The Cairo bulletin., 1912-07-15

| ~ 1AS nohS W. mSfS O0fy
William Mcintosh. But he remained
with mis- mothers people and was
made Creek war chief.
The Creeks We're a powerful fedora
ton OF Indian tribes whose lands
| stretched through several of the
southernmost states The white set
tiers, growing more and more numer-
GUS. cast enyious eyes on the rich
Creek country and appealed to the
United States government to get 1t
| away from its redskin owners for
| them. 1t was the same old story en-.
| acted so many times along the frontier
| when the white man has wanted the
| Indians land. The government turned
| over several million acres Of Creek
| territory to the state of Georgia. Nc
lrtosh pointed out to his people that
unless they stood firm for their pos
| sessions she government would soon
| have every acre OF their once huge
tract Of land. He then drew up law
which the Creeks eagerly adopted
| making It crime punishable by death
! for Creek to try 10 sell to the United
States any Of the remaining territory.
4 This law made Mcintosh immensely
popular with the Indians. He now
proceeded to make himself equally
popular with the government.
In the War Of 1912 most Of the
Creeks sided with Great Britain But
Mcintosh declared himself friend of
the United States and managed to
raise big war party, which followed
him against the rest of his nation. -
He attacked village of Creeks CAT
ash that had sided with England and
massacred its 200 men, women and
children. In other conflicts of that
same war he fought 30 savagely
against his own people as to win not
only the rank Of major, but the trust
or our government. Incidentally his
services opened to him a pleasant field
for graft.
The United States was eager for
more OF the Creek lands Mcintosh
stood high in the Greek councils. He
could he Of use in managing treaties"
for the despoiling of his people. He
willingly accepted the governments
ofer and secretly became it's paid
agent. 1t was highly profitable bit OF
double-dealing-for u time
Fifteen million acres of Creek land
were soon after transferred to. the
United States. Mcintosh reaped a rich
Inv Ia 11.4 L.
ruined him with the Creeks. They
made no open threats against the
traitor; but they simply met in coun.
Gil and reenacted his own former law,
making any such future transfers pun
ishable by death.
In 1924 Mcintosh received a large
cash offer for his services In plan
for ceding 100000 more acres OF
the Creeks to the government. The
majority of the Creeks fiercely pro
tested against this glaring robbery.
John C. Calhoun, secretary OF state,
declared that 1t was cruelty unjust.
President Monroe laid the treaty be.
fore the United States senate. And,
after John Quincy Adams Inaugural.
lion, 1t was approved. A letter In
which Mcintosh had offered bribe
money to one OF the Creek officials to
aide with the government was discov
cred by the Indians This proved the
willy haf-breed's treachery past all
question. The Creeks-using his own
old law as death warraut-declared
Mclntcsh's life forfeited
TEis time Mcintosh was really
alarmed. He retired TO a fortified
house at Milledgeville and surrounded
himself with strong guard. The
Creeks went about the traitors execu.
ton In quiet, business-like way.
On the night Of May /, 1925, one
hundred Of them surrounded his
house. They sent orders to his guards, |
servants and family to leave the place
AZ once. Then they burned the house
to the ground Mcintosh, dashing out
through the flames, was shot dead.
No punishment was inflicted on Nc. !
lnto9h'S glayers. The question of ven. |
geance was brought before President |
Adams. But, for eyerybody's sake, 1t |
was deemed best to let the AFFAIR drop.
IL was scandal the administration
did not care to make too public,