The Daytona daily news. [volume] (Daytona, Fla.) 1903-1926, 1913-01-16


William Mcintosh. but he remained
with his mothers people and was
made Greek war chief.
The Creeks were 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 envious eyes on the rich
Creek country and appealed to the
United States government to get it
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
lntosh pointed out to his people that
unless they stood firm for their pos
sessions the government would soon
have every acre of their once huge
tract Of land. He then drew I'D a law
which the Creeks eagerly adopted
making it a crime punishable by death
Tor a Creek to try to sell to the United
States any Of the remaining territory.
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 a 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 it's 200 men, women and
children. In other conflicts of that
same war he fought so savagely
against his own people as to win not
only the rank of major, but the trust
of our government. Incidentally his
services opened to him pleasant field
for graft
z The United States was eager for |
more of the Creek lands. Mcintosh |
stood high in the Creek councils. He /
could be Of use in managing treaties" |
for the despoiling of his people. He I
willingly accepted the governments +
offer and secretly became its paid I
agent. 1t was highly profitable bit Of 4
double-deal1ng-for a time.
Fifteen million acres Of Creek land I
We're soon after transferred to the 1
United States. Mcintosh reaped a rich /
harvest by this treaty" But it 7
ruined him with the Creeks. They .
made no open threats against the .
traitor; but they simply met in coun- /
ell and re-enacted 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 a plan
for ceding 100000 more acres of
the Creeks to the government. The
majority of the Creeks fercely pro-
tested against this glaring robbery.
John c. Calhoun, secretary Of state,
declared that it was cruelty unjust.
President Monroe laid the treaty be
fore the United States senate. And,
after John Quincy Adams Inaugural
ton, it was approved A letter in
which Mcintosh had offered bribe
money to one of the Creek officials TO
side with the government was discov-
cred by the Indians. This proved the
willy half-breed's treachery past all
question The Creeks-using his own
old law as a death manufactured
McIntosh's life forfeited.
This time Mcintosh was really
alarmed He retired to a fortified
house at Milledgeville and surrounded
himself with a strong guard. The
Greeks went about the traitors execu-
ton in a quiet, business-Hke way.
On the night of May 1, 1925, one
hundred of them surrounded his
house. They sent orders to his guards.
servants and family to leave the place /
at once Then they burned the house
to the ground. Mcintosh, dashing out
through the flames, was shot dead.
No punishment was inflicted on Nc
IntOsh's slayers. The question of ven
geance was brought before President
Adams. But, for everybody's sake. it
was deemed best to let the affair drop.
1t was scandal the administration
did not care to make too public.