The Washington times., 1904-12-11

~ HEROKEE was the civic father
Of Yellowhammer. Yellowham-
mer was a new mining town
constructed mainly of canvas
and undressed pine. Cherokee was a
prospector. One day while mis- bllrro
was eating quartz and pine burrs Chero-
kee turned up with his pick mug
sei weighing thirty ounces. lie staked
MS claim. and then. being a man OF
breadth and hospitality, sent out invi-
tations 10 his friends in three States IN
drop in and share his luck.
Not one Of the invited guests sent re-
grets. They rolled IN from the ellis
Country from Salt River. from the
Pecos. from Albuquerque and Phoenix
and SANTA Fe, and from the camps in
teryening.
When a thousand citizens had arrived
and taken up claims they named the
town iellOwhammer appointed a sigi-
lance committee and presented Chero-
kee with a watch chain made OF mug
gets.
Three hours after the presentation
ceremonies CherOkee's claim played out
lie abandoned il. and staked others one
by one. Luck had kissed her hand 10
him. Never afterward did he turn ma
enough dust in YeiIowhammer 10 nav
his bar bin. But his thousand invited
guests were mostly prospecting. and
Cherokee smiled and cOngra tuIated
them
Hellowhammer was made up of men
who took OF their hats 10 a smiling
loser 50 they invited Cherokee TO say
what he wanted
Me- said Cherokee. ooh er1b
stakes VIII be about the thing. reckon
III prospect along up in the MariDosss
II 1 strike It up there will most GER
rainly let you all know about The facts
never was any hand 10 hold out cards
on ms friends"
In May Cherokee. packed his burro. and
turned ifs thoughtful. mouss-colored
forehead 10 the north. Many citizens
escorted him 20 the underlined limits
Of Nellowhammer. and bestowed upon
him shouts OF commendation and fare
wells. Five pocket TASKS without an air
bubble between contents and cork were
forced upon him; and he was hidden 10
consider NellOwhammer in perpetual
commission for his bed. bacon ana eggs.
and hot water FOR shaving IN the event
that luck did not see M to warm her
hands by his camp fires I'm the Mari
pOsas.
The name of the father Of Yellowham-
mer was given him by the gold hunters
IN accordance with their popular sys-
ten ~ nomenclature. II was not ueces-
sary for citizen 90 exhibit his baptis-
NAL certificate Sea order 10 acquire a
coEnomen. A mans name was his per
sOnal property. For convenience in call
Ing him up % the bar and ia designating
him among other blue-shirted blpeds 4
temporary apDellation. title or epithtet
was conferred upon him by the public
Personal peculiarities formed the source
81 the majority Of such informal ban
tlsms. Many were easily dubbed geo
graphically from the regions from which
they confessed &c have failed Some
announced themselves 10 be '"rhOmp-
sons" and "Adamses, % and the like, with
a brazenness and lOudness that cast o
cloud upon their titles A few Vainglor-
iously and shamelessly uncovered their
proper and indisputable names This
was held 10 be unduly arrogant, and did
not win popularity. One man who said
he was chesterton l.. g. Belmont. and
proved IL by letters. was given TN
rundown 20 leave the town. Such names
ss shorty" "BoW-legs." Texas"
sIAzy Bin Thirsty Roger" @Llmping
ikiley." ''The Judge" and California
I'D were Ca favor Cherokee derived
his tigle from the fact that he claimed +.
10 Ia fe lived for Il time with that tribe
u tfr Indian Nation.