The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-01

formerly occupied they might now settle
on a few thousand acres near the Ten
nesseee and North Carolina boundary
line. which they should buy for them
selves out of the land that had been set
aside for them in the Indian territory
Hence the present Indian reservation and
school in the mountains of North Caro-
lima and the touching soicitude with
which the government looks after these
WayWard children of the forest.
There are not many of the latter who
remember the palmy days of the Ottolay
cree of Punishment.
There is one veteran, however who still
lives in dreams of that far off past and
to whom these present degenerate days
are an insubstantial mirage. He is one
of the Oldest Indians living in the United
States today, his age being reckoned from
100 to 10 years. John Keheeotay, he is
called, or John Axe, as the name is trans
lated in the Anglo Saxon patios, the pa
triarch of the Cherokees. I heard OF
him during my stay on the reservation
and persuaded another venerable brave.
Uncle Jake, who bears the proud title
of Indian policeman, to take me to his
retreat the. mountains.
Not in the tepee Of his ancestors did
we find old John Axe, but in the prim-
tive log cabin that still sets the arch
itectural fashion in this wild section of
the Appalachians. He was seated in the
open doorway as We drew our mules up
at the back of his house, nor, in char
acteristic Indian fashion, did he evince
the slightest recognition of our presence
until we walked in and planted our
selves in front Of him.
Then he Strengthened up his huge
figure, and withdrawing his impenetrabie
gaze from the horizon outside looked US
over and grunted and then resumed his
contemplations Uncle Jake finally coax
ed the patriarch into a more conciliating
humor and he opened up a battery of
Indian jargon on us that showed a de-
cided proficiency in Wagnerian opera.
Every time he looked at me he was
overcome with a paroxysm of sepulchraI
mirth. Indians have no sense of humor
| have discovered that long ago. Uncle
Jake couldn't explain the joke to me. He
simply looked worried and said that Old
John was often taken that way Thel.
the patriarch looked at me again and
had another fit of antediluvian giggles,
and l felt that I had not lived in vain
Uncle Jake, who was Interpreter (they
call it 'linkister" in Ottolay), then told
the hilarious veteran that we wanted
his picture, also to hear some of his ex-
periences. hints that appeared to in
crease his merriment. Did he remember
the time when there were no white men
here? Yes, indeed. That was when he
was young man, not more than 80 or 40
years old. There was a good deal Of
fighting in those days and the Cherokees
had all they could do to keep their
neighbors, the Greeks, straight Then
there was hunting everywhere in the
mountains and every Indian had all the
Venison and bear meat he could COM
fortably carry off. When the White man
came all this was changed. The white
man knows nothing about hunting, said
this sage Of the forest. for wherever the
white man goes the game disappears. the
woods are destroyed, the land of the
braves is fit for nothing but women
But John, when he got into thoroughly
reminiscent mood, dWelt principally on a
grievance he had against Andrew Jack
son. He says that 80 or 80 year ago he re-
members Jackson coming among them to
get help in war he was wagng against
the Creeks in the northern part of Geor-
gia. Old John was living in Macon coun-
ty then, in Cawee. where he was born.
jackson made a great impression on the
Cherokees at that time; they liked him,
he was young brave whose leadership
they were glad to follow. John didn't
volunteer himself in the jackson war"
but to them all jackson promised liberal
in tha 2 A.,
he told the Indians they might sell if
they liked, So many of he Cherokees
went with Jackson and whipped the |
Creeks effectualIy. But when the war
was over Jackson failed to make good |
his promises, and none of the warriors
We're paid except the Cherokee chief. |
Junaluski
Old John still cherishes the hope that !
the government at Washington will pay !
The Cherokee tribe what was promised |
in the Jackson war, and he asked if | |
thought Jackson's word was still good !
with the government Old John has not |
followed recent political developments |
very closely, and nourshes a child-like |
1alth in the value of a claim against the
government that might receive consider
cradle enlightenment We're he to trans
ief MS IIO years from his native wildS |
10 the nations capital. There are still
things for him to learn.
John Axe, although he is regarded as
the patriarch of the North Carolina
Cherokees, as not the official chief of the
trlbe TO the latter 1 paid my respects
after visiting old John. This chief. Jesse
Reed by name, is mddle-aged man
whose grandfather was a Scotchman
Reed is thus one-quarter white In an
pearance, however, he is a full -blooded
Indian. Considering his age, Reed has
had varied vareer.
He served for three years in the civil
war on the Confederate side One hum
dred and fifty Indians of the same tribe
served in the same war with him. At |
the end of the war he became a brick
mason and then a Baptist preacher.
Three years ago he was elected chief of
the Cherokees on the munificent salary
of $3.50 a year.
The political system in vogue among
these Indians is thoroughly UNIQUE.
Some have called it a republic within a
republic" and such a definition might |
pass muster-if it were not for very
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