The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-06-25
Carthage, Mo, Man Gives
New Information Re-
garding Early Days
HE REMEMBERS IRVING
Once Covered Part Of Route
Taken by Pioneer on His
Trip Through West

and cvcntful Journey Of Washington
Irving into This country nearly a
century uEl arc presented by x. 7.
Greer. 2o4 West Fourth street,
Carthage. NO. in a recent lcttor 20
Charles %. pctors. president OF the
Chamber Of Commerce. Peters has
Interested himself for several years
IN historical incidents that occurred
in Oknhoml. and 80 was through
tho printing ~ hIs name IN a ncwa-
papor in connection with some OF
thcse researches that Greer wrote
TO him
Although now far advanced in
aEe, GroCr clearly remembers Inn
portant happenings in the pioneer
days Of this section, and possesses
an unusually viva recollection OF
enFroEsing details that might easily
have been allowed % escape into the
unused rccossos Of memory.
Knew Osagcs Wen.
In his younger days Grocr was in
tlmately associated with the Usage
Indians, ana mentions several
names that doubtless nre familiar
"a the Usage warriors who now arc
about ready TO leave for the happy
hunting grounds.
According to his letter 10 Peters
Greer was we'll acquainted with
Bntistc. who was Washington lrv-
inRs meat gettcr." While "A young
man Greor. accompanied by Batiste,
traversed much OF the route fol-
lowed by Irving many years before,
stopping nt tho spot whore Irving
crossed the Arkansas about 10
miles'from tho town OF Homlry.
Greer stood within 10 foet' or
the spot occupied by Irving when he
uttered the poetic and fulfilled pre-
diction. this is the land OF milk
and honey" AS near as can be as
certained. irving was overlooking
the present site of Tulsa when he
spoke these words.
The Letter From Greer
Greers lctter needs no cxplana-
tlon. It IS interspcrsed with pnroi
thical words and phrases that add TO
It's clarity, and reads as follows.
II have before me n newspaper
clipping in regard 10 An Old irving
Camp In which your name IS men
toned.
"Washlngton Irving was invited
by n United States commissioner TO
Join his party. sent out by tho presi-
dent TO visit some Of the western
tplains) tribes OF Indians and have
n peace talk.
NV hen Irving reached Fort Glib.
son he found the commission, with
Its escort OF soldiers. had started. so
he sent a runner TO Overtake them.
He found them camped on tho north
side OF the Arkansas river, a few
miles down the river from whore
Tulsa is. in n big bottom OF heavy
timber.
Irving outfitted at Fort Gibson
and hired Batiste MS hunter or meat
getter. lie had great reputation.
not as hunter, but as n meat-get-
ter. Bogard went as cook. Irving
wanted TO be independent OF the
United States lie left Fort Gibson
in October, 1882 on his tour of the
prairles, He had message (from
st. Louis) for Charles Choteau. who
had trading post on the Nerdigris
about where Claremore is.
$50 he. with his party, including
Batiste and Bogard, went from Glib
son there, and from there nearly
due south, to where tho comm, 10
sioners were In camp waiting for
them.
"In 1867 ! went over part OF tho
same route with Batiste that they
went over from Fort Gibson, ] have
stood within 10 feet OF whore
Washington Irving stood when he
made that remarkable prediction
that some day this land would
IiOWt tlNs ldlt iAl hAN nav AhN lA'
diction with other things) engraved
on marble slabs Mt the entrance OF
his hotel. and how true that predic-
tion has come to pass
It's Irving Place Now.
81 have often gone up on the hill,
tit Is Irving Place now) to enjoy the
fine view.
II went up the Arkansas with Ba-
tlste to & bend in the river about 10
l.. l.. To- d
now. 1t was then my old time
friend, Pah-hop-pe, Bob Dunlnp's
trading post. Irving camped In that
bend OF the river
"Batiste told me that they had a
good deal of trouble In getting
across (ThRt's as far as Batistc
and went) From there they NrV.
ing) crossed the Arkansas. They
went west on the divide between the
Cimarron ana the Salt Fork and
struck the Cimarron west OF Cleo
Springs. near where Waynoka is
then went south and struck the Ca
madam about whore Taloga is,
"Then they went down the Canad-
ian and crossed North Fork about
where Weleetka Is, and back to For
Gibson. There ought to be some
among the Little Osages who ra'
member tho route and camping
places, as tlete were several bslbch
with the outfit. but so many Of them
have gone over the TRAN for the last
time
81 have talked with No-pa -wal-la
the old chief Che used to call mC
brother) Strike-aN, Sun-down, Frank
Corndropper, John Two-giver, Ton
Mosier, White Hair, Hard Robe
Mrs. Ogeese (Auut Jane) about Irv'
ing's trip. At one time the Osage'
had a Buffalo tmeat and robe)
hunting camp at the mouth of Eagle
chief, where IL empties into tho
Cimarron, whore Cleo Springs is in
the old Cherokee strip country.
at one time | had n COW Camr
out there. Ny range was from VIVID
Cat. Just west of Cleo Springs, W
the Cimarrun river some % or 30
miles, ana north from the Cimarror
20 Salt Fork and the Eagle Chief
My summer camp was at Ash Grove
on Salt Fork, just across salt Forh
from whore Alva, county seat OF
Woods county, is. My winter camT
was on Doc creek, where Waypokg
is. l was among the first 10 turr
cattle loose In the strip.
"Batiste was not a half-broed, a!
most people thought. His father Rnt
mother were French and lived witt