The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-06-16
S E Q u o Y A H
- HsLEN n nrNeAN

%%e-*et'N eatSt - q tNe} hfhAh AN@a
Vinita, whose bright mind, genial
and gracious presence are q benedlc-
tion to us all, and TO whom we are in
debted for valuable items for this pa.
per- She was young girl at the home
of her grandfather, Major George
Iowery, when Sequoyah started for
the Ear West, In about lsi3, from
what was then his home, Lees creek,
Sequoyah district Cherokee Nation.
Accompanying him was his son, Tee
see, a young man grown, and two or
three other attendants. They tarrled
over night at the home OF Major Geo,
Lowery, we'll known In the history OF
the Cherokees as a man Of great infu-
ence. Here, SeQuoyah bade, what
proved to be his last adieu to home
and nation. Here, with bowed head
and his hand upon an aching breast
the then had what we call coEsuilp-
tIon, called by the Indians breast
pain, he said; II go to indmy peo-
ple-to find health-to be free from
the encroachments Of the white
man.
My informant says: "As remem-
ber him he was sober and meditatiye,
and his eyes wore a pensiye expression
and his form was a little bent After
a while, said she, they returned with
out Sequoyah and began to make prep.
arations for going back after his re-
mains" The story runs thus; The
day SeQuoyah died the party we're all
away from the camp hunting game,
upon which they subsisted, leaving
him alone with his meditations. on
their return they found him, not
where they had left him, but a little
distance away, as II in an effort to
walk he may have been overcome, and
thus died. They wound him, "like a
warrior taking his rest, ninh his blanket,
placing his parchment or whatever 1t
was he used beside him
His large silver medal, which he al
ways wore, was suspended from his
neck: and they placed him '.high up, -
as theyexpressedit,ina rocky cayeand
there left him, expecting to return
with assistance TO remove him TO his
home and people. And II is further
stated that soon after arriving home
such arrangements were made, and for
several DAYS the women OF the neigh
borhood we're busy parching corn 20
make the fayorite Indian dish called
kah.wee-see-ty, for the travellers to
eat on their way; and that after a
time they returned, disheartened, hsy-
ing failed to find the spot where they
had left him. No chart, compass nor
guide. they we're lost In their bearings.
This recital Is given from the mem
ory OF the lady quoted. Late rumors
OF discoveries OF remains and relics In
various localities have Inspiredsin the
Cherokees again the hope that Sc
quoyah's last resting place may Yet
come TO light, and numerous articles
Ia the press Of the country concerning
such discoveries have furnished much
food for conjecture aud imagination,
and some research. A few months
ago, as some Of you know, a Mr T.
Fancher living on farm near Sny-
der, Oklahoma, made a discovery. He
found, In what IS called dead Mans
Cave, near an old Spanish gold mine,
the skeleton Of what he thought
might be that Of our subject, with
several relics. an old hoe, two whet-
stones, a file. one pair Of bullet moulds
a iiint-loee rife and other artlcles.the
most important Of which vas a medal
bearing on one side the name Of r II.
jefferson; Presented A. D. 1901. There
we're various devices made on the
medal, and on some Of the other rel
les, as If done with a sharp knife Or
other edged Instrument.
our friend referred TO. seeing the
statement Of this discovery IN the pa
pers. wrote 70 Mr. Faneher asking for
some particulars, which he kindly sent
her, aud also sent photograph Of the
place where these relics were found
This picture shows q high, rocky ridge
extending east aud west, with a south
entrance 70 what looks 70 be a huge
pile Of stones We cannot FOR mo-
ment think this IS sequoyahs grave.
sir Faucher has perhaps found the
last resting place Of some Indian war.
rior; for IN those early times aud even
now. many tribes placed IN the graves
u their braves such articles rs wers
valued by them IN life, aud then sur.
the whole with q huge pile
II rocks
The Sequoyah medal with It's uni.
lue Inscriptions and devlses viii be
he dnIv thing tffiaf teItIef ssH eafi ia