The Ely miner., 1930-02-14

not bring into being the
first prohibition enforcement officer.
That title belongs to an Indian chief
and he was given his appointment
more than $50 years ago!
In the middle of the Seventeenth
century the Dutch in New Netherland
were engaged in series of wars with
the neighboring Indian tribes. Finally
a permanent treaty Of peace was con-
which was "Oratamin. sachem of the
savages living at Achkinheshacky
(Hackensack), who declared himself
commissioned by the savages of Tap
paen (Tappan), Rechgawawanc (Man-
hattan), Kichtawance (Kitchawank)
and Sintsinck (Sintsink)" to act on
their behalf. But this treaty did not
end the troubles between the two
races, for In 1862 Oratamin (whose
name is also spelled Oratam. Oratamy.
Oratan and Oraton) complained to the
Dutch authorities of the illicit sale
of brandy to his people.
AS the result Of this protest there
appeared in the official records of
New Netherland this entry:
Whereas Oratam, chief Of Hacking
heseky, and other savages have COM
planned several times that many selfish
people dare not only to sell brandy to
the savages in this city. but also to
carry whole ankers of 1t into their
country and peddle 1t out there, from
which, II II is not prevented in time.
many troubles will arise. therefore, the
director general and council of New
Netherland, not knowing for the pres
ent of better way to stop 1t, author
ize the said chief together with the
Sachem Mattanouch to seize the brandy
brought into their country for sale and
those offering to sell II. and bring
them here that they may be punished
as an example to others
The Chiefs Oratam and Mattano are
hereby authorized to seize the brandy
brought into their country for sale.
together with those who bring 1t, and
conduct them hither.
Done at Fort Amsterdam in New
Netherland the thirtieth day of March.
1862
Evidently the two chiefs were eff
cient prohibition enforcement officers"
for there is no further mention of
trouble for fifteen months. But 1t Is
evident, too, that prohibition then, as
now. produced bootleggers. for in June.
1868, Oratam and other chiefs again
appeared before the authorities, COM
planning that brandy was still being
carried among their people. ION being
told that we tried to prevent and had
authorized Oratam to arrest Dutch
men who came into their country to
peddle brandy" reads the record, ''they
replied that they were cheated by the
Dutch, who said that the general had
given his consent, and showed let
ter giving permission to sell brandy
In their country. also that they had
taken away large quantity of wam-
pun. whereby the savages were en-
tirely Impoverished"
Again they were told to arrest the
white men who brought liquor into
their country and this time they were
further authorized to bring their cap
tives to New Amsterdam in fetters. AS
reward for their enforcement work
1--WE promised that they should have
piece of cloth for a coat beside. the
brandy which such persons should
carry. and he who brought in the first
should have two pieces" OF this in.
cident one historian says "The piece
of cloth can he understood hut one
wonders what these temperance adj
voeates did with the brandy; perhaps
they sold il back to fhe Dutch ~
OratanI. however. was not the only