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Ft. Gibson Post
Vol III No 40
Thursday August 18, 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
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Page 1, column 1
CURTIS LAW STRAIGHT,
Is the Way it Now Stands With the Chrokees.
Their Council Adjourns Without Providing for
Treating With the Dawes Commission. Tahlequah, IT
August 16 -
After two weeks and four days of piddling, cussing and discussing, the extra session of the Cherokee council was adjourned sine die by Chief Mayes yesterday.
The appropriation of $8,300 to use in fighting the Delaware claim is the extent of the legislation accomplished during all of this two weeks and four days.
[article continues with details of the meeting]
Page 1, column 2
WITH THE ROUGH RIDERS.
Thrilling Experience of a Fort Gibson Boy in Cuba.
John M Adair Was in the Thickest
of the Battles at Bloody La Quasina and San Juan Hill.
The numerous friends of John M Adair, who went from Fort Gibson with Roosvelt's Rough Riders, will read with interest the following extracts from a letter received from him last week by Mrs Henry Eiffert of this place. John Adair is a Cherokee by blood and as his letter will show, he was in the thickest of the now famous battle of La Quasina, in which the gallant Rough Riders charged and routed twice their number of ambushed Spaniard, winning a great victory and more glory than all the balance of the United States arm in Cuba combined. The letter bears the post mark of "Santiago de Cuba," and was mailed July 28, just prior to the return of the Rough Riders from Cuba to Montank Point, Long Island where they are now resting up from their campaign around Santiago.
Speaking of their experiences just before the battle of La Quasina, Mr Adair says: "The next day after landing we marched to Barqueri, and I was up all night on guard. Then the next morning we marched over the mountain, right by two Spanish block-houses, but of course they were empty. Then we tramped two miles further on and came to the dead body of a Spanish scout. It was here that Capt Capron sent out scouts ahead of us to see what they could locate the Spaniards. They could not get far out of the road for the cactus. They saw some Spaniards, however, in front and Tom Isbell opened fire on them. Of course they had us located all the time, and they opened on us from in front and on our right. Capt Capron ordered us to lie down and fire low. We did so, and that road is all that saved us from all being killed. The Spaniards had one rapid-firing gun, and they poured volleys into our ranks from their mauser rifles. Well, maybe we didn't work our rifles a little bit! Tom Isbell came in and lay down by me, all bloody and he whooped and said "Give them hell." I saw them take Capt Capron to the rear, and then Lieut Thomas. Then we were ordered to the left, along the edge of the hills. We scattered out and saw the Spanolas retreating, so we continued the fight there for some time. I was near Capt McClintock when he was wounded.
"The finest office on the field was Col Wood. He was just above our firing line on the left, walking along leading his horse and giving his commands coolly, and they could not hit him or his horse either. He has shaken hands with us since that and congratulated us on the stand we made there, for it helped to make him General Wood, and now he is military governor of Santiago and is living in the same house where the Spanish governor resided.
"You ask if I was in the thickets of the fight. You know how fast Frank Boudinot can run a typewriter? Well, one of those gatling guns grind out the bullets just that fast, or from seven to eight hundred shot a minute, and then a continual rifle fire. You could have gathered up the empty rifle shells by the bushel in the road where we fought for two hours. You know we all carry a roll of blankets, rations, etc. In a battle we may lay this off if we see fit. My own was by my right side and it was hit by two bullets. I was awfully glad they did not hit my head, but by the Lord's goodness I was spared.
"Lieut Saltzman, who was at Fort Gibson during the payment last summer, is here. I saw him the day of our second fight, which I will now tell you about. On July 1st we were advancing on Santiago. On Friday morning our battery began to throw
Page 1, column 3
shells into the Spanolas and they fired back at us. Six-inch shells came sailing over us and you ought to have seen us dodge. They will make anybody dodge, I can tell you. Well, the fight was on. We laid off our packs and left a guard with them and marched out into the old field. We were being held in the rear, as we had been in front in the first fight. Finally we started out across the field. We would advance, a little ways and then lie down, and we kept this up till we reached the foot of San Juan Hill. Then we gave all kinds of kinds of a yell and up the hill we went, the Rough Riders, the 9th and 10th colored cavalry and the 1st U.S. cavalry. On top of the hill is where they killed so many of our boys with shells. I saw lots of shells burst all around me, some on the hill and some would go clear over us. After capturing the first hill we charged the second hill, where they had rifle pits, and we finally routed them from there. It was late in the afternoon, so we held our position till dark; then we had to turn out and dig trenches all night. Then I had to stand in the pits till 4 o'clock the next day. Just as soon as daylight came the ball opened again, and we kept at it till the 4th. Then they wanted to talk the business over, so a white flag was hoisted on the Spanish side and we got a little rest. They surrendered on July 14th, the stars and stripes were hoisted over the city and General Wood went in as military governor of Santiago. Then the Spaniards came over and traded rum for hard-tack with out boys. * * * Our cavalry division is the 3rd, consisting of the 1st regular cavalry and the 10th colored cavalry. But, I tell you, those colored fellows don't do anything but fight.
I have had lots of exciting times and some very funny experiences. It rains a little bit or pours down every day. We are tearing down a fine house - the French councul's summer residence - to get planks to make bunks to sleep on. * * *
MOLASSES WORKS.
We are glad to note that our townsman, Charles Willey, is starting an enterprise beneficial to the place and surrounding country, in the form of a sorgum molasses steam plant about a mile east of town. The works will have a capacity of 200 barrels a day and will be presided over by S W Woss, a man who has had much experience in this business. The works will be in operation in about 15 days. Molasses made by steam is much better than that made by the old boiling process, being of a uniform light color and of finer flavor. This new industry should encourage raising of much cane in this vicinity, as a paying crop. Sorgum cane will grow on the poorest kind of land, poor land cane, so Mr W. informs us, making a better quality of molasses than that grown on rich bottom lands.
A dispatch from South McAlester says that Governor McCurtain has issued a proclamation disfranchising 700 Choctaw freedmen, who will not be allowed to vote at the treaty election next week. It has created a big sensation among the freedmen, and serious trouble is looked for.
Pages 2 -3 preprinted
Page 4, column 1
FORT GIBSON, AUG 18, 1898
The Post
is laboring for the interest of Fort Gibson and surrounding country, materially and morally and we naturally expect the people to help the enterprise along to the extent of their ability not in charity but in a legitimate way. Remember that The Post has most to say for the interest of Fort Gibson and vicinity than all other newspapers.
How does it look and how is it in principle for a businessman of this or any other town to send abroad to have job printing done when just as good and cheap could be had at home? A local newspaper and printing office that is laboring for the interest of the town and community is certainly entitled to home patronage, at least, in preference to a distant city office.
Always patronize home institutions and home industries when you can, which is one good way to help build up a town and community. The man who gets the benefit of his home paper, then goes abroad to get job printing done, when he can get it good and cheap at home, is about like the man who gets credit from the home merchant and when he has money spends it with a merchant in some other town. What is sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander and such things don't help build up any town or community.
THE LOCAL NEWSPAPERS.
There are some people who ought to know better, but yet do not seem to appreciate the value of a local newspaper to the town or community in which it is published. It must be indeed a poor sheet that is not directly of more benefit to the community in which it is published than any big newspaper published miles away which has no more interest in one town than another - just subscribers is all. Yet some people who either don't know or appreciate the difference will say - "That little Fort Gibson Post - a dollar a year - why I can get the New York Herald, St Louis Republic and lots of other big city papers for that price."
All very true, but what are those papers doing for your town or community? Are they doing anything to build it up and benefit the people? What paper is it that mentions and encourages Sunday schools, church building, benevolent societies and institutions, manufactories, and enterprises that build up a town and make it a good and prosperous community? It is the local paper that does this.
Then look at the free "puffs', local mentions, free church and society notices, saying nothing of numerous other things to please or profit the entire community - farmer Jone's fine stock - that elegant wedding of Mr and Mrs Brown - that darling baby that has made it appearance at the Smith residence, and other things too numerous to mention, all of which are expected to be duly chronicled and embelished in the local newspaper, and those who find the most fault and do the most "kicking" because the paper is no better nor as big as a city sheet are generally the ones who do not subscribe for the paper saying nothing of other patronage. We have "been there" for several years and know whereof we speak.
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BRIEF LOCAL ITEMS
Stand up for Fort Gibson.
W R Miller shipped out two car loads of cattle Saturday.
Don't forget your dog tax, or your dog must suffer the penalty.
Don't forget the farmer's meeting at the opera house Saturday the 20th at 2 p. m.
Chas M McCellan of Claremore was in town Saturday on his way home from Tahlequah.
Grand river is now at about its normal condition - clear as crystal and good drinking water.
Miss Susie Morris of Tahlequah spent several days in the city this week, guest of the Miss Eiffert.
The colored Baptist have been holding nightly protracted meetings here which are largely attended.
Christian Gulager, now in the cattle business inn Inola, was down to take in the ball Monday evening.
Gip Scott and Flo Nash had business in Muskogee Sunday, spending a very pleasant day attending to it.
J D Miller and wife departed for Tennessee on Monday, by news that Mrs Miller's mother was at the point of death.
The Post is working for the people of Fort Gibson and vicinity, and why should not those people support this paper?
A young white man named Russell, who lived with his parents out near the bayo, died Sunday of a congestive chill.
Miss Mollie and Josie Blackston, two charming young ladies of Webbers Falls, came up Friday last and visited friends in Muskogee Sunday.
Dan Bailey was convicted in Mayor Shaffer's court Monday of carrying a guy, and in default of paying his fine he now languisheth in the town bastile.
The new town incorporation under the administration of progressive officials is starting out to the satisfaction of all who want to see the town grow and prosper.
Our townsman James Coleman is feeling well over a large corn crop, which is already made, which he estimates at 10,000 bushels or more. He says the corn is the largest he had ever seen in this section.
Charley McDonald, step son of C L Bowden, was accepted by the recruiting officer at Muskogee Saturday and will become one of Uncle Sam's regulars.
Those of our citizens who desire to keep posted on the town laws can do so by purchasing a complete copy of the Town Ordinances in pamphlet form. For sale by the Reorder A R Matheson at 10 cents per copy.
There is a fine stone building going up at Muskogee built from a nice quality of bright colored sand rock found several miles from town - just such rock as abounds here in Fort Gibson in great abundance, but no one to use. And there is abundance of nicer rock than that here which some day may be utilized.
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