Cherokee Phoenix

THE EMIGRATING CREEKS

Published September, 30, 1829

Page 3 Column 1a

THE EMIGRATING CREEKS.

A party of these Indians, consisting of nearly 900 souls, arrived at this place during the latter part of last week under the direction of Capt. WALKER. They had taken boats at Tuscumbia, Alabama, in descending the Tennessee and Mississippi rivers to the mouth of White River, where embarked on board the steam-boat Virginia, for the purpose of being conveyed to their place of destination up the Arkansas. The Virginia (as we stated in a former No.) was only able to ascend to within about 60 miles of this place, in consequence of the low state of the river; and a part of the Indians came up by water, and the remainder, by land, from the point where they were landed.

Those Indians composed part of a party of 1400 or 1500, who sat(sic) out from the Creek Nation in Georgia, in June last. The remainder of the party crossed the Mississippi at Memphis, some weeks since, and have no doubt, ere this, reached the place designated as the future residence of their nation, beyond the western limits of this Territory. They were under the direction of Mr. LUTHER BLAKE, who accompanied them until after they passed this place. He then left them, and came here, for the purpose of taking charge of the party who arrived here last week. Capt. Walker, who conducted them thus far on their journey, left here on Saturday morning last, on his return to Alabama.

Mr. Blake(Black?) employed a number of wagons at this place, for the purpose of transporting the baggage and provision of the Indians; and, on Saturday evening last, put his party in motion on their journey to the west.

While they remained in camp in our neighborhood, a considerable number of the party, of both sexes, were constantly in town; and it gives us much satisfaction to bear testimony to the orderly and correct deportment with which they demeaned themselves toward our citizens, so far as we saw or have heard. They are a fine looking race of people, quite neat and cleanly in their dress (for Indians), and their appearance indicated good health, which, we are gratified to learn, prevails among the whole party, with perhaps fewer exceptions than could have been expected among so large a part, under similar circumstances. Ark. Gaz.