The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-02-13
INDlAN WOMAN CHIEF.


The Withdrawal Of the Kickapoo in.
dams from Oklahoma TO Old Mexico ha,
aroused much interest in the southwest
says the New York Telegram.
There are three interesting facts II
the hegira. The tribe is led In this Pill,
grimage by a woman chief. Wakahoko
q lorcetul character enjoying the dis,
tinction Of being the only female Indian
chief in history.
This is the second time the kicEapoos
have left the United States. determined
upon living in Mexico, They first emil
grated beyond the Rio Grande when they
were originally sent to the Indian ter
ritory, refusing to accept the territorial
provision made for them by the United
States government. The present hegira
Is decidedly a success. There are only
l. k~!ckapoos left in Oklahoma to-day.
At the union passenger station in
South McAlester one day lat. y waiting
Tor a train were AZ aGult Kickapoo In
dams and seven children, all bound for
Mexico. The party attracted no small
attention, They were all well clothed
and appear to be in good financial cir
cumstanccs. The travelling bags ana
satchels were new ana every man car
ried a new Winchester iucasyd in leath-
er, The party was in charge of NJ. J..
Bentley, former Indian agent 10 the
kickapoos, now a resident OF Shawnee.
Mt. Bentley resigned from the Indian
service thrse years ago and at once took
up the scheme of forming a colony Of
hickapuos in old Mexico. He obtained
a large grant from the Mexican govern
ment in the state Of Choanucaka. II is
here that a large number of Kickapoos
have resided for years, never having re-
turned since the first emigration.
Speaking Of the colonization scheme.
Mr., ntley said; The K~ickapoo can
moi live longer in Oklahoma. The white
man is crowding him too much. Hell
wants freedom. The death rate among
The tribe is surprising. rWenty-cight
years ago the tribe consisted Of 42S pso-
pie. To-day there are 1884. During the
civil war the KiCkapoos fled to Mexico
and though the government sought to
return them to their reservation 17G cs-
capped the soldiers and remained in
Montr2uma land, These 17G have lived
according to their own tastes and to-
day their descendants number 442. This
Increase in 2S years compared with the
decrease in the Oklahoma colony in the
same time Is rutcworthy.
The land upon which these Indians
will reside is in a beautiful and fertile
through which a river runs. Ia
The fountains game abounds, and the
with a rifle can supply his table
With meat the year around. This colony
am working up will be n peculiar one.
There Will be no stores or business In
'titutioDs within 80 miles of the Indian
own, lhe tribesmen will build their
IN groups and till enough land to
their tables and animals with
They will not tolerate the pres
'uCe Of the white man, for it is their de-
to keep away from the white man
Is far as possible that prompts their
move. Their lands In Oklahoma, six
west Of Shawnee, are leased. The
entail aggregates 500 a year for an
average farm consisting of 50 acres.
Nhis fund will support the Indians and
all the luXrTiCs they desire.
THE government has for years been
making an annual appropriation Of $S,- ,
90 for the Kickapoos. This fund is dis
ersed BY Al Indian agent for agricul-
ural implements, work and wearing ap- ,
The Indians all refuse to accept |
appropriation and hence told the |
indian agent that they no longer desire |
Is guardianship or its aid.
The K~ickapoos are ruled by a WON I
who is the only woman chief known :
history. Wapahoko Is already in
and her advice to the tribesmen :
} follow her has been accepted by all q
IL. who are still on the Oklahoma [
.'servation, but will 500 join US in :
r