The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-07-26
BRIDGEPORT BOY
 SCOUTS VISIT CHIEF
 SCOUT SEXTON IN CAMP

On the 18th Sun of the Thunde
 Moon. there occurred at Wyndygou Cos Cob, one of those events whicl
 are unique, because they cannot b
 seen elsewhere, and famous, becaus
 the council fires of the Woodcraft In
 dians on the estate of MT. Ernes
 Thompson Seton are known in al
 quarters of the world, to those wh,
 are interested in historical ideals ant
 tradition, in the out door life. and ir
 the broadening of the physical, men
 tai and moral view point of the boys
 of our day.
 Mfr. Seton is not only the originator of the Woodcraft Indians, their Chiei Medicine Man, but the Chief Scout of the boy scout movement, and the two are gradually becoming closer all lied Some scout patrols include cer- tain of the Indian ceremonies and ac- tivities in their regular proceedings while more of them incorporate cer- tain of the Indian forms in their sum- mer camping and return to the regu- lar scout procedure during the rest o1 fthe year.
 Our present interest in the council fire of the 18th lies in the fact that MT. Seton invited the Bridgeport boy scouts to camp with the patrols and tribes on his home grounds. These are very extensive, comprising fine camp ing locations, a lake of ten acres, and a wilderness carefully preserved in a state of nature. presenting both out ward and traditional charm. AS an instance of the latter, the rocky path way. leading up to the camp of the Flying Eagles is an old Indian trail used hundreds of years ago by the tribes of local red men. That only a few of our boys were able to accept MT. Seton's invitation is regretable.
 
 edly. and the boys were unprepared. Sunday found fou4 boys, Scout Mas ter Maitland. his assistant, MT. Fred erick Johnson and Commissioner Went encamped in teepees on Syp Hill. The camp consisted of the local Sinawa tribe, the Flying Earles of Rutherford, V. J.. the Pocotopaug of Middletown, Conn. the Wolf patrol of Brooklyn, N. r., the Fox patrol of Edgewood, NJ. J., and the Orinokes of Cos Cob and Greenwich.
 The boys had indulged during the previous week in swimming, boating, canoeing, fishing and sturgeon spear ing contests, tilting contests from an elevated position on kegs, deer hunt, hostile spy hunt and plain prowling through the woods; the occupations of the camp. such as airing blankets and beds, keeping the camp clean, prepar- ing meals over the camp fire and the aores prosaic dish washing (Oh, that the fond mammas could have seen it.)
 Credits for a clean camp has been earned by due preparation for the in- spection of the chief-of-the-day. Cred It's for the individual camper are gain ed by the work for the general good of the whole camp, at so many credits per hour, and also by successful con- tests in athletic, scout or woodcraft events.
 Though the council fire is lit every evening upon the council ground, vis- | tors and "squaws'' are only invited on | Wednesdays and Sundays,< afternoon | md evening. On these evenings the | ,hiefs are in formal tribal dress. and | ! fuller program is prepared so as l o present the occupa tions and aims | If the scouts and the tribes to the public
 Sunday evenings program began with the peace pipe ceremony and the | olemn lighting of the council fire by lse of the rubbing sticks. The pro- uction of fire is sign that the Great ;pirit smiles upon his children, and he Chief Medicine man so announces. his was followed by talk by Black Wolf, otherwise MT. Seton.
 Then came an exhibition of pitching
 camp. given by two braves and two couts. Four Indian beds, made of rillow sticks. bound together with wine were unrolled and set upon legs. hen the boys prepared to light their amp fires and boil a quart of water. he one who succeeded in boiling the rater first was commended. Each Tas provided with an axe, a piece of ord wood and one match or they