Schneidewind was not actually a doctor but a nurse. He had first traveled to the Philippines in 1898, having enlisted in the army and been assigned to the field hospital corps. He arrived in the Philippines ill with typhoid. On his recovery, he left the army and found a job in the Philippine postal service. Around this time, he also married a local woman, Gabina Dionicio Gabriel, who gave birth to a son, Richard, and promptly died. Schneidewind continued his work in the postal service until it was discovered that he was running an export business on the side, using his official position to grease the deals. Labeled a smuggler, Schneidewind returned to the States, leaving his son in the care of maternal relatives. But there was something exploitable back in Asia and he was going to benefit from it, although he was not sure how.

The following year, he found himself working a cigar concession stand at the Saint Louis World’s Fair. It was here that he met Truman Hunt and, more importantly, his troop of traveling Igorots. The show was a huge success and the Americans were enthralled by the ways of these primitive Filipinos. Unbeknownst to Hunt, the Igorots were also enthralled, but by the ways of the litigious Americans, and had been assembling materials to sue Hunt for mistreatment and withholding pay. The case was filed in Tennessee and, surprisingly, given the racial attitudes of the time, was successful. Hunt was imprisoned and the Igorots, presumably because of Schneidewind’s familiarity with the Philippines, were placed in Schneidewind’s care.

Schneidewind had found his calling.

Shortly after, he returned to the Philippines to assemble another troop of Igorots. The returning tribespeople, despite the lawsuit, must have had something positive to say about their experience, as another group did sign up, persuaded by the cash and trinkets if not by what the job actually entailed.