The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-08-02

CarlOsities for the Smithsonian Institute.

We had the pleasure on Saturday, Of
mCetIng Clark Mills, the celebrated
American sculptor, who arrived from
st. Au u.us slime, Fla, where he has been
the past month in the interests of the
Smithsonian Institute. Tue object OF.
his mission TO s.. Augustine was TO OBJ
.aln casts OF the Indian chiefs confined
as prisoners of the Government in the
fort at that place.
This W0rK has been compile ted by lin, i,
and lie brought with him perfect casts
of the sIXty-iour lndian chiefs at pres
ent confined there. We learn that tuese
casts are taken by an entirely new proc
esS OF his own Invention, ana which he
has patented. The Indians were re-
markably superstitlUuJ, rad showed a
reluctance 10 submit TO the operation
until "Long Woli," noted chief, who
had been several times to Washington,
and had conYersed with the Great
Wuite .Fatner," and is, conseQ Ienlly i,
somewhat more civilized, was induced
w nave his classic features cas-.
The operation is thus escrbed: An
elastic cap Is first drawn tignrly over
the mead, completely covering tue bair,
Dut leaving the forehead entirely eX-
posed. Ga this is poured plaster o..
L
gives The exact shape OF the skull. Ine
new preparation IS tGen laid upon the
face win SOFT brush, the nostrlIs beng
left free. In three minutes TINS repara-
ton ha dens, and is very easily and
rapidly removed, and fac smile like
ness Of the person Is obtained.
This cast SHOWS all the wrinkles, pim-
pies, eye.ashes and eyebrows clearly
and distinctly, and not q hair on the
lace is rem we'd, When the cast oI
Long WoiW as taken ten OF the olheI
clleis were admitted tJ see the opera
tiun in orler tnat they might be cVn-
yinced no harm was intended them
rney were exceedingly curious, and
| watched the process Win great IL
ierest.
Wnen the cast had been secured be
lexpOsed 1t TO them, ana their astonlsA-
| llenC was great. They looked at. the
cast, then at the couulenanCe of "Long
| WUfl," again and again, and seemed
quite excited, ana finally laughed as
heartily as an l dian Can laugh, and
seemed much amused. He inquired OF
tue Interpreter what amused Lnem SO,
and was informed that they were laugh
| ing at the ''white Indian" the casVr oil
'Loug WolPs" features being perfectly
| WlIte.
After this there was 10 difficulty in
taking the casts OF all the slGIy-iOui
chiefs representing the four different
tribes. These casts are intended Tor the
Genealogical Department Of The Smith
sunian InstiLuLe, 1T being the intention
of the managers Of that ms titutlon to OBJ
lain the casts OF representatives Ol
every race In the world. A number
Inaye already been obtained, among
them casts Of Two Esqu.mduX, ii MAI
and a woman, when were taken by hin
some Tune since.
Tue casts OF the Indians are all neatly
packed and boxed ana were brousnt
| along by HIM, together with a number o
other curlosiCies, the prncipa
| which is a large sworu-1el
measuring eighteen feet III Length
and two and half feet ACROSS th'
middle. Tnls FISH was caught NY SOM
persons tisning for turtles near 81
Augustine, and was purchased b,
Lieut.. Pratt, OF the United State
Army, in charge Of the Tort at tina
ulace by HIM presented 70 the Smith
souian Institute. Tnis mammoth tisl
was skinned and prepared for TN
museum by an old Frencnman at st
Augustine. He has also secured asi"gu
lar specie, OF tisn known as the "Whar
rat" monster clam-cracker, which re
sembles somewhat devii-1sh, ana
large fying-fsh, whlcn latter Is put u
IN alcohol, the others being s.uf4d.
We were also informed thai wDile b
was IN st. Augustine several OF the LII
dian chiefs received letters from thei
wives. which were forwarded by the of
osrs 1t the posts In the West. He Dc