, however, did not
satisfy the creditor, and feeling her
faaher's debt to be one of honor, Sing
ing Swan finally decided to give her
self in expiation, reserving. however.
the right to reject the final bid.
AS soon as Old Jim Crow had given
Singing swan a check for $25,000, he
hunted up John McRae. the money
lender. and asked for the note he held
against Iron Talk.
Old Jim read it carefully, and then.
taking his revolver from his shirt he
thrust the paper into the muzzle Of
the gun and drove it down on the ball
with a lead pencil
Now, Mr. McRae," he remarked, II
happen to know that you got more
than enough Of Iron Talks property
to pay this debt. You have annoyed
the heirs of my dead friend long
enough, and If ever hear that you
mention this matter again will send
this note into your hide with a bull
let"
Singing Swan chose for her auction
q feast day, when large crowd com
posed of white traders, cattlemen, In
dians, half-breeds nomads and gamb-
lers had gathered in the village street
When she appeared among them,
clad gayly in the rich royal robes Of
her tribe, all eyes were turned upon
her in admiration Suddenly. mount
ing box, she stood a dramatic figure
amid most picturesque surroundings.
She began to chant in a sweet clear
voice a favorite Kiowa melody. All at
once she was surrounded by a cheer.
ing throng. With a graceful gesture
of one bronze, rounded arm she COM
manded silence, and spoke
who wants a wife?" she asked OF
the astonished crowd There was an
earnestness in her voice and face that
forbade a jesthing reply
'Who wants a wife?" repeated the
trembling girl. q am for sale. To the
highest biddey / will execute a bill OK
sale OF myself / am about eighteen
years old / can read and write and
am considered a good housekeeper
can make good bread and the sweetest
kind Of cakes and pies. can ride a
mustang. milk cows and throw a rope.
The robe and jewels that | wear will
not be included ia the sale. They are
the property of the royal family Of the
Kiowas. They have belonged to the
successive generations Of ruling fe-
males in the families Of our chiefs for