White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-08-22
BLACK GOLD GONE;
INDIANS BANKRUPT
End of Rainbow Stops Play
time of Osages.

Pawhuska, Okla.-The Usage In
dams have found the end of the rain
bow after traversing a golden lane Of
oil gushers that have poured millions
Of dollars into their tribal treasury.
Once known as the richest class of
people in the world, they face bank
ruptcy now.
The playtime of the Osages has
ended. Within the last three months
the tribe has been undergoing a
change to the ordinary way Of
living. Paleface neighbors of the In
dams speculate on the outcome of this
adjustment. Meanwhile, the Osages
are not worried particularly except for
the constant press of creditors.
Oil wells that gave the Osages life
of ease and provided means for reck-
less spending orgies no longer hold
promise Of inexhaustible wealth. When
Bacon Rind, Bigheart, and Lookout,
tribal chieftains, saw oil magnates fly
over from Tulsa in airplanes and drop
hundreds of thousands of dollars in
single bids for leases, they told their
people wealth from their hills was
eternal.
They realize now the oil ''play"
has moved to the south into the land
Of the Seminoles and the white pio-
neers around Oklahoma City.
The adjustment has raised two prob
lems-One is social and the other eco
nomic.
Prosperity Too Much.
Oil spread its greasy mantle Of gold
over the broad reservation and poured
more than $3OOOO0,OOO into the tribal
purse. The Osages have been soaked
In oil, stepped in gin, and have felt
the thrill Of power contained in their
expensive automobiles.
Many have been the victims of the
reign Of prosperity which at once re-
leased gold and grief upon them. Since
1896, when Oil prospecting started in
the Usage nation, court records show
where scores have been killed for
their headlight so others might come
into possession Of it. A gang Of four
men headed by w. K. Hale, known
as the king of the Osage," is serv-
ing terms in connection with the ia
mouse Usage headlight murder plot.
Murders of Indians for their head
right became so common that con-
gress finally passed law providing
that any person convicted Of killing
oh No oh hn oto
Innumerable intermarriages with
whites and halfbreeds for the purpose
Of sharing in estate have been eff
fected. The halfbreeds and white rel
atives are the ones that suffer from
the present depression. In 1921 the
government gave all Osages with less
than one-half pure Indian blood the
right to sell the surface of their al
lotted lands. They are the ones who
raised the moan of the redman across
the miles of beautiful tree clad hills
and wrought sadness in the land of
the once mighty people.
Until 1921 every enrolled Usage
drew all money credited to him. The
government then reduced payments.
Then certificates Of competency"
were issued, until now there are only
about 600 Indians who cannot draw
1t as they wish.
Carousal Is Ended.
In flush years the lands yielded $780,
100000 annually. Many families drew
100000 annually. The blanket Indians
drew $13,5OO each in 1925. Now the
unrestricted Indian gets $35 weekly.
The full blood gets about $500
monthly.
Now that the Osages have spent
more than $225, 100000 and the 5000
or more Oil wells that used to flow
from 5000 to $4,000 barrels daily have
settled down to a production often as
do not see how they can rise above
the quagmire because of fast living
and 10 years Of general ,carousal.
Fifteen mixed bloods recently ap-
piled for bankruptcy and if decision
of the Circuit Court of Appeals is ia
vorable in case now pending a tri-
bal attorney has estimated that 1900
more mixed than full bloods, who owe
between $3.50 and $4,000 each, will
apply for bankruptcy to save their
headlights from attachment. A head
right is now worth about $4,000. 1t
formerly was worth $4,000.