Ft. Gibson Post

Vol III No 35

Thursday July 14, 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 DAWES COMMISSION
           It is Here Again and is Ready for Business.
     The Dawes Commission is once more in the Indian Territory and ready to begin their colossal job of completing the rolls of Indian citizenship, laying out townsites and allotting the lands of the Five Civilized Tribes. The commission has been arriving one by one for the past week at Muskogee, where their tents, baggage, camping outfits, clerks, etc., have been mobilizing for some time. Their tents - six in number - have been put up in the south part of town. Two large wagons belong with them to be used in conveying the outfits to various points in the Territory from time to time.
     The commission has been reduced from five to four members. Thos. B Needles arrived early last week and Tams Bixby came in Saturday. As to who the third member will be is not definitely known, but it will be either A S McKennon or General Armstrong probably the former. The venerable H L Dawes, of course, is not expected to be present, and the work will consequently devolve upon the three members.

CROOKED WORK HINTED AT.
     The report comes from Tahlequah that must dissatisfaction is felt over the school appointments made last week by the Cherokee school board. Some strong hints of crooked work are made and it is declared that the next U. S. grand jury will be asked to investigate the methods and practice pursued in making the appointments. Lest The Post do somebody concerned an injustice we refrain from comment until we are more authentically advised in the premises.

JIM COOK IN CUBA.
           He Has Been Fighting Gallantly
           Under the Stars and Stripes
     It is not generally known that Jim Cook, brother of the notorious Bill Cook, went with the Rough Riders to Cuba and has been fighting gallantly under the stars stripes around Santiago. This is a fact, however, and we see that his name appears in the list of missing after the heroic charge of San Juan Hill by the Rough Riders.
     Jim Cook was a refugee from the national prison at Tahlequah when the Rough Riders were organized at Muskogee, he, having escaped from that institution last winter. For this reason Jim did not enlist regularly with the other boys, but arrangements were made with the recruiting officer for him to join the company at San Antonio, which he did, and went from there to Cuba with the rest of the boys.
     Jim knows how to ride, shoot and scout, and while he is reported missing it is not the first time. He may be dead or a prisoner of war, but it is more probable that he is scouting in the Cuban chaparral.

WILL LOCATE THE NEW JAILS.
     Robert Brewster and R V LaDaw, special agents of the Department of Justice, are now in the Indian Territory. We understand these gentlemen will have much to do in regard to the location of the United States jails in the several districts in this Territory.

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THE TERRITORY EDITORS
           Met in Annual Session at Wagoner last Week.
     The eleventh annual session of the Indian Territory Press Association was held at Wagoner on Friday and Saturday of last week. The attendance was larger than at an previous meeting and was pronounced a success from every standpoint.
     As entertainers the citizens of Wagoner did themselves proud, and won the good will and admiration of every quill-driver who enjoyed their hospitality.
     Our limited space forbids an extended writeup of the grand time enjoyed - the harmonious work of the association, the carriage drive over the city, the banquet spread and the ball and all. It was all grand and enjoyable and perfect.
     Then an Excursion to Kansas City and on to the great trans Mississippi Exposition at Omaha, Neb., on which a large crowd of editors, their wives, and daughters started immediately after the meeting adjourned Saturday afternoon.
     Before the association adjourned the following officers were elected for the ensuing year:
President - A L Kates of The Claremore Progress
Vice President - H Jennings of The Bartlesville Magnet.
Corresponding Secretary - R F Jobe of The South McAlester Capital.
Recording Secretary - Lake Moore of The Fairland Bee.
Treasure - Mr. Brewer of Our Brothers in Red, South McAlester.

CHEROKEE HIGH SCHOOL.
           Teachers Appointed for the Ensuing Term.
     The Cherokee Board of Education, which was in session at Tahlequah last week announced the following appointments of teachers for the High schools for the ensuing term.
     MALE SEMINARY.
Principal - Prof. C J Brown
Fist Assistant - J G Hough
Second Assistant - W T Brown
Third Assistant - Mark Bean
Fourth Assistant - Geo. Cox.
     FEMALE SEMINARY.
Principal - A F Wilson
First Assistant - Bluie Adair
Second Assistant - Minta Foreman
Third Assistant - Beuna Harris
Fourth Assistant - Callie Blair
Music - Carlotta Archer and M Nell Taylor
     CHEROKEE ORPHAN ASYLUM
Principal - Robt. L Mitchell
First Assistant - S W Woodal
Second Assistant - Geo. Hampton
Third Assistant - Dora Ward
Fourth Assistant - Pixie Mayes
Music - Cherie Edmondson.
The primary teachers have not been announced yet, but will be shortly.

AMONG THE MISSING
     A letter from Sergeant Moore of the Rough Riders, published in last week's Vinita Leader, says that John M Adair was among the missing after the battle around Santiago. John Adair was one of our Fort Gibson boys who joined the Rough Riders at Muskogee, and he having numerous friends and relatives in this vicinity, The Post has made an especial effort to ascertain whether or not this report was true. Although no word has been received from Mr. Adair since the fight in which he participated at Santiago, a letter was received from a young Rough Rider named Rich a few days ago, who went from near here, which stated that John Adair was all right and had been made a second lieutentant since the fight referred to. John's friends and admires in this vicinity hope that this latter report is correct, and that he may pull through all right and return home safely.

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THAT $400,000 STEAL
           Another Investigation of the Matter Ordered.
     A letter from the Secretary of the Interior, received a few days ago by a gentleman of Tahlequah, says that the alleged $400,000 steal matter has been referred to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs with instructions to proceed at once to investigate it. This $400,000 was appropriated out of the Cherokee funds to equalize certain freedman placed on the rolls, but it is claimed that the amount was squandered by certain officials and attorneys instead of going to the freemen it belonged it.

PROTRACTED MEETING
     Rev. J H Messer, pastor of the M E church South, began a revival meeting at his church Saturday night and will continue it perhaps for two more weeks. Much interest is manifested by the Christian people of the city and it is the hope of all that much good will be accomplished. Rev. Mr. Vaugh was on hand Sunday to assist and is expected back again today. Everybody should attend these meetings and do what they can to promote the good work of the preacher and the Christians.

Attorney Augustus E Ivey, the irrepressible and invincible Cherokee politician, of Washington D C, and Tahlequah, I.T., was in to see The Post Tuesday, looking as fine and cheerful as ever. Some of the Cherokee political leaders tried mighty hard to down Gus last year, but they couldn't cut the mustard. On the contrary he went to Washington last fall and bombarded his enemies with $400,000 steal shells until their guns were about silenced. They can't down Gustavus.

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MULDROW BOMBARDED
     Many Shots Were Fired But No Lives Were Lost
Special Report to The Post - Muldrow, I.T., Jul 11 -
     There was big excitement in town Sunday evening, when shots were heard in different parts, men running to and fro. The storm center of the excitement was in the western part of town near the house of John Patillo, where several shots were fired, narrow escapes, but no one badly hurt. A son of Levi Hunegan (colored), and John Patillow were the principal combatants. It appears the negro and Patillo exchanged two shots, the negro using a shot gun and Patillo a winchester.
     The Hunegan boy and Patillo had a fight in the street in front of Patillo's house, Sunday afternoon, when quite a crowd assembled. The negro was stopped on the street by Patillo, when a fight ensued, the occasion being some former dispute between the two. It appears that the combatants were not parted nor no arrest made. The Hunegan boy left for home about a mile south of town, with threats of vengeance.
     In an hour or so five or six negroes, among them being Levi Hunegan, the boy's father, his two brothers, and a cousin, entered town armed with guns, when shooting commenced.
     It is claimed that one of Hunegan's boys opened on Patillo with a shot gun loaded with bird shot. Patillo replied with a winchester. It is said that another negro opened on him from the rear. By this time nearly 100 people had gathered on the scene, some armed with guns. The negroes run in several directions, and shots were heard in different parts of town. There was much excitement. All the participants in the shooting were taken except one of the Hunegan boys, who got away. There were about 20 shots fired, and some narrow escapes reported. A bullet whizzed uncomfortably close to Mrs. Dr. DeWitt, three or four blocks away. There was much excitement among the colored people last night, who were afraid the prisoners might be mobbed. The negroes under arrest have heretofore borne good characters, and are good workers. The prisoners were taken to Sallisaw to be tried before Commission McComb's court.

 P F Shields is teaching a good school.

Material has been sent for to establish a new paper in town.

The mud hole in one of the principal streets is a standing rebuke to the city officials.

A son of postmaster Roberts of Hanson was sentenced 90 days in jail, by Judge McCombs, for assisting a prisoner to escape from the city jail.

It is purposed to have Muldrow incorporated 4 miles square, which will take in several large farms. This town does not need large corporate limits as badly as it does lived, progressive people and officials.

Muldrow is a good natural point for a town, but it takes more than natural advantages to build up a live town - it takes live men. Look, for instance at Muskogee away out on a dry prairie, and Fort Gibson with more natural advantages than any other town in this Territory. There is hope for Muldrow and Fort Gibson when different men get control of things - not before.