Ft. Gibson Post

Vol III No 26

Saturday April 16, 1898 (Part 1)

Abstracted / Transcribed by Linda Haas Davenport

When the print is so faded that it cannot be read <.....> will be used . All transcription will be as found in the paper, misspellings and all

THE CURTIS BILL PASSED THE HOUSE.
     The Measure Went Through Like a Flash.
           It is Believed the Bill Will Pass the Senate as Easily
           and Become a Law Without Much More Delay. -
     At Last!
     The Curtis bill has passed
     The House!
     This information came over the wires from Washington yesterday morning in a telegram from Melvin Cornish, private secretary to Congressman Little, to the editor of The Post. It read as follows:
Washington D.C., April 15th
William T Canup, Fort Gibson, I.T.
     Curtis bill passed the House at 4:30 yesterday afternoon after a short debate and little opposition.
Melven Cornish
     That the bill will pass the Senate as it passed the House is conceded by those familiar with the temper of Congress. The Curtis bill has blocked all other Indian legislation, and both houses has determined to get it out of the way as speedily as possible. Both congressmen and senators believe the bill fits the bill, and they are just now too busy with war matters to give it much more attention other than to vote on it and pass it when it comes up regularly or under special rule.
     The Curtis bill will become a law before Congress adjourns, war or no war. Fort Gibson is ready for it.

A JACKTOWN SERMON.
           Delivered by Rev. J. Zacharla Milton Turner Foreman. -
     The following account of Easter services an Easter sermon at Jacktown comes from The Post's Vian correspondent: ...

Page 1, Column 2

J S Holden has been very busy in the fruit tree business this spring, having sold a good amount of trees, helped take up and plant an orchard of 40 acres of apple trees on the Snallenberger farm about four miles south of Muldrow, being in joint ownership with W E Shallenberger in the same. Mr. Holden has also planted this spring about 250 Elberta peach trees and now has about 1,200 of this excellent variety of fruit growing.

The spring potato crop in this nation is liable to be short, owing to wet and cold weather. J H Alexander, about nine miles southeast of this place, planted this spring 3,200 bushels of seed potatoes.

Muldrow has improved more this spring than for several years past.

LATER - Action has been commenced against parties here for fraud in the late town election. It is expected that things will show up bad for some Democrats here.

John Faulkner, a citizen, was tried in the mayor's court here last Saturday for fencing outside land. Of course the case went against him. He has appealed it to the U.S. court.

TERRITORY PRESS ASSOCIATION.
     Indian Territory Press association will meet at Wagoner this year and after the meeting an excursion will be organized to take in the Omaha exposition. There is no doubt about the news rustlers having a good time, Wagoner will be sure to provide handsomely for their comfort and pleasure.

Page 1, column 3

THE FIVE TRIBES IN CONGRESS.
     Important Matters Affecting the Indian Territory.
           The Status of a Curtis Bill and a
           Review of Other Washington Affairs.
Special Report to The Post - Washington, D. C., April 11 - (Copyright 1898) -
     The week brings no change in the status of pending legislative measures. The Curtis bill, the Indian appropriation bill and the "omnibus Indian claims bill" stand neglected. The Curtis bill has blocked the latter two, the war situation has blocked the Curtis bill and something, visible or invisible, known or unknown, has blocked the war situation. The deadlock is complete. The eagle is mute and the Goddess of Liberty atop the dome is speechless.
     Congressman Curtis has returned from attending the funeral of his father and rejoined those who stand ready to carry his bill to the statute books whenever the chance is given.
     A unique amendment has been printed and will be offered to the sundry civil appropriation bill at the proper time. It provides in substance, that hereafter no witness fees shall be paid to any Indian where he is called to testify against anyone from whom he has bought intoxicating beverages, sold in violation of law; that such Indians shall be compelled to attend and testify, but shall be taken in custody by the marshal and allowed only their actual expenses of subsistence while in such custody.
     Captain McKennon of the Dawes commission has left Washington. He goes directly to Muskogee, I.T., on business connected with the commission. After spending a short time there he will go to his home at Clarksville, Ark., and thence back to Washington when the pending measures affecting the Indian Territory are again considered.
     Judge Little has introduced a bill in the house to establish a United States court at Sallisaw, I.T. The people at that point have labored long and earnestly for a court, citing as reasons why it should be given them that they are in the center of an immense scope of country in the Cherokee nation south of the present court towns. Numerously signed petitions from sixteen towns within the Territory have also been introduced in the senate by Mr. Jones. In addition to the necessary provisions for the establishment of the court, as at other places, the bills contains the following: "And all instruments of writing admitted to record under the laws now in force in the Indian Territory may be recorded with the clerk in the same manner and to the same extent that they are now recorded at Muskogee, South McAlester and Ardmore."
     To all of those in the Indian Territory who want to fight for their country by raising companies, regiments or in the private ranks, and especially to those who have written to Washington asking for commissions, I would say: In company with Hon. J S Little of Arkansas I this morning called on the Adjutant General of the war department and asked him to indicate what steps the department would take to avail itself of the services of those in the Indian Territory who want to serve in the event of war. The Adjutant General said: "When war is declared our duty is clear. Arrangements will be made for calling into service troops from the various states and territories. The Indian Territory and the District of Columbia will be place on an equal footing with all the states and territories. Until war is declared nothing can be done towards enlistment or authorizing the same."

Go to W S Nash for all kinds of staple goods. He keeps them and sells them at living prices.

Pages 2 & 3 preprinted - no local news

Page 2, column 1

WIFE-MURDER CHARGED - George Hendricks, who is charged with the murder of his wife, was locked up at Bonham, Tex. Mrs. Henricks died at Tulip, 10 miles north of Bonham, and was buried. Her son, who is 19 years of age, made complaint against his father and had him arrested. He states that the two had been quarreling; that his mother was hit in the left breast, the blow causing her death, and that her dying statement was: "I am going to die, and the blow I received is the cause of it." The body will be taken up and a post-mortem examination held.

MURDER AND THE TORCH - The small store of W H Bailey, at Atlanta, Ga., was discovered to be on fire, and while the firemen were at work, others entered the building and found Bailey and his wife and Robert Wilkinson, colored, dead, having met violent deaths. It is believed that robbers, among whom was Wilkinson, entered the building, that a battle resulted, and then fire was applied to cover up the crime.

DROWNED TRYING TO SAVE HIS SISTER - Henry Russell, aged 20 and Hattie Allen, aged 17, stepbrother and sister, residing near Dayton, Tenn., were drowned while rowing in Piney creek, near their home. It appears that the boat struck a snag and began leaking. Henry tried to save his sister, and both were drowned. The young woman was to have been married in a few days to a prominent young farmer of Rhea county.

MERIDIAN TO BE PAVED - By a large majority the people of Meridian, Miss., decided to issue bonds for $20,000 to be expended in the paving of streets in the business portion of the city with vitrified brick. When the improvement contemplated is finished, all of meridian's business portion will be paved with the best material.

THE NEW DOCK AT ALGIERS - The decision of the naval affairs committee of the house of representatives to include a floating steel dock at Algiers, La., among the docks to be authorized by the naval appropriation bill makes it reasonably certain that New Orleans will at length secure an advantage which has been long and persistently sought.

HIS BROTHER'S LYNCHERS - Dr. C A Ryder, brother, of Dr. W L Ryder, who was lunched near Talbotton, Ga., last July, has sent the governor of Georgia, it is said, the list of names of prominent Talbott county citizens who, he alleges, lynched his brother. The governor has ordered an investigation.