Total Number Of Pages: 1
Source: Scanned from the original photograph which is 10 inches in width and 8 inches in height.
Date: 1922-00-00
Language: English
Coverage: Montauk Point Lighthouse, Montauk, N.Y.
Creators:
Red Thunder Cloud [Cromwell Ashbie Hawkins West]
Rights: No Known Copyright Restrictions
Description: The reverse reads:
"This is a rare study of Christopher Cuffee Sr. and his son Christopher Cuffee Jr. of the Eastville Band of the Montauks of Sag Harbor. This photo was taken in 1922 at the famous Lighthouse at Montauk Point in the ancient domain of the Montauks.
The elder Cuffee was one of the Councilmen of the Eastville Band. This band did not recognize the traditional rights of Wyandank Pharoah as the rightful King Of The Montauks. They held their own elections and elected James E. Waters of the Montauk and Matinecock Tribe of Little Neck as Sachem of Montauk.
From the Indian's point of view it is regrettable that the two Montauk factions were never able to reach any agreement. Had they worked as a single unit, the Montauk story on Long Island today might have had a different ending.
Christopher Cuffee Sr. bears a marked resemblance to Joseph Solomon one of the tribal councillors of the Penobscots of Maine. See Frank G. Speck's book, "Penobscot Man" Univ. of Pa. Press.
For a glimpse of Christopher Cuffee Sr. in a more relaxed mood see Photo 12."