The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-13

special characteristic or incident in his CT
her career For instance, one Of the
members of the community will be the
famous pilot of the Richelieu and Ontario
Navigation Company. who for many years
guided the steamers of this st. Lawrence
line through the dangerous Lachine Rap
ids Just above Montreal. This pilot, John
Louie, is a Mohawk from the St Regis
Reservation on the St Lawrence River,
which is one of the important Indian res
ervations on the Canadian border. Al
though seventy-four years old. he is still
as straight an arrow, is six feet 'aI,
and weighs $50 pounds.
The St Regis Reservation is closely as
sociated with the romantic annals Of this
region, with which all who are cogniZant
OF the leading facts of early American his
tory are familiar. The Indian tribes on
the border where the French and the En-
glish fought for possession one hundred
and fifty years ago and where since that
time, Great Britain and the United States
have struggled. have figured much in the
notable contests occurring at various pc
riods of its history. Many picturesque and
poetic associations cluster around the vi
cinity of this interesting village. one re-
lates to the recovery of the bell in he
Indian church on this reservation. which
several hundred years ago was captured
on lis way from Europe to the st. Regis
Indians by the colonists in Massachusetts.
The Indians organized an expedition and
| recovered their church bell from the Pu-
ritans of New England. but in so doing
mastered a large number of the Massa-
chusetts colonists. and captured others,
| from which some OF the present inhabi-
tants of the reservation are said to be de-
scended. The bell. which stll hangs in
the church tower. was thus recovered but
at the cost of several lives and much suf-
fering from the Puritan colonists OF Mass
achUsetts. The story illustrates the diff
Guilty even a Christian Indian experiences
in discarding the instincts Of his savage
ancestors. 1t is said that at the Fete
Dieu. when the Indians pass in procession
and kneel before the priests. one brave
upon recent occasion. being somewhat
filled with frewater. refused to kneel as
the rest did. until the marshal in charge
Of the ceremonies drew his sword and
slashed off the top of the Indians cap
when he Immediately became submissive
l enquired what would have been done
had be not then agreed to kneel. The re-
ply was that the next stroke OF the sword
would have taken off his scalp. l cannot
say how worthy of credence this story is.
but it illustrates the same ideal However
the st. Regis Indians, be It saidsto their
credit. are a very law-abiding and peace
full community. and indeed the same may
be said of the Indian reservations in New
York State. for statistics show that less
crime is committed in proportion to num-
bers. than In white communities in the
same vicinity.
Speaking of Canadian ethuology. it is in
teresting to note that the Ontario Gov
ernment has instructed Mr. David Boyle,
curator Of the Ontario Normal School Mu-
scum. in Toronto, TO prepare an archaeo-
logical exhibit for the Par-American Ex-
position. The collection in the normal
school is regarded as one OF the finest Of
its kind. not only in Canada. but on the
whole American Continent. 1t Is espe-
cially rich in Indian skulls, pottery. pa
pers, and relics. and souvenirs OF all the
aboriginal races of the Western Hemis-
phere, including tie Aztecs and Mound
Builders. EDWARD HALE BRUSH.