Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1891 — AGED INDIAN CHIEFS. [ARTICLE]

AGED INDIAN CHIEFS.

Notable Figures Among Tribes of Oregon • that Will Soon Pass Away. It is interesting to talk with civilized Indians and learn from them what they may know of the present and past conditions of their race, says the Salem Statesman. Speaking of the prevalence of consumption among the Indians' on the Klamath agency calls to mind that a few more years will And these Indians nearly all in their graves. Henry Jackson, of Klamath, assigned a very plausible reason for their decline. He says their food is now different from that of the wild Indian and their habits of life arc very changed. Formerly they roamed at will, clad scantily with rough skins or naked, just as fancy suited them. Now they are clothed and housed and often removed to different climes and the changes of temperature at once make themselves felt and attack the lungs. Mr. Jackson talked freely of the old Indian chiefs. “Sconchin,” the last chief of the Modocs and one of the leaders in the Modoc war, is still living. He is weak and stone blind and must be considerably over a hundred years of age. “Choctaw,” the last commander of the Snakes, .surrendered his life and passed on to the happy hunting grounds only three weeks ago. He also was blind and was a hundred or more years of age. . , “Allen David,” who used to be a great chief among the Klamaths, is still living, although at an advanced age. The light has gone out of his eyes and he has to depend on his people for food and care. The tribe relations are all broken up, and from Mr. Jackson’s words it is seen that very soon the last of the original chiefs will have passed to that bourne whence no traveler returns. Although, not disappearing with the buffalo,’ as it was years ago said they would do, the American Indian will not be far behind the beast of the prairie in passing from view.