The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-04-07
sROEING THE OK.
An Interesting Story OF the Chero-
koe Exodus From Georgia.
~ roo-QuA-sTEn.

by the government from the state Of
Georgia to their new home IN the In
dian Territory they were herded to-
gether IN companies of from five hun
|. dred TO thousands In number, aud
over these companies were appointed
conductors who were charged with the
responsibility OF providing transporta-
tlon, choosing the route, and directing
all movements In connection with the
journey.
These conductors were paid by the
government liberal per diem for
their services from the day they took
charge until their companies were
disbanded III the Indian Territory. OF
course, the more time consumed la
making the trip the more profitable
the JOB; hence they were never in
much OF "a hurry to get through to
their destination. On the contrary,
! .they were decidedly fertile IN excuses
ror halting their companies, and lying
by for day or two, and some times
lNf de much as Nttk*
As a scheme promotiye Of this kind
OF speculation, Conductor J. hit upon
the plan Of having his transportation
wagons drawn by oxen instead Of
horses. These faithful animals, though
naturally slow, trudged along pretty
well for some days, but when their
f...t t..,,.,,,,,. t,4.r, aud t.pIar Il tu.a
only with the greatest diflculty that
they could be induced TO get along at
all.
The editor Of the Frontier Whig, a
little newspaper published at the time
i, In the town OF Van Buren, Ark, kept
an eye upon the management Of these
conductors, aud occasionally made
them the subject Of caustic ridleule.
lie maintained that this studied lott
ering on the way was not only a fraud
upon the government, but great
hardship upon the Indians His de-
scription Of an attempt on the part Of
4 Conductor ]. TO get one or his tender.
footed steers shod by the way was too
amusing 70 be easily forgotten.
b Conductor J. had made out TO get
his company Of Indians across the Mis-
sissippi river, and was moving on
n westward 1T something like snailis
pace, along an unfreqnented track,
threading the Wild, stony forests Of
eastern Arkansas, when the van Of his
procession came Unexpectedly upon a
lhn tie rural blacksmith shop, half con-
ceai,li IN the bushes by the roadside.
The Conductor sounded his rams horn;
this was a tubiclnatlon the meaning
Of which had been carefully prescribed
in the regulations OF the company, and
vas well understood by the Indians
accordingly the long, laggard process
sion came 70 a halt. The far-reach
Ing line Of horned teams deliberately
balanced themselves upon their short,
heavy legs and stood painting under
their yokes.
e1'he Indians, most Of the adult por-
tien OF them, especially the women,
fuotsore and tired, threw themselves
down upon the ground and. lying
broadcast along the wayside, began TO
await an explanation Of the order,
while the tifeless BOYS. armed with
bows ard arrows launched themselves
into the adjacent thickets In pursuit
OF small game and wild berries
In the meantime, Conductor ]. had
allghted from his horse and presented
himself az the door OF the smithy.
Tie proprietor was busy N the anvil
mmmering a new edge onto the blade
Of an old-fashloned bar-shear plow.
sIIsw doyou do, sir; what's the chance
% get a steer shod here today - said
the Conductor "whatlr said the
smith, as be dropped the hammer up
on the anvil and, wislf his foreiinger
curved Ia the shape 0f an ola.time
sickle, scraped the gflmy persplatlon
from bis brow and flung II away.
What'd You say ~ The Conductor
repeated the inquiry. "ShOe a steer
never hearn o. the like: did youg'
-. ,es, said the Conductor. ..it Is a
very common practice IN Georgla where
N liye.N well, we tdon't shoe 'em
here IN Arkansaw. We just drive 'em
til their feet wear OFT and then We
Z XIII em for beef can shoe hoss,
bur a steer: dunno. Here the mag
nitnde Of the new idea oyermatehed
the poor fellows power Of expression.
\ and the Conductor came 70 his relief.
20. well, said he, 'you 40 the work
and IN Show you hos 10 proceed
So the work was commenced under
the boss.slllp Of the Conductor, and hi
short time there lay upon the ground
at The base Of the anvil block eight
"a.