Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-19
MANY FREAK CURI0S.
Ghost Dance Shirts Received at the
Smithsonian Institution.
GIFT FROM EXPLORER STANLEY.
The Coat of Mail Captured by Him From
an African Brigand.
A SKELETON THAT WASN'T IMAGINARY
rrRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT.

lFROM STAFF CORRESPONDENrt.
| WASHINGTON, April 1S.-The National
Museum has just received from Special
Agent Frank D. Lewis, of the Interior De-
partment, two ghost shirts which were used
by the Sioux in the ghost dances just pre-
vious to the Wounded Knee battle. They
are made Of ordinary muslin, but cut and
trimmed with barbaric art that makes
them quite picturesque. Portions of them
| are covered with cabal1stic signs, possibly
astrological, as they bear some resemblance
TO sun, moon and stars-signs probably
which have been handed down from the
ancient days of the Sioux people or their
forerunners.
One of the shirts is trimmed with queer
fetishes such as slender rswhide strings.
| wrapped nicely with split quills and
feathers of the sacred crow, which are sup
posed to be capable of preserving the wearer
from all harm.
Another and more valuable acquisition is
one received few days ago, the gift OF
Stanley, the explorer of Africa. 1t is a
coat of chain mail worn by a brigand OF
East Africa.
Capture of the Brigands.
Som years ago when Stanley was travel
ing in that country, portion of his party
was captured by brigands. Stanley mar
shaled his forces. made a descent on the
brigands, rescued his friends and captured
several of the highwaymen, from one of
whom was taken the chain armor deftly
and beautifully woven, perfectly flexible
and made to cover the entire torso of the
wearer.
Within week or two, so The DISPATCH
correspondent was informed by an official
of the Smithsonian Institution to-day, not
less than 1000 people have requested to see
the devil baby" and the gentlemen of the
institution have just discovered what it all
means. A short time since a country paper
in Minnesota published story that a young
priest attempted to sell pictures of the Ma
donna and child to vrago, who said that
she would be the DEVILS baby if he had had
one.
Born With Horns and Tail.
The woman was 'enclente at the time, and
when a child was born 1t had horns, cloven
feet and forked tail. 1t lived but short
time, and, as the story went, was secured BY
a scientific gentleman and forwarded to
the Smithsonian. The republication of this
absurd story in various places has sent
thousands of visitors to see the lusus nature,
and the authorities of the institution have
been subjected to almost unbearable an
hoyance.
What the Smithsonian authorities for Is
years looked upon as 4 similar "fake, and
which led to thousands of inquiries, has in
a strange wav been discovered to be true.
For Is years visitors and winter residents of
st. Augustine, Fla, have, when returning
North, called at the Smithsonian and re-
quested to see the skeleton in an iron chest.
1t seems that guides at st. Augustine, when
describing to visitors the romantic history
of the old Spanish fort, tell of q skeleton
found in an iron chest and assert
that the chest and contents could be seen at
the Smithsonian.
The Skeleton Found.
All these years the Smithsonian authori-
ties supposed the tale to be pure fiction, in
vented to add interest to the fort. A few
days ago the institution engaged in negotia-
tions for the purchase of a mass OF curios,,
the collection of many years of local en-
thusiast. Representatives of the institu-
tion visited this old curiosity shop to take
an inventory of its contents. And there in
a corner stood the iron chest, enclosing the
skeleton OF the Spanish fort at st. Angus
tine, which for Is years caused the in
quiries of the curious, and which the
Smithsonian people believed never to have
had existence.
Within few days Secretary Tracy. of
the navy, has sent to the museum two
curious bricks, bearing cuneiform in
scriptions, sent to him by an unknown party
by way of one Of the Government vessels.
The experts of the Smithsonian have not
do not attach great importance to them.
T.rr