Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1900-01-31
INTERESTING RELICS.
FINDS MADE BY PSYCHOLOGISTS
AT BROOKIN LAST YEAR.
THE SKELETON IN ARMoR--REMAINs
OF A HISTORIC RACE ON THE
HANCOCK COUNTY COAST.

Last summer THE AMERICAN reported
the finding of a skeleton In armor on one
OF the islands Ia Essemoggin reach, near
BROOKLYN. The article was widely copied,
and directed public attention to work
which has been qaietly carried on at
Brooklin for a few summer months dur
ing each OF the past three years by we'll
known ethuo,ogihts. 1t led to he further
announcement, ON the authority OF Frank
Hamilton Cushing, the eminent ethnolo-
gist of Smithsonian institution at Wash
ington that he had found on Campbell's
island the remains of a prehistoric race,
ante-dsting the Algonquin Indians by
many years.
These important liIds are OF particular
interest to the people OF Hancock county,
who will be Interested not only in
description OF the tinds themselves, but
in the men " 40 made them.
FRANK HAMILTON CUSHING.
The work at BROOKLYN was inaugurated
by Major j. w. Powell, chief OF the bu-
reau Of ethnology OF Smithsonian insti-
tuition at Washington, who has given II
much Of his personal attention, but the
work IL under the direct supervision OF
Frank Hamilton Cushing.
A representative of THE AMERICAN
called upon Mr.. Cushing at his BROOKLYN
home last fall. He found a courteous,
iet-spoken gentleman, full OF great
life. work In " hich he has already made
his mark, yet withai 40 unassuming In
speaking of II, that 1t Is with something
almost like an effort that one brings him
self to realize that the man before him,
still young man, has made discoveries
which have set the chronological world
sstir. and done much toward lifting the
veil which hides pre- historic America.
or his achievements MIR. Cushing speaks
with modcsty which Is almost aggravat-
ing to the newspaper interviewer.
Frank Hamilton Cushing has been con-
nected with the bureau OF ethnoiogy OF
Smithsonian institution for twenty years,
and has given his life to the work. To
study the customs, manners and work.
ings OF the Indian mind, he has lived
among them for years on equal terms.
This has given him an immense advantage
In his researches for remains OF extinct
tribes Of Indians, and enables him to read
volumes, that are closed to common eyes
in a simple stone, fragment OF pottery,
or a bit OF bone OF odd design.
In 1879 Mr. Cushinr accompanied Col
Stevenson OF the bureau of ethnology,
on the expedition to New Mexico o study
the cliff houses OF the ZJni Pueblo In
dams. He expected to be there three
months, but finding II impossible In that
time to obtain much knowledge of Inn
portance concerning the Indians, because
Of the suspicion with which they looked
upon strangers, Mr.. Cushing decided to
live among them on equal terms, and OBJ
tanning extended leave OF absence from
Smit hsouian, he took up his abode at the
home OF the governor OF Zuni, adopted
the dress, customs and simple life of the
Indians, ana endured with them the
hardships and privations OF their some
what primitive life. Tine Indians, with
the best OF intentions to make him a
good Zuni", took from him all his be-
longings of civilized life, except his in
valuable sketch book and note book
which they looked upon with supersti-
tious awe. II Is fortunate they did SO,
for 1t is largely through Mr.. Cushing's
sketches aud notes that the American
people have become SO intimately ac-
quainted with the Zuni Indians, now ac-
cepted by ethnoiogists rs the descendants
OF pre- historic elf d weiiers.
For three years Mr.. Cushing lived
among the Zuni Indians as one OF them,
and became 10 them 'the little brot her"
Later he was given the name OF Te- IA
tss-li, or "Medicine Flower, the name
being that OF plant reverenced by the
Indians, the extract from which was
looked upon as panacea for ali injur les
to the flesh OF man.
Mr.. Gushing made The discovery, which
was OF great chronological Importance,
that there existed among the Indians
thirteen orders or sociaties, come of them
esoteric, others less strict. Most power
full and perfectly organized of these is
that OF "The Priests of the Bow, which
in many respects resembles the masonic
order. There are twelve degrees, each
distinguished by distinctive badges. A
priest OF the bow is entitled to admittance
but a priest OF the bow can be admitted
to its own meetings.
For two years Mr.. Gushing tried to gain
admission TO this powerful order which
would give him great advantage in study
ing the peculiar rites Of the Indians, and
he finally succeeded. He says that his
experience IN being initiated TO the order
WAS the most interesting in his Zuni life.
As priest OF the bow, Mr.. Cushing be-
came powerful man in the tribe, and
was made a chief councillor of the ma
ton.
Mr.. Gushing has also explored extern
sively the Salado river of Arizona, with
b the first Hemingway expedition in
1867. In 1887 he discovered the "Seven
Cities OF Civola", of historic fame, and his