The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-10-08
BIN CHERRIES Powwow.
PATHETIC MEETING OF sHE LAST
or the NARRAsANsETTs.

| and for "a Long strip OF the sescorast, the
Remnant OF tho Tribe Meet Again II
Council and Assert Their Confidence that
This Time They VIII be Justly Treated
From ihs proriienoe Daily Journal
| BY newspaper notice and by the mail there
| were SUNNI ned Yesterday to the old reserva'
ton at Charlestown. In this State. the few sur
viylng remnants OF the once powerful Nara
gansett tribe OF Indians. Within the shadows
of the trees which mark the resting place oil
the old chiefs but II few hundred feet from the
cemetery where the son Of old Canonicus Is
buried. the aged Indians and their numerous
descendants met In council-a powwow they
called It. The day was spent In discussion oil
q claim they have against the state OF Rhode
Island. for this was the purpose OF their gath
ering. When they separated but comparatively
little had been ACCOMPLISHED The claim was
still q chimera- tho ignis Jdls OF the last re-
naming tribe OF rcd men in New England. -, !,
me average resident OF this city would
Western part OF the state, lust this sIdo of
ton. go up to the village. and get. carriage
for Charlestown.. The way lies through the
thiskesf kind Of forests where there are mar
come back from the sides Of the Vehicle with a
Re 9 Rh Il RSns pouders NhaS
throw the carriage first far up on one side and
nsR Rs S sta as tS Il Tsrs Is
in It from the days. when the. Narragansetts
ruled what is now the state Ct RHODE Island
and the tribes OF Massachusetts and Connecti-
four miles OF this trail. and suddenly you come
Which the S Narrasanse t indians and their de-.
scendants Worship. and here the council yes
terdsy was held stone e., eu trhn i, G9n
put new roof on the structure. but
1t stands all alone, and is occupied once a
month, The Indians are Second Adyentista.
and when an elder Of that faith happens
Gated. services are held. The interior furnish
ings are unique in their simplicity. There are
painted pulpit. an old stove. and a hanging
kerosene lamp; The, place is miles from civili-
Here gathered the few Narragansett Indians
yesterday; and here came their descendants.
The Old Indians are very few in number. OIL
their minds still bright ms ever. their sole
thought to secure what they believe to be- JUS
claim is an enormous ons-a strip Of land on
the scashore extending ten rods from high
ver he PAW They ha~e Copy Of
deed from their old sachem to establish the
Justice Of their claim. but there are so many
sides. what unregeneratei ind lvidual ever heard
OF an Indian getting Justice?
children. They afforded an interesting study
to the IRE results Of ptermarras The main
and Joshua Noka. both aged. Where the In
dian blood is most PROMINENT as in the ease Of
straight. the conversation unmarked by dia-
lect. the manners polite and in a degree
with the negro there are the telltale marks
in the hair. in the color in the temper,ament.
nd ayArvp Ia I'D fall mar
con. with one OF the young men whose
cSaracter 'one. courteous and kindly
natured. is leader in the councils Of his pso
other remained outside during tho proceed
ings yesterday. got drunk on fire water OF a
low order, and got into a fight with some kin
the spectnce Of these old and trembIine mem e
spending their declining days for the welfare Of
word. however slight. in support Of their
cIai IN. and then to watch some; at least. OF
brawling over some imaginary insult. con-
ceiyed in the besotted mind OF a worthless
land" There was an mphatic confirmation
OF the statement in the wilds Of the Charles.
whose o charaeteristcs showed dn plainly i the
marked prominence OF Indian blood were IN
tho decided minority But there were in
lively startling in its thoroughness. Old Dan
iel Moody. about so, with his hooked nose
remarkable example. He is the oldest mem
Der Of the tribe and is very nearly pure blooded:
1Es s WITH
tons: and there is nc. one in the town OF
Charlestown who looks like him.
1t Is twelve years since the Narragansett In
dams abandoned their tribal form Of govern
ment. dissolved their Council OF Five. sold their
Of Rhode Island. The State took their church
and their schoohouse. for before that none
but Indian children We're taught at the aea sshoo
building, But the tribe. could not support the
poor and the various institutions. and under
solved their Goyernment. The State paid
$1,000 to the tribe for the reservation lands,
Indians for that amount sold more than they
were aware OF. or at least 50 they claim. There
Noka, member, Of the NarraGansett Council.
But the State has them. according to the deed.
Still the Indians in this instance were used
had set of to the Various chiefs lots Of land for for
dwelling PLACES. These grants We're all al
have 1n the se Stn hs sd e the 9a
State Includes these words: The Indian
rights and claims Of whatsoever name and
settles it There can be no further Claim ''"'
But long ago. in 100. Nnegret then sachem
OF the Narragansetts. made treaty in which
he gave up lands and retained ten rods along
shore from Pawcatuck to Pawtuxet for the
fishing privileges OF his people; The Indians
today have a copy 9f Fhe deed in which the
and retained others. They want the others.
And they believe in the Justice Of their claims.
81 believe in it," declared an old Indian yes
terday. "as believe have 9 right hand; and
George Carmichael. who was one OF the Indian
commissioners says that there was an under
standing that when further proofs OF the
claim should be presented. that portion Of the
should be considered void. But it is there
Just the same This explains the claim. The
IN Getting yesterday heard the matter discussed
in all It's phases 1t Is largely tradition. stories
Years ago" says one old man with tremb.
ling speech. Il heard the man for whom |
worked say that ten rods along the shore be-
longed to the Narragansett tribe"
My mother. says another was the daugh- |
ter Of a chief OF our tribe. remember She |
has shown me the stone wall along the shore |
in South Kingstown which mark ed our claim" |
~ And so on with numerous Interruptions.
There was a Chairman and q Secretary and |
each OF the older men related some story 10 |