Ft. Gibson Post

Vol III No 41

Thursday August 25, 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

Page 1, column 1

BRUTALLY ASSUALTED.
     While J S Holden, of the Fort Gibson Post, was yesterday awaiting the arrival of a train at Muldrow, a brother of mayor Watts of the last named town knocked him down and beat him severely. Watts crowd cheered while the brutal assailant beat the venerable editor.
     J S Holden has, from the first article written by him in the territory, fought the whisky evil. He has handled all species of meanness and diabolism of which whisky is the father without gloves, he has also stood up for the purity in all affairs of human existence, and his scathing criticisms and burning denunceation has made for him enemies among the riff raff and canaille. This assault is suppose to be out growth of these criticisms. - McAlester Daily Capital.

FAVORABLY IMPRESSED
           With Fort Gibson, Was W H Walker of Alabama.
     W H Walker of York Station, Ala., arrived in Fort Gibson Monday in search of a new location. He was at once favorably impressed with our town and vicinity, - our rich soil, pure water and healthful climate - and he concluded to spend a few days here in looking around. Mr Walker is a prominent and well known farmer of Alabama, and, like many other wide-awake men of the Southeastern states, he proposed to take advantage of the golden opportunity soon to be offered in the opening up and development of this magnificent Indian Territory, the health resort and garden spot of the world. But what impressed Mr Walker most was the numerous natural advantages of Fort Gibson as site for a large city, which he though would certainly be built here on the banks of the magnificent Grand River in the near future.

Page 1, column 3

FORT GIBSON WILL LEAD.
     She Proposes to be First to Take Advantage of the Curtis Law.
           The Great Barrier to Progress Will be Removed
           and Outsiders Given a Chance to Invest in Lots.
     Inasmuch as the Cherokee council refused at its late extra session to name a commission to treat with the Dawes commission, there can now be no hinderance to the Curtis law taking its course in the townsite matter in the Cherokee nation. There is no agreement to ratify, and of course there will be none now. There is absolutely nothing before the Cherokees except the Curtis law, and a majority of the Cherokee citizens are glad of it and want to see its put into operation and effect now without any further unnecessary delay.
     This being the case, Fort Gibson, the great natural townsite of Indian Territory, will probably be the first town in Indian Territory to lead off and offer town lots for sale to the world. It will be the first to take advantage of the townsite provision of the Curtis law.
     Mayor Shaffer will within the next few days start the townsite ball a rollin' by appointing a townsite committee on the part of Fort Gibson, as provided in the Curtis bill. The chief of the Cherokee nation and the secretary of the interior will then be informed of the mayor's action in the matter and each be asked to appoint their man on the commission, as provided by the Curtis bill. Then, if the chief of the Cherokee nation refuses, (as it is said by some he will), to appoint his member of the commission within a reasonable length of time, the secretary of the interior will be asked to name another one of the commissioner in lieu of the Cherokee chief, as is also provided for in the Curtis bill.
     This having been done a townsite commission will have been created according to the provisions of the Curtis bill for the appraisement of all town lots, which will in due time be sold to the highest bidders, the present occupants being given the preference of purchase provided their bids are as much as any one else's. Then in due course of time titles to all town lots so appraised and sold will be perfected, according to the provisions of the Curtis bill, and thus at last the great barrier to outsiders and outside capital coming to Fort Gibson will have been forever removed. People from the surrounding states and from the crowded east will thus have an equal chance to buy town property, build homes and establish business concerns that the Indian citizens have. As a grand result, when these facts become known abroad, they will come here in drove, on excursion trains from the efete east, and in wagons overland, all to help build up and prosper in the most important city of the great Southwest.

Page 1, column 4

THE "WATTS GANG"
           Brutal Assault on Editor of the
           Post by one of the Members
     While waiting for the west bound train at Muldrow last Tuesday evening, the senior editor of The Post was brutally assaulted with a deadly weapon in the hands of Noah Watts, a brother of Mayor Watts of Muldrow, who approached from behind striking Mr. Holden on the head with a rock, which knocked him unconscious to the ground, then beating him with the but end of a heavy whip stalk about two and a half feet long. Mr Holden was promptly arrested by the marshal, charged with fighting and disturbing the peace, notwithstanding the statement of several person who stood by and witnessed the affair. Finally a man offered to go Holden's bail for future appearance, when he was released.
     But the most outrageous and diabolical program of the gang was to follow. Just as the train was moving out the marshal came on board and again arrested Holden, saying he had changed his mind and that he must stand trial, hurrying his prisoner from the train. In the meantime Noah Watts was turned loose, and before Mr Holden was aware of danger was again knocked down unconscious by his former assailant. Comment on this point is unnecessary.
     Mayor Watts and the rest of the gang witnessed the brutal and unlawful proceedings with approval. The assailant was tried before his cousin, acting mayor, plead guilty of assault and battery and fined ten dollars, which fine was promptly furnished by the gang on the spot, Mayor Watts paying half the amount. In the meantime Holden was discharged with the admonition that he must never again in private conversation or in print say anything detrimental against the Watts people or he might not get off so easily.
     Before Mr Holden was discharged the gang informed him that he must never again under penalty of worse treatment, publish anything concerning the disgraceful proceedings of the day, or anything concerning them, in which case they would to Fort Gibson and "clean him out," and further, that he must not again show himself in Muldrow.
     The senior editor of The Post informs the gang that he does not propose to be intimidated nor frightened into silence by any such threats or treatment, but will continue to tell the truth without fear or favor, and if necessary defend himself in the future.
     They may continue to "run Muldrow" for a while longer, but all such gangs and doings have their day. The head member of the gang while mayor of Muldrow made an assault on the senior editor of The Post, and two brutal assaults on two citizens of Muldrow, as it is claimed, with brass "knucks," for which he was tried before his cousin and small fines imposed. Rev J H Messer, pastor of the Methodist church at Fort Gibson, formerly stationed at Muldrow, can tell about the doings of this gang, also Rev J B Barry of Vian, formerly Baptist pastor at Muldrow, and Rev L S Byrd of Tomaha, formerly Methodist pastor at Muldrow. The gang may assault Holden and even kill him, but never frighten him into silence nor intimidation.