The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-03
UNIQUE
PROPOSAL
OFFERS s + A T f VAL.
UABLE LANDS + o r
LIFE PENSION

Perhaps the most unique resou-
tion thar the present legislature has
yet considered. was that presented The
first OF the week by Representative
Crouch, OF Muskogee county II asks
that tl8 state take over a body of
land on which are situated rich de-
posits of salt. gypsum and stone. and
that in consideration the owner OF the
lana be granted a pension for life
che owner OF the land Is August
Henquenet Frenchman who mas
had many strange adventures and
seen much Of the world during the
course OF his seyentyfour years. and
who Is now in Guthrie in advocacy
OF his unique proposal.
NJ. Henquenet has worn the uni
form of his native land In many CHIMES
and under many circumstances, often
with his lie swaying in the balance
In 1852 he was subordinate officer
in the "FIussars DC In Mort, but sur
reniered his commission to go into
the Crtmean war He became a mem
Der of the Celebra cd "Chasseurs
d'Afric." but went with part of his
regiment to Algeria. He was with
squadron that went to Sahara to
fight the Arabs. For a long time he
was in OF disente cry al fort in the
interior, being the only white man
there However, after some narrow
escapes he was able to return to
France alive and in good health.
Later he was member Of squad
ron that had the honor of escorting
the Empress Eugene from Paris TO
q wa 'ering place IN the Pyrinees.
His clerical ability becoming known,
he was made private secretary 20
General Beaumar hais.
In 1855 he was in great earth
f;;::.se. ~ which MANY people lost
their lives. church steeBie two
hundred feet high was shaken down
and M HenQuenet barely escaped be-
ing crushed beneath the debris
Another hair raising trip Of his was
a four days iaunt across an African
desert with an Arab guide, who could
have cut his throat any time that
might have seemed most convenient
in 1851 when France had 2O,OO6
men IN Rome protecting Pope Pius
TX from Garibaldi and Victor I'M
manuel he was a member of the Pa
pal guard. For enlisting in The Pom
iihcal guards he lost his citizenship
in France. for the reason that he had
enlisted without having first secui eu
permission from The emperor. Later
he was restored TO citizenship by
Lois Napoleon.
When he camc 80 America in 1862,
James Gordon Bennett happened to be
on the same vessel and they became
fast friends
Because of his military experience
he was Offered a lieutenants eommls-
sion in the New York Zouaves, but
declined. Later he was offered com
mand of a regiment Of negro troops
by the governor OF Ohio during a stay
i'm cleveland. This he also declined.
IN 1871 he led a group OF olonis's
from Michigan 10 Dickinson county
! Kansas He was the first taxpayer
aud FIRST mayor of the town OF Hope,
! the FIRST settler in the township OF
that name and built the first house
/ there
Twelve years ago he came 10 Okla
homa and secured a TRACT of land ia
4 Blaine county He has been endeavor-
ing to build a town there oD account
OF the vast mineral resources located
on the land salt creek runs through
ihe tract ana So rich Is IL in the briny
substance that q wonderful yield of
ihe crystals may be had merely from
evaporation Ia a report 10 the sec
rotary of the interior Gov Barnes
once stated that fifty car loads Of
sult passed through this farm In a
single day carned away to waste by
the water OF Salt creek
N. fienquenet has enyolyed an ella
lou.r sehfne for maIaHiat turing
t3 by 4 method of spraying he water
lgnd mbinina the spraying process
tn the hydraulic mining Of tni
meat building stone deposits. H'
has also spoken of planting q coop
crat'ye colony there to work the sail
6cnosiis and make brick OF the val
rple clay Hs believes 1t would bi
- ideal spot for a reform school ol
c'fiteatlary
Whsle his seyFntyfcir years 81
lighily upon him he has tired Of specu
lations with the land IN question, auS
r. now willing 10 surrender the Ian,
~ the state for mere piitance.
! Speaker Murray appointed Erouch
Evans and Williams. OF PushEiaiahi
, county 10 wish the land and make
report.
A clearer idea "a the matter MAJ
} be obtained By reading the musna