The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1902-08-01
GREWSOMe INDIAN CHARM.
Its Loss Led che Cheyenne Braves
to Leave the wnrpath.


or all the grewsOme things I'm the
National museum the necklace present
ed several years ago by Captain John
G.. Burke of the United States army
stands unequalcd rs . monument to
Indian cruelty ana superstition. This
necklace consists first OF all Of long
bucksliin cord made by rolling up Il
large strip OF skin and sewing 1t along
the border so that throughout It's en-
tire length IL will measure something
over an inch In circumference, or about
third Of an inch In diameter This
cylinder OF buckskn 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. \ thin buck
skin string is attached 10 either end Of
this thick, bead incrustcd cord, by
means of which the cylinder is tied
about the neck Of the wcarer.
Hanging from the undcrside of this
necklace and running throughout its
entire length are twelve human fingers
and several small flint arrowheads Of
peculiar shape and workmanship at
tached by buckskin 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 off be-
tween the middle joint and the knuc-
klc. They have been dried In such
manner rs TO preserve their natural
color, finger nails, etc, and look as
fresh as though they had been re-
moved only few hours
During General Crooks campaign
against the Sioux and Chcyenncs I'm
1876 the Fourth cavalry and n dctach-
ment OF Indian scouts under Colonel II.
c. Mackenzie surprised and stormcd
the chief town and principal strong
hold of the Chcycnnes. During or,
rather after this engagement one of
the Indian scouts. Baptiste pOuvicr.
better known as Rig 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, who later turned ii over
to student Of Indian religions and SUI
pcrstitions and he i'm turn presented il
to the National museum.
subsequently something of the his
tory Of this necklace was learned. The
fingers were those of famous enemies
noted for their superior courage and
bravery whom the Cheyennes had
killed I'm 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 as
a thing endowed with miraculous pow
ers, Prior TO It's capture by Big Bat 1t
had belonged 10 n famous medicine
man Of that tribe, who had never al
lowed any white man to lay eyes on IL.
and its loss put n very sudden and
abrupt end 10 the Cheyenne war. The
Chcyennes tried hard To get II back,
Offering n large sum Of money and a
great many horses for its return. but
this was refused, and since then the
Cheyennes have remained at peace
with the whites Washington Post.