The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-18
CONFISCATION OF RELICS.
Report Of n to the Hopi and zunI
Indian Pottery.

NEW YORK. Sept ls-The officials Of
the New York Museum Of Natural His
tory are not worrying over a story sent
out from Prescott, Ariz.. that the museum
was likely to have its collection Of Hopi
and Zuni Indian relics c0ufScated by the
Government The authority for the Pres
colt story appears 20 be s J. HolsinEer.
special agent Of the Interior Department
Mr. HolsiuEer has technical possession Of
all the Indian ruins in Arizona and he
holds them for the Government Mr. Hoi-
singer has sent a report 10 the Interior
Department at Washington, giving the
facts regarding the possession by various
Institutions Of certain Hopi and Zuni IN
dian pottery collections. Among the insti-
tutlonS referred 20 in his report are said
70 be the Field Columbian Museum OF
Chicago and the Museum Of Natural
HlSt0TJ IN New York When he was
asked about his report 20 the authorities
to have said.
i cannot tell what the Government
nay see mt TO do. ] have reported the
facts, and 1 should not be stIrDrised IN
GOnHScduOnS follow. In the case Of the
Fleid Columbian Museum. 1 have sufIici
eiI evidence TO show that the uOrrerv
was purchased from people who had
stolen II from the Government, legally
speaking
came into possession Of the collection Of
pottery owned by s. X Waltron Of HoI-
DrOok, Ariz-. which consisted Of about
d."g pieces Of pottery Of Zuni and Hopi
Ii is further stated that the HYDE ex-
petition, which was sent out from New
york under the auspices Of the Museum
or ,NaturPl History. has large quantity
Of material. which the museum has re-
FUSED 70 take, owing 70 the passage Of the
law which prohibits excavations in the
Zuni country except under Government
DIT Putnam. who has charge Of the
chronological department Of the New
1ork Museum. is now in California. Mar
When seen yesterday about the Prescott
Il do not think there IS any foundation
Tor H. at least for that part Of ii relat-
Ing 70 this institution. We have a very
fair collection Of Zuui and HOpi pottery
collected by the Hyde expedition. Il is
now being catalOgued- This collection
was obtained before the massage Of the
law prohibiting excavations on the reser-
Vatons- / don't think any attempt at
collections has been made since then The
hyde expedition was equipped by B. T.
BapplIt Hyde and r F. Hyde OF this
city The archaeological division Of il
was in charge of Mr. George Pepper of
this Institution. Mr.. Pepper has not been
with the expedition for some time past,
which leads me 20 conclude that little
In the line OF archaeological research has
been done by the expedition lately. Be
sides. I happen 10 know that lately the
Hyde brothers have become more inter
ested IN finding the Arizona Indians a
market for their handlwOrk than they
have been in making collections Of rel
les.
Il don't think il Is at all likely. IL any
event. that the United States Govern
ment has any intention Of COnhscating
collections now possessed by recognized
institutions On the contrary, I think il
quite probable that Institutions such as
the Field Columbian Museum and the MI
scum Of Natural History Of New York
would receive permission TO make eNca-
VatiOuS even now under proper reEula-
tons. The only purpose Of the law which
was passed was TO prevent vandalism"