Evening star., 1915-04-11

retained by the Foster interests for
their management of the land. In years
past IT has been a common cry that
the Indian always came out at the lit
tie end OF the horn when dealing with
the white man. The story of the Usage,
however. is contradiction to such
plant, for by the Foster lease alone
the Usage Indians have to date gained
more wealth than the real producers
of the oil.
AS these red men have not allied
themselves with modern civilization in
being able to fill place in the indus
triai world. and as their incomes from
tribal trust funds and oil leases are
more than sufficient to keep them in
idleness. there is but one answer to the
question of whether the Osages as
ration are better Indians because of
their independence through wealth In
All there are about TWENTY-FIVE hun
dred and thirty citizens of the Usage
tribe From oil royalties alone the
average income per capita. including
children, is nearly seven hundred dol
lars a year. family with two chill
dren receives an average annual income
OF about tWentyseven hundred dol
lars from this one source. besides large
sums from lands allotted to them max
ing the wealth of the people greater
tha nthat of any other nation in the
world.
During the stay of some of these In
dams in Washington two stalwart war
riors attracted much attention as tbay
walked through the business section of
the city. They were dressed as Ameri-
can cltizens, but their huge broad
orimmed light felt hats and gay-coIored
blankets gave their attire touch of
the picturesque. Could the small boy
who gazed wide-eyed at them on the
street have but addressed them by their
names, Bacon Rind and Eagle, his joy
would have been complete. These In
dians, however. manifested no apparent
interest in the white man except they
must deal with him in business. 1t is
hard to believe that Bacon Rind has not
acquired some knowledge of the Ian
guage of the nation, vet he is Ioath to
attempt any speech with even the
Washington officials, who act as the
guardians of his tribe. Through an in
terpreter this astute former chief man
ages his affairs in a most able manner
-.
Although Eagle does not speak n
word of English. he recently did a
lot of talking for the bureau of eth
nology In Washington. He recited the
lengthy ritual which his tribe for
merly used preparatory to going to
war. when making their shields and
their ropes to be used in binding their
captives. Since the passing of war
fare days this ceremony has almost
been forgotten, for Eagle is said to be
the only one of his nation who re-
records Of the talking machine will
perpetuate the interesting bit of In
dian custom. While the Osages do
not live a primitive life, as Of old, they
still cling to their tribal councils. have
their chief-at present. Robert A. She
Cab -Hri-enjoy stomp dances and the
green corn dance. All live in houses.
Some of their number are engaged in
cattle grazing, but. with little to do
and plenty Of time and sufficient funds.
this tribe has had ample opportunity
IL has not neglected.
story of that part of the United
States in which this nation of red men
lives Is a queer mixture of romance
The traditions of the Indians, the rec
ords of the outlaws and the astound-
ing facts of fortunes lost and gained
through prospecting for and producing
oil read like book of wonder. Even
at the present time there Is state
hension of bank robbers who are still
a menace to Oklahoma. It was on the
line Of the Usage nation that the Dali
ton boys operated as outlaws. Such
names as Cherokee Bill. the African
Indian bank robber: Ben Go4don, the
Crook gang and Henry Starr, for
whose capture the $1,000 offered by
the state may soon be claimed, are
still very familiar to the people Of
Oklahoma who do not go far back into
their memories to recall this hold-up.
patton in the hunt for some bad man"
who has terrorixed the community.
Probably one OF the most notorious ex-
pioits OF Ben Craven. famous outlaw,
who is still living, was the way in which
he once escaped from his keeper. Ca