New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-12-04
SEE INDIANS LONG GONE
Natural History Museum Shows
Group at PotIatch Ceremony.
TEN FIGURES IN PLACE
Chilcats Appear as They Did on
Pacific Coast One Hundred
Years Ago.

There may be few persons in New York
City unfamiliar with what band OF North
Pacific Coast Indians looked like one hun
dred years ago when about to enjoy the
ceremony Of the potlatch- A circurscrihed
number there may also be who do not
know what the ceremony Of the potlatch
would resemble at any time 1t Is sun
being performed. but the physique. garo
but whose chief pride century ago was
10 be present u the latest fashion as TO
point and birds down at the potiatch fes-
tivities, may be seen IN the American
Museum Of Natural History.
The sl1a-foot ceremonial Haida canoe IN
the north hall is being rapidly loaded Win
Chiicat Indians. There are already ten u
these figures in place and there VIII o7
forty IN all The conception is that OF fhe
director, Hermon c. Bumpus Inc super
vision of scientific details is under Lieu
tenant George T. Ernmons, and the 'eCh-
meal work is being carried out py Slsu
Neandross, the sculptor
The notIatch is still considerable Of q
social function among the Indians along Inc
North Pacific Coast, from the STRAIT o.
Fr1ca to the vicinity Of Mount ST hhas
Some of it's oIdtirne glories have vanished
In other days the Ihnklts nau iAo.''
.,sves who paddIed the war canoes to the
scene Of the potlatch- but were not per
-,,-+ad n take part in the ceremonies be-
rsuse they were sacrificed Just aooul inc
ho,,r when things were becoming enjoyable
,-a-,-osnnfinP these
fortunate slaves. as we'll as one to show
how the Heap Big CHIEF could ana oio
.couy1 from, the stern of the canoe are now
on exhibition.
The canoe is supposed to have reached
Tho surf If the beach. being kept IN posi-
ton there by the paddlers holding water.
.t. +be ceremonial speeches and dances
are going on
Mr. Neandross said yesterday that IN
the matter of dressing the figures it was
soon found that plaster alone was TOO
brittle and that for clothing or regalia (the
Big Chief was strong on regalia) each
gpecirnen must have different treatment.
EVERYTHING has to be reproduced, for II
real furs and masks we're used few years
Of exposure In the museum would mean
great deterioration in value Of some of its
richest possessions. Mr.. Neandross has de-
vised a method Of reproduction. Woven
cloth and skins are copied in burlap or
caracas CLOTH which. dipped in warm
solution of glue water, is hung upon the
plaster figure and allowed to stifen there
after an adjustment in a natural arrange
nent Of folds corresponding to pose and
action.
Stokes's E.sduirnau paintings are TO be
seen on the wall at the far end Of the
north hall. Mural canvases Of North Pacl-
hc Indians are in preparation by VIII s.
Taylor to take position in the spaces be
tween the windows at right and left:
totem poles set to form sections represent
alive Of the various tribes and the great
ceremonial canoe are in the centre. The ar
rsngement of the technical exhibits In the
cases is the work Of Harlan L Smith. as
sociate curator IN the Department Of An
thropology. Entering the north hall from
the south the visitor will exhibits of
the habits and dress Of the various Indian
tribes Of the North Pacific Coast displayed
IN the same order as the tribes are to be
found while travelling north
The story of the great canoes Journey
to New York. where 1t has rested in care
of the American Museum since 1883, is as
follows: It was padded by Haida Indians
70 Victoria carried by schooner to Port