The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-08-22

Jacket, for instance, is a lineal descendant
of the famous chief whose fervid oratory
used to illuminate our school readers, while
Chief Laporte comes of a family that has
been famous for centuries among his peo-
pie, and the doubly suggestive appellation
of Solomon O'Bail belongs to the grandson
of old Chief Cornplanter, who was a friend
Of George Washington. Chief Jack of the
Tuscaroras, the secretary Of the ~Iroquois, is
here, and also one of the champion runners
of b world, Deerfoot, who raced in Eng
land years ago, and whose record for an
hour has never been beaten.
The present civilization of the Six Nations
is very much the same as thatsof the rest Of
the people in New York state. They have
houses and schools like those Of their white
brethren, and many Of them attend Chris
tian churches of their own building. Some
of them still retain their primitive religion,
however, aRd a number Of the old cere-
monies, games and dances still survive, and
the visitor may witness in the Worlds fair
village the appeal to the Great Spirit, the
joyous festal ceremonial or the grim war
dance performed with the same fidelity to
history that characterizes the material
features of the place.
The Indians excel in the manufacture of
pottery, baskets and beaded embroideries
and are justiiably proud of their skill.
They make mats out of corn husks that
seem too good for ordinary uses, and their
fans and embroideries display considerable
artistic taste. They are allowed to sell their
wares, and their method of business seems
peculiar to people who have had experience
with other dealers in souvenirs and curios.
They are stolid and do not haggle. They
state their price and are apparently indiffer-
emit whether you take an article or leave it.
To the ethnologist the village presents
some rare food for reflection, and it is to be
found not only in the relics, customs and
ancient history, but also in the fact that the
Iroquois are the only Indians who have
come in close contact with civilization who
are numerically stronger today than they
were in the days when they possessed the
land.
The exhibitions of the United States life
saving service are especially interesting to
inland people. Those who live on seacoasts
have opportunities enough to familiarize
themselves with the maneuvers, though
of course there are thousands of them, too,
who know nothing of the service but what
they read. The exhibitions are given On
VIC AcAC VI III ichc JuS0 Ol-JHe uOTG0 Gnu
of the Manufactures building and are
valuable illustrations of the work and
worth of the service, though they lack the
impressive accomplishments of hurricane
winds and mountainous waves.
A mast is rugged up about 300 yards from
shore to do duty as a wreck, and a man
perched in the crosstrees is the person to be
saved. The Hfeboat, mounted on wheels,
is hurriedly drawn down the beach, hastily
launched and quickly rowed out to the
mast and back again. In illustrating the
use of the life line a small brass mortar is
used. A bomb from this carries out a line
that drops across the yardarm of the mast.
The shipwrecked man pulls on this, and
with it draws out a big rope, which he
fastens to the mast. Those on shore Their
tighten it up and send out the "breeches
buoy" which is something like a pair of
butternut canvas trousers mounted on a
hoop, and in this the man is hauled ashore.