The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-04-01
SHOEING THE OK.
An Interesting Story Of the Ghero-
kee Exodus From Georgia.
BY Too-QUA~srEE.

dian Territory they were herdeu uo-
gether In companies Of from five hun
dred to a thousands in number, and
over these companies were appointed
conductors who were charged with the
responsibility Of providing transporta-
tion, choosing the route, and directing
an 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 in the Indian Territory OF
course, the more time consumed in
making the trip the more profitable
the joD; hence they were never In
much Of a hurry to get through to
their destination. On the contrary,
they were decidedly fertile in excuses
for halting their companies, and lying
BY for a day or two, and some times
for as much as week.
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
feet became worn and tender il was
only with the greatest difficulty that
they could be induced to get along at
all.
The editor Of the Frontier Wing, a
little newspaper published at the time
IN the town Of Van BuTen, Ark, Kept
an eve upon the management Of these
conductors. aud occasionally made
) them the subject Of caustic rldicule.
He maintained that this studied lott
ering or the way was not only fraud
upon the government, but a great
hardship upon the Indians His de-
scription Of an attempt on the part o.
Conductor J. to get one Of his tender
footed steers shod by the WAY was toe
amusing to be easily forgotten.
Conductor J had made ont TO gel
his company Of Indians across the Mis-
sissipni river and was moving o.
westward at something like a snaifi
pace. along an unfrequented track
threading the wild, stony forests q
eastern Arkansas, when the van Of hii
procession came unexpectedly upon
little rural blacksmith shop. half con
eealed in the bushes by the roadside
The Conductor sounded bis rams horn
y this was tubicination tbe meaning
of which had been carefully prescribe'
Ia the regulations Of the company ant
was well understood by the indians
Accordingly, the long, laggard proces
sion came to halt. The far-reach
ing line OF horned teams deliberatel
balanced themselves upon their short
heavy legs and stood painting unde
their yokes.
The Indians, most Of the adult POI
tion OF them, especially the womef
footsore and tired, threw themselse
down upon the ground and, lyin
broadcast along the wayside, began
await an explanation Of the orde
while the tireless boys, armed wit
bows and arrows, launched themselys
into the adjacent tliekets In pursu
of small game and wild berries.
In the meantime, Conductor J. ha
aIlehted from his horse and presente
himself at the door Of the smith
The proprietor was busy at the any
hammering a new edge onto the blaC
Of an old-fashioned bar-shear plo'
How doyou do, sir; what's the chan'
to get a steer shod here today" sa
the Conductor. "What! {" said u
smith. as he dropped the hammer q
on the anvil and, with his forcing
curved in the shape Of an old-tin
sickle. scraped the grimy perspirati'
from his brow and flung it ava
awhat'd you say 2" The Conduct
repeated the inquiry. "Shoe a stee
Inever hearn o. the like; did you
20. yes,'' said the Conductor, lit Is
very common practice in Georgia whe
live well, we Edon't shoe e
here in Arkansaw We just drive e
till their feet wear out and then
Kin 'em for beef. can shoe a no
hut a steer: l dunno" Here the ma
nitude Of the new idea overmatch
the poor fellows power Of expressic
and the Conductor came to his reli
20. well. said lie, you do the wo
and IN show you how to proceed.
So the work was commenced uhe
the boss-ship Of the Conductor, ana
a short time there lay upon the grou
attthe base Of the anvil block eie
little platesof iron, az suitably P
fo, ed with nail holes. Now Tor g
80 fhem onto the het Of old BfC