Brown Alumni Monthly, 1914 (article)
The honor of being the only grand sagamore of the Woodcraft Indians originated by Ernest Thompson-Seton nearly a dozen years ago, belongs to Louis F. Hall of No. 271 Mill Hill avenue, Bridgeport. This title was conferred upon Mr. Hill a week ago last Saturday evening at the camp of Mr. Seton in Greenwich, Conn., the title of sagamore at the same time being conferred upon Alexander Leverty, a Bridgeport Boy Scout.
There are perhaps a dozen or more sagamores about the country, the title being gained through winning 24 honors or “coups” for certain woodcraft feats. The title of grand sagamore is awarded for performing 24 even more difficult woodcraft feats and in these Mr. Hall was successful without even trying for the lesser honor of sagamore. Now that he has won the title of grand sagamore he is going to start at once in a different line to earn the title of sagamore.
Mr. Seton considered it nothing short of marvellous that it had been possible for anyone to gain the high honor without reaching it by the slower degree of the sagamore honor and complimented Mr. Hall in various ways for the work which he had done.
Among other things Mr. Hall made an Indian bed which Mr. Seton claimed to be the finest he had ever seen, expressing a desire to purchase it. When Mr. Hall learned of his desire to buy it, he presented the bed to Mr. Seton.
The Boy Scouts and the Woodcraft Indians are very closely associated, holding their meetings together and working for the same result.
Mr. Seton holds the Indians very high, claiming that their revengeful spirit and lack of team work were the only things which kept them from becoming one of the greatest of the nations. One of his greatest interests in life is in training boys to follow all the fine qualities of the Indian’s character.
His book on woodcraft is followed by both the Scouts and the Indians and in this are told what feats will be awarded “coups.” Almost all athletic and outdoor avocations are listed and the aspirant may choose his own feats.
The feats which gave to Mr. Hall the title of grand sagamore were the following:
First: Tying 75 standard knots in a rope (30 knots give a plain honor.)
Second: Recognizing 150 birds in the field (100 birds give a plain honor.)
Third: Making 15 different fires in 15 different places in the woods during a pouring rain, using the wet material and but 15 matches.
Fourth: Making a rubbing stick fire, gathering own material, in less than 60 seconds.
Fifth: Knowing 20 star groups and telling something interesting about at least one star in each group.
Sixth: Knowing and naming correctly 100 wild flowers.
Seventh: Knowing and naming correctly 320 wild birds mounted in a museum.
Eighth: Size guessing — 1 inch, 1 foot, 1 yard, 1 rod, 1 acre, 100 yards, 200 yards, ¼ mile, ½ mile, 1 mile, within ten per cent, of average error.
Ninth: Height and weight guessing — Height of ten trees, weight of 10 stones, or other things ranging from 1 ounce to 100 pounds.
Tenth: Guessing farness.
Eleventh: Measuring height of 10 trees without climbing; or 10 distances across river without crossing within 5 per cent, of average error. Tools — one pocket rule.
Twelfth: Reaching camp through strange woods, from point one mile off and returning in 20 minutes.
Thirteenth: Making good serviceable basket of wild wood material.
Fourteenth: Making an Indian bed with 80 rods and four cords all straight and bound at edges.
Fifteenth: Making Indian clock or sun dial which works correctly.
Sixteenth: Making bow and six arrows which will carry 150 yards.
Seventeenth: Making a good recognizable photograph of any wild bird larger than a robin while on the nest with image three inches long. (Mr. Hall secured after an effort of several hours a picture of a nighthawk on her nest taken within 18 inches of the shy bird, getting an image five inches long. This bird has made her nest on top of the Bridgeport Telephone building and it was only after several flights away from the nest that she was persuaded to remain on long enough for the camera to be clicked.)
Eighteenth: Making a good recognizable photograph of any large wild animal in native surroundings, not looking at you. (Mr. Hall got a picture of a deer and was within 15 feet of it without the deer realizing his proximity.)
Ninteenth: Chinning the bar 15 times.
Twentieth: Throwing regular baseball 110 yards.
Twenty-first: Batting regular baseball 105 yards.
Twenty-second: Passed test for eyesight.
Twenty-third: Quick sight.
Twenty-fourth: Making correct map of region one mile long, ¼ mile wide and marking every house, fence, prominent tree; and where there is a stream of water, indicating size, speed and gallons per hour.
- ↑
This interesting account is from a_ recent Bridgeport, Conn., paper. Mr. Hall was a student at Brown 1899-1903. His father was Chief Justice Frederick B. Hall, ‘67, and his brother is Dwight H. Hall, ‘99.
- 1903 – Lewis F. Hall, ex-’03, is Grand Sagamore of the Woodcraft Indians. The rank of sagamore is given for performing 24 difficult woodcraft feats; that of grand sagamore was given for 24 feats of much greater difficulty. His address is 271 Mill Hill av., Bridgeport, Ct. (Brown Alumni Monthly, vol. 14 No. 6, January 1914, Providence, Rhode Island, p.166, zdroj➚)
