New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-23
CHIEF JOHN BUCK.
THE LEADER OF THE SIX NATIONS DIES AT
HIS HOME IN ONTARIO.
A WORTHY DESCENDANT OF THE ANCIENT IIo-
oCoIs NOBIIITY-UEAD CHIEF. CorN-
CILLOH. FIKEKEEPER AND
MEDICINE Ma

Sir: This morning letter from the Reserve OF
the six Nations Indians In Canada brought to my
hands three dark purple beads OF wampum ana inc
explanation that their purpose TO Eotify to me
tho death OF Chief John Buck. The Intelligence VIII
scarcely ripple on the surface Of this worries
affairs for the dead mans reputation was purely
local. ard tho fact that he is gone will seem sianih'
cant to but few white In Canada and tho states
Yet The death OF this Indian, conservative Onon-
daca who held 70 the old religions convictions, Gus
toms and language Of his people. seems to me an
event well worth, OF record. Last summer visited MIN
ut the Reserve and enlisted his help. MS Mt Horaio
Hale the phlloorSt and chnoOcst. had done before
ne. In studies Of the remains OF the ancient
Nturgca literature OF the Iroqucs. Readers Of The
Tribune may recall accounts Of the visit writ
ten 10y my travelling companion and associate III
study. The second Of his letters was devoted to
Chief John Buck. who had proved TO be quite a In
tcrcstine subject for investigation as the music oi
the ceremonial which wished to save from oblivion.
such kindness OF manner such Willingness ana
even anxiety 10 be OF assistance 10 compete
STRANGER ir ulring into tnincs which were largely
occult even t. their official repository. such gentle
ness and patience rs were exhibited by this plain.
farmer Indian throughout long day OF lal"HonS
Interrogation In n strange tongue IL has seldom Deer
my good fortune to meet. Hour after hour, WIN
ont sign Of fatigue or thought Of self, he chanted
the words OF the ceremony Of the COndollng Council
verified my record. ana seemed glad Of the fac thhi
lions sacred and dear to him. 1t was bis Intention
10 visit New York this spring my summons In
order 10 sing the chants for in this city, al
smith College and Miss Porcrs school In Farming
ton; but when the summons reached him ne was
on his dcathbed lie said 10 the messenger; len
my friend that | should much like 70 go 70 New
York. but do not know my fate. The Great spirit
only knows. | send my love 10 all MY WEI"
friends
In the death OF this man Amcrcanlss have met
with "A severe loss. lie was, NJ Hale says III
his "lroonois Book o, Rites virtually the "lroq"oi'
premier made by his rank his Character anu l''
cooucncc- lie was the Chief Councillor OF the 7iA
Nations the official keeper ~ The wampum rccorus oi
the Ica;alc the Head Firckecpcr OF the onondasa
tribe When Mr. Hale prepared his edition OF me
Rites Of tho CondolIns Council, Chief Bucks
knowledge q the legend. and customs OF us P'opc'
Re said was only Inferior 70 the moro aeco Hp'"A'r
# the Council at that time, CHER Johh Hioho
Johnson a grandson OF sir william Johnson 10 "ose
influence over the six Nations Indians was due INC
fact that some OF them took mp arms against ''f
co,on,ss In Tho War Of the Revolution. The triumph
- tle Americans I'm that led 10 tho disruption
- tho Indian con'edcracy Great Eritalh "mPu"S
many Of the indians 70 leave th"lr ancestral H"'"o
I'm Middle Ncw-York by offering tl'm 'hc h''''''
on the Grand River In CANADA. Inc Ilu''"S "''
remained In the state have gradually adop'ou ''''
p,l-,col WAYS Of their white ncighbor' but In CANADA
,c I'D constitution Of tho con.cderacy. conceived py
,L ycr,l'n Ilawaha u,dlncl In some par'lc"iarS'
f. iii in force Clicf Joan Buck was strong prop
ia NH, ding that venerable and rcnnrKaoic CUNT
In tie council he bore H." till" Of sHahh"au hHom'
the swamp which has been hereditary IN MS I"'''
.Ince Tho days 0, Iuawathn. II MAS borne 10y on" o,
the first nftv senators Of the Great league, anu
,,, ,no others /, .iu invoked In sort OF MANY
With which t1o uturcical portion OF TIE ceremony u
III. C,ndol,ng Cornell closes
t.,, o, Ions, ,osr generations his family has hech
iu,rn.iod with the custody u the wahp"h' l'''"
~ re * Nations. AT least taat portion "' ."."'
carried over ~ Canada FOR " would Seem '"h' d" -
un,c f., IA. separation n little more than a century
ago The hclf, which prcs"rve the r"'"ruS VI ,,
1t. made Win surrounding tribes were oN"'"
,ctv ron those who went to Canada ana u'Se WIN
remained In Ncw-Yorh state. 49,,
,hl,f Buck WIS about s"vcn'y'hve years o'u' an
. man q abstcmiois hnbi's ana uns"eFvAmr pro"S,
H.. ,,s n medicine man, rs wcll rs heh oh'l anu
rr.,lor and while he pracils,d with smpieN ana
nne,c m. horclv methods Of s1vage surgery Il" pr'p
ahly retained some %, tho ancient Deh'l "l ius iPO
I'm Tie virtue Of incan'at,ons and talIshihh'. Nv was
, mean n ric,d adhcrcnt 0f the ancient rcls'oh o".
10 lovclicr tribute to a mans WoN 'ou'u " i ,,
thuu was contained IN the pra's' bc'to~~i upon h'"
81, N,ha,,k ,nairon, a woman ~ refinement anu
.,,co,ou and a d-vout member OF the English 'hurcn
who -1.,se 10 mo almost with tears III nor '"'' u
the sweetness OF his character ana the uhlN''n"' low
fol, for him Oh the Ecseryc. A. maj 'riD"'c l"
u,lc', look already cited. prccing IT with two en-
r;anotorv nctcs viz, the "Kanons!onni' were the
m.ulcrs Of the lroqu0i, League and "scanda"su Is
,e lluron form III the name borne 10y JoNn Buck III
council.
a striking instance, given in the Relations oi
in. Jesuit ms .ionarlc, among The luhI, has been
Third chapter OF nj, Jcsuits In Nort! Auerica, AMI
cannes bc letter toll than I'm his words In ne ycnF
1913. during the desperate war beIw'h u,r nn'o -,
,lcnnl and u, Iurons, The Onohdaen, ue.h na1
ccivcd from their Northern foes 'Ihey chGe IH
their envoy continues the historian, 5candnWat.
lmn c'lIengncs III, old onondaga entered hi,
mission With troubled mind HIS anxiety Was ho'
20 much for his life fIr his honor ahd dignity lW'
while the oncidas and toynra, were acting III Icon, con,
with the cnondna+ inc s'ncsaS laa ren sex,
w rr FORGET the Consideration due to one whose
assault the Iinrons While h" was among them IN ne
character Of ambassador OF hls nation, whereby
hi, honor would be compromised and MS NE rndai
gcrcd ~ am not dead dog b. said. " TO he DE-
,hould turn their eyes while am among enc
mics, and do nothing that may Involve N" in danger.
nhctic heart Of the old chief had no, deceived him
The scaca, ana Molawls, dlsrcgariing nrto'ia ems
which they had nc part and r.solyrd to bilHs them
io\ n end. wcro Invading tl" country III force. .
II might be thought that the ilnrons would take
their revenge on the Onondaga cuYoyS, now I"S'asS
among them but they did do for the character
Of ambassador was for tac mo:l r@r' GIld ,a%
disappeared. They were full Of "Ndt"mrnt Tor they
thought that he had escaped To the enemy. Ih.y
ranged The woods In search Of him. and IL length
found him IN "A thlckct near H." town. llc lay dead,
on n bed of spruce boughs Which he had manc, ms
throat docIIy eashcd with knife. lie had died by
iis own hand II victim OF mortified pride. see.
writes Father Ragucncan. chow much our Indians
stand on their point Of honor -.
II 1, worthy ~ note that the same aptitude Tor
nfrnrs and tnr s.unc keen of honor which dis
fiurnishcd this hgh-sprltcd chief. survives In the
member OF his family who. on the CANADIAN RcScr.a-
tIon now bears the utlc-Chlef John Buck
vrhnm his white nclglIbors all admit 10 hc both n
enable ruler and able and trustworthy ncgoai9r.'
New York. March -: l-iJ H. }" ~