Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-09
WHO OWNS THE BELTS
INTERESTING CASE BEFORE THE
SUPREME COURT.
Argument Completed Today-Practiees
and History of the Six
Nations.

A case Of historical interest affecting the
ownership Of wamDum belts of the Onon-
daga tribe of Indians. on which are traced
In cabalistic characters records of the sign
ing of famous treaties. is before the United
States Supreme Court. Arguments In the
case were completed today
Purchase Of the Belts.
In 1891 Gen. Henry B. Darlington Of the
United states regular army purchased from
Thomas Webster, a member Of the Onon-
daga tribe Of Indians, living on the Onon-
daga reservation in New York state, four
'wampum belts" General Darlington sold
them to DR.. Oliver Crane about q year
later. and DR.. Crane In turn sold them in
1888 to John Boyd Thaeher. The entire
case rests upon the right OF the Indian
Webster to sell the wampum belts. Re-
Gently the confederation of Indians con-
ststing Of the Onondagas. the Seneeas and
the Cayugas adopted a resolution present.
ing these wampum belts te the University
of the State Of New York. They were in
the possession Of John Boyd Thacher. who
PAID $500 for them, and had no thought of
parting with them. 1t vas claimed on tfs
part of the tribes that Webster at the time
he sold the relics was acting in the capacity
OF wampum keeper and that they belonged
to the tribe. General Darlington paid him
$15 for them. and year later sold them
for $3.50, an advance in the price Of $3.50
additional being given for them by Mr..
Thacher.
One Of the contentious that has been
brought before the court is that the action
cannot hold, as the Onondagas no longer
form q tribe. The supreme court Of the
state of New York has sustained the own
ershfp Of John Boyd Thacher OF the wam-
United States Supreme Court on behalf of
the University of the State of New York.
The Six Nations.
rI,o
which it is claimed these wampum belts
belonged consisted OF FIVE tribes or ma
tons of Indians known as the Mohawks,
Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas,
and 1t Is referred to In history as the
League of the Five Nations" About 17l3
another tribe. known as the Tuscaroras
was received into the confederaey. which
Six Nations" 1t is said that certain of the
waMpum belts constituting the subject
matter OF the controversy are q part of the
HISTORICAL records and archives Of the con-
federacy. and for that reason are inaliena-
Die. According to Indian tradition records
OF historical events among the Iroouofs In
dams were perpetuated by a mysterious
Kind OF process whereby that which was
TAXED into the WaHpum was afterWard
talked out again by the belt itself when
the record or proof of that event was need
ed These belts consist Of strings of wan
pun eeads or shells braided or pleated to-
gether in broad bands
There is nothing In the texture of the
belts or the arrangement Of the beads of
which they are composed to Indicate that
there are embodied in them any word signs.
which. II read by an Interpreter having
knowledge Of the meaning Of the separate
signs. could convey to his hearers an intel
ngent understanding Of the records. It was
Claimed that it was the duty of the wan
pun keeper to remember and to tell upon
occasion what occurred at the time of the
making Of each belt. 1t Is claimed that the
record OF the treaty of the United States
with the Iroquois made In 1874 SO far as the
record OF the Indians is concerned is con-
tained on one Of the wampum belts In eues-
ton The copy Of that treaty in English
Is In the office of the Secretary of State.