The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-03-20
COUNCIL TREES
ARE NEARLY GONE
One Veteran Remains to
Mark Scene Of Great
Events.
iX BRINGS SADNESS
Many a Council of Red Men
Was Held in Old Court
house Square.

TAHLEQUAH. March 19.--Only
,rc Of the forest trees which were
handing in the public square here
A. Tho time of the establishment OF
ne cherokee nation as a body poll
tic ir indian territory, In the sum
ner Of 1899. now remains. Some
what recently two large hilkories
IN the square began to show signs
Of waning vitality and died. A few
da,s ago woodmen cut down the
trees and removed them from the
square. and then in pursuance of
instructions from some ore In au-
thoritv an aged oak near the south
side of the famous square was like
wise feiled. This particular tree,
with big postoak east of tho
courthouse, had long been known as
belng the only two OF the original
trees in the present courthouse
souare. The black locusts. which
are scattered over the square. are of
comparatively recent growth and
have not the historical interest at
taching to the old oaks.
At no great distance from the
rugged tree recently felled there
stood IN the early days the hewed
log houses in which the national
legislature held its annual meet
,ngs. and beneath it's shade in the
eventful summer days OF 1899 the
leaders and councillors of the new
nation in the west no doubt often
paused while they gravely talked OF
momcntous matters and smoked
their pipes filled with the fragrant
"tau-lona" and home grown tobac-
60. The oak was flourlshing tree
in the far-gone days OF lSi3, when
from various sections of the Indian
territory and from far western
pralries there assembled In the lit
lie frontier Indian town OF Table
nuah the delegates and representa-
lives Of more than n score of In
dian nations and tribes. all filled
with patriotic desire to do their best
in making the great council OF the
summer OF 1S49 a success, the OBJ
ject CO tie council being an agree
ment among all the nations repre-
sented TO live peacefully and strive
for progress in the way OF cilivilaz-
ton.
sheltered Great Men.
Sequoyah. the obiriginal Cadmus.
George Lowrey. John Ross ana
other leaders of the olden time oft
en- walked along the pathway over
which the oak cast it's shadows In
the summer days or shed It's leaves
when they had been tinted with
the hues OF autumn. Worcester. the
missionary, founder OF the first tenn
perarce society west OF the Missis-
sippi too, no doubt sometimes
paused near it's rugged trunk while
the annual pi.hic was being held in
the square. Al. through the event
ful years the big tree stood. In the
warm and genial days of the spring
time and through the fervid days
OF summer the birds fitted and
sang among its branches, and in
days OF winter the winds roaded
through It's boughs while the snow
drlfted into heaps on the ground
below.
The years kept rolling away and
during the fateful years. of the SIX
ties there were eventual scenes in
the old square. Men who wore the
blue Of the union army passed
through tho capital OF the Chcro-
kee nation in the west and their
heavy tramp was heard as they
walked through the tree-dotted
acres in the heart of the town
Other men, clad in gray. too, were
In evidence at times while the great
conflict was In progress. There
were tragedies enacted near the
square, as also within It's precincts,
and but few days ago IN ages
nan, leaning heavily upon his stout
cane told OF having beheld the
corpses left behind by a guerilla
band which upon an early morning
surprised some of their fellow coun-
trymen, with guns and Knives soon
encompassed their deaths and de-
parted while the cory victims lay In
pathetic pallor among the trees OF
the square and at no great distance
from the old trees now TO become
irewOod.
Exist Only In Memory.
The days OF Indian governments
tinally came to close, but after
the new order of things began and
she capitol building of the Chcrokec
nation became the courthouse OF
Cherokee county, the old trees were
- W uuu anu nhTtl lnip l'hA ~
the seasons passed along, but some
OF them fell into decay, others were
shattered by the storm wind. and
now only one remains, a rugged and
vigorous giant OF the forest. 81
years eafter the pioneers OF this
section OF the "far west" estab-
hshtd new nation and located
at the capital at a place which re-
,eived the name OF Tahtcduah'
Old citizens, very few in number
now, looked something akin 10 sad .
less upon the PROSTATE form OF the
aged tree while Needless workmen
phed the AK and saw. Memory
brought back the scenes OF many
years ago when great and eventful
meetings were held In and about
~ old council rooms. when from
He various districts OF the nation
the citizens had arrived in tho cap
naI OF their nation to consult with
the leaders over matters affecting
ne general welfare. or to attend