The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-20
SOME ODD THINGS
TEN THOUSAND WOODEN INDIANS
DOING DUTY IN NEW
YORK CITY
ARE GUARDING CIGAR STORES
More Redskins of This Variety in
the Country Than Are Living
at Present on the Res
eFVatiOns.

A census Of the wooden Indians
throughout this country has never been
taken. 1t is estimated, however, says
the New York Commercial Advertiser,
that the number of white pine" sayages
guarding the various cigar stores with
hatchets and other instruments of Of
Tense and defense is in excess of the en-
tire redskin population of the govern
ment reservations. In this city alone
there are said to be at least 10000 of the
race.
These Indians, like the original tribes
of aborigines, are of various sizes and
descriptions, and range in price from
small Indian hunter bringing $25 to the
big chief, Furnishing a tomahawk, that
sells for $3.50. There are a few made of
metal, and these are somewhat more ex-
pensive, bringing from $40 to $175, accord
ing to the size The old wooden warrior,
however, smoking the pipe of peace, or
Hiawatha, with his arrows, is considered
just as good as a metal brave" and ac-
cording to the maker lasts with ordinary
care-that is with a little fresh paint now
and then-about fifty years, or, generally
speaking, a lifetime 1t may be added
that the aboriginal Indian also liked paint
and generally lasted a lifetime, points of
similarity that may well be noted. OF
late some sentiment has crept into the
business of carving these figures, and
lovely Minnehahas and Pocahontases
have been the result. Minnehaha may
be seen shading her eyes with one hand,
while shawl hangs over the left arm,
and the left hand holds a bow of arrows
Pocahontas was copied from the pictures,
hut is not saving Capt. Smith, as might
be suggested. She is generally presenting
some tobacco to the passing pedestrian.
There is not the business done in these
fICTlgPS that fhppa 10 bap cot
old wood carver, whom the cigar trade
calls the Indian" 81 am the only one
left in Manhattan out of six or seven
For thirty-seven years I have been at
this work, having taken during the
early days, a nine-year course of study
at the old Academy of Design During
my time I have made all kinds of figures,
including the fancy figureheads that are
placed at the bows of sailing vessels.
This business. however, has played out,
because most of the steamers have
straight bows now. and the sailing yes
sells that possess figureheads are no longer
built here For twenty long years I sup
piled P. T. Barnum with all the cherubs.
reptiles, elephants and liberty statues
used on his circus tableau wagons At
one time sent seventeen Indians, black
boys, Scotchmen and the like to New Zea-
land, all on one order, and at another
0AA AAASi "SA0 S0hC " AUS
tralia. There are still some wooden men
living here. The export trade also has
died out. still have a demand for about
200 figures each year, which keeps me
busy. Occasionally some one wants a
King Gambrinus the one who invented
lager beer, to be placed before a liquor
store, and there is some demand for
eagles, ranging in price from $25 to SIS.
All the work is done by hand, and each
figure is hewn out of Canadian or Michi-
gan white pine. Nothing is added to the
solid piece except the arms and the like.
This indian here" and he pointed to a
savage he was just finishing, has in his
hand an old musket from the Philippines.