The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-06-01
NAN MADE RICH
.bY AMERADA IS
n Slain BY team
Runaway Fatal to Sammy
Baptiste Who Became
Wealthy When New
Field Came In.
WAS WORKING IN
FIELD AT TIME,
Was Full Blood Choctaw In
dian-Leaves Wife and
Several Children-Fun-
eral Not Arranged.

Refusing to give up the old method
OF travel for the new, despite his re.
Gently acquired wealth. Samy Baptiste
last night died from injuries received
when his team ran away with a wagon
in which he was travelling near his farm
at Brock yesterday afternoon.
The body was brought to Harvey
Brothers undertaking parlors last night
and is being held today pending funeral
arrangements, which probably will be
completed Friday. Baptistes neck was
broken and he received internal injur-
les. It was said at the parlors.
Baptiste was full.blood Mississippi
Choctaw Indian who came to Oklahoma
about 12 years ago. just after state
hood and was given an allotment of
2lO acres which he still held. He is
survived by a wife and several children.
Other families of the same name live
in the Brock neighborhood but are not
Immediately related to Sammy.
Baptistes wealth cannot be estimated
because his affairs are in the hands of
the Indian agents. but is expected his
holdings in the Amerada field are worth
around a half million dollars, having
reached this estimate since the dis
covery well was brought in on his farm
January %.
At this time there are two producing
wells and four drilling wells on his
property, which is being developed by
the Amerada Company.
Before the discovery we'll was
brought in. Baptiste was fighting the
battle OF the other farmers in that sec
tion, and the boil weevl was coming
OUT the victor each year. 1t Is said by
his friends that he was having a hare
time to make both ends meet, but was
honest and industrious
Stayed on job.
When sudden wealth was dropped into
his outstretched arms 1t had little ef
feet upon the toiler. He kept to hi,
farm, letting the Indian agents attent
to the details Of leasing and collectlnl
his royalties. which continue 10 grow
each day.
Just before his team ran away Wed
nesday afternoon he was seen bv sew
eral Ardmore persons hauling timber'
In the Brock field. and 1t was while h
was on his way home that his team
became frightened
While Baptiste had made little strides
forward to acquire an education to 81
with his sudden wealth. he had nevel
taken TO the automobile. and only onc'
had he ridden in one. IL Is said by hi
friends. On that occasion an employ'
OF the Amerada company was takinl
him TO his home from town An acct
dent happened and Sammy was throw
out. Although three miles from hom
and with a badly bruised hip an'
sprained ankle he walked the distance
rather than take the assistance OF othe
motorists who offered him a lift.
Fond Of Horses.
Like other Indians. Sammy was foni
Of his horses and gave them every con
sideration and care. While they wer
common stock. they received the car
OF thoroughbreds.
Baptiste was held high in the estima
ton OF the other Choctaws Of that sec
ton OF the county His home was |
gathering place for those who wer
brought from Mississippi with him an,
almost every week gathering OF som
kind was held ut his home-until tn
invasion of oil men caused great gath
ering TO be held on his farm every day
Sammy was friendly to the oil mel
and took great delight In watching then
40 about their activities II Is said
They say he was unlike other Indian
OF the county. In that she showed then
he had confidence In them, and that h
was cunning enough to prevent thei
putting over" anything on him.