Evening star., 1924-07-09
SCIENTISTS AGREE
ON WHITE INDIANS
AnthropoIogists Unanimous
Disputed Specimens
Are Not AIbinos.
MARSH RELATES TRIALS
Leader of Expedition Will Devote
Efforts to Aiding Inhabit-
ants of Darien.
MARSH RELATES TRIALS
Special Dispatch to Tho Star.

NEW YORK, July 9.-Ihe 'Wnlte
| Indians" brought to New York by the
Marsh Darien expedition are not
albinos. This was the unanimous
verdict of a group of anthropolo-
gists who examined the Indians last
| night at dinner at a New York
hotel.
After extended consultation and
minute study of the three white
Indians the scientists agreed to the
following summary Of their conclu-
sions:
I'VE believe this phenomenon to be
pathological. These are not cases
of albinoism. 1t is possible that
| they are cases of endoorin deficiency
or glandular alteration of some kind.
We are convinced that they are not
| albinos. They constitute an impor-
tant discovery Of the utmost interest
in its bearing on the subject of trop-
teal medicine. A final determination
would require an extended knowledge
of the heredity of these people"
Among the scientists who partici-
pated in the examination were Dr:
Bruno Oetteking of the Museum of
the American Indian, DR.. Truman
pology of Columbia University, DR..
Cuthbert Christy, F. r. s.; DIR. Carl
Akely and DIR. J. Harley Stamp.
DIR. a. Hooton of Harvard Univer-
sity attended, but was compelled TO
leave before the close examination
Of the Indians took place. He said
they were an interesting phenomenon
and worthy of the closest scientific
eXamina ton.
Richard o. Marsh, leader of the
party which brought the Indians
from Darien. described the expedition
in detail and put forth his theory
that the Indians were offshoots OF
ancient paleolithic stock. This
untenable.
To study Baer's Notes.
Notes, dat and specimens collected
by DIR. John l.. Baer, who died on the
expedition were saved and will be
examined at the Smithsonian lnsti-
tuition, which DR.. Baer represented.
While DR.. Baer was unable to reach
final conclusions regarding many de-
tails under consideration, his notes
are in such form as to clearly indi-
cate the basis of his work, and 1t is
believed that the later completion of
his researches will lead to important
anthropological findings.
Dr. c. NJ. BREEDER, ichthyologist of
the American Museum of Natural His
tory of New York, brought back a
number of interesting specimens. which
are being examined today at the New
York Aquarium. Among them were
strange red-eyed frogs. There have
been many stories of these creatures,
but scientists gave them little credence,
and when the expedition left DIR.
Breder's confreres chaffed him about
his chance of finding them. To his
own astonishment. he did find them,
and they are valuable addition to
the aquarium collection. DR.. BREEDER
said he found many new leads" among
the fishes of the region, and had sew
ing origin. distribution, etc, but would
require more time before making, any
definite statement regarding thenf.
Studied Geological History.
DR.. Herman l.. Fairchild. geologist,
of the University of Rochester, con-
fined his researches mainly TO study
of the tides, which reach nearly 100
| miles inland up the Tuyra River, and
of meteorological conditions. These are
the first detailed studies of this kind
to be made in this region. He reached
important conclusions regarding the
geological history of the region.
THE continents undoubtedly were at
of the isthmus," he said. This is in
dcated not only by the fassil re-
mains. but by the sharp differentiation
of flora and fauna on the two conti-
nents. If there had been land con-
nection this would not have occurred"
Dr. Raoul Brin. young Panaman
scientist. assigned to the expedition by
the Panaman government. died early
in April, after returning to Panama
after the expedition had reached the
ChucunaQue River. He also made
energetic researches and his notes are
regarded as of great value.
All the scientists expressed salts
action with the scientific yield of
the expedition, but insisted that con-
tinued examination of specimens and
further research would be necessary
before any complete summary of
their findings.
Marsh Recites His Theory.
The first authoritative verdict re-
garding the white Indians, the
main objective of the expedition. was
given at last nights dinner. Marsh
| stated his reasons for believing that
| the Indians, two boys and girl are
genuine white Indians and not al
| binos.
explorer and former charge daffaires
of Panama is insistent in his as
sertion that the three specimens are
not albinos and that they mark a
| new racial differentiation, comparable
| to the development of the early white
Nordic stock from the parent Paleo-
! lithic stem, $4,000 years ago.
'I am firm in my belief that these
Indians are not albinos," he said.
| "The true albino has pink eyes, white
hair and blue gums These Indians
have hazel eyes. blonde hair and pink
| gums. / also maintain that their fea-
| lures, in their suggestion or the
| Scandinavian type, clearly lndlcate
| racial differentiation.
"WhiIe l am clear and firm in these
| convictions, I am eager to have the
| indians submitted to the closest
scrutiny by anthropologists, with the
necessary head measurements, etc.
and will abide by their decision.
"There is ample scientific justif1-
cation for the contention that the
| modern Nordics are offshoots of an
cient Paleolithic stock. and there Is
no reason to believe that this varl-
| ant, having once occurred, should not
| be repeated.
! "Another factor which intrenches
me in this belief is the fact that all
! the physical characteristics of these
white Indians are clearly heritabie.
| There are hundreds of them in the
| Darien jungle and the white parents
| Invariably have white children. This
alone is enough to refute any theory
| that this is merely matter of chance
| surface pigmentation
Heirs of Ancient Culture.
| my acquaintance with these people
| convince me that they are undoubt-
edly the heirs Of an ancient culture.
Our civilization could learn much
! from them / found that once the
/ San Bias Indians learned that our
| purpose was not to loot or exploit
| them they showed US every courtesy.
They are people of character and in
telligence, and the most serious en-
! deavor of my life will be to get de-
| cent schools. medical facilities and
knowledge of sanitation into the
Darien. Unless this is done they will
| be lost.
| "I am going to take the Indians
| with me, including the Ave copper
Rochester, N. Y, where ! plan to put