Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-10-28
TATTOOED BY sAvAGEs.
Alonxo Hewitts Strange Experience In
Patagonia

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Alonzo Hewitt, an American sailor, "A
resident of Brooklyn. In 1865 Mr..
Hewitt belonged to the crew of the ship
Angelica, which went ashore during a
severe gale on the Patagonian coast.
The vessel was manned by thirteen
men, all OF whom were captured by
the savages and taken into the interior.
The men were separated from each
other, and given TO different native
chiefs as slaves. Mr.. Hewitt never
knew what became of his shipmates.
lie was taken by savage named Nine
hoo, and compelled TO carry heavy
loads OF provisions and hunting ma
terials on long journeys. At night his
hands were tied behind his back, and
one end OF the leathern thong was fast
ened TO a tree, so that he could not run
away. No knife or sharp instrument of
any kind was left within his reach, and
he was as effectually a prisoner as
! though he had been locked up within
strong walls. The whole story of his
troubles and sufferings while in the
hands Of the savages would fill large
volume, but the most interesting por-
ton, which can be confined TO the limits
OF newspaper account, is his account
OF the manner in which he was tattoo
by the Patagonians.
Almost the entire surface of Mr..
Hewiits body is covered with indelible
representations Of beasts, birds and
reptiles. He said that the savages oc-
cupied over a months time in making
these unique pictures. A preparation in
many respects resembling india ink was
used, and the method of producing the
pictures was to puncture the skin with
the points Of small fish bones, and then
to rub the ink upon the wound thus pro-
duced. The ink thus produced discol-
oration OF the skin that can never be
effaced.
What caused the Patagonians TO
mark you in this mannerP" inquired the
reporter.
Il presume the chief who held me
wanted to disfigure me for the amuse-
ment of himself and his associates" was
the reply.
Then you do not think the chief
meant TO punish you7"
" Not especially. In my mind be
wished to display the artistic skill oi
one OF his young braves in the pictor al
line. He undoubtedly regarded my skin
in much the same light that painter
does the white canvas. was a good
groundwork for ornamentation."
WAS the chief proud of you after
the work was done ?"
"He was indeed. was taken about
among the people and exhibited TO nd
miring eyes. The young men and
ms ms would point at the pictures
and then look at each other and smile
Older savages would admire me by the
hour, and | was one Of the greatest OBJ
iects OF interest in Patagonia
g Do you know the meaning OF the
pictures7"
only know that the pictures repre-
sent beasts, birds and reptiles; but why
they were selected as subjects battles nv
comprehension. suppose that am n
sort Of Patagonian obelisk, and although
unlike the A xandrian monolith, am
not 1900 or 1900 years CT age, / perhaps
represent religious ideas and historical
facts
The tattooed man brushed his locks oil
shaggy hair back from his forehead
and disclosed q blue-and-yellowish re-
presentation of a bird. Although the
bird has outstretched wings and beal
claws like an eagle, it is far from beinG
good representation OF the glorious
American bird of freedom. On either
side of the mans face is bird tha
looks more like n young chicken thar
anything else. Lengthwise on the mani
nose is tiny picture of blue snak,
, with red eyes. A red snake with blu,
eyes encircles the mans neck. Rollins
up his sleeves and barring his arms. Mr.
Hewitt exhibited 10 the reporter pic
torial representations of more than ,
dozen different kinds of animals. Som,
of them resembled goats, others sheer
and foxes. There were animals with
horns and others without horns. Their,
; was a singular looking creature, tha
: reminded the reporter of centaur
above the elbow of the riRh
arm. There were more figures OF
the left arm than on the right one. Th
total number of distinct pictures on tn,
mans body, he said, were 1873. Onl!
three colors are shown, red, blue and vel
low. The inks were obtained by press
ing the Juice from vegetables and mix
ing 1t with fine earthly pigments. MFR
, Hewitt thinks that the inks were of
poisonous nature, because they caused
his limbs to swell to twice their norma
!, size while the pictures were being made
Five years ago Mr.. p. 7. Barnum
, hearing of Mr.. Hewitt, and thinking