People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1893 — IN OKLAHOMA. [ARTICLE]

IN OKLAHOMA.

A Former Jape.- «‘e n the Indian taumry. Special Correspondence to the Pilot. McKinley, Nov. 20, 1893. As I promised you a few lines when I had arrived, I now take the opportunity. We were on the road 45 days, but arrived with our five cows and team all in good shape. We had good roads and plenty of grass for our cows. In these days of good roads and telephones from one county seat to another a man can travel and ask but few questions. AH the main streams are bridged. We struck Kansas at Minder, having crossed the Mississippat Alton. 111. We went up the right bank of the Missouri to Jefferson City, where we crossed 1 the Missouri river and started [ for the Kansas line. Leaving j Minder we started out south on the state line road. After two [days’ drive, we came to where j Cherokee county. Kansas, and Jasper county, Mo., meet. We [ traveled one day south and turned west to Baxter Springs. Kansas. From here we went 14 miles south and bade the states good bye. We struck the Indian nation and, by the way, some of the finest prairie land ever the sun shone on. This land belongs to the Peoria tribe. We next came to the Miami tribe; next to the Delaware, and next to the PawpavAribe, and then to the Creek nation, and then the Cherokees. We crossed the Arkansas river at Tulsa. ’ The water being very low. we forded it and set out for Red Fork, Reaching there at 4o'clock p. m. We camped at 8 o'clock. The company was made up of five wagons. We started early next morning, with old man Toothman in the lead. He said, "Boys, bid good bye to civilization for three days, at least.” So we started out for Cushing, a town 85 miles ahead, across the desert. We went into the timber and traveled till noon, camped, got our dinner and started on.. We proceeded until 5 p. m., and drew up at the Sand Spring, the first water since morning. We were on the road early next morning, traveled hard till 1 p. m., came to a spring and three dwelling houses—one empty. Here one lady interrogated us very much, till we left her believing she was Dal Marion's sister. Near the Ridge they had a nice large farm and good buildings. We were soon on the road and just at dark we came to Tiger creek, where we camped. Mr. Toothman said, "Boys, an early start in the morning will bring us on the top of Spur Mountain.” We were all early in line and all that day was spent in the woods, without a face of any kind to be seen except bur own crowd. At 2 o’clock we arrived at the top of the Spur Mountain. From there we could see out oVer the West and South with nothing to obstruct our view. We went on to Tiger creek and camped on the Creek allotment. Here was quite a settlement of white men, who had rented land of the Indians. The next day we separated, for Mr. Toothman was an old freighter and was loaded with potatoes, which he was hauling from Arkansas to the east end of the lately opened strip. We spent all day travelling in the Creek allotment. These lands are leased by white men from the Indians. They get all they raise for ten or twenty years for making improvements and have no tax to pay. By the way, hundreds of renters are coming fcito the Indian country and renting their land. After leaving Tar creek eight miles south of Baxter Springs, Kansas, we were 13 days in the timber. We arrived at McKinley, going four miles southeast, we met our genial old friend, Mr. Jacob Owens, an old time resident of Jasper county. He invited us to come up to his house and unload, so we accepted the invitation. Mr. Owens said, "Now, you take charge of this property till spring.” for he was batching, "and I will spend the winter with my sons at Guthrie.” So we agreed to hold the claim till spring. While unloading, our friend, Mr. Caldwell, rode up. We knew Mr. Caldwell several years ago in Indianapolis. He was appointed here as Indian trader. Next morning w r e set out for Guthrie, a distance of 21 miles, arriving there at 3 p. m. We handed out our bill of lading asking what our bill was for storage the large hearted agent informed us that the Santa Fe railroad didn’t charge for storing goods 40 or 50 days. We got our goods, took a view of the building of Guy Bros., in it

is the bank of Indian Territory, and set out f->- home, going 3 miles from tow - and camping for the night. Early next morning we took a v v of the town front the high elevation on which we carriped. after which continued our journey homeward. So far toe weather has been warm and dry. A man can lie down on the ground here and take a good night’s rest, and get up the next morning feeling all right, with the assurance that he has not taken cold. Here a man needs bo cumbersome wraps. The soil is a cherry red and is fuee from the chilly dampness that prevails in the North. Clothes dry here, on the line, at night as well as daytime. We live 7 miles north of the Kickapoo line, that is to be opened for settlement in early spring. The surveyors have been at work for several weeks, making allotments of these fine lands. We live in old Oklahoma. Claims run from $25 to §SOO. and all of them are improved to some extent. Most of those claimants want to sell and make a run for the Kickapoo. The Pilot reaches us regularly and is a welcome visitor. More in the future. Rev. Peter Hinds.