The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-07
CIVILIZATION IN ALASKA.
yrrv rHE INDIANS ENGAGED IN
nTSTTLLTNG THE CROOKED.
Native Expert. in l'lochmaiI-n How wealthy
sub Chicrwa- Made to shell Out over Fifty
.,hs Ilvnrdcd Hudson Bav Blankets.


Car, March :. ts75 Snow at Stl<a dur
a., ~ n~,,,ry reached depth Of nearly four feet.
,..,,h the thermometer did not 10 below zero.
it.gt. Kl-si Ills. and Americans ie ideut here
,,nc, II tc have been the most severe win
IT, ~, I'm. section for more than twenty years.
sua nm the mainland the mercury has been
s",eu Tor some weeks.
H TYlNsp tcr Inc navy to the amount OF 900 tons
hns' rsen brought mere 10y the ship w. II. Thorn
axe from Philadelphia for the United States
sn'o,,e rutter- and man of-war ships calling at
- Mace on their cruises along the coast OF
n,ska In the last two years only two revenue
60 have called here, AMI no mau-Of-war for
~ Vesr. past Still IA cooling station is main
aimed at sitka. a resident receiving $50 month
TO look after ITS safety: The seventy Cassiar
miners who wintered at this place have, 18th
lie exception Of about ten, returned to Wrangel
o., prepare for the voyage on the ice-bound Su-
Zine to their mining claims. A few more re-
NJ Ting intend to 20 up the Chilkaht river,
N nee by portage and series OF connecting
iaL~. 80 $50 80 ,anco nver, o. OF the two
branches Of the Yukon, where rich dggings are
rutnurcd to exist. From Victoria, British CO.
lurhia, several steamers are leaving for Wran-
gel with hundreds of miners bound Tor the Cas-
sel district.
rier., Shrpser X Co., at San Francisco, which
left Kodiak IN December last, has not vet been
heard from. aud L. doubtless lost. Fifteen per
sots were known to he aboard the missing craft,
Including one 81 the nrm. storms have this
wlutor ragged along our shores, the Ike OF which
acne living here have ever seen IN severity.
The garrison at Sitka, consisting OF three com
panies, Will be relieved In May by fresh com
CISCO. Capt. Mendcnhali, now at Black Point,
VIII succeed To- the command. when the present
commander. Capt Campbell, VIII with his COM
panN return To the Presidto. Upon his arrival
~ san Frauciscoit Is said that he will be arrested
ON a charge OF having illegally Imprisoned a
former resident Of this place.
Alaska Ia determined not TO be behind the
times In matters OF popular interest, for not
ony the Indians, but also several OF the citizens,
AIT at least one soldier, are engaged IN the man
mActure Of the crooked, watch is distilled of
moiasses or brown sugar. A corporal OF the gar
risOn was lately arrested. he having been report
ed by some Jealous neivhbor as manufao-
turer without license, but search failed To re-
suit In the capture OF the contraband fluid. and l.,
though all the town well know that the man has
dealt In the article, still regal evidence was
wanting, and he was liberated. The civilization
oil Indians In this remote section Is making
rapid progress, for besides being manufacturers
and sellers Of the liquor, which is known by the
rate experts In blackmail as Is shown by phe fol-
loving;
ming, aud perseverance become moderately
wealthy, being the happy owner OF several hun
dred brand new woollen blankets, winch are the
standard currency among them. Hts riches ex-
citci the cupidty OF number OF young war
riors, who agreed to M AXE the sub. chief " shell
Out" with some OF his boarded wool. One OF
the tribe happened to be sick at the time. and
the fated SUB duly visited his declining friend
who soon died. This was the signal Tor the con
spirators. who at once impanelled "A Cotoner's
jury, which decided that the defunct man and
brother died only because the daily visitor had
bewitched himl The young chief heard ON
about him, retired to his house, securely lock
ing II, and minated tn Il he was not at home e
callers. The Coroner's jury IN body adjourned
To the culprits residence, whom they verbally
summoned To appear for indictment, trial, and
sentence. The young man declined, and with
the rifles Of himself and cl IN marked out a dead
ine around his habitation. Then was organized
regul.r siege.
The rest Of the tribe did not seem to find any
thing concerning themselves about the matter
only a few OF them making small bets on the re
suit. The bewitchiDg chlef, meanwhile, caileC
out 10 some Indians passing by to inform tn'
military commander OF his ia, that he migh
rescue hin but they did not consider that fair
and declined 10 NEEDLE. All TINS took plao
within about 100 paces Of the garrison, to whicl
the little affair was unknown for some days
urec times the mighty northern lights ha,
fiiuuy iliumined the reat of war before tn
biackuailed savage succumbed. having frs
settled tie terms Of surrender to his best ad
vantage. Ordinarily, life for life Is their motto
tu'. a option. q number OF blan iets NAV recon
pense the aggrieved surviving relatives, ane
upon mutual .sreement the sub chief fofke,
over MY Hudson Bay blankets And then tn,
siege was raised and there WAS peace.