The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-02-20
Leader OF Oklahoma Uprising
Now in Bolivia.
chrro Hario's Nephew Says He Took
obstreperous Kin to South Amer
lea - CarIise Graduate Es-
capped Thrice, Recaptured.

Guthrie, Okla-To live during the
remainder Of his life with an alien
tribe in order that he may escape the
restraints of civilization and enjoy
the liberty and freedom Of his fathers
is the fate of Chitto Harjo, the Snake
Indian chief, who led his people in re-
volt against the federal and state gov
ernments in the Greek Indian country
of Oklahoma in 1903.
"Chitto Harjo, of Crazy Snake, as
the whites always called him, is now
with the Niagre Indians in Bolivia,
South America, / know, because !
took him there myself"
This is the statement Of Elega Har-
10, a nephew of the former Snake
chief, who cast his lot with Chitto
when the revolt occurred several
years ago. The nephew was captured
by the authorities, tried on a charge
of treason against the state and sent
to the McAlester penitentiary to serve
a term Of four years He made three
escapes from prison. He was taken
iuto custody here several days ago on
the charge of carrying concealed
weapons and is now being held by the
county authorities.
His first escape was made to pro
tect the aged Chitto from the state
and federal authorities He had been
sent by the prison authorities to
Granite, Okla, with several other
prisoners to build the state reforma-
tory, and it was while thus employed
that he made a dash for liberty and
escaped the guards.
"I went directly to my old home in
the Creek country" says Har1o, "and
hunted up my uncle. We
talked the matter over and decided
that If he remained in this country he
would soon be in prison and in all
sent to the penitentiary.
We decided that the best thing to do
was to get him out of the United !
States. | had been in Carlisle Uni
versity for fifteen years, graduating |
from that institution in 1907, and had
studied considerable in regard to the |
countries of South America.
"A few nights after my return we |
5addled our ponies and rode overland
10 Haleyville, Okla, where we took
he train for Galveston, then sailing
% British Honduras. 1t was while
here that discovered that the
Iiagre Indians spoke language SINH
ar to that of the Creeks, and l deter
mined to take my uncle to that tribe.
lie consented, and we made the trip to
Bolivia.
"The Indians Of that high plateau
country enjoy the liberties that the
original North American Indians did
they hunt through the Andes and fish
long the Desaguadero and in Lake
7iticaca, the old home of the founders
f the Incas. Here. it is said, was
established the oldest civilized empire
N the American continent. Here,
Jhitto Harjo found many men of his
wn type among the Niagres, and |
eft him there happy and contented."
Returning to the United States,
llega Tarjo was captured by the state
and returned to prison. He
acaped twice later, being recaptured
9th times, and led an open revolt
bird time, during which he was shot
vice by the guards and severely |
He finally completed his
erm on the treason charge last sum
Ter.
Elega Harjo says that the Snake re-
ellion was not caused by any act of
he Snakes themselves, but by some
1toxicated white men, who shot into
he tents of an Indian camp on the
Hickory Stump Ground, the official
onference place Of the Snake Indians,
here q convention of the Snakes. | {