The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-10-30
indian TROPHIES
FOR A MUSEUM
AIanSOn B. Skinner Got Them
In Visit to the West.
MANY INTERESTING RELICS.

Medicine Mans Curing Machine, Pack
age of Sacred Charms, Witeh's Bag
! of Bear Cub Skin and Flute Of Cedar
| Among Them.
Alanson B. Skinner OF the staff of
/ the American Museum of Natural His
tory, who has spent three or four years
among the Indians of Wisconsin,
where he has gathered many data re-
! lating 10 the ceremonias and customs
of these tribes, has just returned from
visit TO the Potta watomie and Me
nominee Indians with many trophies
Mr.. Skinner rs a semi-adopted mem
bcr of the Hcnominees, by whom he is
known as Saykosa, or "The Little
Weasel" He is also a member Of the
Society of Dreamcrs," so called be-
cause it has for it's object the wor-
ship OF the great spirit through the
medium of huge drum.
On his recent trip among the Indian
tribes of Wisconsin the explorer was
accompanied by Chief Of Police John
Satterlee OF the Indian reservation,
and Benjamin Mexico, another Indian
chieftain. The trophies gathered by
Mr.. Skinner on his latest tour will
give to the American Museum Of Nat
ural History the most complete collec-
ton Of Indian curios pertaining to this
tribe in the world.
HE Experiences,
I'VE set out from Green Bay" said
Mr. Skinner in speaking of his expert
ences, "and then proceeded to wau-
saukee, Wis From this point we can
tnued on through the wilds to a lum-
Der camp and then on foot through a
dense wilderness.
I'VE encountered bear deer and 9th
er big game on our travels. We ar
rived at an Indian camp consisting of
bark houses and log cabins and were
received by the Indians. who knew
Mexico as hereditary chieftain. His
father was a chief before him. These
Indians are known as the Pottawa-
tonne, a tribe quite well known his
toricnlly, but comparatively unknown
to scientists"
Upon the arrival of the museum ex-
pedition in camp the Indians were cell
ebrating their annual medicine dance.
This is the chief religious ceremony of
all tribes in the middle west. 1t Is
held at various times of the year. but
particularly during the spring and au-
Iumn.
A long lodge is arranged covered with
loats on which the dance takes place.
The ceremony consists Of chanting the
sacred myths OF the various tribes and
making sacrifices to the gods and the
distribution Of power contained in the
medicine bags among the participants
of the dance.
ut is really quite an impressive spec
tacle,' said Mr.. Skinner.
Interesting objects Secured.
Among the objects Of interest we
secured on our trip" he continued, ''is
package Of sacred charms supposed
to have been presented to one of the
great Indian heroes by the thunder
god. We also secured a series Of bags
made of animal skins used In the med
icine dance.
'In one Of the war bundles we found
a stafr made Of wood and buckskin and
bound with red flannel and decorated
with beads This staff when used by
a war chief was supposed to call the
power Of thunder to his cause.
Among the Pottawatomie Indians
we found a witch's bag Of bear cub
skin and fraught with the power to
infiict diseases, according to the MEM
bers of the tribe.
"As an antidote we secured a COM
plete outfit Of an Indian doctor called
Jesako, who IL said to possess the pow
er OF withdrawing all physical Ills by
a curious implement in the form Of
tambourlne drum and a series of bones.
We consider this one Of our rare tro-
phies."
From the Pottawatomie tribe the
expedition went to the Menominee res
ervation, where were obtained a series
OF charms used to charm the buf-
falo, consisting Of three buffalo tails
decorated with old porcupine Quills and
worn by the Indians as arm bands.
Another object In Mr.. SINNERS pos
session is flute Of cedar used by the
Indian brave when he goes ACQUIRING
an Indian maiden. On this flute an
Indian youth plays outside of the wig
wan where lives the object OF his de-
votion.
JENKINS FASTEST NAVY SHIP. !