Perth Amboy evening news., 1906-12-06
ARMOR TELLS STORY
Ancient War Clothes and Weapons
Found in Siberia.

SEATTLE, Dec. GA tragedy OF
! the far n~orthland centers about two
suits of ancient French armor
brought to this city by John ]. Haug-
an, from Anadir, Siberia. The suits
are to be donated by Haugan to the
French museum, but will be exhibit
ed first at the acknowledgements
Exposition, which is to be held in
Seattle in the summe of 1909 to ex-
plot the resources of the Northland.
The suits of mail were bought by
Haugan from Siberian natives. Old
Panganto, wrinkled and bony patri-
arch of the Chucchas, related to
Hangar the following legend:
Many, many summers ago, A
great horde of strange men came to
the shores of my fathers in a big
winged ship. The men soon began to
kill my fathers people and to slaugh-
ter their game. My fathers rose zip
against them many times and were
beaten back, for the men devils wore
charmed coats. The walrus came and
went twenty times while the devil
men stayed. At last my fathers
people rose In great numbers, and
completely surrounded the devil men.
For many days the battle ragged. The
arrows of my fathers had nc effect on
the charmer coats. But at last they
closed in and fought them hand to
hand, and killed all the devil men ex-
cept two. One was bound and placed
on a high mound. The other was
bound round the wrists with along
thong of walrus hide and was pulled
rapidly ove the SHOWS and ragged.
jagged, cruel ice. Three times he
was hauled around the mound on
which the captive brother stood, and
at the end of the journey he was q
senseless mass of quivering iesh.
Then my fathers took the other can
tive and put him on his ship and told
him TO go back to his people and
warn them lever to trouble the world
of ice again."
The outfits which Haugan bought
from the natives consist of two suits
of mail, two shields, two helmets.
and bows and arrows. The mail con-
sists of thin pieces of hammered
steel, bound together with leather
thongs, and big enough to pro1ect
the warrior from chest to knees. The
shields are of hardwood, covered with
walrus hide and embellished with
heraldic symbols burned in with q
hot iron. The helmets are made cf
long, hammered steel strips, with
flaps to protect the ears.
The bows are about four feet long,
and made of several kinds of wood
intricately inlaid and wrapped with
cord. They are capable of hurting
the long, heavy rro 200 yards and
embedding them four inches in wood.
The quivers are of walrus skin. The
whole outfit is light and responds
readily to the movements of the
body.
Fastened to one of the helmets are
a number of French coins OF small
denominations. On one side of these
is the latin inscription "Lud X Wi
Quid. G. Rex FIR. ct Nav.." which is
translated. Louis XVI, by the Grace
OF God, King of France and Nav
ARE" From which it is figured that
the warriors who wore the mail were
archers of louis XVI, considered the
best fighters of their class in Europe.
The Northland contains a wealth
oil ancient relics of rare historic In
terest and these are being collected
for exhibition at the Alaska-Yukon-
Pacific exposition of 1909. 1t is in
tended that the displays from Alaska
and Yukon shall make the fair un.
iquely interesting.