The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-11-15

In /
the program celebrating Che fortieth
anniversary of the opening of Okla
bona territory to white settlement.
But this was not done because the citizens of
Wellington declined to permit the removal They
pointed out that Insofar as Payne had made
Wellington his home for several years and had
died there. it perfectly fitting that Yelling
ton should be his last resting place Moreover.
they suggested that his grave is In beautiful
section of Prairie Lawn cemetery where there
is plenty of room for a suitable memorial IL
Oklahoma wanted to erect one.
Evidently that suggestion was not acceptable.
since the only marker at payne's grave Is
sevenfoot monument, giving brief account OF
his life, which was paid for by popular subscrlp-
ton and erected a few years ago by the Yelling
ton G. A. r. post to take the place of the orig
inal stone marker which recorded the fact that
he was captain of Company of the Tenth
Kansas infantry So Payne continues to sleep
in Kansas soil and 1t Is not wholly Inappropriate
that he should For. as a citizen Of Kansas he
: won his first fame as the "Cimarron Scout long
before he became the Father of Oklahoma
The state of Indiana also has a claim upon this
frontier notable. for he born In the Hooser
state. AS for other details of his curly life,
there Is dearth of reliable Information. ]. w.
Buel included sketch OF Payne In his Heroes
OF the Plains" and later writer's, evidently de-
pending upon Bue for their facts but adding
embroidery of their own. served to confuse the
record badly.
For instance, one of them calls him Daniel l.
Payne and says that his mother was cousin
of Daniel Boone. Fred E. Sutton OF Kansas City
tauthor OF Hands Up!', published by Bobbs-
Merrill In 1920, who was follower of Payne.
says his mother a first cousin OF Davy
Crockett and that he was born In Falrmont,
Ind. on December 30, 1885. Since this was only
few months after Crockett Ind died gloriously
ut the Alamo In Texas 1t seems reasonable to
suppose that his kinswoman would name her
newborn son David
Payne's boyhood was spent much like that of
any other youngster of the pioneer days In In
diana and by the time be had reached young
manhood he. like thousands or others, felt the
urge to "go West So In 1857 he moved TO
Kansas territory and settled on farm north of
Atchson Kansas was then In the throes OF
civil OF Its own between the pro-savery
of Missouri and the Kansas Jayhawkers
md 1t Is probable that Payne like his future
friend. who was destined for fame as Buffalo
BILL" had his first fighting experience then
At any rate when the Civil war opened. he
enlisted In Kansas regiment In the Union army
and served In 1t until 1863 when he was dis
charged Shortly afterwards he was elected to
the Kansas legislature. where he served with
some distinction and at the close of his term
he was made postmaster at Fort Lenvenworth
In 1867 Indian raids In Kansas became 80 men.
acing that the War department called upon Gov
ernor Crawford OF Kansas to raise a force of
volunteer cavalry to cooperate with the regular
army In subduing the hostlles Payne was COM
missloned captain of one Of these troops which
served with Gen. George A. Custer and the Sew
enth cavalry In Kansas and Oklahoma during
the next two years. Sutton says that Payne was
In the Battle of the Washita on November 27.
1865 when Custer destroyed the camp OF Chief
Black Kettle of the Cheyennes and If he was he
may have had an escape there from death which
overlook him IA years later. almost to day.
1t was evidently during this period In paynes
career that he acquired the sobrlquet of the
"Cimarron Scout although his services In that
role did not seem to have been as outstand-
Ing as Buel and those who followed him would
have us believe. AT least, Custer In his My Life
on the Plains" first published In the old Cal
airy Magazine In 1872-73) does not mention Payne
by name. Is he listed among the scouts
prominently mentioned In any OF Mrs. Clusters
books dealing with her husbands Indian cam.
paigns. California Joe" wild Bill" Hlckok
Sharp Grover and several others are referred to
frequently by both the general and Mrs Custer,
but not Payne. which leads to the suspicion that
the reputation OF the "Cmarron Scout wns in
dustriously built up by writer's with dime novel
tendencies
For instance Buel, In recording the rescue of
two white women captives, Mrs. Morgan and
Miss White, from the Cheyennes. tells dramatic
story Of the subsequent events In 1t he has Gus
ter fearful for the safety Of his command If the
hosties should concentrate against him. SO the
general holds "a consultation with CAPTAIN
Payne, In whose judgment the entire command
placed the greatest reliance aud says. Captain
we have got to send word to FIT Hays at once
some must act as courier to notify our
friends OF our positions and to carry the good
news that the two ladies' are In safety with US +"
WKereupon Payne agrees to make the trip de.
clines the escort OF SO men which Custer offers
him and says. "I' tnke Jnck Cowan and Char.
ley Picard and my purpose Is to set out from
here In about fifteen minutes Then the three
men ride away mounted mules and leading
pack mules which carried 800 rounds Of ammu
milton" and after series ofthrilllng experiences
including an attack by hostile Kiowas. reached
Fort Hays In hundred hours the distance
being 3G5 miles. Before reaching Hnys Payne
had to rub tobacco In his eyes to keen from