New-York tribune., 1902-10-12
THE CANNIBAL SERIS.
EXPEDITION To CONQUER THESE MA
TIVES OF TIBURON ISLAND. IN THE
GULF OF CALIFORNIA

Washington. oct 11.-Dr. Fernando Herman
de-, physician author and scientist, Of Mexico,
recently came 10 this country to represent his
government at the coffee convention Of the
American republics. held in New-York City, and
90 present 10 Professor W. ]. MCGEE. Of the
Bureau OF American Ethnology official copy
of MeXco's latest contribution to the study of
the aboriginal tribes Of America.
The presentation was made in recognition of
Professor McGee's work among the Seri Indians
on Tburon Island, a Mexican possession lying
in the Gulf Of California
The book is issued under the especial patron
age Of President Diaz. \ marked feature Of II
IS the exhaustive treatise on the Yalui and Seri
tribes which calls the attention Of the civilized
world 10 the fact that, strange as it may seem.
cannbals still 1--we and thrive within a few miles
Of Americas shore.
simultaneously with the appearance 81 ths
chronological report. expedition has been or
Fanized in Mexico against this last hit ~ can
nibalism IN the Western Hemisphere. \ bo!i.r
adventure has seldom been planned thau thar
which Arizona Charlie IS leading against this
alleged bloodthirsty and non-progrrs~iv. T-o-
pie. Charles Meadows the leader f. known
in private life was born on the frontier. This
former government scout. Southwest cow boy.
Indian fighter Alaska gold digger may hy right
of conquest be King ~ Tiburon" Win him on
the expedition have gone forty wealthy pros
pectors and frontiersruen and a band 81 needy
adventurers. ready 10 shoot Indians all day 10
anybody Will pay them 4 veritable little bat
tleship has been fitted out for their use supplied
with stores and prov yisions sufficient for a cruis.
OF several months.
With a provisional deed FOR the island from
the Mexican Government 90 the leader and a fun
outfit Of revolvers. hunting knives and rifle
the party has started literally ARMED 10 the
teeth" prepared II need be 10 fight inch 10y inch
for the possession ~ a land which from time i'm
memorial has been the home of an independent
people Their object is 10 auuihilate the natives
prospect the mountains for reported rich
minerals, and If not successful in this TO cstat-
lish there great stock raising industry
Tiburon Island lies ia the Gulf Of California
midway between the shores 81 Lower California
and Mexico II is thirty miles in length. from
eighteen to twenty mI-s in width and contains
nearly %hhWn acres Of broken OF mountainous
land II must have "a plentiful sprinklinr Of
gold silver and copper, Judging from the mug
gels brought from the island by women ana
children who trade among the settlers near Her
UHsiIIo.
lhr"uEh the years since Cortez made Mexico
- IniSh, while European civilization has sought
'ai and made its way into every nook and cor
n"r Of the continent. the Seri Indians alone
htN" dehed an cn,roachmeuts on their domain
N"minally. the island of Tihuron belongs to
Mexico but If possession is nine points of the
la" it is the property OF the Seri tribes. Ger
fanny the latter own no allegiance to President
hiaz' and pay no tribute to his government.
They are. In short, as unconquered day as
They were three centuries ago