They have an idea that there was once
a great flood w hich coveied the whole
earth. Everybody was drowned but
seven chiefs, who were strong enough
to climb to the top of the highest moun
tain in the country. They would have
been destroyed also had they not pray
ed to the Great Spirit so rervcutly that
their supplications were answered.
They lived to a great age and replenish
ed the earth. When they died they be
came a brilliant star in the heaven.
These Indians know the principal stars
by the names of departed chiefs. This
heller is prevalent among nearly all the
savage Indians In the southern part of
the Indian Teriitory."
"Are any of your Indians desperate
characters?"
"Some of them. Six of my drivers
saw the Custer massacre. They proba
bly took part in it, but they claim that
they were near by herding ponies.
They describe the whole bloody affair,
but will not tell who killed the whites.
Custer had many friends, and they are
afraid of them.
"Have any of your Indians ever seen
the cars?"
"YVs, seven chiefs went up to Vinta
one day, and I got them to look at a lo
comotive. It suddenly whistled and
blew off steam, and you ought to have
seen those seven Indians wilt. They
fell down on their knees in consterna
tion and began to pray to the IJreat
Spirit. I truess they thought the en
gine was the Great Spirit, but I don't
know as to that."
"Mack Trurkers" la A antral!..
