The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-07-29

dangerous liHe- III Oh
Pushmataha expedition gainst
the Usage, which last
ed all day, the lad disappeared early
in the morning, and did not return
until late. Naturally, his comrades
jeered at him, calling him coward,
but he calmly said, LET those laugh
who can show as many scalps as l
can," and produced five scalps, which
he had collected in his attack on the
enemy's rear.
This act won him q chieftainship,
and from this time he became an in
fiuence in his tribe. He was a spec
tacular warrior 1t is said that once
he went to Texas, entered an enemy
house alone at night, and killed sew
en- men and set fire to several houses
Pushmataha seems to have been al
ways friendly to the whites. When
Tecumseh, in 1911, visited the ChOc-
taw and tried to incite an uprising. il
was largely Pushmataha's opposition
which caused the fiery orator TO fail.
The War of 1912 brought out this 10y
atty in a striking manner. Pushma-
taha is reported to have said TO his
people, "The Creeks were -once our
friends. They have Joined the Eng
lish and we must now follow different
trails. When our fathers took the
hand of Washington, they told him the
Choctaw would always be the friends
of his nation, and Pushmataha cannot
be false to their promises. | am now
ready to fight against both the Eng
lish and the Creeks"
Five hundred of his tribesmen,
aroused by this patriotic speech. fol-
lowed him into the service Of the
Americans, and he led them through
"a engagements. In 1913, with 10
Choctaws, he Joined ClaibOrne's forces
and aided In the defeat of the Creeks
This connection with the American
army taught Pushmataha a great deal
about discipline and training, and that
this was not wasted upon him was
shown by the efficiency of his men,
whom he changed from savage war
riors to rigidly trained soldiers. 1t
was, perhaps, his knowledge of the
value of discipline which caused him
to become so vitality interested in the
education of his people. 1t is said
that he gave $1,000 of his annuity for
10 years toward the support of ChOc-
taw schools.
He stood as high in the regard OF
his own people as in that of the
whites. The Choctaw selected him TO
represent them in negotiations with
the government, and he signed several
treaties for them. In the last of these
negotiations, he was pitted against
General Jackson, and proved himself
to be eloquent, wise, and diplomatic,
with decided capacity for business
In 1924, Pushmataha went to Wash
ington for his tribe, to negotiate an
other treaty, and while there paid a
visit to Lafayette, who was then in
this country. 1t is unfortunate that
we have no picture of these two hat
tle-scarred veterans, as they met in
the capital of the nation for which
both had so nobly fought. However,
we may imagine the suave Frenchman.
with his poise and breeding. talking
amiably with the Indian Of unknown
ancestry, who was probably blunt and
direct, but doubtless equally as poised.
History, which delights in contrasts,
has perpetuated this one for US, in
Pushmataha's speech to the French
general:
There has passed nearly so SHOWS
since you drew the sword as a COM
panion of Washington. With him you
have combated the enemies of Amer
lea. Thou hast generously mingled
thy blood with that of the enemy. and
hast proved thy devotedness to the
cause which thou defendest. After
thou hadst finished that war, thou
hadst returned into thy country. and
now thou contest to revisit that land
where thou art honored and beloved
in the remembrance of a numerous
and powerful people. Thou seest ev-
erywhere the children of those for
whom thou hast defended liberty.
crowd around thee, and press thy
hands with filial affection. We have
heard related all these things in the
OepIDS OF the distant IOTeSlS- anu O0E
hearts have been ravished with de-
sire to behold thee. We are come.
we have pressed thy hand. and We
are satisfied. This is the first time
that we have seen thee. and IL will
probably be the last. We have no
more to add. The earth will part rs
forever"
This visit was Pushmataha's last
official act, for he fell i'll and died
within "a hours afterward- The In
dian General" was buried with mill
tary honors, and President Jackson
himself, with over 1900 other persons.
followed the body to the Congressional
cemetery.
The monument over his grave says.
In part: "Pushmataha was a warrior
Of great distinction. He was wise IN
council, eloquent in an extraordinary
degree; and on all occasions. and IN
der all circumstances, the white mans
friend"
&c, 1892 Western Newspaper Unl0a-1