Quannahsspeech

Quannah Parker

in his own words

The speech below was made to Captain Hugh L. Scott, and the language is that set down during the 1890's. It describes action and events leading up to the Adobe Walls fight.

"The Tonkawa Killed Him-it Make My Heart Hot"

A long time ago I had a friend killed by the Tonkawas on Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos. That make me feel bad. We had grown up together, gone to war together. We were all very sorry that man was killed. The Tonkawa killed him-it make my heart hot. I want to make it even. At that time I was a pretty big young man and knew how to fight pretty good. I work for one month trying to get Comanches to go to war with me. I go to the Nokoni camp first, on head of Cache Creek. I call in everybody. I tell them my friend he killed in Texas. I fill pipe, I say to man, "You want to smoke?" He take pipe and smoke. I give pipe to other men. One man say, "I do not want to smoke. If I smoke pipe, I go to war." I say, "You not excused. God kill you if you be afraid."

I go see Kiowas on Elk Creek, then Quahadis, then I go see Cheyennes. Lots of them smoke pipe. Cheyenne camp on Washita near where Fort Elliott later built, where Washita forks around hill. Lots of Comanches there-Otter Belt, He Bear (Parra-o-coom), Tabananica, Old Man Esa Rose (White Wolf). Camps in different places.

They say, "When you go to war, Quanah?"

I say, "Maybe tomorrow, maybe next day. Have big dance tonight. Big Horse Society dance here; Little Horse Society dance there; Fox Quirts on this side."

Then I hear somebody call, "Quanah, the old men want to see you over here!" I see Old Man Otter Belt, White Wolf, and lots of other old men. They say, "You pretty good fighter, Quanah, but you not know everything. We think better you take pipe first against white buffalo killers. You kill them first and make your heart feel good. After that you come back, take all the young men, go to war, Texas!"

I say, "Otter Belt and He Bear, you take pipe yourself, after I take young men to go to Texas."

They say, "All right."

Isatai make big talk at that time. He says, "God tell me we going to kill lots of white men. I stop bullets in their guns. Bullets not pierce our shirts. We kill all, just like old women. God told me the truth." Before that Isatai was pretty good medicine man, make pretty good medicine. He had sat down far away and listen. God tell him, "Maybeso on little creek, fifty miles away, is white soldiers. We must go kill them." This time he listen to what God tell him. Soon was move to Fort Elliott-no got fort there at this time. I pick seven scouts to go look for white men's adobe houses on Canadian. Old Man White Wolf go with them. They gone all 1night. Next day our watchers on a little hill call out, "Here they come!" We see our scout's circle four times to right and know they find the houses. Our whole village, the women and children and everybody, make a long line in front of the camp, Old Man Black Beard in the middle. Then the seven scouts come in single file in front of Black Beard.

He ask, "Tell the truth, what did you see?"

First scout say, "I see four log houses. I see horses moving about." All scouts say the same thing.

Black Beard say, "All right. Pretty soon we kill some white men."

Everybody saddled up, took their war bonnets and shields. We started when sun there (about eleven), we stopped when sun there (about four). We took off the saddles and blankets from our horses, hobbled the extra horses, make medicine, paint faces, put on war bonnets, then move in fours across the Canadian at sundown. We kept along the river to pretty near Red Hill near Adobe Creek, where houses were. We walk our horses, because enemy could hear horses trotting a long way off. At dark some men want to go to sleep. He Bear say, "Dismount. Hold lariats in your hands. When I call, you mount again. While we wait, some sleep, some smoke and talk. Finally He Bear and Tab ananica call them, "Everybody mount." All mount again and travel until there is just a little daylight. Pretty soon we make a line. All the chiefs try to hold the young men back:

"You go too fast. No good to go so fast."

Pretty soon the chiefs call, "All right. Go ahead!" We charge pretty fast on our horses, throwing up dust. Many prairie dog holes. I see men and horses roll over and over. Some men who were ahead drove off the white men's horses. I was in the middle of the line. I got up into the adobe houses with another Comanche. We poked holes through the roof to shoot. Two white men killed in wagon. I not see any other killed. Four Cheyenne, some Arapahoes and Comanches killed. My first wife's father got leg broken by bullet. I got shot in side. That pretty big fight. Lasted from sunrise to midday. Then we go back. All Cheyenne's heap mad at Isatai, tell him, "What's the matter your medicine? You got polecat medicine!" One Comanche killed was a yellow nigger painted like Comanche. He had left nigger soldiers' company, everybody know that (deserter from the Tenth Cavalry). Pretty soon we all go back, get saddles, go to village. I take all young men, go war Texas.

Quanah Parker's mother, Cynthia Ann Parker, was buried in Texas, and many years later the remains were exhumed and taken to Oklahoma, where they were buried in Post Oak Cemetery, near the famous Star House in which Quanah lived. This cemetery was near the Post Oak Mission. Quanah was also buried in the same plot. His gravestone reads, "Resting here until day breaks and shadows fall and darkness disappears," but his remains were moved to Fort Sill. As the Fort Sill military establishment began the use of long range artillery, this ground was taken into the Post's artillery range, and all the Indian graves were moved.

On the occasion of the reburial of Cynthia Ann's remains, Quanah made a short talk at the graveside. He spoke in broken English, but with deep feeling, saying:

"I Want My People Follow after White Way"

Forty years ago my mother died. She captured by Comanche, nine years old. Love Indian and wild life so well no want to go back to white folks. All same people, God say. I love my mother. I like white people. Got great heart. I want my people follow after white way, get educate, know work, make living when payments stop. I tell um they got to know pick cotton, plow corn. I want um know white man's God. Comanche may die tomorrow, or ten years. When end come then they all be together again. I want to see my mother again. That's why when Government United States give money for new grave I have this funeral and ask white folks to help bury. Glad to see so many my people here at funeral. That's all.

Quanah made a visit to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and on October 24, 1910, gave a talk before a group in that city. He makes reference to the removal of his mother from Texas to the family plot in Oklahoma, and also gives some explanation of the actions of his people. He mentions also his investment in an early day railroad in Western Oklahoma and Texas. The Burk Burnett mentioned was a Texas rancher upon whose land a fabulous oil field was developed and for whom the town of Burkburnett, Texas was named.

Here is what Quanah said:

"Some White People Do That, Too"

Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, you read the paper. Me move from Texas over Oklahoma, my country. I see John Stephens, Congress from Texas, and I tell him would like him get bill $1,000.00 to remove my mother remains two years ago. Bill passed and after that somebody, New York man, started that bill, and last June I been to Washington. I come again and see about it. Made bill $800.00. I used $200.00 buy new coffin. Now, ladies and gentlemen, Texas objects me do that. I have over at my home my oldest son dead, some seven or eight years ago. Nobody knows when me die, maybe tomorrow or ten years, but me have family graveyard and me want bury my mother there now. Here is another thing. Here is all of my acquaintances come from Quanah. They came from my town, the Quanah country. All that used to be my hunting ground, snakes up there. My town up there wanted to put railroad west of Quanah, They came to me and I helped them out. I invested $40,000.00 in Quanah Western. I wanted to run it over New Mexico. Well, you see here this night what I want to tell you now. I got one good friend, Burk Burnett, he big-hearted, rich cowman. Help my people good deal. You see big man hold tight to money, afraid to die. Burnett helped anybody. I came from Fort Sill. No ride me in like horse or cow. Had a big war; I fought General McKenzie; he used two thousand men. I had four hundred and fifty men. I used this knife. I see eight miles perhaps, lots of soldiers coming. I say, "Hold on, no go over there." Maybe we go at night, maybe stampede soldiers' horses first. I strew my men around in circle and tell them, "Holler." I gathered maybe three hundred fifty United States horses that night. You see how bad me that time. The next morning they came up my trail. I ready to fight came up our trail, lot men. Way head of it maybe fifty or sixty men. I tell my men to stand up behind hill, holler, shoot and run. I run to one side and use this knife. I came up right side, kill man, sergeant, and scalp. You see how bad me at that time. Well, ladies and gentlemen, now I working for Government. I work for my Indians. Every year me want to go to Washington and I work for my Indians. Put young Indians in school, and make Indians do like white man. They have horses like white man. Some Indians no good, you see man buy bottle whiskey and play cards. That reason some men no good. Some white people do that, too.



		Quannah Parker in his own words

	The speech below was made to Captain Hugh L. Scott, and the language is that set down during the 1890's. It describes action and events leading up to the Adobe Walls fight. "The Tonkawa Killed Him-it Make My Heart Hot" A long time ago I had a friend killed by the Tonkawas on Double Mountain Fork of the Brazos. That make me feel bad. We had grown up together, gone to war together. We were all very sorry that man was killed. The Tonkawa killed him-it make my heart hot. I want to make it even. At that time I was a pretty big young man and knew how to fight pretty good. I work for one month trying to get Comanches to go to war with me. I go to the Nokoni camp first, on head of Cache Creek. I call in everybody. I tell them my friend he killed in Texas. I fill pipe, I say to man, "You want to smoke?" He take pipe and smoke. I give pipe to other men. One man say, "I do not want to smoke. If I smoke pipe, I go to war." I say, "You not excused. God kill you if you be afraid." I go see Kiowas on Elk Creek, then Quahadis, then I go see Cheyennes. Lots of them smoke pipe. Cheyenne camp on Washita near where Fort Elliott later built, where Washita forks around hill. Lots of Comanches there-Otter Belt, He Bear (Parra-o-coom), Tabananica, Old Man Esa Rose (White Wolf). Camps in different places. They say, "When you go to war, Quanah?" I say, "Maybe tomorrow, maybe next day. Have big dance tonight. Big Horse Society dance here; Little Horse Society dance there; Fox Quirts on this side." Then I hear somebody call, "Quanah, the old men want to see you over here!" I see Old Man Otter Belt, White Wolf, and lots of other old men. They say, "You pretty good fighter, Quanah, but you not know everything. We think better you take pipe first against white buffalo killers. You kill them first and make your heart feel good. After that you come back, take all the young men, go to war, Texas!" I say, "Otter Belt and He Bear, you take pipe yourself, after I take young men to go to Texas." They say, "All right." Isatai make big talk at that time. He says, "God tell me we going to kill lots of white men. I stop bullets in their guns. Bullets not pierce our shirts. We kill all, just like old women. God told me the truth." Before that Isatai was pretty good medicine man, make pretty good medicine. He had sat down far away and listen. God tell him, "Maybeso on little creek, fifty miles away, is white soldiers. We must go kill them." This time he listen to what God tell him. Soon was move to Fort Elliott-no got fort there at this time. I pick seven scouts to go look for white men's adobe houses on Canadian. Old Man White Wolf go with them. They gone all 1night. Next day our watchers on a little hill call out, "Here they come!" We see our scout's circle four times to right and know they find the houses. Our whole village, the women and children and everybody, make a long line in front of the camp, Old Man Black Beard in the middle. Then the seven scouts come in single file in front of Black Beard. He ask, "Tell the truth, what did you see?" First scout say, "I see four log houses. I see horses moving about." All scouts say the same thing. Black Beard say, "All right. Pretty soon we kill some white men." Everybody saddled up, took their war bonnets and shields. We started when sun there (about eleven), we stopped when sun there (about four). We took off the saddles and blankets from our horses, hobbled the extra horses, make medicine, paint faces, put on war bonnets, then move in fours across the Canadian at sundown. We kept along the river to pretty near Red Hill near Adobe Creek, where houses were. We walk our horses, because enemy could hear horses trotting a long way off. At dark some men want to go to sleep. He Bear say, "Dismount. Hold lariats in your hands. When I call, you mount again. While we wait, some sleep, some smoke and talk. Finally He Bear and Tab ananica call them, "Everybody mount." All mount again and travel until there is just a little daylight. Pretty soon we make a line. All the chiefs try to hold the young men back: "You go too fast. No good to go so fast." Pretty soon the chiefs call, "All right. Go ahead!" We charge pretty fast on our horses, throwing up dust. Many prairie dog holes. I see men and horses roll over and over. Some men who were ahead drove off the white men's horses. I was in the middle of the line. I got up into the adobe houses with another Comanche. We poked holes through the roof to shoot. Two white men killed in wagon. I not see any other killed. Four Cheyenne, some Arapahoes and Comanches killed. My first wife's father got leg broken by bullet. I got shot in side. That pretty big fight. Lasted from sunrise to midday. Then we go back. All Cheyenne's heap mad at Isatai, tell him, "What's the matter your medicine? You got polecat medicine!" One Comanche killed was a yellow nigger painted like Comanche. He had left nigger soldiers' company, everybody know that (deserter from the Tenth Cavalry). Pretty soon we all go back, get saddles, go to village. I take all young men, go war Texas. Quanah Parker's mother, Cynthia Ann Parker, was buried in Texas, and many years later the remains were exhumed and taken to Oklahoma, where they were buried in Post Oak Cemetery, near the famous Star House in which Quanah lived. This cemetery was near the Post Oak Mission. Quanah was also buried in the same plot. His gravestone reads, "Resting here until day breaks and shadows fall and darkness disappears," but his remains were moved to Fort Sill. As the Fort Sill military establishment began the use of long range artillery, this ground was taken into the Post's artillery range, and all the Indian graves were moved. On the occasion of the reburial of Cynthia Ann's remains, Quanah made a short talk at the graveside. He spoke in broken English, but with deep feeling, saying: "I Want My People Follow after White Way" Forty years ago my mother died. She captured by Comanche, nine years old. Love Indian and wild life so well no want to go back to white folks. All same people, God say. I love my mother. I like white people. Got great heart. I want my people follow after white way, get educate, know work, make living when payments stop. I tell um they got to know pick cotton, plow corn. I want um know white man's God. Comanche may die tomorrow, or ten years. When end come then they all be together again. I want to see my mother again. That's why when Government United States give money for new grave I have this funeral and ask white folks to help bury. Glad to see so many my people here at funeral. That's all. Quanah made a visit to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and on October 24, 1910, gave a talk before a group in that city. He makes reference to the removal of his mother from Texas to the family plot in Oklahoma, and also gives some explanation of the actions of his people. He mentions also his investment in an early day railroad in Western Oklahoma and Texas. The Burk Burnett mentioned was a Texas rancher upon whose land a fabulous oil field was developed and for whom the town of Burkburnett, Texas was named. Here is what Quanah said: "Some White People Do That, Too" Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, you read the paper. Me move from Texas over Oklahoma, my country. I see John Stephens, Congress from Texas, and I tell him would like him get bill $1,000.00 to remove my mother remains two years ago. Bill passed and after that somebody, New York man, started that bill, and last June I been to Washington. I come again and see about it. Made bill $800.00. I used $200.00 buy new coffin. Now, ladies and gentlemen, Texas objects me do that. I have over at my home my oldest son dead, some seven or eight years ago. Nobody knows when me die, maybe tomorrow or ten years, but me have family graveyard and me want bury my mother there now. Here is another thing. Here is all of my acquaintances come from Quanah. They came from my town, the Quanah country. All that used to be my hunting ground, snakes up there. My town up there wanted to put railroad west of Quanah, They came to me and I helped them out. I invested $40,000.00 in Quanah Western. I wanted to run it over New Mexico. Well, you see here this night what I want to tell you now. I got one good friend, Burk Burnett, he big-hearted, rich cowman. Help my people good deal. You see big man hold tight to money, afraid to die. Burnett helped anybody. I came from Fort Sill. No ride me in like horse or cow. Had a big war; I fought General McKenzie; he used two thousand men. I had four hundred and fifty men. I used this knife. I see eight miles perhaps, lots of soldiers coming. I say, "Hold on, no go over there." Maybe we go at night, maybe stampede soldiers' horses first. I strew my men around in circle and tell them, "Holler." I gathered maybe three hundred fifty United States horses that night. You see how bad me that time. The next morning they came up my trail. I ready to fight came up our trail, lot men. Way head of it maybe fifty or sixty men. I tell my men to stand up behind hill, holler, shoot and run. I run to one side and use this knife. I came up right side, kill man, sergeant, and scalp. You see how bad me at that time. Well, ladies and gentlemen, now I working for Government. I work for my Indians. Every year me want to go to Washington and I work for my Indians. Put young Indians in school, and make Indians do like white man. They have horses like white man. Some Indians no good, you see man buy bottle whiskey and play cards. That reason some men no good. Some white people do that, too.