The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-17
Dooron HAD oonoNnHs sAxor1oN.
A Mount Vernon Ofncial Allowed DIR. Boas
to Take Altimnhoke,s Body to Disseot.

The legality OF the proceedings by which the
body OF the little Esduimau girl. Altimahoke.
who died last week in Mount Vernon. was sent
to the College OF Physicians and Surgeons for
dissection was defended yesterday by both DIR.
Franz Boas. who caused II to be sent. and DIR.
j. b. Gallaudct. the acting head Of the Anatom-
zeal Board OF the college
The college authorities have not been in
clnsd to divulge the name OF the physician
who had the body sent TO the college. but 1t
was learned yesterday that the girls body was
secured by DR.. Boas The latter Is n curator
In the American Museum OF Natural History
and is also a lecturer on physical anthropology
at Columbia University. As was told in The
Sun yesterday. he is not directly connected
with the College OF Physicians and Surgeons.
DR.. Boas said last night that the body had
been sent through the proper channels.
In the first place." he said. the report In
the Tribune that the girl was one Of Peary's
Esquimaux is false. The girl was one Of FAM
ily OF small children that Capt. Bruce brought
here from Alaska. The children were taken to
Mornt Vernon and recently this one deyel-
cped consumption. When he placed her in tho
santarium in which she died Capt. Bruce was
aware that she cou not recover. nor could she
"JHst before fr Il the chids death Capt Bruce
decided to return 70 Alaska. Before doing SO
ne came can to n asked o me II in tn the event bs
interest OF science to have the body
go to some college. thought the idea an ex-
cellent one but Cant. Bruce forgot to make any
written provision regarding the matter When
heard OF the Esquimau's death. however
Immediately wrote to Coroner Banning OF
Mount Vernon about my conversation with the
Captain and asked him to send the body to the
College OF Physicians and Surgeons-which he
did. There were no friends to claim the body.
and 1t would have been buried in the paupers'
field. have no further interest in the matter
myself. nor do / know Just what the college
authorities may decide to do with 1t, but post
norton examination In this case would be an
interesting one for science generally. and
would also be Of value az a means OF proving
that Esquimaux cannot live In this climate
DR.. Galaudet. who is the assistant OF DR..
George s. Huntington, professor OF anatomy
at the college. said that he did not know before
the fact was published in the newspapers that
the body had been sent to the college by DR..
Boas.
but have no doubt" he added. that the
body arrived there with Coroner Bannings
permission and in such q case the question Of
illeGality cannot be raised. Bodies in the city
have to come to us from the Morgue. generally.
but In the case Of those out of town the Cor
oner by law directs to where they shall go.
Nothing can be done with the body until DR..
Huntington returns as dissections have to have
his expressed permission. In the meantime it
has been put in cold storage"
Prof Putnam Of the Anthropological Depart
ment OF the Natural History Museum has de-
MED the original report that it was intended to
have the body embalmed and to mako u
mummy OF 1t for the museum.