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About Weekly Chemawa American. (Chemawa, Or.) 189?-198? | View Entire Issue (March 6, 1903)
THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN 7 Death of the Ugliest Buck, Among Yumas. A report comeB from a sequestered region of Mexico, south of Yuma, Ariz., that "Tar Head," who through lite was branded by tlie squaws an the ugliest buck of the Yuma Indian nation, isdeadattheageof 110. Like the balance of his tribe, Tar Head died the victim of white men's clothing. Since the race adopted the wearing apparel of the pale Taces 10 years ago, disease has blotted out hundreds and hundreds of the Indians until there is but a handful left. HcientistB say that this nice of giants did not knowdiBease formerly. Tar Head was typical of the race in his height of more than seven feet. He was one of the braveBt warriors and chief of the famous band of Indian couriers who j displayed greater endurance In travel than (he ponies' of other Indian tribes. Across the burning Bands of the Great American deserttheao runners, encouraged simply by a pebble carried in their moutha, covered mile alter mile in a tireless dog trot. A hundred miles a day is a light commission lor a Yuma runner to undertake. Tar Head once made himself a hero in the pyes of Uncle Sum's soldiers, when, dur ing some fierce Apache Indian troubles, he Bived the garrison of Ytirna.lnthe territory of Arizona, hy conveying a message to Phoenix. Ariz., which called for reinforce ments. Thedistancecoveredbythe courier between sunrise and sunset exceeded 150 niiba. He rested the night that he delivered the message in Phoenix and, starting out on foot the following morning, led the cavalry hick 10 Yumabeforedarknefs. The foewas preparing for a night attack. The cavalry uorsi-B were jaded and a few of (hem were unable to complete the journey, but Tar Head, wbo precpded the rescuing party a fnot, displayed little signs of fatigue. Under the leadership of Mr. Wheelock, himself an Indian, the Haskell Indian band is forging to the front as never before; the concert program given the other evening at the Indian school was as fine as any ever given by a band in the west. It 1b the desire of the school authorities to keep the band intact, and increase and perfect its membership so that It will be one of the big features of the Indian education exhl bitat the world's fair at. Louis next Bum mer, There is every reason why encour agement should be given to this laudable ambition Lawrence Journal. (Continued from page 1) him from high sources when It became known that he had decided to quit the superintendeocy of the Carlisle school. He was urged to reconsider bis purpose and withdraw his letter of resignation. Many of these letters were from unex pected sources, the writers including mem bers of both branches of Congress, from other high in authority and from persons who had been won from an attitude of un friendliness and even hostility to the Car lisle idea of which Col. Pratt is the em bodiment, to warmest sympathy with and approbation of his methods. So great did this pressure become that he accepted an invitation from friends of the Indian cauce to visit Washington, and went there on Monday. While no statement has been made by the Department or by Col. Pratt himself, it Ib known that he yielded to per Buasion and has indioated his willingness to remain at the head of the Carlisle school .Carlisle Herald. , ( We are glad to state that by later au thentic information the Colonel, under the moat incredible pressure, has with drawn his resignation aud will remain at the head of the school. Carlisle and the service are to be congratulated.