The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-11-15
War Chief in Mourning orCaPt. Payne

I'm one OF It's issues the publishers stated TINT
they had been having trouble In getting paper
and supplies with which to print the paper. This
issue was printed on brown wrapping paper. and
was smeared with grease Whether 1t had been
printed on some paper In which the bacon and
other supplies had been wrapped. whether 1t
was stained with grease after being printed Is
matter for speculation. But the result was
newspaper that was scarcely leGible. The two
inside pages were blank, indicating either that
there were other shop difficulties besides the
shortage OF paper or that the camp was forced to
move before the entire edition Ind been printed
Payne had made many visits to Washington
to argue his case before the federal authorities
but without success. After his last visit In 1884
he returned to Wellington. KIM. strengthened
his colony and again entered the territory. He
was arrested again by the soldiers and taken
to Fort Smith, Ark, but there the court, pre-
sided over by Judge Isaac Parker 1.-THE famous
Hanging Judge" OF those days) said II would
have nothing to do with the case. week later
Payne was In camp In Indian Territory opposite
Fort Smith, badly crippled with rheumatism and
suffering other Illnesses caused by bad treatment
at the hands Of his captors Tor 80 he alleges In
some OF his letters which are preserved by the
Oklahoma Historical society,"
Tn September be wrote from Fort Gibson.
This makes three days here--do not think they
will undertake to hold us longer thnn five.
They may yet take us to Fort Scott One
thing seems evident now and that Ia to keep lis
up In the Territory until the Court at Wichita
adjourns-they do not want lis to get before that
Court now" From which 1t will be seen that
Payne was just being pushed around by the
authorities who were loath to bring the Issue to
a court test.
Two months later he was In Wellington again
and there on the morning of November % he
died quietly while sitting at breakfast In the
Hotel De Barnard OF his death Sutton says
His friends believed them and | believe yet.
that he was poisoned by those who opposed the
opening OF Oklahoma. His death filled the Okla
bona boomers with resentment, focused public
attention upon the opening Of the territory and
fastened II. The first opening came soon there
after. Moses led the Isrnelites to the edge Of
Canaan. but died just before they went In to pos
sess IT. 80 PAYNE led his Oklahoma boomers
through wilderness of struggle and was per-
mltted only to view the promised land. He will
live In history as the Father OF Oklahoma
Payne,s work was carried by some OF his
followers. notably Capt. w. L. Couch Col. Sam
ue Crocker. Captain Cooper. Sidney Clark and
Mai Gordon w. Lille t"Pawnee Bilr), who
came to be known as the big Five" They lived
to see Oklahoma thrown open to settlement by
proclamation OF the President and TO take part
in the big run" OF April % 1885, But OF all these
only one survives today-"Pnvnee Bill" "Chief
Little Bearr the white chief OF the Pawnees
who is spending his declining years In peace and
comfort at his buffalo ranch, blue Hawk Peak
near pawnee. Okla
rby w.stsrn Newspaper unoH