, 1876-06-03
CORRESPOI'UEN'CE
FoRl WRANGEI, ALASKA,
May Sth. 1876.

crivc by lust month, mail goodly
packet OF NORTHERN STARS, with your
own unique chirogrphy ON the wrapper,
and better yet, you' name as EDITOR AND
PROPRIETOR. have read them all
pretty thoroughly, even to the "udycr.
tiNcmcnts,' 10y which generally form
my best ideas Of the value of any sec
tion. And must say that | am very
tNvorably impressed with the SpoIomM
in general, and its people in particular.
The names Of Dr. Folsom and the Shonc
Bros, are quite familiar, having been
somewhat acquainted with those gentle
men in California. Your directory shows
that as community, you are alive to
all the real intellectual, living topics,
OF the times. Your Athcncum, reminds
me very wildly OF the palmy days of
the old Nv. p Athcncum,n were you
won't to hold forth in opposition to the
Baltimore Cobblpr' and the other bril-
liant lights Of those other days, when
we were younger than we are now. |
have one fault to find with your town,
however, which | boldly set forth right
here, that is: your hotels advertise the
best wines and liquors, etc" and "sa-
looms" seem to receive patronage enough
to warrant their maintenance in the com
munity. Now just what use, an intel
ligent free thinking, law loving senSi-
ble lot Of people can have for bars
supplied with such stuff, as those hotels
have on hand, rather bsdfs me- But It's
u free country | suppose, and II " license"
makes it albright, SO they have right
to do it, and | suppose, my growl' is
out Of place. But | presume you
would like to hear little something
about this section Of our great domain.
Fort Wrangel, is an increasing little
hamlet, with five general merchandise
stores, one notion store, one blacksmith
shop, four restaurants, one dance house,
and multitude of shanties, huts, &c.
A stockadcd garrison, manned by one
small company Of L. s. Infantry, main
tain order and quiet, and have an eye to
the interests Of Uncle Sam, generally in
the absence Of all civil law. A consider
able village of Stickeen Indians are per-
mancntly located about fourth Of mile
from the town, and i.numerable ranches
of other tribes are generally located pro-
miscuously around, Cakes Chilcat's
Tarcoc, KAwak's, Hyda's, Tougass and
British Columbia Indians all are repre-
sented. Our situation, is on Wrangel
Island, facing West on Etolinc ITarbor,
Latitude 5Go 81 3Or n. Longitude
1872 Q go 30' w. Distant fGom Sitka
$50 miles, the mouth of the Stickeen
river lies six miles due north, All the
supplies TOR the Cassiar gold fields OF 3. !
c., are shipped from this point up the
Sti.kecn river, which is just now getting
free from ice, and the river steamers are
making active preperations for the sum-
mers trade. Two boats arrived from
Victoria on the 9th inst, well laden with |
passengers, a large number o! which are
Cinnamon, all bound for the diggings
Several hundreds, went up on the ice
two months ago, and another large crowd |
are expected the present week, on the
California and Otter. Somebody will be
pretty sure to make money during the
summer, but apprehcndit will not be
the majority Of the miners
During the past tea days there has
Leen q small "war cloud" in the horizon,
which luckily has not spread Some two
weeks ago, Capt. Jocelyn, Commanding
the Garrison, sent Lieut.. Williams, Off
Ger of the Day with two soldiers of the
guard over TO the Stickeen Village
about nine o'clock +. NJ, to arrest some
drunken Indians, and search for Hoo
chinoo," the Lieut.. found the drunken !
Siwashes, and upen searching the house
of one "shugans," a big Tyee, he met
with opposition and threatened violence,
the following day Shugans" and his
accomplice were arrested, and put in the
guard house. Shackles were rivetcd on
their legs, and they were required to saw
wood for the benefit of the garrison
scowls and threats loomed up from the
stickeen camp, at the indignities these
put upon their chief. So things were
Quietly prepared, our Gatling gun