Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-02

But Nacoomee. bringing the horses
across the river. got caught in the
quicksonds and drowned.
Fleeing From Prison
Races Into Civilization
1t was an overwhelming sorrow for
Tahan. but the troopers were hotfoo.
after him. and he had to 90. He was
chased off the range and into civilisa.
tion-this man Of the prairies and the
open spaces, this Indian who spoke but
little English. who could nor unaes.
stand the white people. He was about
twenty years old at this time.
II wandered all over the South. l
picked cotton with Negroes. hoping that
! might some day learn how to do better
work. But there was little opportunity
to learn. / was afraid to show nv
face. because of the reward for my
capture.
Il drifted about. friendless. home.
less. confused, and finally wandered into
London. Canada. And there saliva.
ton Army band picked me up. I looked
Us wrctched as felt. and their sym.
pathies went out to me. They seemed
to understand me, and l liked them. I
used to beat the drum for them, and
was arrested for doing It.
Il had violated II city or,linpnce ID
some way by making all that noise,
and they clappcd me into jail for 1t.
never realizing that they had on their
hands II man wanted by the United
! States Government.
"In Jail ! learned the alphabet. The
| Salvation Army sent It's people to &c
| me, and when left Jail I got q job
breaking stones, on the highways"
All this time Tnhan went to Saliva.
ton Army headquarters; they gave
! him books to read and helped him learn
| III" language. lie read history and
literature, but religion didn't at 6rs:
soak into him.
soon they made me al officer IN
dcrstand the common sense OF their
religion. But I was still n drifter. and
| found myself one day in Buffalo. And
here Il DIR. Ward. n Presbyterian cler.
gyman, became interested in me-
Tahan liked this old minister because
! he seemed to him genuine" And IT.
wasn't long before. after hard study
Tahun was ordained u minister in the
Presbyterian Church.
II was pastor of the South Presby.
tcrian Chlrch in Buffalo, and while
there negotiations were started to Oh.
tain for me Il pardon from the Govern.
ment Mr.. Baker. Secretary Of War
during Wilson'S Administration. whs
was then Mayor OF Cleveland, inter.
redcd for me. and others did. In the
/ end along with Il kind personal letter
, from President Cleveland. I got ny
pardon. All this time ! was preaching
20 my tlock.'
Later. the Rev. Mr.. Grifis and his
second and present wife and his dauga.
ter by his second marriage. Nacoon,ee.
or Ruth. went to the mission field 10
Oklahoma. Some years ago he left The
active ministry and now Is devoting h1
time to the Interpretation Of the spins
of the Indian.
II look upon Indians as man
superior in many WAYS to whites esM
Tahan. They know how to keep thsif
word, for instance. The fate Of
whole tribe may depend on the word
Of one man.
Some years ago. out West. ] ran
across an old Indian. He looked inc
steadily in. the face. He said: I know
!ou, You ar" Tai han. the master o.
Who's" life is n rnttlesnake.' =,
Il was surprised, of course. and ]
ySIrl him how he knew ] was Tahan'
lie said: i know You are Tahan
with the rNttlesnake here and he
pointed to his heart. and ] nm Will.
Then knew him. He was Nom
her of my old outlaw band-the las,
survivor besides myself 10 far 40 !
know.
He had remembered the rattlesnsts
When ] was a'little child, Big bow
sent III" out alone to the wilderness.
/" fast and to pray. until ! heard thy
voice of the Great Silence. until
should see something wonderful =,
II went out. and tasted aue
rray"i. and lost all track OF time;
And then, one day, curiously enough.
saw with peculiar vividness rattle
, snake coming toward me. ! saw II coll
bring its head back as il about to strike;
! couldn't move. Fascinated, ! watchea
, 1t, 1t seemed just about to strike
| when it suddenly lowered its head, un'
+ coiled and disappeared.
u went back to my father. bg
How, and told him what | had seen. ~
, TOOK me to the medicine man-the man
4f myst"ry--and told him the story'
iir barred my breast. and with an M
, ihaihg dye. put the mark Of the rs''
s'hshahe over my heart.
"H0ttieSnuke HOnesfu