Evening star., 1914-10-25
INDIAN GYPS|ES' CAMP
| HAS MANY CHILDREN
Gus Stankovitch, Full -Blooded
Cherokee, Rules as Chief Over
Madre's Park Band.

Gus Stankovitch, full-blooded
Cherokee, seventy-eigh years old, is
chief Of a tribe of gypsies camped in
Madre's Park, near the railroad bridge
over Rhode Island avenue northeast.
Mrs. Stonia Stankovitch, his wife, five
married sons. three unmarried daugh-
ters and numberless grandchildren are
the occupants of five tents.
Mrs. Stankovitch, her daughters and
some of the older grandchildren were
attending a theatrical performance in
the city yesterday afternoon, when a
Star reporter visited the camp. A doz-
en- or more small children greeted the
visitor.
They looked like gypsy children. but
no hands were extended for coins. They
were playing about the camp and SEEM
ed interested in everything that was
going on, displaying much childish
curiosity and insisting upon hearing
the conversation between members of
their tribe and the stranger.
Gus Stankovftch occupies the largest
| OF the five tents in the inclosure. The
elderly chief was not communicative
He accorded his caller a respectful re-
ceptton and showed him to a tent to
| the north end of the camp, whore his
several sons and James Zitek, theat-
rlcai man, were passing the time at
owned by Zitek. He had the animal
in Washington theater last week.
In Camp of Friends.
This is my week or" he volunteered.
when I am at leisure I always try
to reach the camp of my friends. ]
have been with them or and on for
fourteen years. They're a fine lot OF
people,"
| One of the sons Of Chief Stankovitch
| exhibited a musical instrument he had
made, and was proud of the fact that
he had made it from a piece of walnut
fond of music. and all play some in
strument. At night we have band
concerts"
| Chief Stankovitch speaks fourteen
languages. said one of his sons, and
the wife speaks nine. In the summe,
they deal in horses. In cold weather
they do little work. The women make
baskets. blankets and beadwork.
and tell fortunes?" queried the re-
porter.
| the emphatic response OF one OF
the sons. They read palms; they are
palmists."
Have knowledge" said another son
proudly.
The tents are not of unusual size
There is a stove in each, and 1t was ex.
planned that each family does its own
cooking.
Just ordinary American cooking y
said one member. with few Indiar
| dishes thrown in.''
| Seldom Use Liquor.
The members of the tribe said they
| seldom drank. They do use little
| light wine and beer on certain holi-
day occasions. they stated, Christmas
being one. of the most important OF
| these.
You KNOW" said one of the tribes.
| men," we are Christians, "Romar
Catholics, and attend strictly to our
| religious duties"
Mitchell Stevens, one of the five
| brothers. was pitcher on the Williams
Bridge, n. Y, base ball team last sum-
| ber. He was the only Indian on the
| team.
"I pitched against a team from m,
own tribe" he said. land won si1
| straight games"
[ 1t is the intention of the tribe to re-
| main in Winter quarters in Madre's
park. The wives and daughters will
| sell beadwork. baskets and blankets
| and probably will pick up a few dol
| lars reading palms.
"And don't forget" repeated one o.
| the sons, "the ladies are not fortune
tellers, but palmists. and don't believe
| in fortunes"