Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1906-07-05
q q q q q n n n n a
TINE announ, ement that George

states DlStrlct Attorney OF ON'
lahoma, writes the Guthrie cor
respondent of the New York Sun, has
been ordered to leave Mexico, where he
was investigating the conditions Of the
Kickapoo Indians, brings into the
limelight the most persistent wander,
ers among all Indian tribes.
During the Civil War the Kickapoos
fed to Mexico. Later much money
was expended by the United States
to return them to their reservations
in Kansas and Oklahoma. All but 1IG
members of the tribe did return.
The 176 escaped into the mountains
Of Mexico and have remained there
ever since, increasing in the meantime
to more than five hundre: N number.
OF the 412 members brought back to
the Oklahoma reservation there are
to-day but 1874 remaining.
The Kickapoos fought under Te-
cumseh against General William Henry
Harrison at Tippecanoe, and were
prominent as fighting tribe until their
final defea, by General Zachary Tay.
ior at Fort Harrison. following the
outbreak of the war with England in
1912. Originally the KiCkapoos lived
in the upper Mississippi River country
and belonged to the Algonquin fam
lily.
Gradually they moved down into Ill
inois and roamed over the country be-
tween the Mississippi and Wabash riv.
crs. In the early history of the coun.
try they were bitter toward the Eng
lsh and supported the colonists
against England in the war for inde-
pendencc. Later t'Cy turned against
the colon,jts and a state OF war
against the Kickapoos continued until
1892.
1t was in 1871 that they fought I'M
der Tecumsen. In 1S1J-1j treaties
were made with the Government by
which they gave up thei IAN s in H.
inois and removed to n reservation in
Kansas on the OsaGe River. Remnants
of the tribe were in Illinois as late as
the '40S.
Following the removal to Kansas a
degree of civilization was established
for few years. Then the predatory
and savage instincts of the kickapoos
resumed the ascendency and their war
riors went out killing and horse steal
ing, making raids on the people of
neighboring States, and at length turn
ing unon the United States Indian
agents, one of whom they murdered
in 1854.
They were then removed to a reser-
walton in northern Kansas. near Atchi-
son. Some of them gradually settled
down OH separate holdings and became
farmers and citizens. The remainder
fled to Mexico about the time the Civil
War began and lived by raids over
the frontier for booty. In 1873 there
were only 800 in Kansas, while the
number in Mexico had grown to 1000.
After the majority of the Mexican
Kickapoos were returned to the United
States all that was left were removed
from the frontier by Mexico at the re-
quest of the United States, and set
tied on good lands in the mountains OF
the State OF Guerrero. They longed
for their Old home around Santa Rosa,
1900 miles to the north, and gradually
dr'fted back there.
The MeXlcans speak highly of the
Kickapoos as Industrious, skillful hunt
ers, given to cleanliness. While some
of them have become farmers and eH-
perts in stock raising, the great major
ity adhere to the old custom of hunt
ing and fishing. Their dress. as a rule,
is the primitive costume, all their
clothing being made of 1uckskin and
trimmed with beads, the squaws be-
ing adept with the needle.
At the present time very few Kick
apoos are remaining i'll Oklahoma.
They have focled to their kinsmen in
Mexico whenever an opportunity has
presented itself. Their removal was
first opposed by the Government, but
finally they were allowed to move