The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-28
LLPETER'S CROWN SECURED
ANCIENT HEADPIECE OF SENECA
CHIEF IN STATE MUSEUM.
jealousy Guarded by Rla Descendants for
Centuries. but Let Go FOR the Original
Price OF Manhattan Island-Was a
Charm When He Fought In War OF lSI2.

Centuries, but Let Go FOR the original
Price OF Manhattan Island-Was a
Charm When He Fought In War OF lSI2.
The New York State Museum at Albany
has Just acquired the crown NJ Tall Peter,
the elder, one Of the early chiefs of the
Sene ca -~Iroquois Indians. In view Of the
fact that collectors Of Indian relics for
more than fifty years have been seeking to
acquire the famous Tall Peter crown the
officials Of the museum consider II most
fortunate that this last ~headpieca OF the
aboriginal emperors Of the Empire State
has come into the possession Of the State,
Thie coronet of the red chief has been
preserved with religious care by his de-
scendants for several generations. Even
Mrs. Converse. the white woman chief of
the New York State IroQuois, whose in
luence among the red men was paramount,
was unable to coax Tall Peters crown from
it's Jealous custodian. II was a sacred
possession, the last Of its kind, the last
symbol of chiefta inship,
1t would be interesting to know. there
fore, what induced its owner the other day
TO part with his treasure for so small an
amount as the original price of Manhattan.
But even the aborigines. now that their
RdIDt, liltl lpiCSit dilA NI+iiPAiAi ~ SN-Nf
appreciate the usefulness of dollars and
cents.
Careful inquiry has brought to light some
interesting facts relating to this Tall Peter
and his crown. In the memorable year
1870 Noh-ka- ga -ah of the Turtle clan, or
Tall Peter. as the white people afterward
called him, was born In a bark lodge on the
banks of the Cattaraugus, near Lake Erie.
His mothers father had been a war chief,
and he therefore was heir to the office.
When he reached maturity the women
nominated him and the warriors elected
him war chief Of the Senecas. 1t was then
that his grandmother placed upon his head
the crown which he afterward wore on all
ceremonial occasions,
That the democratic ~Iroouois ever wore
crowns is news to many, and yet ever since
| the advent Of the white man mp TO within
twenty-five yesrs they have worn silver
| crowns and decorations Money to them
was an incomprehensible commodity; VAN
! pun was their almighty medium OF ,eN,,
change. But to the savage everything had
utility, so the New York savages hammered
their silver into symbolic brooches and
With the increased influx Of money and the
! depreciation of wampum a mans wealth
was determined by tHe dhiOunh vi Si'ti. hc
could fasten upon his buckskins, and it is a
tradition that Tall Peter could cover his
~broadcloth costume with brooches 80 thickly
hat he looked as if covered with the scales
Of a fish. Above this glittering suit, resting
upon his raven locks, was his crown. its
curiously craven lines symbolizing his
Office.
Although still smarting under the effects
of Sullivan's campaign, when the war OF
1872 broke. out the New York Indians offered
their services to the United States. Some
enlisted in the Regular army, but most OF
them, many women, too, fought as allies,
Tall Peter, being,a wal captain, donned his
crown and led his company against the
British. His shining crown made him the
mark of hostile bullets, but he believed It a
charm, for he emerged from the war with
out a scratch. He was discharged from
the army in Buffalo.
Some Of his compstriots had rather
strange names, and the roster of Indian
veterans Of the War Of 1872 brings TO light
such names as Old Fish Hook, Tall Chief
Straight Back, George Washington, Corn
Planter, Red Jacket, One Hundred, Two
Guns, twenty Canoes, Heap Of Dogs and
DEVILS Ram Rod.