The chain of circumstance leading to the killing of Captain Sixkiller is as follows:

About 4 o’clock Friday afternoon Alf Cunningham, while drunk, "threw down" on Tom Kennard, a Creek Lighthorseman, in the door of the Commercial Hotel, but did not shoot, though a minute afterwards he would have done so had not Mrs. Renfro, who standing beside him, succeeded in getting his pistol. As he came down the steps of the hotel Kennard met him and dealt him a blow over the head with his six-shooter. This enraged Alf and he was determined on revenge. About 4:30 he found Dick Vann, his brother in-law, who was ready to help him in any emergency. Both were unarmed and went to Turner & Byrne’s store purchase a pistol, but looking for trouble, C. W. Turner refused to sell him one. On failing there both went to the Mitchell House and finding the city marshal Shelly Keys there, before he suspected their intentions they had him down and disarmed and it is thought would have killed him there had it not been for the crowd, as he is under their displeasure. Finding Al Farmer’s shotgun they took possession of it notwithstanding Farmer’s remonstrance, and they were then armed and prepared for any deed.

Up to this time it is presumed they had not thought of Sixkiller, but as they came up the street half crazed with liquor they were ready for the first person against whom they had a grudge, and Tom Kennard in particular. At the steps leading down from Turner & Byrne’s porch they met Capt. Sixkiller, who was entirely unarmed. To make sure of their man in the darkness one called "Sam!" and on hearing his name the Captain stepped towards them and about four feet from the corner of the porch. Dick was heard to say in the half crying voice he uses when mad "You’ll never do that to me again," or words to that effect, when the shotgun in the hands of Alf was leveled at the Captain, who must have knocked it aside as the charge of fine shot it contained partly passed through his clothing and lodged in the gate of the lumber yard. At the same instant Dick, who was positively identified by an eyewitness, fired in rapid succession four shots into Sixkiller, who staggered and fell on his hands and knees on the steps, then to make sure of his work Vann fired another shot into the body. A few heavy groans and all was over, the deed was done. The two men then ran half leisurely down Main street, turned the corner and passed the billiard hall and on out of town. Saturday night it was reported they attempted to lodge with John Lowrey, who objected, and in flourishing a pistol Dick’s weapon was discharged, the ball going across the base of his thumb.

Saturday morning writs, were sworn out before Commissioner Tufts and placed in the hands of Deputy U. S. Marshals Dalton, Tyson, Campbell and Hayes, and although they made a vigorous search until Sunday morning, and at one time were within a half-mile of Dick and his companion, they did not succeed in finding them.

Martin and Luke Sixkiller, brothers of Sam, Policemen Fields Laflore and Maj. Hodges were also here Saturday, but in the absence of orders did not join in the pursuit. On Monday evening Agent Owen returned from the Cherokee Nation, and at present writing is making preparations for an active hunt for them. Parties reported them in the thick bottoms of Gooseneck Bend, about ten miles east of town, the locality in which Vann did the scouting a couple of years ago when wanted for assault on Captain Hammer.

The funeral of Captain Sixkiller took place Sunday morning at 11 o’clock from the M. E. church and was conducted by Cherokee lodge A. F. and A. M., of Tahlequah. The church could not contain the friends who gathered from nearly every part of the eastern portion of the Territory to attend the last rites.

Among those present from Tahlequah were Wm. Ballarn, Waite Foreman, J. L. Adair Sr., J. L. Adair, Jr., T. R. Sixkiller, J. L. Stapler, H. C. Barnes, D. W. Wilson and others; from Choteau were G. H. Lewis and Butler Bros.; from Eufaula, Chief Perryman and wife, Dr. Leo Bennett and wife, Sam Grayson, Charles Gibson, and Roley McIntosh; from Savanna, Dr. E. Poe Harris; from Ft. Gibson, F. H. Nash, Colonel Rogers, Tom French, Mr. Doty, Wm. P. Ross, George Saunders, Wm. Scot and Mr. Pick.

The procession, which followed the remains to the grave was one of the largest every gathered together in this section of the country.

Captain Sixkiller was born in Going-Snake District, Cherokee Nation, in the year 1842, making him forty-four years of age at the time of this death. He was raised in the Cherokee Nation, educated at the old Baptist Mission, Mr. Evan Jones being his teacher. At the breaking out of the war his father joined the Northern army leaving Sam to take care of the property.