The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-04-23
CHEROKEE POLICE
A TRUSTED ARMY
Early Day Officers Of
Indian Nation Headed
by Colonel

Special TO Tho World.
TAHLEQUAH.--The highest "A,
ficer of the national army or poIco
force of the Cherokee nation -
the title of colonel. In the old Cbs,s
okee nation east of the NIssissin,A
river, II had been necessary to ~,
vide for force of men sIfficicp,,,
large to preserve peace and order in
times of emergency and soon ,fter
the establishment OF the nation west
OF the Mississippi, following 'Ee ar.
rival of the eastern Cherokee in
1889, measures were taken To nro.
vide an armed force. Conditions
were rather unsettled for s.,orsi
years after the new governmen, no.
gan functioning and the enlistment
OF stated bodies OF men from each
OF the districts composing the ratlon
was necessary. In an act OF Tho
national council providing for The
military force IL was coVided thar
1t be enacted by the council Thar
there be forthwith organized eirb,
police companies, one from each dis-
trict, to he composed of 25 arnoe1
men each, whose duty shall he to
suppress all conspiracies, and to an.
prehend and bring to jusuco. all
persons charged with t.eason against
the government OF this nation" .
There was captain for each con.
pany also lieutenant. All the
companies were under command of
an officer who received the title
of colonel. II was made the 5utv
of each captain to raise his company
from among the men of his own
district. In case of the death, rasig.
nation, disability OF removal OF The
captain, tho lieutenant succeeded TO
the command of the company.
The Coloncl's Duties.
1t became the duty OF the colonol
to inspect the companies, instruct
them In their duties and in the exer.
else of vigilance In ferreting out
and bringing 10 Justice all persons
who violated the laws OF the nation.
particularly where treason and con-
| spiracies were concerned when oc-
casion demanded the colonel was re.
quired to concentrate as many men
as needful at the scene OF disturb
ance, ito the end that proper re-
spect for the authority and dignity
OF the Cherokee nation might be su9L
tanned" The commander-in-c -chiag
was the principal chief of the nation
and the colonel was subject to his
orders. Regularly, the colonel must
advise with the chief and report 20
him whatever Information the former
had concerning the movements Of
the companies.
BY way of compensation the coll
onel received SO a day. tho captains
SO each, the lieutenants s1.5O each,
and the privates 81 each per day.
while actually engaged in service.
| The term of enlistment was for a
| period of one year. Monthly re-
ports were required OF the captains
to be made to the colonel All ex-
penses, such as horse -shoeing. for
age for horses, bills for powder
lead and flints for the rifles. were
delivered by the captains TO the
colonel.
The officers were commissioned
according to rank by the principal
chief and were strictly bound by
oath to support the constitution and
laws of their nation.
The law relating to the establish
ment and employment OF police or
military companies Is dated at Tah-
lequah, october 3, 1874. Coincidently
each national official who attached
his signature to the act of the coun-
Gil was an acting officer. Thus,
\ Thomas Foreman, whose name was
! first attached was acting president
/ OF the national committee or sem
ate; the next, Richard Drew, was
! acting speaker of the council, while
Moses Daniel, who approved the act.
was acting principal chief OF the
nation.
The Cherokee army was composed
of a determined number OF men.
Most of them were fullbloods, some
of them veterans, no doubt. OF the
Creek war OF 1912. They were we'll
mounted, were familiar with the
trails through mountains, hills and
| pralries and could be depended upon
In the time of trouble. They were
very well armed for the period,
| though their firearms were Of the,
| flintlock variety. The long anB
heavy rifles were deadly and the
great battle knives were keen and
long. The men were costumed after
the fashion OF the period. hunting
shirts, leggings and moccasins gem
orally. though some OF them may
have worn shoes. Hats were not
much In use. turbans being the ap-
proved style OF headgear. especially
among the older men. Although the
distance from Tahlequah to the con-
| fines of some Of the districts was
considerable the various companies
could have been assembled In short
order. because OF the peculiar sys-
tenn In use by the Indians In con-
veying intelligence to each other.
Much speculation has been INDUCED
In as TO how events OF importance
became quickly known even In the
most remote regions in a period
when telephones, telegraph ana
wireless were not even dreamed OF
by the most intelligent OF the whitei
race. Whatever the explanation the
Indians received the intell'gence
and within brief while aftc orders
were issued for a general assembly,
of the companies they began 10