Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-28
RELIC OF INDIAN DAYS.
Ghost That Haunts Chickasaw School.
house-Hiding Place of Soldiers.


Limestone Gap Cor. of the Kansas CITY Star,
AS the Indian race is rapidly being swaI.
lowed up by the civilization of the white
man, the question OF preserving many land
marks that have been historic in the half
century since the Indians inhabited this ter
ritory is brought forward. One OF the most
Interesting of these landmarks is an old
stone building near Wapanucka Ind T.,
which is now used an academy for Indi-
an boys The academy itself is In thu
Chickasaw nation and full-blood Indian
boys from all parts Of the Choctaw and
Chickasaw nations spend the school year
there.
1t is supposed that the Indians erected
1t shortly after the migration from Missis,
sippi 1t is built of great blocks of natiye
stone and is 100 feet long and three stories
high. Recently porches have been added
and a few modern Improvements put in, but
up to eight years ago 1t was situated thirty
miles from the railroad in the loneliest parg
OF a very lonely country.
1t stands on q hill overlooking a vast
wooded valley on the east, while to the rear
and toward the west there is a gradual
ascent which terminates In q long line OF
cliffs where huge rocks rear their heads
and look down into a dangerous gorge be-
low where the roar of water sounds inces.
sanity. No living thing inhabts these
Cliffs" as they are called, save great
black tarantulas and myriad-legged centi<
pedes.
Only half hours walk separates this un-
canny spot from the Indian academy, where
1t stands alone and has stood for half a cen-
fury facing the stern. rocky expanse.
In going through the building one may
read names and dates, some written, soma
scratched and some rudely carved into the
plaster and rock. There are names of In-
dian chiefs and braves. names of white
men, and in the attic under the roof are
found long line of soldiers names, with
inscriptions such as this: John Matthews,
A. D.. 1862. Fought and died for the cons
federaey.' This interesting old building was
also used as a hospital and hiding place for
the confederate fighters. The attic was the
hiding place for the men. There is only
one way OF getting into it, and that ~
through sort of closet on the second floor.
The attic. commonly designated as loft
runs the whole length of the building and Is
lighted only by four small square holes,
two in either end of the building. This place
is summed by the students. Only the more
daring ever venture into the dusty, bat-in-
tested loft. for many soldiers are supposed
to have died there
During the school year the rooms and
corridors are filled with boys, there being
an attendance of from sixty to one huns
dred; but there is one room which is all
ways kept locked. and at twilight the eilil-
fearfully. The rooms close about are used
as storerooms. for one would dare stay
close to the death chamber"
Tradition says long years ago a young In
dian woman and her baby were locked up
in this room and left TO die by wandering
tribe. who thus desired to punish her for
her faithlessness to her husband. II Is be-
lieved that when death occurs IN the house
the ghosts of the girl and her child give
warning OF IL, and many are the tales told
of the means and wailings of baby when
the moon is dark and the Great Spirit
walks forth