The Tucson citizen., 1902-10-01
GREWSOME INDIAN CHARM
Its Loss Led the Cheyenne Braves
TO Leave the Warpath.

30 Leave the Warpath.
OF all the grewsome things In the
National museum the necklace present
ed several years ago by Captain John
G. Burke Of the United States army
stands uncQualed as Il monument to
Indian cruelty anu superstition. This
necklace consists first of all of long
bucksllin cord made by rolling I'D a
large strip of skin and sewing it along
the border so that throughout it's en-.
tire length it will measure something
over an in.h in circumference, or about
third of an inch in diameter. This
cylinder of buckskin is covered with
beadwork so that no part of the skin Is
exposed. The beads are SeWed on in
rather tasteful patterns, the colors Of
which are white and blue. A thin buck
skin string is attached to either end Of
this thick, bead incrusted cord, by
means of which the cylinder Is tied
about the neck of the wearer.
Hanging from the underside of this
necklace and running throughout it's
entire length are twelve human fingers
and several small flint arrowheads of
peculiar shape and workmanship at
tached by bucksliin strings. In the
middle of the necklace depend three
small medicine bags made of the
tanned hide or skin Of human beings
These bags contain charm stones and
other paraphernalia of the medicine
man.
The human fingers forming the most
conspicuous feature Of the necklace,
are complete, having been cut of be-
tween the middle joint and the knuc.
kle. They have been dried in such
manner as to preserve their natural
color, finger nails, etc, and look as
fresh as though they had been re.
moved only a few hours.
During General Crooks campaign
against the Sioux and Cbeyennes in
1876 the Fourth cavalry and a detach.
ment of Indian scouts under Colonel r.
I. Mackenzie surprised and stormed
the chief town and principal strong.
hold of the Cheyennes. During or
rather, after this engagement one of
the Indian scouts. Baptiste Pouvier.
better known as Big Bat, entered the
lodge Of the chief medicine man of the
deserted village. and among other
things that the medicine man had over.
looked in his hurried fight from the
town the scout found this curious neck
lace. Big Bat gave the necklace to
Colonel Burke. wig later turned it over
to student of Indian religions and su. |
perstitions, and he in turn presented II |
to the National museum.
Subsequently something of the his.
tory Of this necklace was learned. The |
fingers We're those of famous enemies |
noted for their superior courage and |
bravery whom the Cheyennes had
killed In battle during their various
wars, while the human skin Of which
the medicine bags were made was also
taken from the bodies of enemies slain
in battle. The necklace is very old and |
was looked upon by the Cheyennes az
a thing endowed with miraculous pow
ers Prior to it's capture by Big Bat II I
had belonged to q famous medicine
man of that tribe. who had never al Il
lowed any white man to lay eyes on it II
and its loss put very sudden and i
abrupt end to the Cheyenne war. The
tried hard to get 1t back.
q large sum of money and
great many horses for its return. but
this was refused. and since then the
Cheyennes have remained at peace
With the whites Washington Post.