Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-08-30
THE CRABCLAWS TRIBE
Why These Cataragus Indians
Think They Have Been So
Horribly Afflicted.

Feeling which has been steadily
growing in Cattaragus county for some
time past may induce an appeal to
the legislature in the cause of hi.
mainly TO prevent the intormarriage
of the Crabcaws, Il community OF
about $50, living in one OF the mos,
picturesque spots in the valley, and
so end the spread of an alarming ana
hidcous deformity, says Buffalo
Dispatch to the New York World
The Crabclaws received their name
from the simple country folk about
from the formation of hands and feet.
which, lacking even the proportion OF
an animals paws resemble nothing
so much as the claws OF some falled
monster. The hands are eu,iipps I'd
with two stumps. which for want of
better word, are called fingers. The
feet extend on either side into what
might be the foundation of great
toe that had been cut off with some
blunt instrument But where they
nave been deprived of the normal uso,
OF these servants OF the body nature
mas stepped In to remedy the difficult
~ with her wonderful ingenuity.
These appalling haads from tho
Slsht of which children run screaming
WIN fright to the protection of Their
moihers' arms, are prchcnsilc. They
eaten themselves about an object with
inc same surety of hold as an Gle.
phanis trunk. Tho strange misshan.
en- feet share this peculiar ability
Their owners can climb like mon.
Keys. but they cannot walk like men.
Iheir gait is that of an animal with
none of its grace. They are creatures
oil blight that has endured-nav.
mas been Observation-Disclosures genera
lions. They have Rugged their main
TO their hearts till it has grown ana
prospcred
Inc Crabclaws are as rcscntfnl of
me curiosity of strangers about their
disbursement rs they are of The su
perstitious awe that attaches TO II
Yet none has tried to controvcrt tho
Sory OF the origin of this uncanny
heritage. One and all admit that il
mas come from the "Curse''-the curse
OF Il man foully done to death whose
uylng agony called forth the words
mat have wrought their mower
through many generations.
Ihcy speak of the curse with lntcd
breath. Briefly it is their family HE.
Tory, never written. but told to each
Oh thcIr descendants when they are
oid enough 10 understand. Just how
many years ago it happened none
VIII say, but it was before the wcst.
orh part of New York State was sot.
tied vas 'ct-
One dark night peddler travelling
through this region on horseback lost
HIS morse in trying 10 ford Cattoro,,
gus Creek. After the accident tho
man. drcnched an dshivering de-.
sccnded the cliff. A light shove
through the blackness. which nm
,icarcr approach was found I'm como
nun comfortable looking farm
mousse and he made his way thcrc
a powerfully built man of ohon,
Ih'rlyriivc invited him TO enter Tho
pchuier asked if he could hire n borso
10 rinc to Buffalo thirty miles oyvnv
put the farmer replied that none ol
nus own could be spared. though ba
anncd That he could probably find ono
at 4 ncishbor's The next mornjnr ia
ended by offering led for Tho nirht
when the pcddlcr gratefully accent.
In the kitchen. which he crossed tc
ne large room the man indicotod
'nc traveller noted roucb.Ioni,;nn
woman and fragile girl of about
s a,, with frightened eyes. who
n".'hk back when he bowed hs greet.
, ,nE. Eater story claimed that sh,
w"s nc daughter OF wealthy paronts
murdered for their money while driv
ti through the unlrcqucntcd ser
ihc pcddlcr was given sumner
''i, he ate sparingly and. worn on,
WIN me experiences of the day, wen,
at once TO bed. He was awakened