The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-06-13


peIIed-Hunt and Fish for Liv-
Ing.
From the Brooklyn Eagle.
OF the hundred OF more visiting shad
fishermen along the Fort Hamilton shores,
there is none more interesting than the
half-dozeu in the little hut under the
bank at the foot Of Third avenue. They
are Indians Of the bluest blood. all of
them belonging 10 the Pamunkey tribe,
nneal descendants Of the OLD POwhatans
Of the days Of Capt John Smith and Poca-
hontas. The Pamunkey Indians are but
little known, though they once formed one
Of the largest and most powerful tribes
in America. What few are left have
settlement, called Indian Town, in King
William county, Virginia. So exclusive
has tits band of Aborigines been, and so
unmiXcd through centuries with any other
strain, that they are gradually becoming
extinct. There are not more than ninety
Of them left, and they all live at the set
tlement in Virginia. This reservation.
which comprises about $50 acres, was coded
to them by the ancient colonial assembly
Of Virginia. One-third of il is good farm
ing land and the remainder consists of
woods anu low swamps, well stocked with
deer. wild geese, ducks. and turkeys, rae
coons, otter, muskrats. mink ana reed
birds. John Brady, who is boss fisherman
a the fort. is a cousin to c. 5. Brady, the
present chief of the tribe. Some of the
other fishermen are also named Brady
and are kin. Two Of Johns brothers. who
followed the shad up here for many years,
are missed this season. having succumbed
to fatal illness last winter. The men here
this winter are Capt. John Brady, W. S.
Brady, d. G. Brady, ]. T. DENIES,
Thomas Almond and Silas Langstone
The fisherman's hut on the shore is a
very primitive affair. 1t was built of
rough boards nearly ten years ago, and
about the only repairing that has since
been made is to recover the roof with
tar paper. Inquisitive boys have enlarged
some of the crevices with the aid of their
jack-knives. and over these pieces OF tin
or small boards have been nailed. The
men sleep ia shelf-like hunks and one
small stove Is used for both cooking aud
heating. Though they have been coming
to this neighborhood for years, they have
made few personal friends. They speak
good English, wear civilians clothes and
do not attract particular attention when
they appear in the village. They are very
modest and unassuming. and are reluc-
tant TO talk. particularly about them
selves. They work as though unmindful
of anybody's presence but their own. and
each knows so well what is expected of
him that there is scarcely ever an order
given. Capt. Brady is looked upon as the
leader, and every respect is shown him.
They are known all over town as the In
dams, which name alone proves sort of a
magnet to the small boy Of the place.
There are always at least a half a dozen
lettering about the hut, looking on with
admiring eyes. The stay of the Indians
here is limited to the period when shad are
running lively in the bag. They will fol-
low the fish up the Hudson, and their
camping ground will be at Rhineclin.
Capt. Bradley and his men have been
coming here for twelve years. 1t will be
about the middle of June before they re-
turn.
An uncle of the captain is Sterling
Y. Sampson, direct descendant of the
great Indian chief Powhatan, on his
mothers side. Mr.. Sampson visited Fort
Hamilton one day last week. He is tall,
was we'll dressed, and is most unassum-
ing in manner. He is employed on the
Pennsylvania railroad in the summer, and
he spends the winters at the reservation.
His mother and one brother are living.
The mother is SIS years of age, and there
is scarcely a woman in the whole state
of Virginia that is more respected. Her
maiden name was Wynn. She often re-
ceives visits from the members of the first
families in the state, and the highest OFF,
Gals, including the governor, pay her
as the first families in the settlement.
Sterling Sampson has the largest plot of
land on the reservation, 125 acres. c. l..
Sampson is one of the councilmen of the
town, and he is president of the local
stock company that owns the only store
in the place There is a general merchan-
disc shop where anything can be bought
from a needle to a,plow.
An Eagle reporter happened to meet
Mr.. Sampson while he was at Fort Ham
ilton, and from him he obtained the fol-
lowing details of how these interesting
Pamunkey Indians live when at home:
Indian Town is historically situated.
1t forms a very small part of the once
immense possessions owned by the Pa
munkeys centuries ago, when the tribe
was powerful and large. 1t is one mile
east of the historic white house where
George Washington was married. The
settlement is on an oddly formed neck
of land, that is connected with the main
land by narrow strip of sand. There