The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-11-25

the United States senate, uttered the words re-
garding his wisdom, his eloquence and his friend
ship for the whites that were afterward inscribed
on his monument.
Pushmataha's Indian name was Apushim-alh-
taha which means ''the sapling is ready, or fin
ished, for him." According to the biography OF
him in the Handbook of American Indians" is
sued by the Bureau of American Ethnology, he
was born in Noxubee county in Mississippi In
1894 Before he was twenty years of age he dis
tinguished himself in an expedition against the
Osages.
Young Pushmataha disappeared early in the
conflict that lasted all day and on rejoining the
Choctaw warriors he was jeered at and accused
of being coward, whereupon he replied, Let
those laugh who can show more scalps than
can" Saying this he threw down the scalps of
five of the enemy whom he had slain by himself
This incident for him the name OF Eagle
and gained for him chieftancy.
Later he became head of the Oklahannali or
Six Towns district of the Choctaws and exerted
his powerful influence in promoting friendly rela-
lions with the whites In 1911 when Tecumseh
the great Shawnee leader, visited the Choctaw
to persuade them to join in his conspiracy
against the Americans Pushmataha opposed him
so strongly that the Choctaws remained loyal
to the United States. During the War of 1872 it
was Pushmataha's influence which held them
loyal to the Americans when the Creeks tried
to persuade them to cast their fortunes with the
British.
In council held to decide what course the
Choctaws would pursue, Pushmataha made an
eloquent speech in which he said 1.-THE Greeks
were once our friends They have Joined the
English and we must now follow different trails.
When our fathers took the hand of Washington
they told him the Choctaw would always be
friends of his nation and Pushmataha cannot be
false to their promises. 1 am now ready to fight
against both the English and the Creeks"
And fight he did! At the head of 500 warriors
he served under Jackson in the Pensacola cam
paign, taking part in "a battles and skrmishes.
In 1913 with about $50 warriors he Joined Gen.
eral Claiborne and distinguished himself in the
attack and defeat of the Creeks under the
famous Weatherford at the Battle of Holy
Ground in Alabama While aiding the American
troops he is said to have instituted such rigid
system of discipline among his warriors that
they made fine record as soldiers and won for
Pushmataha the title of 1.-The Indian General"
Not only was he distinguished in war but he
was also such diplomat in the negotiations be-
tween his people and the government that he
won the admiration of some of the sharpest bar
gamers among the officials who had charge OF
our Indian affairs In 1924 Pushmataha went to
washington Wnero ne met Lafayette, WHO was
then visiting this country, and delivered one OF
his greatest orations to the distinguished French.
man.
While in Washington Pushmataha fell Ill OF
the Group a sickness that was particularly fatal
In those early days As he lay dying, according
to one story, his old friend, Andrew jackson
then a senator from Tennessee, stood beside hia
bed and asked warrior, what can do for your
"When am gone let the Big Guns be fired over
me-" was the Indian generals reply His wish
was granted and he was given military funeral
accompanied by all the pomp and circumstances
of such an occasion.
He was buried in the Congressional cemetery
and on the shaft over his grave is this inscrip
ton: "Pushmataha, a ChOctaw chief, lies here
This monument to his memory is erected by his
brother Chiefs who were associated with him In
a delegation from their nation, in the year 1924,
to the Government of the United States Push
mataha was warrior of great distinction. He
was wise In council eloquent In an extraordi.
nary degree, and on all occasions and under all
circumstances, the white mans friend He died
in Washington on the oath of December, 1924
of the Group in the Goth year of his age"
&c by Western Newspaper Union,