The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-01-22
WARRIORS NO MORE
Once Twas Their Only 0ccu.
patton and No Southwest
ern Indian Was More
n Proficient in the
Art.

The Kickapoo Indians from the res
efyation near Shawnee, are going TO
New Mexico, party going every few
weeks via South McAlester This in
fermation is being given out by the
Newspapers, but they seem to overlook
the idea that these Indians are going
back to Mexico.
These particular Indians are known
in the government records as Mexican
Kickapoos, and the older ones know
the country they are going TO thorough
ly And still, they are going to meet
disappointment, and viii be back in
tbis territory within a comparatively
few years
They forget the changes OF twenty
Re or thirty years. They left their
Mpmts IN Kansas during the ciyil war
10 avoid its rayages and at once enter
q upon a warfare which lasted until
Aey came back, and which was waged
n turn against whites, Mexicans and
Apaches; and they proved themselves
formidable aud sagaeious warriors.
The Apaches seem to have been
their natural enemies and these peo-
pc they fought whenever opportunity
Presented and the scalps to show for
they have TO this day. The writer
Nas seen he-quawme-ko-hi-ko display
Apair Of buckskin leggins having Is
.kbache scalps down either side.
Nhen be became especially well ac-
qnainted and confidential he would
showa whites scalp-that OF a woman,
having few gray hairs in il.
The Kickapoo warfare against
the whites was one Of the pillags
cnd plunder against their herds-by
II they lived and when pursued too
vigorously they retreated across the
no Grande and took refuge with the
native Indians OF that republic.
But no sooner did the beef supply
rbn low than incursions against the
ehttle Of the Mexicans were organiz-
IA, which resulted In their being
driven again into Texas The Indi-
abs were not long in learning that the
re Grande was a line the two armies
dared not pass and SO immunity re-
suited, il so be It they could beat the
hoops to the river.
Under these circumstances q border
Warfare was maintained which lasted
tn well into the seventies. Finally
General Crook smashed precedents
nd pursued the Kickapoos across the
8ser, captured their women and chill
ben and brought them back. The
Incident caused an international hub
bhb and led TO the forming of an
0kreement that the troops Of either
tsantry might cross the line when in
phrsuit of the Indians
But the capture Of the women folks
marked the end Of the regime Of the
Kickapoos as followersof the warpath,
I'll their paciflcatlon was not accom-
Niished without many thrilling Incl
dtnts.
9 Commissioner Atkinson was sent
down to make some kind Of an ar
angement With them: To get them
NJ 90 to Mexico and become subjects
81 that country or to come in from the
nontier and remain. He was taken
Il custody by them and for three days
ne only deliberation was as to wheth-
81 the Kickapoos should kin him or
Hlrn him over to their Indian allies Ct
Mexico to do so.
Finally, the magic influence Of mon
and power worked its effect and
Ghe-qua-me-ko-hi-ko. the war chief,
Mved the commissioner and turned
ne scale IN favor Of coming back.
It may D5t be amiss 70 say that when
BE inspiring motives became known,
NJ served to degrade the leader in the
pes Of his people, and five years later
be Indian with a record Of 30 Indian
falps was ignored by the most insig-
ficant member OF the tribe, and his
Nnly friends were with the whites who
ey him.