The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1907-04-12
INDIAN BONES
NOT FOUND
Whereabouts of Remains of Tom
Tiger still a Mystery.
NOT AT SMITHSONIAN
Interesting Letter from the Smiths oman
Institute which puts Mr.. flOunoy
in a Bad Light.

The report having been published that
j. u. Flournoy. the man who robbed the
grave of Tom Tiger and carried away
the bones of this noted Indian chief, was
working in the interest of the Smith
sonan Institution of Washington, }. NJ.
Wilson, Jr., who Is recognized by the
Seminoles As one of their best friends
a nong the whites, took the matter up
and wrote the authorities of that insti-
tuition, and in reply received the fol-
lowing letter, which explains itself
Washington, ID. c. March q, 1907.
Mr.. 4. M. Wilson, Jr.
Secretary Society of Friends of Sem
mole Indians. Kissimmee. Fla.
Dear Sirs: Replying to your letter
of the oath, instant, beg to say that
about six weeks ago Mr.. John II.
Flournoy. about whom nothing is known
here, wrote to the national Museum and
offered to present certain Indian relics
which he had obtained in Florida, in
cl lding skeleton of an Okeeceobee
mt Seminole) chief. Assuming that
these objects were properly acquired
by him. he was notified that they would
be accepted. No further word or the
objects arriving, it has, therefore, been
supposed that he disposed of the relics
elsewhere. The heading of his letter
paper indicates that he is the secretary
an / general manager of an amusement
resort, called Island Park. at Johns,
town, Pa, and it is not impossible that
the relics were taken there.
Although find that the name Of the
chief was mentioned in Mr. Flournoy's
letter, the fact that he spoke of him as
bel )nging to the extinct OkeechObee
tribe entirely msled the Museum au
tn ,rities who did not associate him with
the Seminole Captain Tom Tiger, about
whom so much has lately been printed
in the papers until the receipt of your
letter today.
cannot express too strongly my
adherence of the act of Mr. Flournoy,
whose dissertation of this grave con-
slider outrageous and sacreligious. The
man had no connection with this mus
cum, or any branch of the Smithsonian
Institution, as he seems to have claimed
several weeks before he sent in his
letter.
You can readily understand, therefore
that the museum will be only too glad
to cooperate with your Society in Sc
curing the return of the remains and
of any objects that may have been
TAX N with them from the grave. II
they should be received at the museum
the will be promptly returned to
Florida.
have forwarded your letter to Mr.,
Flournoy at the address given III his
lett ar, viz, Box 53l, Johnstown, Pa,
and have also written him.
II listing that this unfortunate matter
may soon be satisfactorily adjusted, !
an, dear Sir, Very truly yours
X. RATHBUN.
Assistant Secretary in charge of Ma
tional Museum.
Just before going to press Mr., Will
son showed us letter from Flounoy
which we regret came too late for rs
to publish. In this letter Flournoy dis
claims any intention of wrongdoing and
saws he purchased lot of Indian relics,
for which he paid Sl7 while on his visit
to the Everglades, and if there is any
thing among them which he should not
| have he is willing to return same. He
| fails. however, to mention anything
about the bones of Tom Tiger, of which
he wrote the Smithsonian Institute and
rather beys the question by saying he
will be here some time in June, when
he will talk the matter over with Mr..
Wilson. Kissimmee Valley-Gazette.