The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-01-02
REMNANT LIFT OF
POWERFUL CATAWBAS
Recent Marriage on Reservation in
York County Draws Attention u
Sad Condition of Few Remaining
Indian Wards of South Carolina.

York County UT8WS AtlcUsAVA w
Ssd Condition of Few Remaining
Indian Wards of South Carolina.
York. s. C.-Announcement of the
recent marriage Of Erwin Gordon ana
Eliza Jane Harris, Indians OF the Cat
awba reservation in York county, re-
calls to mind the fact that the rem
nant of this once powerful tribe is
rapidlv becoming smaller and because
of that fact marriage among them is
a subject of unusual interest since
there are so few young men and maid
ems among them.
Now it is sad to think that this once
ucWerful tribe, whose warriors as late
as the year 1850, numbered 5000, IS
now reduced to some eighty or ninety
persons, all of whom live on the small
reservation on the banks Of the Cata-
w.ba. ON the eastern outskirts of York
county. Some 500 or more acres OF
land comprise the reservation, where
as the whole Of York county and 9TH
er territory adjoining was once the
hunting preserve of this dying race
VINO have ever been the friend OF the
American white man and who have
lost their all through the avarica,
chnanery and robbery Of the white
man.
support From State.
The State of South Carolina an
pually makes donation of several
thousand dollars toward the support
Of the Catawbas; but the appropria-
ton is so small 1t does not provide
them with the bare necessities OF life
and many OF them are actually re-
duced to want. A number of them
till the rough and unsuitable soil
that forms the reservation, several OF
the men are good carpenters, who Sc
cure employment at odd times IN
Rock Hill and around the community
surrounding, and others d. odd jobs;
but taken altogether it is hard mat
ter for them to keep soul and body
together.
Just now D. A. Harris, "chief" OF
the tribe, as he is known, is making
living operating ferry across the
Catawba, between Ebenezer and Fort
Mill townships. He is paid the prince
" sum Of $50 per month by York
county for his services. Harris IS
"chief' of the tribe only in name. He
is the most influential among them
and he performs the duty OF arb1ter
in minor disputs among them. Al
though they have not the rights OF
other citizens, the Catawbas are sub
ject to the laws of the State. They
give very little trouble, however, and
not in several years, to say the least:
has one of them been hailed into the
courts.
The Old Order Gone.
Up until a short while before the
war between the sections the law
among themselves was their own, and
what was between themselves was
among themselves. Old inhabitants
of the Indian Land section, as the
vicinity of the Catawba reservation
used to be known, have handed down
a story that on one occasion an In
dian named Sam Scott killed squaW
named Canted, also Catawba. At
ter the murder Scott ran away to
the Cherokee tribe in North Caro-
lima for fear of retribution. He stayed
there for some six OF eight years.
but the desire to return to his own
tribe was strong, and finally he re-
turned, armed to the teeth, and al
ways on his guard for fear OF being
killed. Scott was lover of whiskey,
but after his return to the reservation
he tried hard to avoid liquor, fearing
that he might be taken off his guard
while drunk and killed.
All went smoothly for a year. The
Indain kept sober and slept with one
eye open. Finally, on one occasion
with others Of the tribe, he made
visit to Columbia, and while there he
got drunk. He returned to the tribe
and after becoming sober and finding
he had been unharmed, he was much
relieved from his fears and forgot his
caution. After that he got drunk as
often as he could get the liquor.
Liquor Finally His Undeing.
His love of liquor caused his death.
ene day he was lying drunk on the
side Of road. A party OF Catawbas
@ame by, among them young giri
WAC was the daughter Of the woman
aeott had killed. She picked up q
huge stone and hurled 1t at his head,
cracking his skull. Other Indiana sa
the party picked him up and carried
hm into q wigwam where he breath
ef several days. although he was Civ
On no attention, the Indians feeling
no sympathy for one whose sutferings
Sahey deemed merited. Finally he
died, and was buried. The Indian girl
went unpunished for killing him. tae
indians as they called hereyiekpkhim-
taDart, admirins the spirit of "tke