“‘No,’ commanded my grandfather, ‘you must go. You must not stay here. You are too young to die.’ And he gave me his papers, for he was a chief and had papers from Washington and a medal, and other things. I shook hands with him and told him goodbye, and started in the direction of the bell. I cut two sticks for canes to help hold me up, as my legs were like wood. I was very weak and hungry. Grandfather raised his body a little—he was half sitting up, raising himself with his hands—when I looked back at him, he looked at me and then put his head down. I went along slowly for some time. I heard some one singing. Then I thought that people were calling me. About noon I was weak and sleepy and could not go on. My legs were heavy, like logs. But it had become much warmer, so I cut down some small bushes, made a bed and lay down, very tired. While lying there my grandfather seemed to come and stand by me, and I said to him, ‘Are you going along?’ and he replied, ‘Yes, yes, don’t lie here. Get up and exert yourself like a man.’
“When I woke up it was morning and I was very stiff and cold. I had to roll over and get my feet and legs down a hill in order to stand up. I cut two more canes with which to hold me up. I struggled on most of that day and in the afternoon reached some cabins of my people. They carried me in and gave me soup and afterwards some meat chopped fine. Then my legs began to hurt me. They rubbed them with snow but that did no good. Oh, what pain I suffered! In a few days my feet began to decay, and they took me to a doctor, and he cut off both my legs. For many months afterwards I suffered tortures and wished to die.
“A few weeks later, the people went out and found my grandfather dead by the ashes of our little fire. They also recovered the bodies of my grandmother and my mother. If grandfather had not held me next to the fire, and protected me with his own body that long, cold night, I, too, would today be in the Land of the Spirits.”
Unwise Purchases
The educated Indians should take a more positive stand in the matter of protecting their more unfortunate brethren. Far be it from me to cast reflections on these persons, but truth compels the statement that a number who should have been foremost in safeguarding the interests of ignorant aborigines availed themselves of close association with their fellowmen to secure property. At White Earth, of the thirty-seven men and women mentioned in the Government affidavits as securing lands, at least a dozen were educated Indians. This sad fact impressed Inspector Linnen and myself, and we often talked regarding it. The temptation on the part of some educated Indians is to follow the example set by white men. Let me present an illustration. In Oklahoma I met Joe B——. He informed me that forty acres of land were enough for any Indian. I said, “Joe, how many acres do you own?” “Oh, about 2,000.” Joe was red, as to color, but he had the heart of the white man.
CARLISLE INDIAN SCHOOL—THE CAMPUS
Years ago the Department of Justice began an investigation of land cases in the State of Oklahoma. Honorable A. N. Frost acted as Special Assistant to the Attorney General. Mr. Frost was asked to resign from his office a short time ago. He delivered a stirring address at the Lake Mohonk Conference this year. In this address (of which I present a part) Mr. Frost referred to the 30,000 Oklahoma land suits before the Department of Justice. According to his published statement, Senator Owen is concerned in 154 of these suits. I present excerpts from Mr. Frost’s remarks herewith.