The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-11-20
Last of the Mohcans Fay Call
Upon Indian Con,mtsS 'oner Here

The Last OF the Mohieans" took
Washington by storm this week. lie
ginning with q visit To Cato Sells
Commissioner OF Indian Affairs, three
representatives OF the rapidly disAp-
pearing Indian tribe. Tesiden.s OF
Norwich. Conn. called on odlelal
washington and were the object OIL
the curious gaze OF thousands OF
sightseers.
Most prominent OF the visiting In
dams was Lemuel Occum Fielding,
nominal "Chief" OF the surviving No
hiciAns. He was accomIaAied by his
eldest son, Everett n. Fielding, ana
his daughter, Mrs. Myrtice Germaipe
Clad in the full Mohican rvgafa.
they called FIRST upon. Commissioners
Sells, where Eyerett Fielding laid be-
fore the chief OF the Indian Eureau
certain facts regarding suit that 10
being brought by the Norwich MO-
hicians to recover land. said TO be
valued At about two million dollars.
In what 10 now the residential section
OF Norwich.
This land, as the Indians explained
to Commissioner Sells, was decided TO
the Norwich Mohicians In 1850. by
the governor of Connecticut, bue
shortly thereafter. squattels began TO
occupy Il, and In the generations
which have passed. title which the
Indians say Is invalid, has passed
gradually into the hands OF the pies-
emit holders.
Commissioner Sells, while recalling
the fact that the Mohicans were not
under his Jurisdiction, expTesse keen
interest in the suit, and offered CHER
Occum the facilities OF his legal de-
partment for whatever advice he feels
he may need.
Following this, the party went TO
the nithsonian Institute. whcre
Dctor Fuchs, who had expires. Ell
desire to meet Chief Occum ana hls
children, had photographs tax n -
them for the records OF the lns ituie.
He desires also to discover whether
Chief Occum retains any great num-
Der Of the words of the original NO
hican tongue, which Though genera
tions OF disuse, has become almos; eX-
tinct.
Next, the chief and his son and
daughter were taken to the National
Headquarters OF the American Rei
Cross, where they were received by
the general manager, +. &c. Munroe'
Chief Fielding expressed a desire TO
help with the Red Cross work. ana
was told he could probably be OF great
service among the surviving Mohl-
cans. in and near Norwich.
Upon payment of the proper three
dollars, Miss Dorothy Kahn pro-
nounced Chief Occum and his son
daughter as members or the RED
Cross. and received their pledge hat
they would do all in their power TO
forward the work in Connecticut.
AS the last event of the afternoon,
the visiting Indians were entertained
by Tom Moore, proprietor OF the HI
alto and Garden Theaters. Mr.. Moo"e
is Interested in their visit by reason
Of the fact that coincidentally, he Is
going to show at the Garden Theatcr
next week, Maurice Tourneur's motion
picture, adapted from James Feni-
more Cooper's famous story, The
Last of the Mohicans."
1t is not unlikely that the oh lief
and several other members of hI
family, will be engaged by Mr.. Moore
To appear in person at the Garden
next week, in connection with the
showing Of the picture.
A positive print of the picture was
presented to Commissioner Sells. who