Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-07-05
L. A. PRADT IN OKLAHOMA.

with them certain claims that they
have against the United States and
my employment as their attorney in
the same. 1t was a thirty hour ride
on the Santa Fe from Chicago to Can
ton, Ok, commencing at $50 a. m.
The hot spell had just begun and so,
of course, the electric fan on the OBJ
servation car, which l had chosen in
order to be comfortable, refused to
work and we sweltered without miti-
cation. Even SO it was inspiring to
look out upon the prairies of Illinois
Iowa and Kansas rolling into the dis
tance-an ocean of fertile farms. 1t
was early morning when we arrived
at Wichita and casual and irrelevant
shower was pattering in the streets
as l left the car. But negro "boy"
of something less than four-score
years was on hand with an umbrella
and escorted me to a nearby hotel.
He greeted me as captain at first,
Saluted me as major upon learning
that / also desired his company to
the station of the M. and O., and pro-
NOTED me to colonel after receiving
his tip. The white Pullman conduc-
tor addressed me as "brother'' ac-
cording to the genial custom of that
section, but my darby Mercury re-
Trained from that salutation
| orr;x,a1 HSo-to., Of ~, anl
found that the Council of Indians
which had come out to meet would
be held day later, according to In
dian traits of representation. So l
went to the best hotel, which might
be better, and separated myself from
the dust of four states.
Canton is five years old and
has two banks-the Oklahoma
idea. Wheat and corn fields lie
very close to its business center
and / was inclined to doubt its
claim of five hundred inhabitants. A
field of rank corn, four feet high, that
l admired that morning, was five feet
|
tation grow in semi-torrid Oklahoma.
The heat is tempered by con-
tinuous breeze from the south which
however, finally gets on ones nerves.
l drove out next morning to the camp
of the Arapahoes, pitched in grove
surrounding a grassy glade. On my
arrival Chief Bull Thunder, in laud-
able voice beftting his name, doomed
forth a summons to the camp that
presently brought about hundred
braves to the Council, which was held
under number of crude awnings
supported by sapling poles. Here
they gathered squatting upon blank
ELS in circles, according to their rank
and Importance, and began to circu-
late the long Council pipes with much
gravity and solemn elaboration.
After this ceremonial was ended l
was given the chair of state Tan old
rocker in the midst of the Council.
My address, setting forth the objects
of the meeting and my views and
propositions respecting their claims,
was interpreted in sections by a
graduate of Carlisle and was received
with many deep grunts that reminded
me of chorus of bull frogs.
When l had concluded, the head
chief, Left Hand, made response, and
for this purpose / surrendered to him
my rocker as he was old and blind.
Before commencing he announced,
through the interpreter, that he was
christian and thought the occasion
worthy of prayer. This he delivered
standing reverently and looking every
inch the christian gentleman. He
: was tall and slender with refined
and very intelligent face, TO which
) his blindness added touch Of
pathos. His garments were of white
cotton and he had a white
cotton robe wound about him In
oriental fashion. Altogether he i'm.
pressed me wonderfully. Gathered
about him were the principal chiefs
all stalwart and dignified. The
Arapahoes were very troublesome
, warriors in the days of Indian fights
in the west, and Bull Thunder, as
! learned from an old scout who was
present, was one Of their notable
} chiefs in those days After Left
Hands speech, which was translated
to me into the most elegant English
by the interpreter, other addresses
were made and interpreted in SINH
lar manner, by Cut Finger, Big Head
White Shirt, Two Babies, White
Rabbit, Big Belly, Coming-on-Horse
Back and Bringing Good. As eacf
uttered the same sentiments anC
the interpreting was slow business
and there were fifty more who eyinceC
a desire to speak, the affair promises
to become interminable, so / sug
! gested an adjournment for lunch
This was agreed to, but later In thu
afternoon the Council reassembleC
> and more speeches were made by Heal
.. of Crows, Broken Rib, Little Raven
|, Sage. Hoof, Lime, Sore Thumb, Goa
of Fire, Mixed Hair, Man-Going- Up
. Hill, Powder Face an6 Deaf.
And again / had 70 suggest an ad
journment in order that / might g