The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-09-04

girl who was the wife of Gen Sam Houston,
will be removed TO the national cemetery
at this place tomorrow from the old burial
ground ut Wilson Rock, where they have
rested since her death many years ago.
The transfer is to be mado on the ground
that as Talihna was the wife Of distin-
guished soldier her remains may properly
be buried in the national cemetery.
An account Of Gen. Houston's Indian
romance wi ich is believed to he authentic
has been handed down by the leading men
OF the Cherokee tribe.
As IL well known, the cause of his sudden
desersion Of ard separation from his first
wife while Governor OF Tennessee is an
unsolyed mystery. After leaving his, Of
fetal rost in Tennessee, Houston +oame
direct 10 the Cherokee town of 1ahlon
teeskee. situated at the mouth Of Illinois
Bayou, ffty-Gve miles below Fort Gibson.
John Jolly, sub-chief Of the Cherokee tribe
adopted Houston "a his son, and Hosston
took the InGian name of (olonnel, or THE
Raven" Dire, rrobably'to his dark com
plexion and coal black hair y
Chief John Jolly was n man Of wealth.
He lod large herds of cattle and owned
number Of negro slaves He lived in
patriarolal InGian fashion. His cabin was
oi'' a'''t III u grove VI tONlbuNtlO'l trees.
few mcaths after Houston took UP
his residence with Chief John Jolly he met
and fell in love with Talhina. She was
a half breed and is said to have been very
beautiful in face and form. Like Houston.
she was tall and stately. ass
After Brief oourtshp they became
man and wife according to the tribal laws,
and they moved TO a pretty spot, situated
m tl,. L.. =
opposite Fort Gibson. Houston entered
with enthusiasm and earnestness upon
the work Of establishing for himself and
bis wife n home of the pioneer type.
With his own hands he cut the trees from
the land and made n small clearing in which
he erected log cabin. He established a
trading post and cultivated his land. or
small part Of ii. the first season,
During these few months he was APP |
parently devoted to his Indian wife. His |
industrious and sober habits continued, |
however, for only brief period, and then
he began to lave fits of dependency.
During these spells Of mental depression !
he was wont to drink to great excess and
so dissolute did his habits become that the
Indians changed his name from Colonneh
to Big Drunk. He was looked upon with
but still he was feared by the very Indians
who were disposed to crlticise him most
severely. Chief John Jolly remained his
steadfast friend
Houston had a. quarrel with one Of his
employees at the trading post and the
latter challenged him to fight a duel The
anair OF honor was fought with pistols
Several shots were fired by the principals,
but neither was wounded.
Gen. Houston participated in the councils
OF the Cherokees during his residenceamong
them, and his advicetand suggestions had
great weight At these councils he always
appeared In the full garb of an Indian brave.
His apparel is described as being a white
hunting shirt brilliantly embroidered, vel
low leggings and moccasins deliberately
decorated with beads big red blanket
and circletsfof turkey feathers around
his head. He wore his hair in a long queue.
which hung down his back.
In 1880, a few months after Houston
took up his residence with the Cherokees.
he visited Washington, at the head of a
delegation Of members of his tribe, to pro-
test against certain outrages and swindlinp
TO which he said they had been subjected
by agents and contractors He submitted
summary
removal Of Ave Indian agents
His revelations Of the swindlinp which
had been carried on and the way in which
The Cherokees had been victimized caused
a profound stir By his action, however,
Houston incurred the bitter enmty of
certain Government officials, including
officials Of the Indian Bureau. +
Gen. Houston made bid to supply the
Indians with rations, and this caused him
10 be made the subject Of bitter attacks
BY those whose enmity lie had incurred
DE was charged with being at the head of a
to defraud the Government.
His bid was rejected.
After this experience at Washington
Houston returned to his Indian home.
where he led dissolute life until the early |
BART OF March, 1882, when he was again
tent TO Washington by the Cherokees on a {
natter OF business for the tribe. Soon
liter ms arrival in Washington, Congress-
nan william Stanberry OF Ohio took oc-
aston In the course OF speech on the floor
u the House to make severe attack on
len. Houston and President jackson.
Houston sent note to Stanberry asking
ne had used the language in his speech 1
9 reported. Stanberry ignored the note, I
nd Houston is said to have remarked ,
THE damned scoundre seems to not 3
now me; will introduce myself to him I
He sent word to Stanberry that he in
ended to whip him on sight. Stanberry e
said to have been not lacking in personal ,
ravery and, although he we'll knew the i
ghting qualities Of Houston, he did not O
ry to avoid the encounter. He armed =
imself and told his friends that he would
OF take whipping at the hands of Houst on Z
any other man If he could help it. G
Houston and Stanberry met in Penn 6
ylvania avenue. Houston struck Stan /
cry with his walking stick The two men a
linched and wrestling match took place.
Stanberry finally succeeded in throwing =
iouston, and was getting in some good
lows with his fists when Houston with a
reat strength turned Stanberry under d
i'm and proceeded to give him a severe '
eating. Stanberry pulled a pistol and =
lined it at Houstons breast. He pulled a
ie trigger, but the weapon missed fire. r
Houston wrenched the weapon from C
i'm and threw It out of reach. He got off a
g victim when he thought he had drubbed :,
I'M enough and coolly walked away. v
The next day Stanberry preferred charges
yainst Houston in the House of Repre-