Norwich bulletin., 1922-02-08
DEATH OF A CHIPPEWA
INDIAN, AGED 1877 YEARS

Cass Lake, Minn., Feb. .7.LGa-Be-
Nah-Gewn-W -Wonce. also known as John
Smith, Chippewa Indian. reputed to be
1871 years of age. died here today after a
weeks illness with pneumonia.
The United States Bureau Of Indian
Affairs, the American Scenic and His
toric Preservation Society. and various
other historical societies that have>inter-
ested themselves in this famous abort
gine, in fact, had been led to accept the
claim Of Ga-Be-Nah-Gew -Wonce and
his fellow Indians on the Minnesota res
ervation that he was the oldest living
person in the world"
The date of his birth had been fig
ured back by some authorities as early
as 1875. which would have made, him
1871 years old today-just about as old
as the Constitution of the United States
while others contended that he was
born in 1898, which would have made
him 12s.
Ga-Be-Nah-Gewn-wo wonce was also
known as Wah-ha -gunta, and would
even answer to plain John Smith. Ac-
cording to the bureau of Indian affairs
he was hre-maker Of theSonce powerful
Blackfeet tribe. His declining days were
spent on the north bank Of Mud Lake
twelve miles fronn'>the village Of Bal
l. Club, Minnesota, where he lived in hui
of birch bark. He outllved several wives
and when long past the century mari
ne was still, young enough to WOO an
other. -t
HIS once powerful frame Mad siowl,
wasted his hair turned pure white, ant
his face became scanned like walrui
iJhide, but his step was still sprightly ant
he never stepped from his hut withou
humming some tune. His unusual fond
ness for music was one Of his peculiari
! ties Often he walked the twelve mliei
to Ball Club to hear a piano or violin
1 his favorte musical instruments. Whe1
| a. ragtime air was struck up, the old In
dian would smile broadly, his blacl
beady eyes would sparkle. and he woul,
lfift his shoulders and snap his fingers II
/ real cabaret style.
Historians made use Of the Indian
remarkab BILE memory to corroborate stor
les of the Indian fights, some Of then
back as far as 1900. Smith was oftei
able to give the year, month and some
times the day of Indian happenings tina
had been lost track Of.
One event in his early life which tn
aged Indian related in detail and whSc
he declared Is imprinted even more firm
! " in his memory than Important hap
penines of the last few years, Is a mas
sacre by the-Sioux Indians In Mimi nesot
near the present sites Of the Twin Cities
The massacre resulted from an effott b
missionary, known to the indians
Pah-de gree, to effect a Cancellation be
! tween the Sioux and Chippewas. Man
hundred of the latter were slain. Snnit
says he was but ten years old al tina
! time.
The failing Of the stars" the Shove
! of meteors that occurred In 1888, he re
called minuteiy
In a recent interview Smith salt
! through an Interpreter, that forty year
ago he could speak English quite fluent
I ly, but that in recent years since h
e mind became less active, the languae
(. almost deserted him.
Indian customs, closely followed,
considered the big factor In extendin
life so long. His oldest acquaintanes
e never recall having seen him sit in
4 chair or lfe In a bed. He was just :
I much opposed to many other customs
o Of the whites for he contended thi
they were contrary to the laws OF nj
e ture. -