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Cattle and Cowley County Cattle Drives
[REPORT FROM A. CONKLE: ON THE TRAIL.]
TRAVELER, MAY 24, 1876.
On the Trail.
[Special to the Price Current.]
SALT FORK, INDIAN TERRITORY, May 8, 1876.
I met the first cattle May 5, eight miles north of Salt Fork.
D. R. Fant, two herds, containing 1,850 each. Destination Ellis, Kansas.
Capt. Millett, 850 wintered cattle. Destination Russell Kas.
At Salt Fork I have met:
J. L. Driskill 2,500 wintered cattle. Destination Russell, Kas.
Benj. Sheidley, 1,850 through cattle. Destination Ellis, Kas.
G. W. Littlefield, 1,650 through cattle. Destination Ellis, Kas.
Bennett & Adana, 1,150 through cattle. Destination Ellis, Kas.
Millett's, Mabry's, Driskill's & Sheidley's are all beeves; Fant's, Littlefields and Bennett & Adana's cattle are mixed. Grass is good and the through cattle are coming up in fine fix.
Wintered cattle are not looking so well. The bulk of the drive is coming the old trail. Some herds are striking west at Salt Fork and others at Bluff Creek. They seem to be undecided as to which is the best route for this western trail, as no pilot has been furnished them through.
A. CONKLE.
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[CORRESPONDENCE FROM A. CONKLE - ON THE TRAIL.]
TRAVELER, JUNE 7, 1876.
[Special Correspondence of the Price Current.]
RED FORK IND. TER., May 24, 1876.
The following herds have passed since my last.
May 16. Capt. King, four herds, 7,400 mixed. Destination, Ellis, Kansas.
May 20. Kingsbery & Holmsley, 1,577 mixed. Destination, Dodge City, Kan. Quinlan & Shepard, 1,200 mixed. Destination undecided. Hughes & Hood, four herds, 7,000 mixed. Destination undecided.
May 21. J. L. Driskill, two herds, 4,200 mixed. Destination, Ellis, Kan.
May 22. J. W. L. Slavens, 2,100 mixed. Destination, River Bend, Colorado.
The Hughes & Hood cattle started to drive through on the western trail, but were ordered to the old trail below this point by the commandant at Fort Sill.
A. CONKLE.
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[CORRESPONDENCE FROM "J. C. HOPKINS" - HOPKINS' RANCH, I. T.]
TRAVELER, JUNE 7, 1876.
HOPKINS' RANCH, INDIAN TERRITORY, May 22, 1876.
The following herds have passed since May 4.
A. M. Walker, 1,815; A. R. Adair, 1,100; H. C. Boyce, 1,850; D. J. McKinney, 1,810; Lyon & Jennings, 1,500. The destination of these herds is Dodge City, Kansas.
Sam. Vance, 1,500; W. Humphreys, 1,650; Destination, Ellis, Kansas.
Caruthers & Taylor, 2,800 for Plum Creek, Kansas.
C. R. Walker, 2,500 for the Red Cloud Agency.
J. B. Blocker, 1,430 for Hays City, Kansas.
W. J. Wishard, 1,750; King, 7,400; Hughes & Hood, 7,100; Kingsbery & Holmsley, 1,700; C. C. Quinland, 1,190. Destination not known.
J. C. HOPKINS.
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[CORRESPONDENCE FROM "A. CONKLE." - ON THE TRAIL.]
TRAVELER, JUNE 28, 1876.
On the Trail.
[Special Correspondence of the Price Current.]
RED FORK, INDIAN TERRITORY, June 16, 1876.
The following herds have passed since my last.
June 5. R. R. Savage, 950 mixed, for Ellis.
June 6. Houston & Dismuke, 1,950 mixed, for Ellis. Kingsbery & Holmsley, 1,400 mixed, for Bluff Creek.
June 7. Burk & Smith, 3,400 mixed, for Ellis.
June 8. D. H. Snyder, 1,800 mixed, for Ellis.
June 9. W. C. Osburn, 1,200 mixed, for Ellis. Capt. Kennedy (two herds), 8,000 mixed, for Ellis.
June 10. Oge & Woodard, 2,900 mixed, for Bluff Creek.
June 12. Halstein & Murry, 1,400 mixed, for Colorado.
June 13. L. M. T. Pope, 800 mixed, for Medicine Creek.
June 14. L. M. T. Pope, 1,460 mixed, for Medicine Creek.
June 15. W. B. Grimes, 2,000 mixed, for Bluff Creek.
A. CONKLE.
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[CORRESPONDENCE FROM "A. CONKLE." - ON THE TRAIL.]
TRAVELER, JUNE 28, 1876.
On the Trail.
[Special Correspondence of the Price Current.]
RED FORK, INDIAN TERRITORY, June 16, 1876.
The following herds have passed since my last.
June 5. R. R. Savage, 950 mixed, for Ellis.
June 6. Houston & Dismuke, 1,950 mixed, for Ellis. Kingsbery & Holmsley, 1,400 mixed, for Bluff Creek.
June 7. Burk & Smith, 3,400 mixed, for Ellis.
June 8. D. H. Snyder, 1,800 mixed, for Ellis.
June 9. W. C. Osburn, 1,200 mixed, for Ellis. Capt. Kennedy (two herds), 8,000 mixed, for Ellis.
June 10. Oge & Woodard, 2,900 mixed, for Bluff Creek.
June 12. Halstein & Murry, 1,400 mixed, for Colorado.
June 13. L. M. T. Pope, 800 mixed, for Medicine Creek.
June 14. L. M. T. Pope, 1,460 mixed, for Medicine Creek.
June 15. W. B. Grimes, 2,000 mixed, for Bluff Creek.
A. CONKLE.
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TRAVELER, SEPTEMBER 6, 1876.
RANCH RED FORK, INDIAN TERRITORY.
August 25, 1876.
As it is cool enough this morning to keep the flies quiet, I will write you a few lines. At 2 o'clock p.m., yesterday, the thermometer registered 115, but a cool wind from the northwest this morning has brought the temperature down to 68.
Agent Miles, with his two amiable daughters, stopped with me last night. The Agent reports all quiet about the Agency. Two squaws were killed and two soldiers badly injured by lightning during a severe storm that passed over that section last Sunday night.
He reports that the Cheyennes and Arrapahoes are thinking of selling off part of their ponies and engaging in cattle raising.
Mr. Miles was on his way to Leavenworth after his wife, who has been there for some months.
The cattle drive is over. Quite a number of ponies have been driven past here this summer from Texas for Kansas and Colordo. The road is lined with freighters.
The other day a freighter mistook Messrs. Jackson and Smith, of Wichita, for Indians; and thinking his time had come, unhitched his horses and struck off over the prairie, leaving his wagon load of freight standing unguarded. The two men ran after him, calling out for him to stop; but the harder they yelled, the faster he ran. It was the poor fellow's first trip, and probably will be his last to this part of the country.
D. W. JONES.
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[LETTER FROM C. M. SCOTT: TERRITORY MATTERS.]
TRAVELER, MAY 21, 1879.
Territory Matters--Letter from C. M.
EDITOR TRAVELER:
At your suggestion I will give you a few brief items from the land of the red man, from which I have just returned after three weeks absence, a ride of 600 miles on horseback from Arkansas City to Camp Supply, via way of Cheyenne Agency and Fort Reno, Fort Bennett, and up the North Fork of the Canadian into the Pan Handle of Texas.
All through the northern part of the Territory we met bone hunters gathering buffalo bones for sale at Dodge City and Wichita. They usually take down corn and bring back a load of bones for which they get $7.50 per ton. I don't know what they get for corn, but it retails at $1 per bushel all through the northern part of the Territory and at 2-1/2 cents per pound, or $1.50 per bushel at Camp Supply. We conversed with several owners of large herds of stock that declared their intentions to make Arkansas City their headquarters this fall.
James Steen was on the road with 900 head of ponies, and is probably at Caldwell now. Others were behind him with from one to three hundred head. All horned stock looked a little thin on account of the hard winter, and grass was short for want of rain. Young stock--yearlings and two year olds--could not be bought; there were none for sale but thousands on the range. On our way back we visited the camp of the Patrol Guards and found them active and ready to meet the wayward Cheyennes, but there is none to meet except those that freight from Wichita to the Agency.
The roads were almost lined with immigrants to Harper and Barbour counties, and wild schemers on their way to Leadville.
Deer, elk, turkeys, wolves, and antelope were numerous, but the buffalo were all in New Mexico, and will not be seen within 200 miles of Arkansas City before July or August, when they will range north.
The Indians were all quiet and peaceable, and many of them planting corn and putting up fences. Occasionally a white whiskey seller ventures in, but Agent Miles has the reputation of knowing a rogue at first sight a mile off, so it is not often attempted.
You may wonder that we ever returned under those circumstances; but we did, and found the town improved to such an extent we hardly knew it.
Yours, C. M.
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[EDITORIAL PAGE.]
TRAVELER, JUNE 4, 1879.
SECOND ARTICLE POKING FUN AT TELEGRAM OVER COURTHOUSE...SKIPPED THE FIRST ARTICLE AND THIS ONE ALSO.
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D. W. BUSHYHEAD, Treasurer of the Cherokee Nation, we are informed, has established an office at Caldwell, for the purpose of collecting taxes on cattle and other stock grazing in the Indian Territory.
We advise the stock men to resist the payment of this tax, and, if necessary, to make a case and test it before Judge Barker, at Fort Smith. We have been through this question, from head to foot, with the Solicitor of the Interior Department, and think we are as well informed on this subject as any agent of the black and tan Cherokee Council. We received a letter from one of our delegation in Congress yesterday morning stating that the agent was already in trouble with the Department, and will not get out soon. Don't pay a cent. We have not space this week, but will say more in our next.
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It is estimated that there will be 200,000 head of cattle driven from Texas to Kansas this year. The larger part of them are young steers, from one to two years old. They will probably reach the Arkansas valley about the middle of May.
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THE TERRITORY AGAIN.
EDITOR TRAVELER:
I have just completed another little jog into the Territory, and will relate what I saw.
Gen. McNeil was at Ponca Agency on the 22nd, and may go down to Oklahoma to advise the settlers on the North Fork. Troops from Camp Supply and Fort Sill have already been there, and the result was settlers were strung out all along the road on their way back, cursing the country, the soldiers, and above all, the Kansas City Times, and its "pal"--Carpenter.
Agent Howarth will not take charge of the Pawnees, but enjoy himself visiting the Agencies all around. A few years wrestling with the ague at Kiowa and Comanche Agency satisfied him that the Territory, generally, is not a healthy location.
About sixty of the Pawnees are out on a buffalo hunt, and forty are visiting the Wichitas.
We cut across the country from Pawnee to Kaw Agency, making the trip in a day's rride. It is a much nearer route to Arkansas City, and fully as good road as by the way of Ponca.
The Osages were counciling, on our arrival, but we did not stop to hear them. They have a great many ponies. Some very fancy; but few for sale.
Gov. Joe's camp is near the mouth of Salt Creek, about five miles from the crossing point of the Arkansas. The Arkansas ford at Salt Creek is a good one, although the water was four feet deep in the channel.
Up Salt Creek we saw millions of the "fourteen year locusts." In the creek beautiful fish could be seen grabbing at flies as they fell on its surface.
Crops on Grouse creek are looking splendid, and everything has the appearance of thrift.
All cattle men, as well as others, will have to leave the Territory within the next sixty days, in compliance with the order from the Interior Department at Washington. So much for the white settlers rushing in and making fools of themselves, and bringing hardships upon stock men.
UNSIGNED...BUT IT IS EVIDENT STORY FROM C. M. SCOTT.
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[TEXAS CATTLE DRIVE.]
MARCH 25, 1880.
The Kansas City Commercial Indicator publishes a special from Texas in reference to the coming drive of cattle from that State to Kansas and other States and Territories this month, which place it at 249,200, the number of cattle each drover will drive being given in detail. Of this number 100,000 have been already disposed of, leaving 200,000 for the open market. The drive will be principally of young cattle. Not more than 29 percent will be beeves.
There have been good rains in southwestern Texas recently. The grass is growing very fast and the prospects for an early drive is excellent. The cattle along the coast are wintering well and are in good condition, but in the more northerly counties, they are thin in flesh.
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[CATTLE IN THE TERRITORY.]
TRAVELER, MAY 26, 1880.
CATTLE IN THE TERRITORY.
The Caldwell Post states that there are 40,000 head of cattle west of the Chisholm trail in the Indian Territory. The following herds, held east of the trail, south and west of Arkansas City, will swell the number to 60,000.
Cocanut, on the trail: 2,575
Gillch & Wait: 300
Burress, on Salt Fork: 300
Capt. Nipp, on Shawascaspa: 150
Kincaid, on Thompson creek: 600
Bates & Beal, on Thompson creek: 2,000
Gatliff & Dixon, on Bitter creek: 200
Jas. Hamilton & Co., Pond creek: 3,000
Jas. Estus, on Red Rock: 200
Potter, on Red Rock: 300
Badley, on Red Rock: 160
Dean Bros., on Bear creek: 600
Wiley & Libbby, on Bear creek: 400
Musgrove, on Polecat: 600
Malalla, on Pond creek: 2,900
Richmond, on Shawascaspa: 600
Riney, on Inman creek: 400
Manning, on Thompson creek: 600
Dunn & Co., on Deer creek: 700
Cloverdale & Stafford, on Bodoc: 300
R. A. Houghton, on Bodoc: 150
In addition to these there are a number along the State line, and several herds in the Nation, the number of which we did not learn.
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[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, JUNE 2, 1880.]
Stock men will take notice that Major Lipe is the only Cherokee tax collector and that he has only one deputy, Judge George O. Sanders. No taxes will be collected elsewhere than at Caldwell, and only by the above named gentlemen so that any persons representing themselves as his deputies are not qualified to make such collection.
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[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, JULY 7, 1880.]
The cattle drive this summer from Texas to Kansas has been largely composed of young cattle that were contracted for last season, to be delivered at Red Fork ranch and along the Kansas line. A few weeks since 2,200 head of yearlings were delivered at $8.50 per head. From June 10 to June 24, 76,232 head of cattle and 3,172 head of ponies came up the trail, consisting of forty cattle herds and six pony herds.
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[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, JULY 28, 1880.]
From W. B. Skinner we learn that the Texas fever is getting away with the stock in the southern portion of East Bolton. Mr. Chambers has lost ten head; Mr. Bush seven; and several others one or two, making in all, an aggregate of twenty-five head at this writing.
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A card from Red Fork Ranch, Indian Territory, dated July 20, reports that the cattle drive is not half so heavy as it was a month ago. Most of the stock herds have gone up, and the beef herds are coming up the trail now. There was plenty of rain and grass at that writing.
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[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, JULY 28, 1880.]
There are a great many herds of cattle held about Pond Creek, Indian Territory, for sale this summer. Yearlings are held firm at $8.50 and $9.00, and some even as high as $12.00; two-year-olds $13.00 and $15.00. The cost in Texas this year is from six to ten dollars per head. It costs about one dollar per head to drive up a herd of 2,000 or more.
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[C. M. SCOTT: NOTES FROM WESTERN KANSAS.]
TRAVELER, AUGUST 25, 1880.
NOTES FROM WESTERN KANSAS.
FORT DODGE, August 20, 1880.
Editor Traveler: It is a matter of surprise to see how fast these western counties are settling up. Sumner may be said to be densely populated, still there are hundreds of acres yet unclaimed, and much of that claimed and improved has not been entered. Harper is well settled with a farming class of people, where they should be stock growers.
Along the line of Barbour can now be seen many houses where last year they were few and far between. This is a recognized stock county, and will become wealthy. In Comanche, Clarke, and Meade counties, where only a year ago nothing but "cow camps" could be found, men are now there with their families--some trying to farm, others raising sheep and cattle. Next to the Pan-handle of Texas the latter three counties excel as a sheep country. The grass is alkali or buffalo grass, very nutritious, and remains green the entire year. In all these counties there are thousands of acres of land to be bought at one dollar per acre on the Cherokee Strip, and that on the Osage lands will be sold this fall to the highest bidder. In many instances timber and water can be had.
Most of the stock cattle held about Caldwell have been sold, and the shipping cattle are being driven to Nickerson, on account of the number of native cattle dying with fever in that vicinity.
At Dodge City yearlings were sold at $8 and $8.50 per head, and some offered for $7 per head after they have been picked over. Colorado sheep are offered in any numbers at $2 per head. They are very thin in flesh, yet if well wintered would prove a profitable investment. The sheep mania seems to be universal, and cattle men are becoming alarmed thereat, claiming that where sheep feed the cattle will die, as sheep bite the grass so close that the hot sun strikes into its heart and soon kills it.
During the past two weeks Western Kansas has had an abundance of rain, and the "range" never was better, although grass is too short to make hay.
No one need go west of Barbour county with any intention of farming. There is not rain sufficient to grow corn or wheat. Millet does well, and is a good substitute for corn, and alfalfa or Chinese clover should do equally well. It is a stock country, nothing more.
C. M. SCOTT.
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[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, SEPTEMBER 15, 1880.]
The rates on cattle from Hunnewell to Kansas City are now restored to the old figures--$40 per car. During the "cut" for some weeks past the Santa Fe and K. C., L. & W. roads only charged $10.
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[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, SEPTEMBER 29, 1880.]
Jesse Evans was to ship sixteen carloads of cattle from Harper City last week--the first shipped from that place.
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[PERSONALS.]
OCTOBER 7, 1880.
It is said that 125,000 head of Texas cattle will be wintered in the territory south of Sumner county.
[CATTLE SHIPPED OVER THE K. C. L. & S. RAILROAD.]
OCTOBER 21, 1880.
About 40,000 head of cattle have been shipped over the
K. C. L. & S. railroad this season.
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[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, NOVEMBER 3, 1880.]
Beyond doubt some parties are stealing cattle from the different herds in the Territory. Thomas Hill, on Bitter creek, has lost twenty-one head, ten of them branded 0 on the left hip, and eleven with a diamond brand on right hip, and we have heard of a number of others who have sustained losses.
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[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, MAY 11, 1881.]
TO STOCK AND CATTLE MEN. The attention of all parties holding or interested in the stock interests of this section is called to the fact that a meeting of the prominent stockmen of this vicinity will be held on Saturday in the Benedict building, May 21, 1881, for the purpose of taking steps to protect themselves from the Texas drive (the coming season), by the location of a dead line, etc.
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Winfield, Kansas, March 1st, 1881.
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TO STOCK AND CATTLE MEN. The attention of all parties holding or interested in the stock interests of this section is called to the fact that a meeting of the prominent stockmen, of this vicinity, will be held on Saturday at the canal office at 2 p.m., May 21, 1881, for the purpose of taking steps to protect themselves from the Texas drive (the coming season), by the location of a dead line, etc. etc.
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[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, MAY 18, 1881.]
Estimated drive of cattle from Northwestern Texas this season, 253,000. Cattle are scarce and [REPORT FROM "LONE STAR" - IN THE TERRITORY.]
TRAVELER, JUNE 15, 1881.
FROM THE TERRITORY.
Three horse herds have passed up the trail within the past few days. One herd for Dodge City, of four hundred head, and two herds for Caldwell, of four hundred and two hundred and twenty each.
The round-up parties are on Black Bear, having completed the counting south of that creek.
The rivers have all lowered down to their usual low water mark, and travel is not impeded.
Flies and mosquitoes are fearful, and more numerous than ever before at this season of the year.
Only three herds of cattle have as yet passed up the trail, but a number are on the way.
James Hamilton came very near being drowned while crossing one of the rivers below here. He was in a "buckboard" and the harness needed fixing, and he got out to attend to it, when his horse struck him on the head with its fore feet, knocking him senseless. He floated down the stream some distance before he was rescued by some friends who had remained on the bank.
Many cattle men have changed their camps; leaving their "dug-outs" and tenting on higher grounds.
LONE STAR.
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very high; they are in fair flesh, yet thinner than most people supposed they would be, owing to the continual wet weather which rotted a great deal of grass.
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[KANSAS NEWS.]
TRAVELER, JULY 6, 1881 - FRONT PAGE.
Nearly 40,000 head of cattle await shipment at Hunnewell.
One of the principal blocks in Hunnewell was wiped out by fire.
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[SOME BUSINESS NOTICES.]
TRAVELER, JANUARY 25, 1882.
BARBED WIRE.
We have just received a carload of barbed wire, which we will sell by the rod instead of by the pound, so that an exact estimate of what is needed can be made beforehand. We have in stock both the galvanized and painted wire.
Howard Brothers.
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[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, APRIL 5, 1882.]
Cowley county will be entitled to eight delegates in the Third Congressional Convention, which meets at Emporia May 24th. Still we are growing stronger.
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We received a pleasant call from Mr. Jacob V. Carter last week. Mr. Carter was on his way to the Sac & Fox Agency, where he has been appointed U. S. Indian Agent.
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Al Dean purchased the fine thoroughbred bull of W. A. Knott's that was advertised in last week's TRAVELER. This makes the fifth blooded bull he has purchased within two weeks.
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[KANSAS NEWS.]
TRAVELER, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1882 - FRONT PAGE.
A number of acres in Cowley county will be planted in tobacco.
Cowley county proposes to have a public sheep shearing, in June.
The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe road has 308 locomotives and is constantly buying new ones.
Caldwell will undoubtedly be the best market for Texas cattle in the state this year, as it is the terminus of the great Chisholm trail, over which three-fourths of the Texas cattle are driven, and easily accessible to the great distributing points, Kansas City, Chicago, and St. Louis, by rail and by telegraph.
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[EDITORIAL COLUMNS.]
TRAVELER, APRIL 12, 1882.
Counsel for Crow Dog, who is sentenced to be hanged for the murder of Spotted Tail, has written to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, asking him to furnish funds for an appeal of the case to the United States Supreme Court. Commissioner Price refuses to
interfere.
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THROUGH CATTLE TRAIL.
The Route Which Cattle Coming from Texas
must follow through the Indian Territory.
The following letter has been handed us for publication, in order that it may be clearly understood by what routes cattle from Texas may pass through the Territory. The trail business should have been attended to ere this, but with prompt action on the part of those interested, and if satisfactory to all concerned, the trail as laid out last season might receive the approval of the Commissioner of Indian affairs.
CHEYENNE & ARAPAHOE AGENCY,
DARLINGTON, INDIAN TERRITORY, April 1, 1882.
W. N. Hubbell, Caldwell, Kas.
DEAR FRIEND: All cattle herds will be required to follow the old Chisholm trail east of this agency, or on the trail west of Cantonment. The trail passing between this Agency and Cantonment in the vicinity of the Red Hills, over which a few herds passed last season, was not authorized by the Indian Office and cannot be used this season except it first be authorized by the Commissioner of Indian Affairs.
You will please give this notice to cattle men.
Very respectfully,
JNO. D. MILES, Indian Agent.
Commercial.
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[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, APRIL 26, 1882.]
The earnings of the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe railroad company for March were $1,115,000, as against $902,000 last year; a gain of $248,000, or of 27 percent. Since January 1st the road has gained about $1,000,000 in gross earnings.
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The tenth semi-annual sale of shorthorn cattle, by the Hamilton's, of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, will take place at Riverview Park, Kansas City Stock Yards, May 9th, 10th, and 11th, 1882. Two hundred and twenty-five head of pure Short Horns will be sold.
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[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, APRIL 26, 1882.]
The First Herd of the Season.
The first herd of the season of 1882 arrived at this point Saturday, from Gonzales county, Texas. It is a herd of saddle and stock horses numbering 160, J. S. Tate, owner and driver. Mr. Tate says his stock came through in good shape; grass good all the way up; had no runs. He will hold at the stockyards till he closes out. Dodge City will please make a note of this: Caldwell gets the first herd! This herd was started for Dodge City, but Mr. Tate learned that Caldwell was the best market, and so drove here. Caldwell Post.
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[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, MAY 10, 1882.]
The round-up in the Territory is nearly finished. It shows that the loss of stock the past winter was but 1 percent; the cattle were never in better condition at this season, and will reach the market a month earlier than usual. The increase in herds surprises the veteran stockmen.
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[MORE PERSONALS: TRAVELER, MAY 17, 1882.]
Jack Chisholm, a prominent stock man of the Indian Territory, passed in his checks lately and is now awaiting the final round-up. He was a son of the Chisholm who laid out the trail of that name.
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The Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, April 12, 1883.
STATE NEWS.
The first lot of cattle, 20,000 head, of the spring drive has reached Wichita.
The Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, April 12, 1883.
Peter Stewart bought the Jones & Prescott cattle the other day, paying $12,500. On Tuesday last, he shipped three car loads of beeves out of the herd, and made a contract with Mr. Mitchell, north of town and near the Chikaskia, to feed the balance of the herd, which consists principally of she cattle. We have not been able to ascertain what Jones & Prescott made out of the sale, but we are satisfied Mr. Stewart=s ultimate profits on the transaction will be something handsome.
The Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, April 26, 1883.
TEXAS CATTLE DRIVE.
A dispatch from Austin, Texas, says gentlemen largely interested in cattle who have just returned from an extensive trip through the ranches say that ninety-five herds of cattle, averaging twenty-five hundred each, will be driven out of the state this spring. The entire drive is estimated at 240,000 head against 350,000 last year. The shipments by rail are said to be over estimated, and will not probably exceed 50,000. Large herds of horses are also moving towards the market.
The twenty thousand cattle imported from Brownsville, Texas, a day or two ago, are from the state of New Leon, Mexico. Sixteen thousand head of them are already gathered and will be driven across the Rio Grande in a few days. They were purchased by McLord, a prominent stockman of Colorado, and all are intended to stock his ranches in that state. The prices paid were $12 per head.
The Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, April 26, 1883.
Another Cattle Deal.
A private dispatch from Topeka informs us that on the 20th inst., Peter Stewart, of Wellington, bought the McKnight, Albro & Spaulding cattle, paying therefor the sum of $40,500. If Mr. Stewart keeps on at the rate which he has started in, he will soon own sufficient cattle to satisfy the ambition of any man.
The Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, April 26, 1883.
W. R. Terwilliger returned from Texas last Saturday. He has on the trail nearly five hundred horses, which he expects to put on the Caldwell market about the 20th of May. Mr. Terwilliger expected to have the bunch here about the 1st of May, but owing to the condition of the grass has been compelled to drive slow.
The Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, April 26, 1883.
PANHANDLE TROUBLES.
A special to the Dallas News that the cowboys now on a strike in the Panhandle district are becoming more violent. One hundred well-armed cowboys are encamped at Las Corza, Oldham County, under the leadership of one Harris, and make open threats of violence against those who may come to take their places.
It cannot be denied that the cowboys are entitled to an increase of wages, but a resort to violence on their part for the purpose of forcing cattle owners to accede to their demands will result in no benefit. Pursuing a peaceable course, the boys will have the sympathy of the public. A contrary course will make everyone anxious to suppress them.
The Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, April 26, 1883.
W. H. Harrelson has sold his stock of cattle in the Salt Fork and Eagle Chief Pool, to the Gennessee Cattle Company. Consideration, between $83,000 and $84,000.
The Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, April 26, 1883.
Wm. McMillin, foreman for Dye Bros., and an old timer on the range, spent the early part of the week in the city. He was hiring hands and buying supplies for the spring-up.
The Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, April 26, 1883.
CRIME.
A Fort Worth, Texas, special says Athree or four hundred cowboys on ranches in the Panhandle are on a strike for an increase from $30 to $50 a month and board. The men are well armed and threaten to kill any new men, fire ranches, and make general trouble. Some of the largest companies have signified their unwillingness to meet the demands, and are now taking steps to secure United States troops or Texas rangers to protect their property.
The Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, May 3, 1883.
Mayor Colson has left to take a hand on the round-up, which begins at the Pond Creek ranch.
The Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, May 3, 1883.
Live Stock.
W. E. Campbell returned from the East since our last issue, and while absent picked up the following live stock.
Legal Tender, a young thoroughbred, with a pedigree second to no horse in the state.
Antonia, imported Hereford heifer, bred by T. Penn, Downton Castle, England. In calf by the imported Hereford bull, Rambler, 719S, at the head of Hon. M. H. Cochran=s herd.
Taurus, 1832, Hereford bull, formerly stood at the head of Barleigh & Bodwell=s imported herd of Herefords, and was awarded the highest honor over a strong field of imported and home bred bulls at the New York state fair.
Mr. Campbell feels justly proud over his acquisitions, as they must, with the fine stock he had before, soon place him at the head of the Hereford breeders in this state.
THE CALDWELL JOURNAL, May 17, 1883.
From John A. Blair, Wm. Corzine, and others who came up from the range on Saturday, we learn that the local round-ups have progressed in a very satisfactory manner, the gatherings being far in excess of all anticipations. So far one-half to two-thirds of the cattle have already been picked up. Cattle have not shed off as early this year as usual, and in consequence no estimate of the loss on the range for the past year can be formed until after the general round-up, which begins the 21st, inst.
The late rains make the Territory cowmen feel pretty goodCso good, in fact, that they are determined to hold until prices suit them, no matter what the through drive may be.
THE CALDWELL JOURNAL, May 24, 1883.
THE STRIP LEASED.
The Cherokee Council last week granted a five year lease to the Cherokee Strip Live Stock Association, at an annual rental of $100,000 per year. The advantages of this lease to Caldwell will be immense, because it gives an assurance of a steady and profitable business. Having an assurance that they will not be disturbed for the next five years, many of the stock men will make their homes in our city, and with their wealth and influence contribute largely toward making it one of the most substantial towns in the West.
THE CALDWELL JOURNAL, May 24, 1883.
We find the following item in the Mobeetie Panhandle of the 18th: AThe I.X. ranch has started about 2,400 head of beef cattle to market, with Caldwell as the objective point. They are in three different herds, and will be very deliberate in reaching the shipping point, as of course at this season they are not in condition to be placed upon the market.@
THE CALDWELL JOURNAL, May 31, 1883.
Lower Country Items.
From the Cheyenne Transporter, May 29.
We hear of one of Littlefield=s herds being lost east of us, somewhere near the Red hills. They had 1,200 hundred head of cattle when they started, but now have only about 600.
M. H. Bennett, C. H. Stone, and A. B. Overall were all down the trail last week on business, and stopped at the agency during the high water blockade.
J. H. Seger will start for Caldwell with a choice lot of Indian Ponies, from which point he will ship to Illinois. His ponies are nice ones and ought to sell readily at fancy prices.
Work upon the new brick Arapahoe school laundry building goes steadily ahead, with Mr. Sterner as workman, assisted in bricklaying by Starr and Scabby, the two Cheyenne apprentices. Starr and Scabby are industrious Indians, and are fast becoming skillful workmen.
THE CALDWELL JOURNAL, May 31, 1883.
CHEROKEE STRIP LIVE STOCK ASSOCIATION.
The Ranges to be Surveyed.
The board of directors of the Association met in this city on Tuesday afternoon, and appointed A. M. Colson chairman of the Board of Arbitration, vice H. W. Timberlake, resigned.
On motion it was ordered that the lands leased from the Cherokee Nation be divided into three divisions under the supervision of the Board of Directors, for the purpose of surveying, to ascertain the amount of territory occupied by members.
M. H. Bennett and J. W. Hamilton will have the supervision and power to employ a surveyor for the Eastern division, from the 96th meridian on the east to the Chisholm trail on the west, and from the state line on the north to the southern line of the Cherokee Territory.
Major A. Drumm and Ben S. Miller will have the supervision and power to employ a surveyor, and supervise the same, from the Chisholm trail on the east to a line running north and south on the west line of the Texas Land and Cattle company on the west.
Chas. H. Eldred and E. W. Payne will have power to employ a surveyor and superintend the same, from the line running north and south on the west line of the Texas Land and Cattle company, to the 100th meridian west, and from the south line of Kansas on the north to the south line of the Cherokee country.
The expenses of surveying each range must be paid for at the time the surveying is done, by the person occupying the range.
No other business of importance to the public was transacted. We understand the work of surveying the ranges will begin at as early a day as possible.
THE CALDWELL JOURNAL, August 2, 1883.
Territory Items.
Cheyenne Transporter, July 29th.
In the absence of Agent Miles, Mr. O. J. Woodard is acting agent, and fills the position with much credit to himself.
Johnson Foster, the half-breed Creek who murdered Robert Poisal, while being taken to Fort Smith, killed the marshal who had him in charge and escaped. The marshal=s name was Mr. Weir.
The Cherokee Strip Live Stock Association has appointed Ben. Goode as the inspector at this and the Wichita Agency, and Ben. is now on duty. Mr. Goode has a thorough knowledge of the cattle business, and is about as well posted on brands as anyone we know of, and he will ever look to the interests of the association he represents.
The post office department has granted the application made by the citizens of Johnson=s ranch for a post office, and has appointed Philip A. Smith, postmaster, and the name of the new office, Silver City. Mr. Smith has received his official appointment of P.M., and has received his mail keys and supplies for the new office. Silver City will be supplied for the present by a special service from Darlington.
The Wellman boys, who are farming John Poisal=s place this year, are at the Agency every alternate morning with all kinds of vegetables. They raised a fine large crop, and they have no trouble at finding buyers for their products.
Chas. H. Campbell was up last week from Silver City, looking for men to accompany him down to fence his range. Laboring men are very scarce at this time, and we understand Mr. Campbell was unable to secure the services of a single one.
Herds passing Cantonment recently are:
Reynolds & Matthews, 1,140 2-year-old steers, with P. W. Reynolds in charge.
Mr. Barns, with 500 beeves.
A. Forsyth & Co., with 750 beeves in charge of D. D. Swearenger.
Texas Land and Cattle Co. (T5) had 3,500 head of stock cattle in their laurel-leaf brand.
Dr. Burnett, 1,900 steers.
Mill Iron Cattle Co., 1,000 beeves.
Witherspoon Brothers, 800 steers.
Reynolds & Matthews, 2,600 steers.
Monroe Cattle Company, 1,500 steers.
THE CALDWELL JOURNAL, August 2, 1883.
Frank Bates shipped ten car-loads of wintered Texans to Kansas City last week, for which he received $44.65 per cwt. This is the best price that has been realized this season. The steers averaged 1,085.
THE CALDWELL JOURNAL, August 30, 1883.
R. M. Allen, of the Standard Cattle Co., is in the city. Mr. Allen makes his headquarters at Ft. Worth, Texas.
THE CALDWELL JOURNAL, August 30, 1883.
Perry Day, one of the best known cattlemen of Texas, and a member of the cattle firm of A. J. & C. P. Day, arrived last week from Austin with his son, and went below on Tuesday to see how things were running on Day pasture. Tony didn=t go down with him, preferring to let the Aold man@ rustle for himself the best he could.
THE CALDWELL JOURNAL, August 30, 1883.
This week Col. Colcord purchased of W. B. Daigh 90 head of stock cattle, paying $35 for cows and calves, $25 for dry cows, and $20 for yearlings. These are about the regular price for stock cattle now.
THE CALDWELL JOURNAL, August 30, 1883.
The Kansas City Cattle Company have 1,100 beeves at Hunnewell, waiting for the market to get in the proper notch. Gregory, Eldred & Co. were to have shipped 1,000 head of beeves from there this week.
THE CALDWELL JOURNAL, August 30, 1883.
W. H. McColl this week purchased of John Runyan 48 head of mixed cattle, paying $35 for cows and calves, $25 for dry cows, and $20 for yearlings. Mac will continue in the cattle business, it appears.
THE CALDWELL JOURNAL, August 30, 1883.
The Salt Fork and Eagle Chief Pool will ship from Harper Sunday morning, the 26th, inst., 50 carloads of beeves, and the owners claim they are first-class in every particular. The shipment will be divided between Stoller & Co., Snider & Co., and Platte & Evans.
THE CALDWELL JOURNAL, August 30, 1883.
Wm. Kelly, who was captain of the southern division of the Barber County round-up, will soon be riding one of the finest saddles ever thrown over a horse on this range. His friends, appreciating his services in the work of the round-up, concluded to show their appreciation, and had Henry Blickhahn get up the best saddle he could. The job is completed, and is indeed a credit to the shop. It is a double raw hide, short Trieske tree mounted in splendid style. On the tree in raised letters are the initials AW. K.,@ and on the pockets is Mr. Kelly=s brand, A124.@ The saddle is a daisy.
Arkansas City Republican, June 20, 1885.
There will be a meeting of the stockmen holding stock along the state line and in the territory at the office of C. M. Scott, Arkansas City, Kansas, Saturday, June 27, for the purpose of taking measures to prevent the driving of through stock over their ranges. On the same day a live stock association will be formed in room No. 3 over Hasie Block.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, June 27, 1885.
The Southern Cheyennes on the War Path.
The war department has received reports from Fort Reno, Indian Territory, to the effect that great excitement prevails there over a threatened outbreak by the Cheyenne Indians, known as the Southern Cheyennes. They are making preparations to go on the war path. The cause of the trouble is from dissatisfaction with their agent, Col. Dyer, who had been instructed to enroll the name of every member of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe tribes that was on the reservation. The Cheyennes refused to allow this and withdrew from the agency. They threatened to kill Col. Dyer and to burn the agency buildings. The absence of troops from the fort placed the agency people in a perilous and almost helpless condition. On the 15th their anxiety was relieved. Three companies of cavalry arrived and later on three companies of infantry.
From the Associated Press dispatches concerning the trouble, we glean the following.
News was received at the war department late Monday afternoon to the effect that the difficulties with the Cheyenne Indians is becoming very serious. Gen. Augur has ordered four companies of the 5th cavalry to go to the scene of disturbance in addition to the companies at Ft. Reno, and additional companies are held in readiness to go at a moment=s notice.
The Southern Cheyennes are located in the western portion of the territory. The country is level and devoid of trees except along the streams. Owing to its great extent, it is very easy for the Indians to keep out of the way of troops. It is believed here that the Indians are well supplied with arms and ammunition.They are said to be good fighters and fight altogether on horseback.
The last trouble with the Cheyennes occurred about nine years ago and continued for more than a year. It was caused by the Indians of that tribe massacreing a portion of a family moving overland. The massacre occurred in Kansas. The father, mother, and daughter were killed and the four remaining children taken captive. The daughter who was killed, before she was captured, took the life of an Indian with an axe as he attempted to get into the wagon in which the children were gathered.
Prior to this massacre the Cheyennes became unfriendly towards the whites, and a number of men disguised had burned a bridge on the Kansas Pacific railroad for the purpose of stopping a train that they might plunder it. After the destruction of the bridge, the soldiers were sent to capture the men implicated. An officer chanced one day to see an Indian standing a long distance away. He drew nearer, fired, and killed him. The Indian was the son of Lone Wolf, the great Cheyenne chief. When he was buried four hundred ponies were killed above his grave. Though Lone Wolf himself did not participate in the outbreak which followed his son=s death, it was thought that the shooting of the young Indian greatly induced the tribe to go on the warpath. The massacre of the Georgia family followed and the one year=s fighting began.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, June 27, 1885.
Cherokee Politics.
HOT SPRINGS, ARKANSAS, June 19. Advices from the Indian Territory indicate that Cherokee politics are now at fever heat. At a recent convention of the union party of the Delaware district, there was adopted the following platform, upon which a lively campaign is being made.
AWe believe in a government of the people, by the people, in opposition to rings and syndicates. We favor an honest, economical administration of our government and declare that honest competency should be the only test in filling posts of public trust. We oppose the appointment of Philips as a resident at Washington, on account of his practices. We favor the protection of our rights to the soil, as guaranteed to us by patents from the United States, by removal of owners, squatters, and intruders, who are here without the authority of the law, by the United States agent. We favor the removal of Jno. L. Tufts, United States agent, because he has utterly failed to protect our rights to the soil, by refusing to remove intruders, though repeatedly asked to do so by petitions of our best citizens. We oppose the sale of our lands west of 96th meridian at 46 cents per acre because said price was arbitrarily set on the land by the president without any sanction of the law of treaty on our part. We favor the effort on our part, to obtain a revocation of the illegal sales of those lands entire, and in event of a failure in this, we ask for a revaluation of those lands at a minimum price of not less than one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. We oppose the leasing out of our lands west of the 96th meridian to cattle syndicates, and favor the present permit law and oppose its repeal.@
Arkansas City Republican, June 27, 1885.
The Indians.
The outbreak of the Cheyenne Indians, which was threatened Saturday last, has been brewing for a year or longer. Army officials at Cheyenne Agency attribute it to a dissatisfaction on the part of the Indians at the leasing of their reservation to the cattlemen. The Cheyenne reservation is one of the largest in the territory. It comprises about 4,279,000 acres, and of this amount more than 3,000,000 acres are controlled by those who are grazing vast herds. The Indians are divided on the question of leasing the lands, the majority apparently being opposed to it. It is said at the Agency by officials that cattle men have resorted to unquestionable methods in securing control of ranches. Reports on file at the office of the commissioner of Indian affairs indicate that the leasing of lands was the original cause of the trouble among the Indians. These reports are from Agent Dwyer, on the Cheyenne reservation, who ranks as one of the best agents in the Indian service. He was appointed to his present position about one year ago. Immediately after assuming his duties he informed the interior department that trouble was threatened and unless precautionary measures were taken, an outbreak would be inevitable. He asks that 1,000 cavalrymen be sent to the reservation. As a reason for his statement, Agent Dwyer on assuming the duties of the agency endeavored to control the Indians. He reports to the commissioner of Indian affairs that they laughed at the attempts and boasted that the government could do nothing with them. Agent Dwyer was in Washington some weeks since. He urged that 3,000 cavalrymen be sent to the reservation as soon as possible to scare the Indians and show them that the government had sufficient force to clean out the whole territory if necessary. He thought that if this method of influencing them was adopted, they would be controlled without bloodshed on either side. He said the Cheyennes were as war-like as the Apaches, that they were well armed, and could put 1,200 to 1,500 warriors on the war path at any time.
[BOY! WAS THIS ARTICLE EVER SLANTED...JUST ONE WAY! NOTICED IN THIS ARTICLE AGENT WAS CALLED DWYER, WHICH I BELIEVE IS CORRECT. HAVE HAD SOME ARTICLES WHEREIN HE IS CALLED DYER.]
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 4, 1885.
Interview with Senator Ingalls.
WASHINGTON, June 27. Senator Ingalls, who returned from the Indian Territory, whither he went with the sub-committee to investigate matters by order of the senate, speaks with enthusiasm of the condition of the civilized tribes. To a reporter of the Associated Press this afternoon he said the journey had enlightened him in regard to matters which seemed remarkable, of which he had no previous appreciation, although he once before passed through the territory.
The tribal government is democratic in form, with an elective chief magistrate and upper and lower house of legislature, which assemble annually. There are courts with elective judiciary, and convicted criminals are punished as in communities of whites. There are no laws for collection of debts, and as the standard of commercial honor is high, none are needed.
Fifty percent of the entire revenue of the Cherokees is spent for educational purposes. Wherever thirteen children can be gathered together, a schoolhouse is built and a teacher with ample qualifications employed. Two colleges, one for either sex, is maintained, and buildings built. The tribal government not only furnishes the buildings and pays for them, but clothes and feeds the pupils. A number of graduates are selected each year and sent at public expense to continue their studies at Yale, Dartmouth, and other places in the east. The utmost good feeling prevails toward the United States, but no disposition exists to change the relation between the tribes and the nation.
It was conceded that the treaties had been faithfully kept by the government, but there was a feeling of apprehension that the tribal forms of government might be overturned by admission of white settlers, to which the Indians were earnestly opposed.
On the other hand, they manifested no objection to the admission of other tribes of Indians to homes in the territory, and seemed to think it to be the policy of the government to concentrate the Indians there.
In the Senator=s opinion, they seem to have reached the ideal solution of the land question. All the land belongs in common to the tribe, but a citizen may cultivate as much as he chooses, provided it does not come within a quarter of a mile of his neighbor. This provision is designed to break up the tendency to collect in small communities, which was thought to be provocative of idleness. The occupant of the land is its absolute possessor and may leave it to his children or sell it to another citizen, but he cannot sell it to outsiders; and if he ceases to cultivate it, it reverts to the public domain. This prevents the acquirement of large bodies of land by individuals and removes the danger of the evils which result from land monopolies.
The freedmen are better treated than among Anglo Saxons, and no civil right is denied them.
The senator thinks the advantages of the Indian Territory as to farming have been overstated. It is a beautiful country to look upon, with large forests of oak and other hard woods, which, being free from undergrowth, have the aspect of well kept parks, but much of the country is mountainous and rugged, and the belief prevails among the Indians that if they were to take to the plow universally, there would not be bearable land enough in the reservation to give them 160 acres each. Of 70,000 Indians inhabiting that country, there is not a pauper. No person is supported at public expense and no one lacks a home. Only one insane person was heard of. There is said to be no occupation of the Oklahoma country at all and as far as cattlemen are concerned, there never has been even an attempted occupation.
The senator is very glad to say that in recent interviews with the president and secretary of the interior, he discovered a vigorous determination to prevent the invasion of the rights of the Indians, or any infraction of the guarantees of the treaty under which the land was ceded in 1866.
The committee made a thorough investigation of the several matters into which they were told to inquire, traveling to all the principal places in the territories of the civilized tribes and examining all the principal men.
With regard to leasing the Cherokee Strip, the sentiment is generally favorable, though many were of the opinion the rates paid, which were fair, originally, were now too low.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 4, 1885.
No Indian Invasion.
TOPEKA, JUNE 27. The governor is in receipt of the following letter.
FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, June 26, 1885.
To the Governor of Kansas:
I have had the honor to receive your excellency=s letter of yesterday. In view of the late reports in the newspapers concerning the alleged breaking out of the Cheyennes, I am not surprised at your anxiety about the counties bordering on the Indian Terrritory. I am happy to answer you that, in my judgment, founded upon the latest reports from Fort Reno and Fort Cantonment, no immediate danger to any portion of your state is to be apprehended from the Cheyennes or any other Indians. There has recently been a good deal of excitement among the Cheyennes, and some of their young men have been insubordinate, and, in some instances, have acted very badly. This indicates, among Indians who have been quiet on a reservation so many years, that there exists somewhere what they conceive to be a grievance. The government has appointed a commission to ascertain whether or not they have just cause of complaint. If the commission find they have, the government will undoubtedly correct it. If the commission find they have not, it is equally certain the government will take efficient steps to reduce them to submission, and it is believed with sufficient force and confine [?] preparation to whatever trouble may result, to the limits of the Indian Territory. Should anything occur, which there is no reason to believe, which threatens danger to any portion of the cittizens of your state on the border, I shall not only inform you at once, but will do all in my power to avert it. I enclosed a copy of a telegram received last night, which shows that the Cheyennes will be glad to meet the commission.
I am, with the greatest respect, your excellency=s most obedient servant.
C. O. AUGUR,
Brigadier General, commanding.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 4, 1885.
The Cheyenne Scare.
WICHITA, KANSAS, June 26. The Daily Eagle is in receipt of a special from the Cheyenne Indian Agency late this evening, of which a synopsis is transmitted by the Associated Press.
AThe situation at the agency looks critical. The officers, employees, and traders are liable to be attacked by the infuriated Cheyennes at any moment.
AThe Indians are drilling daily in regular warlike form. The arrival of the troops under Sumner only seems to have stirred up the Indians, who put out extra spies in all directions. Without prompt and efficient action on the part of the government, a bloody raid and massacre will be the result.@
The special, which is from a reliable man at the agency, says that the Indians are in sufficient force to butcher all the whites, including the troops now stationed there. The Indians keep their ponies picketed night and day. They are well armed and have plenty of ammunition. The people at the agency dare not attempt trying to reach the Kansas border.
Five companies of the Fifth cavalry under Major Carpenter passed through this city by special train today, and will be within one day=s march of Reno by tomorrrow morning.
THE TROOPS.
WASHINGTON, June 26. General Augar has reported to the war department that he has sixteen companies, ten of cavalry and six of infantry, at Fort Reno, Indian Territory. The last company arrived at the fort today. The general apprehends no immediate outbreak of the Cheyenne Indians. They have been informed of the proposed appointment of a commission to investigate their troubles, and express willingness to await the result.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 4, 1885.
The largest and heaviest locomotive ever constructed was turned out of the Central Pacific Railroad shops at Sacramento. Its weight is so great that it was absolutely necessary that it should be built on the Pacific slope to avoid crossing any bridges. It is used to carry trains over the Tohachipi Pass, one of the most difficult Apulls@ on any railroad line in the world.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 4, 1885.
The Cheyennes.
WICHITA, KANSAS, June 10. The dispatches of Sunday morning and the assurances of the departments at Washington to the contrary notwithstanding, excitement is at a fever at Reno and Darlington in the Territory, and the attitude of the Cheyennes is very threatening. The special dispatches to the Eagle Saturday were read to some pretended friendly Indians on Sunday, and their grunts of disapproval were long and loud. The Eagle is in receipt of two more today in which it is asserted that the Indians will make a desperate fight if asked to surrender their arms, which could only have been successfully done under President Arthur=s orders, previous to the appearance of grass this spring. Darlington and Cantonment seem to be at the mercy of some 3,000 braves, and our specials say the streams are rising rapidly between the agency and the fort. Few Indians are to be seen about the post, the warriors all being gathered at a point twelve miles above, on the North Fork. A friendly Arapahoe brings in the news that three white freighters were murdered near Cantonment by the Cheyenne Indians. Scouts are riding the trails in all directions day and night. All the rivers between the border at Caldwell and the agencies are swimming. Ft. Reno is under a double row of sentinels and no Indian is allowed inside. Cantonment is sixty miles up the river, and is perfectly helpless if an attack is made. There was, when the last Eagle special was sent, nine companies of troops at Reno and one in Oklahoma, which had been ordered over, but before these troops could make any move, two companies would have to be sent to Cantonment and two left at the agency, which would leave but six companies for the post and for the field. The Indians are all superbly mounted and armed to the teeth with the best arms manufactured and a full supply of fixed ammunition. Our dispatch says that there is but one way and that is to disarm the Cheyennes. As to the movements of the large body of Indians in camp on the North Fork, but little is known, as neither agency people or soldiers have felt that it would be safe to attempt to find out by reconnoitering with so few troops at hand.
[ARTICLE FOR THE MOST PART SHOWED ACANTONMENT@ BUT ONCE IT
HAD ACANTONEMENT.@ CONFUSING, AND NOT VERY AMUSING!]
THE DISCREPANCIES IN VARIOUS ITEMS RE CHEYENNES MAKES ONE WONDER WHO THE EAGLE SPECIALS WERE COMPOSED BY: BOOMERS, MAYBE!
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 4, 1885.
Oklahoma Must Remain Closed.
WASHINGTON, June 25. In the closing days of the last session of congress, the president was authorized in his discretion to appoint a commission to negotiate for the session of the United States of the so-called Oklahoma country. The commission has not yet been appointed, and it is understood no action will be taken in regard to its authorized appointment until after the August election shall have been held by the five civilized nations of the Indian Territory. Meanwhile, it is learned that the president and all the members of the cabinet are in accord, maintaining that no white settlement shall be permitted on the Oklahoma lands under any circumstances without the consent of the Indians under the terms of the treaty of 1866, and that the whole force of the government shall be employed if necessary to carry out the guarantees of that instrument.
[Boomer-related story.]
Arkansas City Republican, July 4, 1885.
One of our businessmen was down to Cheyenne Agency and Ft. Reno last week. He came home Tuesday and in conversation with a REPUBLICAN representative, informed us that the actions of the Cheyennes were threatening. They are holding what are known as sun dances and medicine dances.
The residents of the agency have not lighted a lamp for two weeks, for fear. The Indians are sufficient in force to massacre all the people and soldiers there. Each day the situation is becoming more serious. Kansas is liable to be called upon.
Arkansas City Republican, July 4, 1885.
The Indians have commenced their dirty work. The Emporia Republican of Thursday says: AC. L. Severy, who was just arrived here from Ninnescah, said that the Indians had surrounded the horse ranch of Smith Bros., in the Indian Territory, and had driven off about half the horses, and were endeavoring to get away with the remainder. A telegram was immediately sent to one of the brothers in Kingman, stating the facts, and a company of men was at once organized and started to protect the ranch. It was not known whether the Indians had done anything more than to drive off the stock or not. It looks very much as if an Indian war was about to break out along our southern border.
Arkansas City Republican, July 4, 1885.
WICHITA, KANSAS, June 30. A Daily Eagle=s special says that the Indian apprehending that there might be a demand for their arms have it is thought cached the best arms in the sandhill and only appear with their old squirrel rifles. It is believed that should the soldiers make any demonstrations looking to a movement that the more hostile element would strike out north through western Kansas to join the Sioux, but they evidently expect that the Kiowas and Commanches will unite with them in giving the troops a summer campaign. The situation is still one of anxiety and extreme danger. An associated press dispatch of last week having attibuted to Agent Dwyer sundry statements regarding the cattlemen being at the bottom of the Indian trouble, the Eagle=s correspondent called on that official today with reference to the matter. Col. Dwyer promptly answered that the statement that the grass leases to the cattle men of portions of the reservation are the cause of the present threatened outbreak is totally false. These Indians have been totally unruly ever since the dull knife raid, and the present trouble singly arises from the fact that for many years they have never been punished for crime, and are simply presuming and growing more bold and reckless.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 11, 1885.
The Cheyennes.
Special to Wichita Eagle.
CHEYENNE AGENCY, INDIAN TERRITORY, July 6.
Since the last dispatch to the Eagle, the Indian excitement here has increased to a certain extent. On this account troops have been quartered in the vacated Arapahoe school building at the agency, and the sentinels are stationed at all approaches to give the alarm, in case of an attack from the Cheyennes. The killing of an Indian in the medicine lodge seems to be increasing the uneasiness, and a renewal of their medicine dance has taken place. No Indians are seen about the agency, as they still keep closely within their encampment, and such heathenish practices as are now going on have not been known for many years. Old Indian fighters say they have a purpose for renewing at this date their old war customs, and, prompted by superstition, it is difficult to determine just when and how they will move. Although there are sixteen companies of troops here, the Indians realize their ability to give them a warm fight; but troops and officers are in readiness to give them a trial when the time shall come for them to do so. Realizing that the Indians are liable to break out at any moment, the Fourth was observed in a mild way hereCin fact, had it not been for the display of fire works in the evening, the day would have passed unnoticed. The agency people and those of the officers off duty were entertained at the house of Capt. and Mrs. T. Connell, from which the display of fire works were viewed.
LAFE MERRITT.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 11, 1885.
Gov. Martin=s Letter.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, July 9. The following letter was sent by Governor Martin to Secretary of War Endicott today relative to the troubles with the Cheyenne Indians, and the exposed condition of the counties on the southern border of Kansas.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, July 9th, 1885.
To the Honorable Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.
SIR: For over forty-eight hours past a dozen counties in southwestern Kansas have been in a state of wild excitement and panic, thousands of settlers having abandoned their houses, their crops, and stock, and fled to the towns for a protection, which, if the supposed danger had been real, could not have been afforded them by the towns for the town people were no better armed nor better prepared to repel an Indian raid than were those of the country districts.
For weeks past the imminent danger of such a panic, if not of an Indian invasion, has been apparent. The Cheyennes were known to be discontented and threatening and our southwestern borders were exposed and defenseless.
More than two weeks ago, I called the attention of the honorable secretary of war to this situation of affairs and on the 26th of June last, I earnestly requested the general commanding this department to station a cavalry force on the southern border of Kansas, between Barber and Meade counties, in order to prevent an Indian invasion and give assurance of protection to our peaceful citizens. If the national government locates in the Indian Territory at large, numbers of savage, discontented, and dangerous Indians, its plain duty is to provide an ample force to restrain them within the boundaries of that territory and on their reservation. The state of Kansas cannot afford to maintain a standing army on its southern border and ought not to be compelled to maintain such an army in order to protect its borders from invasion by the Indians and to give assurance of safety and protection to its citizens. This is a duty which the general government, not the state, should discharge.
So long as the Cheyennes, or other turbulent and dangerous tribes, are in the Indian Territory, so long will the borders of Kansas be menaced by such dangers and disasters, such sufferings and losses to it as have resulted during the past forty-eight hours. This is the plain duty of the national government. It seems to us it should stage a permanent and adequate military force on the southwestern borders of Kansas. Posts should be located and maintained at convenient points from the west line of Barber to Seward County. These points should be so connected with each other by pickets or vidette outposts as to guard all that section of Kansas.
The troops stationed at Reno afford little or no protection to the borders of Kansas. The Indians have only to move westward a few miles on their own reservation and they are out of reach of the troops with the borders of Kansas exposed and within easy striking distance. Calling your attention to this condition of affairs, I request that prompt and adequate measures be adopted for the protection of the borders of the state against any possible invasion by the Indians of the territory. In the name of the people of Kansas I protest against a further continuance of the civil or military policy which has twice before permitted the Indians to invade our borders with fire and sword, which during the past forty-eight hours has sent thousands of people, men, women, and children, fleeing in terror from their peaceful homes. It may be that this panic is without reason, it may be that no Indians have crossed the line. It was, however, certainly true that more than one hundred Cheyennes, the worst of their tribe, have escaped from their reservation and gone, so the commanding officer at Reno believes, to the head of the Cimarron River, but whether this panic is baseless or not, so long as they are where they are and what they are, so long will Kansas be menaced and apprehensive, and so long will the citizens of our southwestern counties be liable to such panics with their resulting demoralization, loss, and suffering.
The commanding general of this department has just ordered eight companies of cavalry to our southwestern border. This force, if situated as I have indicated and permanently maintained, will be a plea to give the citizens of exposed counties assurance of protection, and I sincerely hope that permanent military posts will be established along the borders at the points I have mentioned, so that the people of this state may in the future be permitted to pursue their peaceful avocations with confident assurances that there is no danger, or possibility, by the Indians of the territory. I have the honor to be, with very great respect, your very obedient servant.
(Signed) JOHN A. MARTIN, Governor of Kansas.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 11, 1885.
Capt. Rarick received Wednesday from Topeka 68 U. S. Warrants for the arrest of as many boomers over at Caldwell.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 11, 1885.
Chas. Schiffbauer received word Wednesday to request our hardware men not to sell ammunition and firearms to the Indians.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 11, 1885.
On the War Path.
WICHITA, KANSAS, July 7. A special dispatch to the Daily Eagle, dated Kingman City, Kansas, 5 p.m., says: AJ. B. Wilson, living three and a half miles east of Lawndale, Pratt County, and whose character is vouched for by the president of the bank of Kingman, arrived at that place this afternoon and says that
A MAN WAS KILLED
nine miles west of Lawndale last night by a band of Indians. A son of the murdered man, about 12 years old, who escaped and came into Lawndale, brought the first news of his death. The boy further stated that he passed four wagon loads of women and children fleeing in the direction of Kingman, at which latter point the excitement was very great, the men arming and getting ready to proceed to Lawndale tonight. The news above reached Kingman about 4:30 this evening.
A later special to the Eagle says that three families had just arrived from the settlements beyond, and that they report that riders are passing rapidly through the country warning settlers that the Indians are moving swiftly north and burning everything before them.
CONFIRMED.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, July 7. Early in the evening the citizens of this town were considerably aroused by the reported receipt of a telegram announcing the arrival of the Cheyenne Indians in the counties of Pratt and Comanche, and that they were doing great damage to life and property.
At 7 p.m., Gov. Martin received the following from Col. Quiff of the Santa Fe.
AThe day operator at Wichita says that an outbreak was reported in the southern part of Pratt County today. Several were killed and the balance of the people driven off. Stock all driven out. One man who came in from Pratt County today says he is the only one left in his family. The balance were killed, but the operator does not know how many were killed.@
All possible exertions are being made by the governor to protect the citizens of this state from outrages by the Indians.
A dispatch was received at the office of commissioner of Indian affairs from Inspector Armstrong reporting some of the Cheyennes have broken away from the reservation and gone into the Panhandle of Texas. Secretary Lamar sent a dispatch to the president.
Cavalry From Leavenworth.
LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS, July 8. Four cars of cavalry left Fort Leavenworth this afternoon for Kingman, Kansas, commanded by Major Sanford of the sixth cavalry. The train consisted of 28 cars, and horses for the command were shipped at the same time. It is expected they will arrive at Kingman Thursday morning.
Gen. Augur is in receipt of a number of dispatches, both from Major Sumner, in command at Ft. Reno, and Gov. Martin, of Kansas. Major Sumner says in substance that there is no disturbance in his immediate vicinity; and, while there are about one hundred Cheyennes absent from the reservation, they are not on the war path, but are hiding their arms and ponies for fear that they are to be taken from them.
Not an Indian has come into the state. But dispatches from Major Sumner at Ft. Reno say that 100 young braves with Chief Magpie have left the Cheyenne reservation and are now on the head waters of the Cimarron, southwest of Kansas.
The report made to Gov. Martin by Adjutant General Campbell of the state, also says that there is no reliability to be placed in the reports that are being sent over the country. The latter is now in the extreme southwestern part of the state and telegraphs that there are no Indians or any signs of them in that section. Gov. Martin also repeats to Gen. Augur the dispatch sent by the Santa Fe agent at Kingman, which was sent out from Topeka in the afternoon, accounting for the scare.
WICHITA, KANSAS, July 8. The Eagle=s special from Kingman, dated 6 p.m., says: AA reliable party who was sent out last night has just returned. He has ridden over the entire southern and western portions of Pratt and Kingman Counties, and reports no Indians and nobody hurt, and the further he went, the further away the Indians were reported to be. The usual number of Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians were hanging about Medicine Lodge and other smaller towns trading. Some of these small bands had no doubt been seen crossing the prairies, which gave rise to the terrible scare of yesterday.@
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 18, 1885.
The Cattle Question Decided.
WASHINGTON, July 11. The Secretary of the Interior has sent the following telegram to W. A. Towers and Thos. A. Lee, committee for the stock association at Kansas City, Missouri.
AI have carefully considered your telegram of the 10th inst. The animal industry bill prohibits the driving, from one state or territory to another, of any live stock by any person knowing them to be affected with any contagious infections or communicable disease. Owners whose herds are forcibly stopped in the Indian Territory declare their cattle are not so affected. The people of Texas, Colorado, Missouri, and other states have equal, if not a greater right, to drive their live stock not infected with a prohibited disease through and over the trails of the Indian Territory and the neutral strip, as you have to occupy those lands without your leases from the Indian tribes. An inspector has been sent to open and keep open the trail for the passage of cattle. If the people who are occupying those lands with their herds continue their forcible obstruction of trails, measures will be taken to remove them and their herds at once.@
The following instructions were also telegraphed to Inspector Armstrong at the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Agency, in the Indian Territory.
AOwners of cattle, driving herds northward through the Indian Territory and public land strip north of the Pan-handle complain their passage on and over established trails in the vicinity of Ft. Supply is obstructed by parties holding cattle on these lands. Go at once to the origin of the disturbance and take active measures to open and keep open for all cattle having no infectious disease all established trails that may be found closed or obstructed in any way except by proper and competent authority of the United States courts having jurisdiction. Notify offenders that their stock will be removed from the territory at once if they continue the obstruction of established trails.
(Signed) L. Q. C. Lamar, Secretary of the Interior.@
Similar obstructions of trails under Secretary Teller=s administration last year existed, and action similar to the instructions contained in the above order was taken, trails being opened by Inspector Benedict, who led a number of droves over the trail.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 18, 1885.
The Cattle Trail Trouble.
DODGE CITY, KANSAS, July 11. The situation as between the Northern ranch owners and through Texas drivers remains unchanged. The matter has been by Commissioner Cook adjourned over until Monday morning, at which time the case will proceed unless amicable arrangement can be perfected. A very large number of cattlemen on both sides of the case are now in the city. Col. J. R. Hallowell and Charles Hatton, United States attorney and assistant, are both here for the government, and Capt. J. G. Waters is pitted against them for the Texas drovers on the defense. Fifty-four thousand cattle have been stopped on the trail in the Indian Territory and Cherokee Strip. The matter is assuming colossal proportions. The design of the cattlemen is to exclude all cattle from those parts in Texas liable to communicate Texas fever and the Texas drovers are as persistent in demanding a free passage to market for the cattle of that state. It is expected that something decisive would have been received from Washington today, but at this hour it has not come. The delays to the Texas drovers are costing them at least $1,000 per day for the mere detention.
Arkansas City Republican, July 18, 1885.
Gov. Martin=s Protest.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, July 11. The governor today addressed a letter to the secretary of the interior, protesting against the proposed transfer of the Apache Indians from Arizona to ANo Man=s Land.@ The governor allows many reasons why the transfer would be dangerous to the public peace. In closing he says: AI sincerely hope that the suggestion said to have been made that the Apaches be transferred to ANo Man=s Land,@ will not be accepted by the authorities of the United States. I protest against its acceptance, as an evasion and violation of the clear purpose and spirit of the law of February 17, 1879. I protest against the location of these lawless and blood-thirsty Indians in a region contiguous to the homes of thousands of peaceful citizens of the United StatesCin a region from whence at any moment they could invade the borders of three states of the Union, murdering and destroying all in their pathway.
Arkansas City Republican, July 18, 1885.
The Cattlemen=s Side.
KANSAS CITY, July 9. The following, which will be published here tomorrow, is the telegram to which Secretary Lamar replied today, as mentioned in the Washington press dispatches.
Kansas City, July 10. To Hon. L. Q. C. Lamar, Secretary, Department of Interior, Washington, D. C. The letter of Representative Sayers of Texas, July 2, also the telegrams of Sayers and Governor Ireland of July 3, concerning the Texas cattle trail obstructions, contain many wrong and misleading statements. The sketch showing the trail is decidedly wrong. The official Cherokee map mailed you proves this. The herds in question are not above suspicion. These cattle do impart fever. The opposition to the passage of the cattle is made solely from the fear of fever, all charges to the contrary notwithstanding, and can be clearly and satisfactorily proven. The same cattle have been repeatedly stopped and turned from passage across Texas by injunctions within the state of Texas by Texas citizens. Large numbers of cattle not infected have passed without opposition. The trail agreement at the Dallas convention was made solely on the part of the Texas men, who were not affected. Those on the border were decidedly opposed to it. All offers to establish a trail for this class of cattle from the south to the north line of the state of Texas were largely opposed and defeated by Texas men. The trails used heretofore are cut off at the Kansas line by the quarantine law. The land within these trails in the Cherokee Nation, composing nearly 1,000,000 acres, is paid for by the lessees. By suffrance Texas herds both infected and uninfected were allowed to follow these trails heretofore and ranchmen made no objection to the passage of cattle on these trails. But when attempts are made to push out sideways from these trails, through the pastures, opening new trails three to five miles wide, through lands for which rental is paid, and where no trail ever existed, spreading disease, decided opposition is met. That the opposers are perfectly right cannot be disputed when all of the facts in the case are known clearly. Hundreds of law abiding citizens occupying the country in question, with valuable herds representing a lifetime of savings, deserve protection more than a few traffickers in infectious cattle. The few northern Colorado speculators bought their Texas cattle, expecting to enter Colorado in direct violation of their own state laws. But the southern Colorado men are determined that the law shall be properly enforced, and the passage of these cattle through Bent and Las Animas prevented. Clearly then their getting through the Territory will avail nothing. Occupants of the country through which it is wanted to pass the infectious cattle have suffered enormous losses from year to year by Texas fever from the slight contacts with the before mentioned trails, and hence know full well the wholesale destruction that would result from permitting infectious cattle to pass over their ranges. The charge that the opposers of the passage of these cattle are doing so to depreciate prices in order to buy cheaply is a misrepresentation. Not one of them wishes to purchase such cattle. Reference is made to the recent unanimous opposing of the resolutions by their association. The driving of these cattle from one state or territory to another is a palpable violation of the animal industry law. The occupants of the country feel that the attempt of Texas to force infectious cattle upon them, involving losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars to themselves and parties throughout the entire country without remuneration, is an injustice and an outrage and demands that before the government sanctions it or becomes a party to it a full investigation be made in support of the facts as herein stated. The occupants ask only for a fair hearing. The reasonableness of their demand is shown by the quarantine laws of Kansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and the territories north, and also the fact that the same cattle cannot get passageway through the state of Texas, except by railroad.
(Signed) W. A. TOWERS,
T. A. LEE,
Committee for Live Stock Association.
Arkansas City Republican, July 18, 1885.
Another Protest.
KANSAS CITY, July 11. The following was telegraphed the Secretary of the Interior tonight.
KANSAS CITY, July 11. HON. L. C. Q. LAMAR, SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT INTERIOR, WASHINGTON, D.C. Your telegram of the 11 last was received. Our message seems to have misconstrued, and it is manifest that we have unfortunately failed to state the actual situation so as to be understood at Washington. We now wish to state most respectfully, but also most distinctly and positively, that there are and have been no obstructions to the passage of herds over any trails which have ever been used. No objection is made by ranchmen to the passage of cattle over old trails. Your inspector will not find them open. We desire to make ourselves clearly understood as stating to you that the owners of these infected herds are now attempting to drive and scatter them through pastures and over ranges where no trails have ever been made. We invite your special attention to this fact which we think cannot have been understood by you. Past experience teaches emphatically that this means the wholesale destruction of the cattle ranging thereon, and which have been placed there with leases made with, at least the tacit approval of the government, and in the belief that the established trails for the passage of cattle would continue to be used, and without any apprehension that herds would attempt to leave such trails and be driven through their pastures. The truth of the statements of this and our first can be established to your satisfaction, and we respectfully ask you a careful examination of them before any summary measures, intimated in your message, be adopted. The herds being driven up are infected and their owners know it, and their assertions to the contrary are simply pretenses. The experience of years must be ignored to credit such statements.
(Signed) W. A. TOWERS,
THOS. A. LEE.
Committee for the Live Stock Association of southern Colorado, Kansas, Northern Texas, Missouri, and the Indian Territory; representing 2,500,000 or 3,000,000 head of
improved American cattle.
Mr. Lee, in an interview tonight, cites in support of the statement made to Secretary Lamar the resolutions adopted by the various cattle associations of southern Colorado, Kansas, the Indian Territory, and northern Texas, last spring, all uniting in a determination to prevent the passage of southern Texas cattle over their ranges. He asserts that the only interference which has been offered is in preventing infecting cattle from leaving the trail and crossing pastures where there is no trail. He also states that Secretary Lamar=s order today is similar to that of Secretary Teller, and the latter=s was an order to open an old trail which had been sometime enclosed within numerous fenced pastures, while Secretary Lamar=s order is to open a trail, which, as is maintained, the citizens have not attempted to close.
Arkansas City Republican, July 18, 1885.
A Falsehood.
KANSAS CITY, July 15. A telegram from Arkansas City last night says: ASeveral bands of Cheyenne Indians, numbering from five to fifty, have been seen south of the state line and a few have come into town, but not painted. The local militia has been ordered and ammunition provided them. They are under orders to be ready to move forward at a moment=s notice. A courier from the Cheyenne Agency to Arkansas City says the whole tribe is leaving the agency in squads of twenty-five and fifty, and spreading to the north, east, and west, forcing cattle men to provide them with rations.@
The above dispatch is highly sensational. There have been no Cheyennes in this vicinity for six months. The sender of the above evidently saw some Kaws who were camped south of town. The militia has not been ordered out. There is not an iota of truth to the above dispatch.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 25, 1885.
The Cattle Troubles.
WASHINGTON, July 18. The secretary of the interior has received a number of telegrams in regard to the cattle trails through the Indian Territory, some from drovers complaining that the trails are still obstructed, and others from stock growers requesting that cattle be not forced through until judicial ascertainment of the rights of the parties to the controversy be had. They also request that a veterinary surgeon be sent to the Indian Territory to examine the condition of the herds. Secretary Lamar today sent the following message to Indian Inspector Armstrong at the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Agency in the Indian Territory.
AThe trail leading from Fort Supply in a northerly direction, to and into the neutral strip, known as Camp Supply trail, must be opened for the passage of cattle, forcibly stopped, and for other purposes of interstate commerce. You will confer with Gen. Sheridan, who has instructions of every date herewith from the war department as to the adoption of measures best calculated to effectuate this order.@
A telegram was also sent to Towers & Lee, cattlemen at Kansas City, detailing the instructions sent to the inspector and concluding as follows.
AYou had a complete remedy. No acts of lawlessness, such as have been resorted to as the forcible and unauthorized detention of cattle, will be tolerated.
(Signed) L. C. Q. LAMAR,
Secretary@
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 25, 1885.
The Cheyenne Situation.
Special Dispatch to the Daily Eagle.
CHEYENNE AGENCY, INDIAN TERRITORY, July 18. Gen. Sheridan is now at Ft. Reno making himself familiar with the situation and deciding on a plan of action. Very few Indians are about the agency or post now, but have dispersed over the reservation. An Arapahoe (friendly) Indian came in last night with the news that a large band of Cheyennes had turned their horses into his corn field and ruined his corn crop. The war correspondents of the Chicago Tribune and Herald and Kansas City Times are here, and find by investiga-tion that the trouble at this agency originated long before the advent of the present agent or the grass leases, but that the department refused to listen to the reports; and finally, finding it was no use to complain, the wrongs were
SUFFERED IN SILENCE.
Had it not been for the timely action of Col. Sumner and his troops, the trouble would have culminated in a massacre. Since then the Indians have been kept more or less inactive watching the troops stringing in, then waiting for Commissioner Armstrong, and finally awaiting the arrival of Gen. Sheridan. Magpie=s band, recently raiding out west, had 147 horses and two large, fine mules when they passed Cantonement coming in. They kept the north side of the river.@
[ARTICLE SAID CANTONEMENT!]
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 25, 1885.
Another Protest.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, July 18. Messrs. Towers & Lee, the committee representing the anti-Texas cattlemen, sent a dispatch to Secretary Lamar tonight, saying that they had used the legal remedy open to them, and that only, and it is their intention to press the matter into the courts. They charge that the action of the department is such as to invite a violation of the animal industry law by all drovers of infectious Texas cattle, and state that already the Texas fever is spreading near Cantonment in the neighborhood of the herds in controversy. In conclusion they say: AWe can only regret that our earnest appeal to you as the high official of the nation, who had the power, if he had the will, to protect us in our right, and save us from financial disaster, should have been in vain.@
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 25, 1885.
As a mild specimen of the atrocities perpetrated by Indians upon white settlers of the west, the Washington correspondent of the Cincinnati Gazette relates of the Apaches, against whose transfer from Montana to the Indian Territory Gov. Martin protests.
AThese are the cheerful gentlemen who with their knives cut out the eyeballs of Tom Pugh, of Cincinnati, while he was yet alive, and committed such other atrocities upon him that one shrinks in horror from the thought of them.
AThey are the same pleasant >wards of the government= who hung white women in Lake Valley up by the heels and bored their bodies through with the linch-pins of the emigrant wagons, heated red hot, after horribly outraging them and torturing and mutilating their husbands and children before their eyes.
AThey are the same jolly companions who cut off the heads of Mrs. Hayes= infant and rolled it down the steep mesa amid yells and dancing before taking the mother in hand, who was forced to witness the act, as she had been forced to see the fire burning on the naked, prostrate form of her husband, with the long, sharp sticks driven into his eyes by the squaws, and hot wedges driven in his toe-nails.
AThey are the same estimable citizens who butchered Judge McComas, wife, and son, and have in the last few years, committed many hundred atrocities of the kind I have little more than hinted at.@
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 25, 1885.
THE INDIAN TROUBLE ABOUT SETTLED.
General Sheridan has induced the Cheyennes to assemble at the agency. They fear that they are to be disarmed and are unanimous in their opposition to such a procedure. They claim that they paid a big price for their arms, spot cash, and that should the government take their guns and revolvers, it would be months and maybe years before the accounts could be verified and properly audited, the appointment made, and the Indian get his money back, which money they had got in payment for freighting and selling their stock.
A Kansas City Times special dispatch from Ft. Reno, Indian Territory, of the 21st inst. says.
AThe Arapahoes number 1,500 instead of 2,000; and the Cheyennes will not show over 3,000 people. The Indians offered to give up all their arms and horses to the commissioner, who refused them, because if they received money, they could go to Caldwell and buy more. Agent Dyer [THINK HIS NAME IS DWYER???] has tendered his resignation, claiming that he has not had proper support from the department in enforcing the law and order on refractory Indians. Should his resignation be accepted and a new agent appointed, it is uncertain whether the Indians would be obedient to his orders or not. The troops are being gradually withdrawn from here to their proper stations. Troop I of the Fifth cavalry has gone to Fort Supply, and A of the Fourth infantry for temporary duty at Cantonment. Others will start in a day or two.@
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 25, 1885.
THE CATTLE LEASES DECLARED INVALID.
After mature consideration the president and cabinet have reached the conclusion that the leases of land in the Indian Territory held by cattlemen are invalid, and it has been determined to take steps to have them set aside. Gen. Sheridan has reported that no permanent settlement of Indian Territory troubles can be effected while the cattlemen are in possession of the best lands, and it is the intention of the president to remove the disturbing element and reserve the territory for the exclusive occupation of the Indians. The method of procedure has not been determined. A presidential proclamation may be issued, but it is regarded by well informed persons as more probable that action will be begun in the United States courts of the western district of Kansas, having jurisdiction over the territory, looking to a declaration of the invalidity of leases.
It was a bad day for the cattlemen when Gen. Sheridan entered the territory, and it will go pretty hard with a good many.
Arkansas City Republican, July 25, 1885.
J. A. McCormick, the manager of Roberts & Sairs= cattle ranch near Cheyenne Agency was in the city this week. It was reported that Mr. McCormick had been hung by a vigilance committee because he branded cattle that did not belong to him. Later on the rumor was circulated that he had been scalped by the Cheyennes. The appearance of Mr. McCormick on our streets killed both reports. He says he was riding in and around the Cheyenne camp for a month and he has seen no trouble there. He said the Cheyennes made their Amedicine,@ but that was all. The trouble which has been reported by the correspondents to newspapers is about all Abosh.@ We suggest that the Wichita Eagle=s correspondent at Cheyenne Agency be suspended. He is the biggest newspaper liar of the age, if McCormick=s report be true.
Arkansas City Republican, July 25, 1885.
APresident Cleveland did what no other president ever did. It is barely possible that Lincoln, when president, sent an order directing the commanding officer of all the armies of the U. S. to a given place for a given duty; but if he did, we cannot recall it to mind.
AThe president, according to the telegram, issued an order directing Gen. Sherman to proceed at once to Fort Reno and in person take command of the few soldiers at that point and in the neighborhood. What there is behind this new departure in military affairs, we don=t know. One thing is certain, average democrats hate Gen. Sheridan as the devil is said to hate holy water, and this order of the president may be for the purpose of humiliating him. On the other hand, it may be that the order was issued through ignorance on the part of the president. He may not know that it is only on paper and technically that he is the commander in chief of the army and navy of the United States.@ Commonwealth.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 1, 1885.
A Letter From the Seat of the Indian Trouble.
CALDWELL, July 21, 1885.
To the Editor of the Eagle.
Having returned I will try and fulfill my promise to you. An insight into the Cheyenne and Arapahoe trouble as I saw them, including all the time of Sheridan=s presence up to the day I left. During the last year Indian Inspector Gardner spent considerable time, off and on, at the agency and became well posted with the actual feeling among the Cheyennes. In support of Agent Dyer=s continued calls for military support, Gardner reviewed the situation and recommended that 3,000 troops be sent there to enforce obedience. This is on record at Washington. Every time the Indians were guilty, Dyer would write up the circumstance and ask respectfully whether the department intended to sustain him, saying it was worse than useless to make any attempt at punishing crime until he was sure of being sustained, as a failure after such a move would only make matters worse.
You have gone over the ground (in your editorial) of how the president ordered them disarmedChow Sheridan pigeon-holed the movement; how Dyer=s, Rev. Haury=s, Capt. Bennett=s, and all the other old officers= reports agreed: ATroops, and disarming, or war.@ How Sumner, the new commander and Inspector Armstrong said the same thing upon arrival. The situation was dangerous, or all of these men would not have kept calling for more troops. You know how the troops were blockaded by Col. Potter and Gen. Augur until raiding parties actually left the agency and the Kansas scare resulted. Then troops commenced to move until 4,000 were in motion. Then Sheridan was sent, we thought then, to take charge and act. Now, we know better.
It is only too true now that Sheridan was detailed to make the first move of the Indian patronage for his party. Sheridan did this because he was only too glad to get a chance to repay old scores on the Camp Supply cattle herd that the present grass rentals crowded off that reservation.
Sheridan arrived. After he had been there three days, he had had but a short interview with Dyer, had entirely ignored Sumner, had not allowed either Ben Clark, post Interpreter, and Geo. and Robert Bent, and Ed. Guerrier, leading agency interpreters, to talk for the agency Indians or for themselves. Instead, he went into caucus with Col. Potter and Interpreter Chapman and Col. Mike Sheridan, and during those three days took Stone Calf, Little Robe, and other leading discontented Indians, had Chapman represent to them that they would neither be punished nor disarmed if they would act according to instructions, and went into private council with them, allowing them to talk without allowing anybody to be present to hear or dispute their statements. (Now read your last two dispatches from their agency giving the Indian version of that council.)
You can easily see that the Indians were only speaking their little pieces as instructed by Chapman. None of the cattlemen, who have lost thousands of dollars in cattle killed by these Indians, were allowed to speak. Not an Indian opposed to Stone Calf and Chapman was allowed an audience. Finally when the agent protested against such an unheard of state of affairs and asked for a hearing of other Indians, Chapman was allowed to select the Indians who denied in toto all that the others said, and finally in despair they gave up the situation and left with their case not stated.
Nothing had been done yet when I left to disarm the IndiansCon the other hand, 200 of them had been enlisted as scouts and given government arms and ammunition. (What for, I wonder, to kill Kansas settlers?)
Matters culminated in the attempt to count the Cheyennes. The Indians had been instructed by Agent Dyer to form their village and take their stations and remain stationary when counted. They did not wish to be counted and in consequence when the time arrived, they rushed wildly about on foot, in wagons, and on horses, all in confusion, and refused to hear orders or instructions. Armstrong, who was present and intoxicated, made a beastly attack upon Agent Dyer, accusing him of not having control of his Indians and cursing him in a brutal manner. Dyer replied in a quiet manner, what all creation now knows, that the Cheyennes have been beyond control for years, that he had asked for troops to make them mind, that the troops were here, but that he had not been sustained. Prominent cattlemen and reporters standing near told Armstrong they would sustain Dyer if he would slap Armstrong in the face. A Kansas City Times reporter present afterward attempted to give the scene to his paper by wire and Gen. Sheridan refused to allow him to use the wire.
Agent Dyer has taken steps preparatory to resigning, the whole investigation by Sheridan has been a farce, his information has all been obtained from strangers (the Camp Supply outfit); and his recommendations all hatched out before he left Washington. One thing is apparentCthe Indians will not be disarmed as long as they are in charge of a civilian agent, but the necessity will be used as a lever to have them turned over from the interior to the war department.
Of course, it is Dyer=s misfortune that he is a civilian and a republican. If the department would sustain him in this crisis, he would have an after influence with these Indians that would enable him to advance them in one year where it would take a new agent (also unsupported) ten years. On the other hand, if turned over to the military, they will be a tribe of drunkards.
Four thousand troops have been put in motion. Kansas has been the subject of an expensive scare, and immigration has been affected. The general of the army has come all the way from Washington, and what is the result. The Indians are still armed to the teeth, they have ponies that can out travel the cavalry, and they are able to cross the Kansas line in one night and a day from starting. They can then murder and steal and be back home in two days. They are lamblike now, in the face of the military; but unruly and dangerous when they are gone. Instead of their ring leaders being made an example of, they have been elevated above the level of all the whites and other Indians in the country. Is this the way to control Indians? To Sheol with such a policy!
[NOTE: STILL NOT SURE IF THE NAME IS DYER OR DWYER.]
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 1, 1885.
Cattlemen=s Dilemma.
ST. LOUIS, July 4. A meeting of the cattlemen leasing land in the Indian Territory was held this morning at the rooms of the National Cattle Growers Association to discuss the president=s proclamation declaring the Arapahoe and Cheyenne leases void and ordering all cattlemen removed from the reservation within forty days. The proclamation was warmly discussed and another meeting will be held tomorrow, when the committees from Kansas City and St. Joseph will be present, and a course of procedure adopted. The cattlemen claim that it is impossible to move 300,000 or 400,000 head of cattle inside of forty days, and say they have no place to move to, as all ranges in the Territory and Texas are now crowded and Kansas and Colorado are quarantined against Texas cattle, while in New Mexico there is a strong public feeling against the cattle, even if there were room there. Missouri has about $800,000 invested in cattle in the Indian Territory. The St. Louis interest is about $500,000.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 1, 1885.
The Bloodthirsty Apaches.
NOAGLES, July 25. It is rumored that the Apaches have surrounded camps in the Canoa mountains. The miners are standing guard night and day. Indian signs have also been seen within four miles of this place.
TUCSON, ARIZONA, July 24. A letter was received today from Prof. Guezman, dated Pianala, Sonora, Mexico, which says four American miners coming from St. Helena mine, were attacked yesterday afternoon by Apaches. One man, named Gillan, was killed and another wounded. The other two succeeded in reaching one of the company=s mines, where a party was immediately organized to go and bring in the bodies. When they reached the spot, they were surprised to find two dead men. The second was recognized as Pesquiras Major Tomo, of Odejova ranch, who it is supposed was returning home. Gillan was buried with military honors, he having been a captain in the Union army.
[DUE TO THE GOVERNOR OF KANSAS BEING ALARMED AT THE THOUGHT THAT THE APACHES WOULD BE MOVED INTO INDIAN TERRITORY, DECIDED TO COVER THAT TRIBE OF INDIANS A WEE BIT!]
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 1, 1885.
The Two Policies.
The proclamation of President Cleveland declaring the cattle leases in the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservations void, and ordering the cattle removed in forty days, is simply the entering wedge to the general policy of maintaining the Indian Territory as sacred ground, never to be polluted by the tread of a white man, but to be held for the exclusive isolation and admiration of the half civilized and savage tribes, which use it as a skulking place to shield them from their crimes and to draw rations from a too generous people.
This policy, carried out, amounts to an indefinite postponement of the establishment of that territory or any part of it by white people, at least until the policy is changed.
The demand of a portion of the Cheyennes and Arapahoes to clear their reservation of cattlemen who are paying to them large sums of money for merely grazing privileges; and this demand having been considered favorably by the government, will result in like demands from other tribes, which, taking this as a precedent, must be granted, and thus, in the course of a short time, this and all other interests of white men will be barred out, and the Indian left monarch of all he surveys, supported by the taxes of white people and encouraged to adhere to his tribal traditions and habits. This policy is not one calculated to force him to habits of industry and the arts of peace; but on the contrary to reverse the policy of the Republican party, which was intended to bring the Indian to see the necessity of learning at the earliest possible day to support himself by the cultivation of the soilCto allot the lands in severalty, in limited quantities, and to open the remainder to more intelligent cultivation by the law abiding white man, whose example and methods would be daily instruction to his less industrious and less skilled neighbor, who, from necessity, ambition, and pride, would soon become a self-supporting and conscientious citizen, instead of remaining as now, a pauper on the government and a murderer at heart.
Aside from the policy of the administration in throwing the strong arms of the government around these painted savages, the proclamation overrides the rights of white men, who are there under such authority as the courts have declared to be legal and binding not only as to the Indians, but as to the government itself, and if the proclamation shall not be modified, great damage must result to a large number of white men whose vast interests have been assured by former administrations and the Indians themselves.
The interest of the state of Missouri in this matter is estimated to be about $8,000,000, while that of the citizens of Kansas and Colorado cannot be much less. From interviews with prominent gentlemen, reported in the Kansas City Times, it is stated that at least nineteen-twentieths of all the Indians on the reservation are in favor of the leases. It gives them $75,000 to $80,000 a year that is used in buying the necessities of life.
Now, if the government deprives them of this income, is it prepared to make it good out of the public treasury? Will the people stand it? On the other hand, can the government be justified in running the business interests of Missouri and Kansas, in the face of a decision made in the district court of Columbia at Washington, declaring the lease of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservation valid? Does not the government lay itself liable for a claim amounting to millions of dollars in damages if the order of removal be enforced? The cattlemen simply ask for time to lay before the president and cabinet their side of the question, and then if decided against them, they are perfectly willing to go.
The action of the government in the order of removal of cattle from the reservation is to be deplored. If enforced, it will be a great injustice to the men who have invested their money in the cattle business, and as it will affect many Missouri and Kansas parties, the country at large will eventually see the folly of such a course. There are now on the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservation 150,000 to 200,000 head of cattle, and if it be true that the government intends forcing them off the ranges, they will have to be thrown on the market. It requires but little study to see that such a state of affairs would be liable to create a panic, and every farmer who is fattening a few cattle for the butcher market would realize that he, too, was a sufferer from this unjust act. Again, the forcing of that number of immature cattle on the market would so cut down what should be the supply of the next few years that the consumer would necessarily have to pay a high price for beef.
The lease had been decided a legal one by the United States courts, and it certainly would not be justice to enforce the order and bring ruin on those who have every dollar invested without having a chance to present their rights in the premises.
Thus it appears from any point which the action of the administration in the premises can be viewed, it must be regarded as hasty and inconsiderate, unjust to the cattlemen, and against the policy looking to the future opening of the Territory to white settlement or throwing the Indians upon their own resources.
Emporia Republican.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 1, 1885.
ABoss@ CLEVELAND=s cattle edict shows him up in all his bull-headedness. He has declined to modify the order requesting the cattlemen to remove their herds in 40 days from Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservation by extending the time. The cattlemen interested in leases have held meetings and adopted resolutions asking Cleveland to extend the time until other grazing grounds can be obtained, and he has refused. By this action he does a great injury to the cattle interests. Parties holding leases have no alternative. They must remove their cattle within 40 days, whether or no.
A gentleman residing at Fred, Indian Territory, informs us that cattlemen are down-spirited. They recognize the fact that Kansas has a quarantine law, also Colorado and the territory of New Mexico. To Texas and Arizona they must look for sustenance for their cattle. The available land that Texas affords are owned by the State University. They would probably accommodate all the cattle in the southern portion of the Territory. But the principal objection urged is the taking of the cattle to these lands. They would have to graze on the way and the last herds would have poor pickings.
It is estimated that there are 300,000 head of cattle, worth $8,000,000, that have to be removed. This will cause great hardships. While the REPUBLICAN concides with the president in his action declaring the cattle leases invalid, yet he should have given the cattlemen sufficient time to go without such great loss.
Arkansas City Republican, August 1, 1885.
[MORE LOCAL NEWS.]
The Osage Indians will receive a payment of four dollars per capita today, being the receipts from cattle leases on their reservation. As an instance of the advancement of this tribe, we cite the fact that this payment is conducted wholly among themselvesCthe making of the payrolls and handling of the money being done by their secretary and treasurer, with no assistance from the agent other than advice. At the June payment the Osages numbered 1,551.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 8, 1885.
The Southern Cattle.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, July 29. [Special.]
At this time there is much interest manifested in the movements of cattle in the Indian Territory, caused by orders from Washington, which means the practical destruction of the cattle trade, or at least the business of many who are now engaged in that trade. Desiring to get an expression from men who had made this question a study, your correspondent called on governor John A. Martin, who consented to be interviewed when his attention was called to the deep interest manifested, not only in Kansas City, but in the entire West and South. The first point was the leases and the question was asked:
AWhat do you think of the order concerning the cattle leases in the Indian Territory?@
AI regard it as arbitrary and unjust. The United States Government has insisted on preserving the Territory as a home for the Indians, and has treated it, in all its laws and its dealings with them, as their property. The Indians leased the grass, on certain lands, to cattlemen. Whether the cattlemen made a good or bad bargain with the Indians, I do not know, but it is certain that for the first time in their lives the Indians received something for the grass on their lands. And for this time also the vegetation of the Indian Territory has been of use to the human race. For centuries it has simply gone to waste, blooming and blossoming in rank luxuriance, but of no value to and used by no human being on the face of the earth. The government says, in effect, that it shall continue to be so wasted, and to be used for the benefit of nobody. The Indians don=t use itCthe government says the whites shall not use it. Thus, the Indians are deprived of the reserve they received, and the cattlemen, who have been acting under what they supposed to be legal leases, for which they have paid the stipulated price, are seriously damaged, if not ruined.@
ABut has there not been considerable opposition to the occupancy of the Indian lands by the cattlemen?@
AIn some quarters, yes. But it was a thoughtless opposition, or grew out of a dog-in-the-manger spirit, which influences many men. People saw the cattlemen; they thought they had what is called a >good thing,= and so those outside, who couldn=t get inside, growled and declaimed. Yet, the occupancy of these lands for grazing purposes, injured nobody. The Indians were benefitted in the money they received; the cattlemen were benefitted in securing pasturage for their herds; and the people, generally, were benefitted, because occupancy in these lands aided in the work of supplying beef for public consumption. A dispatch from Dallas, printed in the Kansas City Journal the other day, stated that Texas cattle have decreased fully 25 percent since the president=s order was issued. Is an increased price of beef a public benefit?@
ADo you anticipate any trouble from the attempts of the Texas cattlemen to drive their cattle into or through Texas?@
AI hope none will occur. Our laws are explicit, and I have directed the live stock sanitary commission to see that they are rigidly enforced. Kansas shall not be desolated by the Texas fever if I can prevent it. The presence of a Texas steer from south of the thirty-seventh parallel, in any section of Kansas, means the destruction of every head of native cattle in that section. Texas fever is far more dangerous to the cattle of Kansas than pleuro-pneumonia. Texas cattle poison the grass, the water, the earth, wherever they go, and Kansas cattle grazing on the grass, drinking the water, and moving over the highways where Texas cattle have been, are doomed to certain destruction. Texas cattle have no legal right in Kansas; their presence is fatal to the stock of our own people, and it is our plain duty to protect our own stock interests against such losses as the Texas cattle spread to their trail.@
ADo you think the sheriff and other officers of the Southwest can and will enforce the law?@
AI have no doubt of it. They will have the whole population of their counties to sustain them, for every Kansas man realizes the necessity of excluding Texas cattle.@ [Boomer related story.]
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 8, 1885.
How to Settle It.
The following from the Atchison Champion expresses our sentiments in regard to the Indian question.
AGov. Martin=s letter to the secretary of War embodies all there is to the Indian question. The United States has undertaken to care for the Indians. It is in the position of a man who owns a vicious dog. The dog may be everything to its owner; but the neighbors want him tied up; they neither desire to be bitten nor be scared to death by him. If the dog=s collar and chain is not strong enough, then he must go and get a more efficient dog restraining apparatus. If part of the United States army is not enough to keep the Cheyennes and Arapahoes on their territory, then bring the whole army. The Champion has never advocated any invasion of the Indian Territory by white men. It has always denounced the Oklahoma Aboom@ as a piece of folly, not unmixed with rascality on the part of its leaders, and this doctrine ought to be announced and enforced; Indians on their side and white people on their side. This done, and there will be no trouble. If white men make trouble among Indians, kick them out of the Territory; if Indians come into Kansas even peaceably, send them back home. If they come armed and hostile, kill them; if they commit robberies and murders on the soil of Kansas, and escape into the Territory, then let their surrender be demanded that they might be punished like other robbers and murderers.@ [Boomer related story.]
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 8, 1885.
If the cattle lease system now in vogue is to be broken up, we hope no more leases will be allowed, but that it will be understood that the Indians will be supported like invalid paupers. The Indians owned the land; were not using it themselves; were getting nothing from it or for it and had a right to lease it; did lease it, and have realized a large sum of money, cash in hand paid, for it. This looks reasonable, and it is, but a constant howl has been raised ever since the lease system was adopted. Let, then, the old system be tried again of giving the Indians money and rations for nothing, and see if that gives any better satisfaction. Champion.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 8, 1885.
Despatches from Ft. Worth, Gainesville, San Antonio, and other cattle centers in Texas represent great consternation among the cattlemen of that state because of the president=s edict expelling cattle from the Indian Territory. The result will be to largely shut off northwestern Texas cattle from market, and this will in turn prostrate values and business generally. The university board of Texas, however, has an immense landed endowment and offers to lease that to Indian Territory cattle companies for grazing purposes, though it is not probable that it can be had at the yearly rate of two cents per acre.
Arkansas City Republican, August 8, 1885.
The Outrage Premeditated.
We hope the cattlemen will have some success with the conciliatory policy towards Mr. Cleveland, but we must say that our confidence is not supreme, and we have no prodigious hopes of success.
We do not believe that any government other than a despotism ever undertook such an infamous scheme of confiscation. It is the worst kind of dishonesty, for the reason that it is being perpetrated by a powerful government upon private citizens. It is rank robbery on the part of Mr. Cleveland, and we have no hesitation in calling it by the right name. Political rulers have been deposed for conduct not more obnoxious than that of Mr. Cleveland against cattlemen. When the president turns the guns of the government on the industry of the nation, it is time for people to reflect. If cattlemen must submit to the destruction of their property, other interests are in like danger from the whims and ignorance of powerful officials.
Look at the situation of the case. The cattlemen have expended nearly $300,000 in protecting their property in the Indian Territory with wire fences. On lands thus guarded they have property valued at about $5,650,000. They have paid the Indians pasturage up to November of the present year. This is simply the record of investment. But last winter brought tremendous losses to the cattle interests, and more serious than all, radically disturbed the credit of the cattle owners in money centers. Instead of being rich and powerful, there are hundreds of ranchmen who have been brought to the edge of ruin, and their only hope was in a favorable and undisturbed season.
With all these unfavorable conditions in existence, the president of the United States, for whom many people voted in the hope of better times, promulgates his forty day confiscation order.
The order was made with a cool premeditation, but without knowledge or even decent attempts at investigation. As will be seen elsewhere, the president had determined the matter before Gen. Sheridan left Washington.
What had he determined? He had resolved, for reasons best known to this remarkable specimen of statesmanship, by pushing men representing investments aggregating about $6,000,000 to the wall in the space of forty days.
What business has the president of the United States to place the property of citizens in jeopardy? Where is the constitutional provision that declares the doctrine, that contracts not suitable to the fancy of the executive, shall be voided without reference to the courts? Where is the constitutional provision that authorizes the president to be court and jury, and to issue execution on an ex parte statement made by his own commands? Where is the constitutional law that gives the president the power to destroy one dollar=s worth of property on his individual judgment to the validity of the contract?
Supposing his judgment to be correct, what moral or legal right has the president to unnecessarily injure any person=s property rights? We are told from Washington that an investigation has been made. With all due regard for presidents, generals, and military Indian agents, we insist that an investigation has not been made.
On the contrary, we assert that the so-called investigation was a fraud and a farce, originated for the purpose of sustaining a policy already agreed upon in Washington, and without reference to the facts or equities in the situation.
If it has been determined to make changes in the territory; if it has been determined to take lands away from the Indians and confine them to closer quarters, then there was no shadow of excuse for the precipitate move on the cattlemen. It is for congress to say what future disposal shall be made of the lands in question. It is not for the president to drive cattle owners out of territory at the point of the bayonet in forty days, without even a hint of congressional action.
The methods of the reformers are past comprehension, unless reform means the destruction of all things previous to the present administration. Kansas City Journal.
Arkansas City Republican, August 8, 1885.
The Cattle Leases.
From the Fort Scott Monitor.
The Topeka Journal says the Monitor is in favor of the dishonest leases. There is no truth in that. The Monitor believes the leases illegal. If they are legal, the government is bound by them and to eject the leases is an outrage. If they are illegal, and their existence caused the Indian trouble, then annul them out in forty days. The order is the act of tyrants clothed with a little brief authority. The cattle cannot be moved out in forty days, nor in 100 days, and the editor of the Journal knows it, and to attempt it is to destroy millions of dollars= worth of property, and we say to the Journal what the country will soon understand: that the order was issued through ignorance or from bull headed cussedness and will recoil with the force of a cyclone upon the administration, if it is enforced.
Arkansas City Republican, August 8, 1885.
The Indian Land Leases Invalid.
WASHINGTON, August 1. Attorney General Garland, to whom the secretary of the interior referred the question of the power of the interior department to authorize the Indians to lease their lands for grazing purposes, has transmitted to Secretary Lamar an opinion, in effect that no such power exists under the law.
The questions referred to the attorney general were whether there was any law empowering the interior department to authorize the Indians to enter into a contract with any parties for the lease of Indian lands for grazing purposes; also whether the president or interior department has any authority to make a lease for grazing purposes of any part of any Indian reservation, or whether the approval by the president or secretary of the interior would render any such lease made by the Indians with other parties, lawful and valid.
AThe questions,@ writes the attorney general, Aare propounded with reference to certain Indian reservations, namely:
AFirst. The Cherokee lands in the Indian Territory west of 96 degrees, longitude, except such parts thereof as heretofore have been appropriated for and conveyed to friendly tribes of Indians.
ASecond. The Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservation in the Indian Territory.
AOur government has even claimed the right and from a very early period its settled policy has been to regulate and control the alienation or other disposition by the Indian nations or tribes of their lands. This policy was originally adopted in view of their peculiar character and habits, which render them incapable of sustaining any other relations with the whites than that of dependance and pupilage. There was no other way of dealing with them than that of keeping them separate, subordinate, and dependent, with guardian care thrown around them for their protection. Thus, in 1873 congress in confederation by proclamation forbade >all persons from making settlements on lands inhabited or claimed by Indians without the limits of jurisdiction of any particular state, and from purchasing or receiving any cession of such lands or claims without express authority and directions of the United States in congress assembled,= and declared >that every such purchase or settlement, gift or cession not having the authority aforesaid null and void, and that no right or the title will accrue in consequence of any such purchase gift, cession, or settlement.=
ABy section 4 of the act of July 22, 1790, the congress of the United States enacted that no sale of lands made by any Indians or nation or tribes of Indians within the United States shall be valid to any person or persons, or to any state, whether having the right of pre-emption to such lands or not, unless the same shall be made and duly executed
AT SOME PUBLIC TREATY,
held under the authority of the United States.
ASimilar provisions were again enacted in section 8 of the act of March 1, 1793, which by its terms included any >purchase or grant of lands, or of any title or claim thereto, from any Indians or nation, or tribe of Indians within the bounds of the United States.=
AThe provision was further extended by section 12 of the act of May 19, 1796, so as to embrace any purchase, grant, lease, or any other conveyance of lands or of any title or claim thereto. As thus extended, it was re-enacted by the act of March 3, 1799, chapter forty-six, and also by the act of March 30, 1802. (Chapter 30, section 12.)
AIn the above legislation provision in terms applied to purchases, grants, leases, etc., from individual Indians, as well as from Indian tribes or nations, but by the twelfth section of the act of June 30, 1834 (chapter 164), it limited to such as emanate >from any Indian nation or tribe of Indians,= and the provision of the act of 1834 just referred to, have been reproduced in section 2,116, Revised Statute now in force.
AThe last named section declares: >No purchase, grant, lease, or other conveyance of lands or any title or claim thereto from any Indian nation or tribe of Indians, shall be of any validity in law or equity unless the same be made by treaty or constitution.=
AThis statuatory provision is very general and comprehensive. Its operation does not depend upon the nature or the extent of the title to the land which a tribe or nation may hold, whether such title be fee simple or right of occupancy, merely, is not material. In either case the statute applies. It is not therefore deemed necessary or important in connection with the subject under consideration to inquire into the particular right or title to the above mentioned reservations held by Indian tribes or nations respectively which claim them, whatever right or title there may be, these tribes or nations are precluded by the force and the effect of the statute from either alienating or leasing any part of its reservation, or imparting any interest or claim in or to the same, without the consent of the government of the United States. The lease of the land for grazing purposes is as clearly within the statute, as a lease for any other, or more general purposes, and the duration of the term is immaterial. One who enters with cattle, or other live stock, upon an Indian reservation under a lease of that description is made in violation of the statute, is an intruder, and may be removed therefrom as such, notwithstanding his treaty of consent with the tribe. Such consent may exempt him from the penalty imposed by section 2117, revised statutes, for taking his stock there, but it cannot validate the lease, or confer upon him any legal right whatever to remain upon the land, and to this extent, and no further, was the decision of Judge Brewer in the United States vs. Hunter, 21, Fed. Rep. 615.
ABut the present inquiry in substance is whether the department of the interior can authorize these Indians to make leases of their lands for grazing purposes, or whether the approval of such leases by the president or secretary of the interior would make them lawful and valid, and whether the president or the department has authority to lease for such purposes any part of the Indian reservation. I submit that the power of the department to authorize such leases to be made, as that of the president or secretary to approve or make the same, if it exists at all, must rest upon some law and therefore be derived from either treaty or statutory provision. I am not aware of any treaty or provision applicable to particular reservations in the Union that confers such powers. The revised statutes contains provisions regulating contracts or agreements with the Indians and prescribing how they shall be executed and approved in section 2,103. But these provisions do not include contracts of the character described in section 1,116, hereinbefore mentioned. No other power appears to have been conferred by the statute upon either the president, the secretary, or any other officer of the government to authorize or approve leases of lands held by Indian tribes.
AThe absence of such power was doubtless one of the main considerations which led to the adoption of the act of February 18, 1885, chapter 90, to authorize the Seneca nation of New York Indians to lease lands with the Cattaragus and Alleghany reservation and confirm existing leases.
AThe act just cited, moreover, is significant as showing that in the view of congress, the Indian tribes cannot lease their reservations without the authority of some of the United States.
AIn my judgment, therefore, each of the questions proposed in your letter should be answered in the negative. I so answer them.@
Arkansas City Republican, August 8, 1885.
Kansas To Be Protected.
Gov. Martin received yesterday morning the following dispatch from Lt. Gen. Sheridan.
FT. RENO, INDIAN TERRITORY, VIA DODGE CITY, July 23, 1885.
Gov. John A. Martin: I have your letters of the 16th and 20th. They have been referred to Gen. Miles, who starts from here for Fort Supply tomorrow morning, and will make an examination of the country and points you mention as military stations. There need be no fear on the part of the settlers of southwestern Kansas from hostilities by the Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians. I have gone down to the bottom of affairs here, and know that the irritation was the result of bad control and oppressive measures. I hope for a correction of the evils and am confident that when I leave here, the people in Kansas may gather their crops and sleep peacefully at night. Gen. Miles is an officer of good judgment, who will do all that is necessary to restore confidence from a panic so paralyzing in its effects as this one has been to the industries of your state.
P. H. SHERIDAN, Lieutenant-General.
The press dispatches of July 22 show that the interior department has turned over to Gen. Sheridan the entire control of the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservations.
Arkansas City Republican, August 8, 1885.
The Cattlemen=s Protest Of No Avail.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 1. The president today informed a delegation representing the cattlemen, that he would not modify his recent order for the removal of the cattle from the leased lands on the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservations within forty days from the date of his proclamation.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 15, 1885.
In speaking of the president=s reiterated determination to drive the cattlemen from the Indian Territory, the Philadelphia Inquirer has a right conception of the situation when it says:
AAs was anticipated, the government=s decision to drive stockmen out of the Indian Territory does the Indians more harm than good. It was reported a few days ago that the Indians could lease their lands for double the amount hitherto paid them, but Attorney General Garland has decided that the Indians have no right to lease their lands at all. So the $60,000 income they have been receiving is cut off and they are left to depend on the charity of congress and the tender mercies of the Indian agents and contractors. Verily, this is a white man=s government.@
Arkansas City Republican, August 15, 1885.
The Governor and Cleveland.
In his remarks to the cattle committee, the president of the United States not only insulted his visitors, but made his conduct still more shameful by deliberately misrepresenting the governor of the state of Kansas. Mr. Cleveland was apparently willing his visitors and the people should draw the inference that Governor Martin approved his policy.
Had Mr. Cleveland produced Governor Martin=s letter, he would have been compelled to read to the committee a complete refutation of his attempts to justify his forty day outrage from a man who knows more about the Indian question than Mr. Cleveland and his cabinet could learn during the balance of their lives.
The people of Kansas have a governor who is fit to be president, and it is humiliating indeed to see his futile efforts to beat a grain of sense into the presidential head in regard to western affairs.
Governor Martin requested the retention of the military on the borders of Kansas for the very reason that the policy of the administration is liable to aggravate instead of remove the Indian troubles. He wishes the military post retained for the reasons that the Indians had been encouraged in their lawlessness and left with arms and ammunition. He asks military protection because the Indians have been deprived of part of their rations and all of their income, and thus offered inducements to extend their raids. The governor=s arguments are unanswerable. The Indians should be disarmed. That is the proper solution of the question, as far as peace and safety to the settlers are concerned.
The other question could be easily settled. The president would simply have to say to the cattlemen that by the next grass season they must have their cattle out of the land in question, and all who did not would be assisted out in short order by the government.
The method is simple, fair and equitable, and a president with ordinary business sense ought to comprehend the situation. But the man who occupies the presidential chair is not a president. He is Stephen G. Cleveland, ex-sheriff, ex-mayor. Kansas City Journal.
Arkansas City Republican, August 22, 1885.
Ike Harkleroad complains that last week some men with a drove of through cattle invaded the highways of Silverdale Township. The drovers stopped at his house for dinner; but as soon as he found the cattle were through cattle, he told them they had to turn around and go back or their drive would be a short one. It is needless to say the men about faced. Mr. Harkleroad had two steers die a day or two after the through cattle were in that vicinity and he supposed their death was caused by the Texas fever.
Arkansas City Republican, August 29, 1885.
The cattlemen on the Cherokee lands propose, if President Cleveland orders them to abandon their leases, to apply to the supreme court for an injunction. The herds on the Cheyenne and Araphahoe reservations are being removed, partly to the Cherokee lands, to Kansas, Colorado, and other ranges, and a large number will be thrown upon the market to sell for what they will bring.
Arkansas City Republican, August 29, 1885.
[MORE LOCAL NEWS.]
By September 2 the cattlemen must be off the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservations. The 40 days will have expired by that time. Cattle owners are doing their utmost to get out.
Arkansas City Republican, August 29, 1885.
Washington County, Kansas, makes a bid for herding some of the cattle which are driven from the Cheyenne reservation. As inducements, it offers 369,000 acres for grazing purposes, and it is estimated will have 5,000,000 bushels of corn to feed to cattle this winter at not more than 14 cents per bushel. Cattlemen in search of a range would do well to visit and inspect the advantages Washington County claims to have.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, September 19, 1885.
A cattle train on the Southern Kansas ran off the track at Torrance last Saturday night as it was going east at a good rate of speed. The cars were thrown from the track, one of them almost against the depot. Nine Texas steers were beefed on the spot, and several others were wounded. A number got out of the car and distributed themselves about over the country, and will probably distribute the Texas fever in that locality if they come in contact with Kansas cattle. When the train was put on and the track repaired, it was found that a washout further east would prevent the train from going to Kansas City until the next day, and it was ordered back to Winfield, and from there to go by the way of the Santa Fe route. Two other trains got as far east as Burden, and were also ordered to take the Santa Fe road for Kansas City. The breaks were repaired and trains running by noon Monday. Burden Enterprise.
Arkansas City Republican, October 3, 1885.
Senator Plumb informed the editor of this paper, the other day, that bills for opening the Neutral Strip to settlement passed both houses of congress last winter, but as each bill was separate, neither became a law. The senator had no doubt that a bill of that kind will become a law next winter. A law was passed attaching the strip to Kansas for judicial purposes in the federal courts, which is now in force. The senator says that the pre-emption and timber culture laws will be repealed by congress next winter. The land on the Neutral Strip will be subject to homesteading. Whenever this land is opened to settlement, there will be a great rush thither and every quarter section will soon be claimed. There are now probably two hundred thousand head of cattle, which, like their predecessors, the buffaloes, will have to seek other claims upon the approach of civilization. Senator Plumb says that the government concedes no claims to this strip by the Indians. Cowboy.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, October 10, 1885.
J. F. Henderson and D. R. Beatty made a big cattle purchase Wednesday. They bought 206 head of fat cattle and the brand of Shepard & Dixon. The consideration was $4,500; 135 head were fat three year old steers, and will be slaughtered by Beatty & Henderson for their meat market. This is the largest cattle transaction that has occurred for some time.
Arkansas City Republican, October 10, 1885.
Moving the Cattle.
A special dispatch to the Globe-Democrat from Trinidad, Colorado, tells an incident connected with the removal of the cattle from the Indian Territory.
Rube Baldock, of this city, returned today from the Indian Territory, where he went some two months ago, to help Hunter, Evans & Slattery, of St. Louis, to remove their cattle from the Cheyenne and Arapahoe agency. They had 14,000 head of cattle on the leased lands, which they moved to Kiowa, near the line of Kansas, Texas, and the Indian Territory. The stock was moved in four herds, and Mr. Baldock had charge of them, numbering 2,180 head. He had the advance herd and had no guards or other protection except his own driver. When he camped overnight at a little town on the North Canadian, or Beaver Creek, some sixty miles west of Fort Reno, some Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indians ran into his herd and stampeded it. The next morning he moved such cattle as he could gather readily to water at the river and proposed to remain till he could gather the remaining scattered ones; but that morning his outfit was surrounded by thirty or forty Indians, the same that Gen. Sherman had armed for scouts, who demanded money and beef. Mr. Baldock refused the demands, and called on Capt. Randall, United States Army, who was camped not far away with a few colored infantry, for protection. The captain readily responded and immediately went upon the ground with some twenty soldiers, who drew up in line and ordered the Indians to leave. The Indians were stubborn, but the captain brought his men to a ready and advanced about a hundred yards, and gave them a final warning to disperse, instanter, whereupon the hostiles= courage left them and they retreated. Mr. Baldock then moved his outfit some six miles further west, which took him off the reservation, where he camped until he got together, such as he could of the scattered herd, and from there proceeded to his destination without further hindrance. Mr. Baldock=s herd was the only one of the outfit that went off the reservation with the protection of a military guard.
Arkansas City Republican, November 21, 1885.
The cattlemen throughout the Indian Territory are very much discouraged. From dispatches we learn that large quantities of the range have been destroyed by fire and for many miles in all directions from Vinita, a man can travel and find no grass whatever. The hay that was put up is in many cases destroyed, and whole fields of corn, as well as houses, fences, barns, etc., have succumbed to the flames. It is feared that there will be a large loss of stock in consequence.
Arkansas City Republican, November 21, 1885.
Capt. Lee, agent at the Cheyenne and Arapahoe agency, sent the following message to Commissioner Adkins, Tuesday. All of the cattle have been removed from the reservation. Thousands of cattle have been turned loose in Oklahoma to graze. One hundred and twenty boomers have been arrested and brought to Ft. Reno within the past ten days and the troops are still out.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 26, 1885.
Considerable dissatisfaction exists among the large cattle owners in the city on account of a telegram received from Congressman Warner yesterday to the effect that Secretary Lamar has reconsidered his decision to allow the cattle, at present wintering in Oklahoma, to remain there. If, as the dispatch states, Secretary Lamar insists on their removal, the result, it is claimed, will be very disastrous to the cattlemen, as they have no place to drive them to, and there is no alternative but to let them perish from exposure and want of food.
The telegram was considerable of a surprise for dispatches received a few days ago in response to a telegram sent from this city by W. B. Grimes, served to reassure the cattlemen and led them to think that a hasty removal of their cattle would not be insisted upon.
Kansas City Journal.
Arkansas City Republican, December 26, 1885.
An Indian Territory special to the Kansas City Times says:
The Cheyennes and Arapahoes are becoming very restless and trouble is imminent. The cause of the discontent is the loss of the money derived from the cattle leases. This money had been distributed per capita among the tribes and was the source of pleasure to the Indians and profit to the traders.
When the leases were abrogated and the cattle driven off the reservation, payment of course ceased, and the Indians who were loudest in denouncing the cattlemen and urging expulsion are now complaining about the changed conditions.
Reports from Ft. Reno say that no outbreak is likely to occur in that vicinity, but other parts of the reservation are far from being quiet. The issue of annuity goods, which was made recently at Darlington for the first time in three years, was expected to have a soothing effect; but on the contrary, led to much ill feeling among the members of the two tribes.
Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 2, 1886.
The cattlemen whose cattle we reported as being removed from the Territory last week have been taken back. Mr. Wethers, one who had his cattle removed, came into our office one day this week and alleged that the cattle were not taken from the Strip because of a failure to pay the tax lease. But that it was a scheme advanced by the large owners in the association to drive the smaller ones out.
Arkansas City Republican, January 23, 1886.
The Cherokee Lease.
Prominent Cherokees are taking steps to have the lease of what is known as the Cherokee Outlet, made on July, 1883, to a cattle syndicate [Cherokee Strip Live Stock Association], set aside, on the ground of fraud and the lack of compensation. The lease covers a large amount of territory embracing all the unoccupied Cherokee lands west of the Arkansas River and was made by Chief Bushyhead in accordance with an act passed by a Cherokee council, for a term of five years. The amount of rent to be paid is $100,000 a year, which was to be divided per capita among the Cherokees. The amount of land embraced in the lease was upwards of 6,000,000 acres.
The Cherokees claim that the bill was rushed through the council hastily and without being understood by the Cherokees unable to speak English, and that its passage was obtained through fraud. If the lease is set aside, it will place the cattlemen in the same position as those in Oklahoma, and unless a new lease can be obtained, they will be forced to step down and out. Emporia Republican.
[Boomer related story.]
Arkansas City Republican, March 20, 1886.
J. L. Woy, ex-trader at Darlington, Indian Territory, informs us of the bad state of affairs existing at Cheyenne Agency. He says since the government caused the cattle to be removed from that agency, the Indians have no money with which to buy, and business is very dull for the trader. The government now keeps the Indians entirely by issuing rations to them twice a week. Formerly when the lease money was coming in nothing but flour and beef was supplied by the government. The cattlemen were the life of business there. When they were driven out, trade died. Hemphill & Woy lose several thousand dollars. They cannot sell or rent their buildings and so they have to leave them stand, perhaps forever, as a monument of Democratic stupidity.
Arkansas City Republican, April 24, 1886.
To Compensate Settlers.
The bill introduced by Senator Dolph appropriating $5,000,000 to compensate citizens for losses suffered by Indian depredations, is grounded upon the assumption, which is, of course, undisputed, that the Indians are the wards of the government, under the control of the government, and that it is the government=s business to see that the Indians behave themselves. The settler whose house has been burned, whose horses have been stolen, or whose cattle have been killed by a savage band, cannot sue the Indian or collect damages in any way. He can shoot him if opportunity offers, and derive a certain amount of satisfaction from this summary method of punishment, but in gratifying his revenge, he does not rebuild his house, nor replace his cattle or horses.
Mr. Dolph thinks that while the government has assiduously protected the rights of the Indians, has guarded against the occupation of their reservations with every possible care, it has occasionally lost sight of the fact that the white settlers, who had obtained lawful possession of their land and were building up their homes, were also entitled to the protec-tion of the government, were also in a sense, the government=s wards. It=s the business of the government to furnish protection to the pioneers, doubly so when to furnish protection meant to restrain from violent acts the Indians whose rights the white settlers were strictly enjoined to respect.
The depredations referred to by Senator Dolph covered the period from 1855 to 1878, and the sufferers were men, who by their courage, their energy, and perseverance, had carried civilization into the far West and had converted a wilderness into a land of productive farms.
To raise the $5,000,000 which he asks, Mr. Dolph suggests that certain Indian lands be sold. The number of Indians has diminished greatly during the past ten years, and there are now less than 250,000, while the number of acres in the Indian reservation is 147,000,000. He estimates that if a sufficient amount of the Indian lands were sold to realize $5,000,000, there would still be left over 600 acres to every Indian.
While some objection may be found to this plan of raising the money, it is probable that the proposition to reimburse pioneers for the wrongs which they suffered, will meet with a favorable reception.
Kansas City Journal. [Boomer-related story.]
Arkansas City Republican, June 12, 1886.
Old Goose, a female mule now upwards of 40 years of age, is still living on a Government farm near Alameda, in California. This mule was taken to the Pacific slope by General Kearney in 1849.
Cattle are reported to be dying by the thousands in southwest Texas, in consequence of the long continued drouth. In the past eight months, very little rain has fallen in western Texas.
[GATHER ABOVE WERE FILLER ITEMS!]
Arkansas City Republican, June 19, 1886.
In writing a letter to the editor of the REPUBLICAN from Grainsfield, Kansas, Mr. Ayres says: AWhile this part of Kansas has the reputation of having but little inducements to encourage settlement of farmers to till the soil, I have seen considerable corn growing, looking fine; also potatoes, rye, sorghum, etc. The past winter was severe on cattle. Some herds depleted 40 or 50 percent; the stockmen are bringing more cattle and are not discouraged. There have been a great many land-seekers here the past two years, so that now the most land is owned by pre-emptors, homesteaders, or timber claimers. Since I was here six years ago, the county at large has made great improvements and I was surprised to see the advancement.@ Further on in his letter Mr. Ayres tells us that he is an Arkansas City man.
Arkansas City Republican, June 19, 1886.
The round-up develops the fact that the losses on wintered cattle were comparatively light last winter. The bone crop bewing harvested now was planted winter before last. That is one crop that it takes fifteen months to raise, as the defunct yearling of last winter will not shed his hide until next winter, and hence his bones are not a marketable commodity until the following spring. Caldwell Journal.
Arkansas City Republican, June 26, 1886.
Garden City Irrigator: C. J. Jones= buffalo herd arrived the last of the week and are now on pasture north of the city limits. Seven of them died on the road up here. The balance are healthy and are the object of a good deal of interest. The herd comprises twelve calves, five of which were captured last year.
Arkansas City Republican, June 26, 1886.
A Proclamation.
MUSKOGEE, INDIAN TERRITORY, June 22. Gov. Wolf, of the Chickasaw Nation, today issued a proclamation ordering the immediate removal of all cattle from the nation and imposing a tax of $1 per head for grass consumed by said cattle. Many of these cattle have been purchased by Chickasaw citizens, but this proclamation nullifies the purchases.
[THEY SPELLED IT ACHICASAW@...NOT SURE WHICH IS CORRECT!]
Arkansas City Republican, July 3, 1886.
Jas. Withers came up from the Territory Saturday to be doctored for malaria. Mr. Withers says several cattlemen in the vicinity of his ranch have been subpoenaed to appear before the U. S. Court at Ft. Smith. What for, he did not know.
Arkansas City Republican, July 10, 1886.
An Indian Territory special to the Dallas (Texas) Daily News says negotiations are in progress for the leasing of nearly all the available land belonging to the Osage, Ponca, Pawnee, and Otoe Indians in the Territory. The parties who desire the lease are cattlemen from Kansas, Texas, and elsewhere. The land in question embraces several million acres. The recent rulings of the courts of the District of Columbia in relation to the independent position occupied by the Cherokees is held to apply to all the tribes named, they having obtained their land from the Cherokees and hence their right to lease the lands cannot be questioned. The price will only be a few cents per acre.
Arkansas City Republican, July 24, 1886.
Cattle Dying by Hundreds.
COLORADO, TEXAS, JULY 15. The cattle interests of western Texas are in a deplorable condition. The drouth has extended over a period of many months. In many localities there is neither grass nor water, and cattle are dying at the rate of a hundred a day. The banks of the Pecos River are strewn with the carcasses of cattle driven from the interior, having perished from drinking too much water. The loss will aggregate hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Arkansas City Republican, July 24, 1886.
The Courier is responsible for the following: AThe cattle shipping season has begun and three thousand head have already been shipped from Cale. The Frisco company have contracted for the transportation of twenty thousand head from that place.@
Arkansas City Traveler, August 11, 1886.
C. E. Hale came in on Saturday from the Ponca reservation. We mentioned a few weeks ago that he and his brother had taken a contract to put up 2,000 or 3,000 tons of hay for the Mt. Auburn Cattle Co. They began cutting about three weeks ago, but found the pasture light and burning up with the heat. The rain came after they had been a few days at work, spoiling about 150 tons they had cut and cured, and keeping their force idle a day or two. But these haymakers are jubilant now. The grass is growing right along, and they expect it will be in good condition till Oct. 1st. Charles returned to camp on Monday, with a wagon load of supplies, and taking his wife and family along. Coming to town Mr. Hale says he found the south bridge carried downstream a little way, and the flooring broken so that teams could not cross. He called for two or three volunteers from the line of vehicles gathered at both ends, and an hour=s work put the bridge in condition for passage. The Hale Bros. receive $1.50 a ton for all the hay put up, and our informant says, if good luck continues, they will have a profitable contract.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 18, 1886.
On the Move.
Mr. N. S. Martin (of Burke & Martin) came to town on Friday, as he expressed it, Ato get some chuck for the boys.@ They are moving their herd from the Cimarron River to the Osage Nation, having agreed on terms with Col. Pollock, manager of the Aurora Cattle Co., to pasture their herd on his range. Mr. Martin says their cattle are in fine condition, many of them being four and five year old steers, which they have withheld from market on account of the low prices prevailing. The present change in location is made because of a false survey run some time ago, by which a portion of land south of the Cimarron was attached to the Cherokee strip. They selected their ranch there as members of the Cherokee Livestock Association, and under authority of their lease; but before they had finished putting up their fence, the piece of land south of the river was declared a portion of Oklahoma, and their occupation of it forbidden as a trespass. This left them in bad shape with their ranch unenclosed, and subject to the incursions of boomers at one time and a cavalry raid the next. Last winter they had a rough deal, feeding every tramp that came along for fear of incurring his ill will, and then having their range fired by the very men whom they had hospitably entertained. This hanging on by the eyelids became too precarious at length, and they are now comfortably housed on the Aurora Cattle Co.=s fine ranch, with abundances of feed for the winter, and Col. Pollock, the most genial of cattle kings, for a neighbor. May they rest in peace.
Arkansas City Republican, August 21, 1886.
Willie Feagons [??? Feagans?], residing down on the State line, broke a rib this morning while loading cattle at the stock pens in Cale. A steer took after him while he was in one of the shoots and in clambering over the fence, he fell and broke a rib. A physician was called immediately and Mr. Feagons is now resting comfortably.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 25, 1886.
The Maine Cattle Co., on Monday, brought up 185 prime steers to the state line, with the intention of shipping them east to market if not disposed of to a local buyer.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 25, 1886.
Ira Barnett last week purchased 256 steers of C. W. Burt for $27 a head. He shipped them to St. Louis, but finding the market not favorable there, sold one car lot of his lightest animals and sent the rest on to Chicago. In that market they sold for $3.55 {? NOT SURE OF AMOUNT] and the average weight was 941 lbs. It was feared that the adventurous dealer would come out a loser on his adventure, but his profits count up to about $400.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 25, 1886.
A calf being carried to the shambles in one of Henry Bowe & Co.=s meat wagons, made a desperate leap for liberty; but the rope around his neck caused him to fall short, and a hind leg, getting mixed up with the spokes of the wheel, the fugitive bovine got into bad plight. A sharp knife applied to his jugular relieved the animal of all suffering.
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, September 15, 1886.
THE CATTLE INDUSTRY.
We give on our first page an article by an able Chicago editor, on the present condition of the cattle raising interest. Without going so far away for testimony, a person can any day encounter on our main street a score of men who are ready to give their impressions of this industry with recent experiences in the markets and depleted pockets to guide their judgment.
Said Col. Neff the other day, whose correct judgment will not be questioned, AAny man in Kansas, Texas, or the Indian Territory, who put his money into cattle a few years ago and can now show 25 percent of his investment, is exceptionally well off;@ yet our Chicago editor and the authorities he quotes, make the positive assertion that Atoday no other class of investments give better returns than do those in the cattle business@ and also that Athe cattle business of today, honestly planted and skillfully managed, is a few points better than it ever was.@
A good deal depends upon who is the party getting squeezed. In the northwestern region, also taking in Colorado and Montana, cattle raisers find their profits of earlier years dwindled away; and those of more recent experience who have realized no profits, are alarmed at the rapid disappearance of all the money they have embarked in the business. A great share of the losses sustained by the cattle owners of Kansas, western Texas, and the Indian Territory, is largely due to the blundering statesmanship of President Cleveland in ordering the large herds off the Cheyenne and Arapahoe reservation, and his hostile attitude toward the grass leasers in other parts of the territory. By the above enforced exodus, tens of thousands of cattle were deprived of pasture, the owners being compelled to drive them to market, thus demoralizing prices and creating a panic among other owners which has not yet fully abated.
In addition, there has been drouth in Texas, by which many ranges have been depleted, and in Montana, which territory has hitherto been the cattle raiser=s heaven, the pasture is so insufficient that the herds are being driven into the British dominion to find feed to sustain them through the winter.
What sense is there in any writer declaring investments in this interest profitable at the present time, when every owner who carries a few car loads to market comes home with the impression that he has been among thieves? He went for wool and comes back shorn. Prices down to the bottom as it was supposed, and when the shipment is put up for sale, they reach still a lower deep.
Another confusing cause has come forward as a factor for the past few years. The cattle on the ranch cannot endure the winter. The calculation, until this experience asserted itself, was that a crop of calves every year would nearly double the herd, and this increase repeated for a few years would return abounding profits. But the cattle, it is found, have a perverse habit of dying during the inclement season; and the spring round up, instead of showing the cows that looked so sleek and thrifty the preceding fall, with calves by their side, presents a herd alarmingly shrunk in size and number, and the she cattle that were to build up their owner=s fortune, stretched grim and gaunt on the lately frozen plain. With this lesson taught them in natural history, cattlemen hasten to purge their ranges of all quadrupeds of the female persuasion, and are reduced to the thriftless and barren occupation of buying young steers, holding them for two or three years--or the portion that survives the exigencies of the seasons--and eventually taking them to market, in the trust that their enhanced value will reimburse the heavy outlay their support has entailed.
There can be no profit in this left-handed way of conducting the business, and it is no cause for surprise that all writers on the subject tell us of an impending change. If no cows are to be kept on the ranches, how is the supply of beef for 60,000,000 people to be kept up? How is our grazing region to maintain its natural increase? The answer is, a resort must be had to stock farming. These enclosed stretches of country must be broken up into smaller parcels, and what portion of them is arable must be devoted to grain raising and the rest given over to grazing smaller bunches of cattle. Houses must be provided for their shelter during the worst weather, and enough hay and corn laid away to keep them in fair condition. With this care for their preservation, cows can be wintered as safely as steers, and the expense being enhanced, improved stock will be a necessity. This is figured up as the future of the cattle business. No loss of life from exposure, a natural increase in the herds, and animals of such superior weight and quality that their value in the market will more than return the outlay expended in their production. This is an adaptation of method to conditions, and when the revolution shall be fairly affected, we may look to see the cattle business yield as good returns as other classes of investments. But under the present method, the business does not pay, and the writer who says it does, only asserts his disingenuousness or betrays his ignorance.
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, September 15, 1886.
From Our Exchanges.
CALDWELL JOURNAL: There is not much likelihood of range cattle going any lower than they can be produced profitably in any range country. Farmers could not stand the preset market prices for beef cattle a week without coming out a total financial ruin.
E. B. Wingate is the architect for the McLean-Leibler-Reilly block. He has not as yet consummated his plans, but is working on them and by next week we will be able to give the Journal readers a full description of this block.
INDEPENDENCE STAR AND KANSAN: The stockmen along the line who recently recovered their stock from one of the sheriffs of the Cherokee nation in which the herds had been taken up for trespassing are again allowing their cattle to stray over into the promised land below. What will be the outcome of the conflict remains to be seen, but it will be an extremely frigid day when our border ranchmen get left.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 22, 1886.
The Hale Bros., returned to town from the Territory on Thursday last, having been working with a gang of men for the last two months, on a hay contract for the Fairmount Cattle Company. This is an Ohio company, with headquarters in Cleveland, and they are lessees of an extensive ranch on the Pawnee reservation, comprising 400,000 acres. Charles Hale visited our sanctum on Saturday, to tell of the pleasures of a rural life. They put up about fifty tons a day, having good teams and effective implements, and the men stout and willing workers. It was reported that their contract was to put up 2,000 tons. Charles is mum as to how much was laid away, but he says they more than filled their contract. The company is stocking up its ranch, and a day or two before the Hale Bros., left, a herd of 3,000 mixed cattle was driven inside the fence, which arrived in the state in July last, and were all in good condition. The half dozen men lately employed as haymakers stayed behind to assist in branding the newly arrived cattle. H. M. Baldwin is the manager of the ranch, who is highly spoken of by the Hale boys as competent to fill his responsible position, and is cordial and accommodating. It is only justice to the latter to say that they did their work up in thorough style, which is their way of doing business.
Arkansas City Republican, September 25, 1886.
A Mixed Cattle Case. [Boomer and cattlemen related.]
At the time the government forces drove the last of the ABoomers@ off the Oklahoma lands, there was on the land a white man named Tompson with some few drops of Indian blood in his veins. Tompson had been a preacher, missionary, and several other things, when occasion required. He had married a squaw and relied on this connection, together with his alleged Indian blood, to allow him to remain within the Territory. Tompson in company with two men named Buchanan and Pierce, determined to go into the cattle business: Tompson to furnish the land and throw his Indian protection over the herd that it should not be driven out by the United States troops. By various ways the firm secured some cattle and desired, but had no money, to purchase them. They then took into the firm a Chicago man named Hill, out of whom they succeeded in getting $40,000. Desiring more cattle they bought $70,000 worth from the Concho Cattle Company, of Texas, for which they paid $30,000 down, and gave a note for $40,000 more. This note was not paid. They became harder to the syndicate and unknown to the others, Buchanan, who was acting as general manager, went to Chicago and agreed to sell the herd to Campbell & Co., of that city, for $20,000 and received that amount in advance without telling the firm of the liens and mortgages held on the herd. When he returned to the Indian Territory, the creditors of the firm, Concho Cattle Company, and Hill were growing suspicious and inclined to make a disturbance. Agent Owen, of the Union Agency, suspected that there was a great deal of fraud about Tompson=s Indian claims and seized the whole lot of cattle and gave the firm notice that they could have them by leaving the Territory with them. As they were safe from creditors in the Indian Territory, they were exceedingly anxious to stay. Then Campbell & Co., came forward, and in company with the other creditors, Hill and the Concho Cattle Company, demanded the cattle. Owen investigated the matter and decided that the cattle should go to the creditors. Tompson again pleaded parentage and appealed to the commissioner of Indian affairs. He ordered all parties to come forward at Washington and present their testimony. This they did before a court composed of three officials of the Indian bureau. The commissioner upheld the ruling of the agent. The case was then taken to the secretary of the interior, who decided that the cattle should go to the creditors when they had given a bond of $100,000 to cover all possible damages. Nearly 4,000 head of cattle were involved.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 29, 1886.
The largest hay contract we have heard of this year is C. M. Scott=s. He has 1,500 tons put up in the stack and will bale 1,000 tons.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 29, 1886.
About two weeks ago two saddle ponies were missing from the cattle ranch of Florer, Gould & Ayers, on the Kaw reservation, and the manager of the ranch, Capt. A. J. Hersey, thinking they were stolen and believing he knew the thief, came to town as soon as he missed the animals, to have the thief arrested. He found the man he wanted in the city, but the missing ponies were not in his possession. Leaving him to be shadowed by the officers, Capt. Hersey returned home after a day=s stay here to make further search for the ponies. Last Wednesday he wrote to Sam Burris, informing him that he had found the ponies in the Osage country, making their way to a ranch, but whether they had been stolen or turned loose, he was unable to say. He ordered the watch on the suspected party removed, and this ended the matter.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 6, 1886.
Mode T. Johnson is at his ranch, in Deer Creek, this week; he makes his home near Cedarvale.
F. F. Wood, the genial host of the Great Western Hotel at Burden, was in town yesterday, taking in the sites.
The price of hogs is improving. Fat hogs sold in the market last week at $3.60 per hundred pounds.
Ranchmen are rounding up to brand spring cattle. The crop is lighter this year than usual.
Charley Brewster returned from Hamilton County, this site, Monday, where he has been proving up his claim.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 6, 1886.
A stockman of this city who makes extensive use of agricultural machinery, offers the following suggestion: ASomeone should put in a general supply stock for machinery repairs at this place. Farmers complain that one year a mowing machine is sold here, and the next year when they want some portion of its gearing for repairs, it is out of the market or has no agent here. The William Anvoy [?] Wood mower, for instance. An extensive farmer, a neighbor of mine remarked to me the other day, that he bought an Eureka mower some time ago, which cut a six-foot swath, and pleased him vastly. But it now wants a few repairs, and he cannot use this valuable implement because there is no way to fix it up. One of our implement dealers would do well to profit by this suggestion.@
Arkansas City Traveler, October 6, 1886.
J. A. McCormick, manager of the Oil Cattle Company, wants to purchase 1,000 spring calves.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 6, 1886.
Stock and Ranch Items.
Fifteen to twenty loads of loose hay are brought to this city from the Territory daily, which sells readily for $4 to $5 a ton. Baled prairie hay sells at $6 by the ton, and 40 cents in 100 lb. Bales.
Arkansas City Republican, October 9, 1886.
An employee of the City Meat Market, while driving a cow to the slaughter house, requested a man coming to town on foot to head the animal off. He attempted to do so and just as he got in front of her, she made for him. The man in turning to run, fell, and he was gored badly in the back before he could be rescued. The unknown man was taken to the home of Roy Holt, where Dr. Fowler was summoned to attend him.
Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, October 13, 1886.
It is now reported that the secretary of the interior has under consideration a proposition to allow certain tribes of Indians in the Northwest the privilege of utilizing the grass upon the surplus lands of their reservation by allowing them to take cattle from neighboring stockraisers to pasture. This means that ultimately the cattlemen in this region will be allowed again to pasture their herds in the Indian Territory. There never was any sense in driving them out. They were paying the Indians a large sum of money annually for grass which the latter put to no use. When the cattlemen were ordered out, the Indians lost this income, and nothing running on two legs or four was benefited. The secretary of the interior now sees his mistake, and takes this means to remedy it.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 13, 1886.
H. J. Martin (of Burke & Martin), came home from the territory on Friday to visit his family. He reports their herd safely enclosed on the Saginaw Cattle Co.=s ranch, on the Salt Fork, but all hands have been busy lately building quarters, corrals, and getting things in shape for the winter. He reports the cattle in fine condition, and their situation much improved by the change of pasture.
Arkansas City Republican, October 16, 1886.
[MORE JOTTINGS...FROM SATURDAY=S DAILY.]
The delivery team of Geo. E. Hasie & Co., ran away last evening about supper time. Without any apparent cause, one of the animals began kicking when opposite U. Spray=s house, causing the other one to start on a run. The wagon was upset and Montague Hasie, the driver, was thrown to the ground with considerable force. His ankle was quite badly injured. The horses ran around until brought up near the residence of Wyard Gooch, where they became entangled in a wire fence. One of the animals was badly cut by the wire. Groceries were scattered promiscuously all along the route.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 20, 1886.
Baled Hay. I have one thousand tons of bright, well cured prairie hay, I will place on board the cars of the A. T. & S. F. or Frisco railroad at $8.00 per ton by the car-load. C. M. SCOTT.
Arkansas City Republican, October 23, 1886.
Hoover & Taylor drove their fine herd of cattle through the city this morning for winter quarters some 90 miles down in the Territory. There were 375 cattle. Hoover & Taylor are of Douglass.
Arkansas City Republican, October 23, 1886.
Some days ago the Johnson Bros., cattlemen, contracted with John Kennedy to put up 100 tons of hay down on their ranch in the Territory at $2.23 [? NOT SURE OF FIGURE...COULD BE $2.25?] per ton. Kennedy hired help and went down, but returned without doing anything. He claimed that the hay was too scarce to fill the contract and that he was damaged to the extent of $100 by the trip, and accordingly, he brought suit before Judge Benedict. This morning the case was called and the verdict was in favor of the Johnson Brothers. The evidence showed that the Johnson Bros. had offered 75 cents more per ton than agreed if Kennedy would go ahead and filled his contract. He refused. The Johnson Bros. then secured other men to put up the hay off the same land. The court thought Kennedy didn=t want the job and rendered his decision in accordance.
Arkansas City Republican, December 4, 1886.
A practical joke was played on the Alvin Joslin troupe at Caldwell, Some of them hired teams and rode down into the Territory to look at the country. Some cowboys getting wind of this, dressed up as Indians and when the Joslin outfit got into the Territory about ten miles, came sweeping down upon them, whooping, yelling, and shooting like a regular >war party of sure enough Indians. The tenderfeet turned their horses toward Caldwell and fled for their life. When they arrived in the city, some of them were so exhausted that they had to be lifted off their horses and carried into several drug stores, where they >blowed in= their diamonds on medicines which soothed the savage breasts of their pursuers, and alleviated their own distress. Wellington Press.
