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Indian Journal Stories from the past
news
December 20, 2023
Indian Journal Stories from the past
By JERRY FINK MANAGING EDITOR,

147 YEARS AGO

Thursday, August 17, 1876

Indians in Pursuit

Official from Gen. Crook, Aug. 4 communication with Terry is cut off by a movement of the Indians. Crook was to follow the Indians next day with 15 days rations. If he found the hostiles too strong, would swing around to Terry.

From Wichita Agency

Aug. 5, 1876 – A portion of the affiliated bands have suffered from heavy rains and overflow of the Washington River. Most of the wheat was damaged, rendering it unfit for breadstuff.

CAMP MEETING AT WEWOKA

I had the privilege of attending this meeting, near the widow Barnard’s, from the 4th to the 6th of August. It was estimated that 800 Indians were in attendance, and nowhere in my life have I witnessed belter order, or more profound attention to preaching.

I counted 32 two-horse wagons on the grounds, which circumstance is an index to the civilization and progress of the Creek people.

•••••

120 YEARS AGO

Friday, March 6, 1903

A New Enterprise

W. N. Edson informs a Journal representative that he has purchased a large tract of timber land near Eufaula and will open a wood yard here. This is something that has long been needed in Eufaula and we predict that the enterprise will prove a financial success.

Trains Delayed

Eufaula was shut off from the outside world Wednesday as far as mail was concerned. A spark from an engine ignited a trestle about a mile north of town, totally destroying it. All trains were held up until late Wednesday evening.

Thinks It’s “A Whale”

G. S. Kemble returned from Galveston Sunday where he visited his son, G.S. Kemble Jr., aboard the battleship Iowa of the North Atlantic squadron. Young Kemble is doing duty in the machinery department of that ship and has been in the naval service three years and it was the first time he had set foot on his native land during that time.

Mr. Kemble accompanied the reception committee sent out to welcome Admiral Higgins to Galveston. The ships were eight miles out at sea and the trip was made in a yawl which on account of the rough sea rocked so that the committee was stricken with sea sickness and was compelled to turn back. But the committee finally succeeded in reaching the ships.

•••••

100 YEARS AGO

Thursday, December 13, 1923

PREACHER, BRIDE OF 1 YEAR JAILED ON BIGAMY CHARGES Dallas, Texas, Nov. 29 – Charged with deserting his wife and two children and eloping with his choir leader, Miss Ollie Stephens, and later marrying her in Eufaula without being divorced from his legal wife, the Rev. F. W. Lynch, an evangelist, was jailed here on request of his wife, who makes her home in Wichita, Kan.

GETS 4 YEARS FOR STEALING TURKEY Jim Tennison was convicted and given four years in the state penitentiary for stealing a turkey in the district court here last Friday.

The day before his conviction of turkey stealing Tennison was convicted of shooting the owner of the turkey when the owner attempted to stop Tennison when he saw him leaving his place with the stolen turkey.

Sheriff Moore Sprinkled With Bird Shot While out hunting with friends the first of the week Sheriff M. B. Moore was accidently shot by P. R. Whitaker, one of his hunting companions, with bird shot Three of the shots struck Mr. Moore in the neck, one in the hand and one in the breast. He was treated by local physicians and is able to be up and about as usual, and while quite painful, the wounds are not considered serious.

•••••

80 YEARS AGO

Thursday, December 9, 1943

JOURNAL-DEMOCRAT SUBSCRIPTION LIST GROWING FAST Citizens Flock to Office to Get In On Christmas Prices The Journal’s and Democrat’s Christmas cut rate subscription drive is way out in front and hundreds of citizens have already taken advantage of the holiday sale to get in on the ground floor with their subscriptions to the two papers. Citizens living in McIntosh and adjoining counties, if they act soon, can get the Indian Journal from now until January 1945 for only $1.05. They can get the Democrat for only 95 cents, or they can get both the Journal of Eufaula and the Democrat of Checotah in this trade area for only $1.50.

SGT. JIM G. LUCAS GIVEN RECOGNITION ON CONGRESS FLOOR Washington, Dec. 7 – Recognition came in congress today to Master Tech. Sgt. Jim G. Lucas of Checotah, who wrote an eyewitness story of the landing of the marines at Tarawa.

Rep. Wesley E. Disney of Oklahoma told the house that Lucas’ story was “one of the most graphic accounts carried by the American press” and received permission to have it printed in the Congressional Record. Before joining the marines as a combat correspondent, Lucas was a reporter on the Muskogee Phoenix and Times-Democrat and the Tulsa Tribune.

MILITRY MEMORIAL MASS TO BE OFFERED FOR FRANK ECKELKAMP A military memorial Mass will be offered for Pfc. Frank Eckelkamp on Friday, Dec. 17 at 10 o’clock in the morning in the Most Precious Blood Catholic church here by Father Paul V. Brown, pastor of Wagoner and the Muskogee Catholic missions.

Eckelkamp, son of Mrs. Anna Eckelkamp, died in Italy on Nov. 17 according to word received from the war department.

•••••

75 YEARS AGO

Thursday, December 23, 1948

Neighboring Towns Air Hostile Views On Two-Dam Plan Here

Eufaula is On Record as Favoring Two-Dam Projects

Delegations from nine eastern Oklahoma cities and towns voiced their opposition to the two-dam Canadian river flood control project at the U.S. Army Engineers public hearing here Tuesday.

But Eufaula went on the record as favoring the Onapa-Canadian dams, while not opposing the one larger reservoir favored by most of the delegations.

Two Charged With Robbing Aged County Indian Two western McIntosh county farm men are free on bond after denying charges of robbing an aged Indian of $540.

The victim is Sam Thompson, who is recovering from a head injury received during the robbery.

Thompson, who speaks little English, was at his home seven miles southwest of Pierce, when the robbery occurred a week ago Monday night. Two men took the money out of a pocket in his clothing after clubbing him in the head with a heavy stick of wood.

Sheriff Says Safe Cracking Has Mark of Professionals

Sheriff Clarence Douglas described as “no amateur job,” the cracking of the Onapa School safe and theft of its $25 contents Tuesday night.

•••••

50 YEARS AGO

Thursday, January 3, 1974

Food Prices Rise Again in Survey

The old year ended with another round of price increases that pushed the family grocery bill to a level 13 percent higher than it was in March, an Associated Press market basket survey shows.

Seasons First Snow Hits Town

McIntosh County, along with most of Southeastern Oklahoma, closed out the year of 1973 with three inches of snow on the ground, this being the first snow of the season.

Temperatures dipped to the teens Sunday night and snow began falling in the early morning hours approximately an inch on the ground by daylight.

•••••

25 YEARS AGO

Thursday, December 24, 1998

Watts hailed as state civil rights pioneer Everyone from friends and colleagues of Rev. Wade Watts to Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating and State Sen. Gene Stipe stepped onstage at S. Arch Thompson Auditorium in McAlester Wednesday to pay tribute to the late civil rights leader.

Watts, a leader in the civil rights movement, died in McAlester Sunday at a local care center.

Among family members who gathered were Fourth District Congressman J.C. Watts.

New immunizations required for schools, day care The Oklahoma State Board of Health has approved changes to the immunization requirements for attending school and day care. Hepatitis A and varicella (chickenpox) vaccines were added to school requirements, and hepatitis A, hepatitis B and varicella were added to day care requirements.

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