The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-12
PLAYING A WOMAN ALIVE.
THE Terrible CRIME REPORTED FROM
SITKA IN ALASKA.
Also Torturina Young Girl for Alleged Com
piicity In Witchcr"ft-An Outrage Commits
ted within Enr-hot OF United states OaciaIs

From N, san Ennoso thronieis
BY the last mail from Alaska we learn the
particulars Of the faying and hanging Of an
Indian woman for the alleged offence Of Irac-
Using withcrait. and the torturing Of II Young
girl on suspicion that she was an accompicc.
These atrocities were committed by the Stka
Indians within three hundred yards Of the con-
trial authority OF the United States in Alaska
namely. the Custom House at Sitkn; yet no one
was armed with authority 10 interfere. Tho
same Indians have the white residents OF Sitka
at their mercy. and may. Whenever i!e inrliua-
ton seizes them. fiay and torture to death every
white man. woman and child OF a community
which the United States is bound by every prin-
ciple Of honor and humanity TO protect We
have no Government no law. and no means of
enforcing law in Alaska. Crimes against per-
sons and property are perpetrated openly and
with impunity. und the only redress open TO the
sufferer Is TO act as Judge and cxecuiioner and
kill the offending party. II is national shame
and disgrace that such condition OF lawlcss-
ness should be permitted to exist in Territory
Of the United States. and Congress cannot un-
dertake more creditable work Of legislation
than providing Il Government for that outlying
Territory OF our common country.
The coast line of Alaska. from its junction
with British Columbia. in latitude 5ls 10 north
and longitude 1902 west to the end OF the Aus
forms an Irregular crescent. bending up to Gls
north on the meridian Of l4S west longitude.
This coast IL studded with islands. separated by
deep and navigable channels. and Is penetrated
in every direction by deep fords aud inlrts.
which run up to the base of the mountain RANGES
on the mainland. There IL. perhaps. no cqnal
extent of coast line in the world which contains
within its limits so large an area of protected
navigable waters. and there are few COASTS
which offer greater obstacles to land Transport
tation on an extended scale whiln gunhonts
and other vessels are able to move about easily.
afQtiA ON ha fat Of IA sff .r
are unable to move away from their quarters to
check disturbances which may he occurring
even within a few miles OF their stations unless
they are provided with water trims ortntiun;
and to keep an armed gunhoat waiting in reali-
ness at each station TO transport tro"iS to the
scene Of an outbreak Mt some Indian village, on
the coast would be very expensive method OF
govern ing the Indians there.
For the protection Of the settlements on the
coast line two gunboais are needed-troops are
unnecessary and in the way. One vessel should
ha We her coaling station and headquarters
kodiac. and her cruising ground should cN-
tend from the meridian Of 145' round 10 tho on
trance q the Yakon, river. embracing King
and the Aleutian Islands. The second vessel
MOULD have coaling stations at Nrnngel and
sltsa cruising from c T2ng%ss 1arro vs., on the
iian Of 1875. and taking care Of all the settle
nents and islands IN the Alexander Archipeia-
70. These vessels should be kept upon their
Itntons and not permitted TO leave until a relief
arrives. the time not actually required in "rmis-
cts. and har6ors OF the coast. AS all tho indian
settlements in this part Of Alaska are close
aDon navigable waters and within easy range OF
he guns OF war ship. no auxiliary armed
iorce is required.
For the civil administration Of the laws which
rovern civilized communities few magistrates
ire required in Alaska. At the present tine
he only officials provided for the Territory are
Collector OF CUSTOMS, who resides 4 Sitka;
With deputies At Wrangel. Sitka, kodiac and
Ocnalaska. Their powers only embrace the col.
ecton OF the customs and the prevention OF
LmuRgling; and in the prosecution OF these
their DOWprS-lf reR1Sfnd-fHn
% enforced by their personal prowcss. They
AVE no authority 10 arrest or punish man for
,rime or disorder, or to determine disputes
To remedy this dinieulty withou, increasing
he number Of salarod officials the powers Of
he collectors might be enlarged, which can
anly be done by Congressional islation. The
Collector might So a,, WIZ ms nresen, dn s
Magistrate OF the Territory; The deputies may
80 magisterinl duties. deciding cases ot
also claims for wages aud debt. leaving
.apitai offences and cases involving con-
,san claims rsts % Circuit to the Jude
who should visit 'Wrange. stka. and Kodiac
once year from Washington Territory, Two
,onstables should be appointed in each district,
md authority 10 call upon the citizens to net
rs posse comitatus in case OF need should he
and collectors should be appointed by the Pr.esi-
dent with the approval OF the Senate. They
should be literally paid, and good and we'll
The laws in force in Washington Territory
ran be extended over Alaska. but they must be
enforced in Alaska. The proposal to send
criminals TO Washington Territory will not an
swer. rs II would be next 10 impossible 10 send
witnesses down, and the authorities Of Wash
lngton would take little or no interest in trying
offences committed far from their own bor-
ders. With a system Of laws established. stern
and strict justice should be melted out to whites
and Indians alike. without prejudice or par
TALLY. II IL this system and practice OF rigid
and impartial justice that has made the widest
mining districts Of British Columbia as orderly
As Victoria or London Thus the Indians. rs
well as the whites. understand that law and JUS
nce are supreme. and resistance 10 the sum
mons Of n Judge or magistrate. delivered 10y n
Single constable. is an unheard Of occurrence.
The cost OF such a Government rs Is herein
proposed including the salaries ofthe Governor
and Collector at 5000. and four Deputy Coll
iectors and magistrates at $1,000 each extra
compensation to Circuit Judge. and cost OF
lures. constables. and jails. need not exceed
Runboats at $50 900 each. and payment for the
mail service with its extension to kndidc.
would bring the whole cost up TO $4,000.
about double the cost OF our present system Of
no government The revenue VI the Territory
Is now about $500 900 per annum. all Of which
Is derived from the lease Of the Seal Islands.
This revenue can be increased 10 $1OOO 900 or
t800OOO per annum, 10y cancelling or amend
ing the lease Of the Seal Islands. by taking
charge OF the sea otter trade Of the Aieulian
Islands. and by placing n moderate tax upon
the fisheries. and the mining licenses. Ajax on
sales OF land and the right to cut wood Will
come In hereafter.