The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-22
HELPLESS ALASKA.
What a Missionary Recently from that
Territory Has to Say.
DEMORALlZED By SOLDIERS.
The Country Without Government or
Any One to Enforce Order

The critical condition of affairs in Alaska as shown
by avices. is naturally causing the thought
full American citizen to ask why the federal govern
ment has long neglected that Territory II seems
incomprehensbe that the frightened settlers in a
time of peril should be compelled to seek protection
from a foreign man of-war. the authorities
at Washington bound by the solemn
obligations of treaty to afford such
lief has lately been required. The federal
government has shametully overlooked the claims
of the American and Russian residents OF Eastern
Alaska, and left them at the mercy of class of
tives whose half civilized habits have been made
more degraded and cruel by the examples set them
by American soldiers This is a TACT though the
statement may appear harsh and is borne out by the
testimony of reverend gentleman who has just
returned from that territory This missionary
for he was sent there in such capacty-spent long
time in Sitka and the neighborng islands. and made
many trips into the interior of the country. His
opportunities to observe the workings of Alaskan
society utilized to the utmost. and his criti-
csms of the manner in which the federal govern
ment has sighted its duty to the people of that far
of American land merit serious consideration.
SOLDIERS.
The missionary first called attention TO the third
article of the treaty entered into between the United
States aud Russia in which it is guaranteed to the
Russian people who chose to remain in Alaska pro-
lection to life. property and religion. and to give
them all the rights and privileges of American
citizens. "Snce that treaty was ratifed-May 20.
1S67"-sad the missionary, "these provisions have
been worth to the Interested less than the parch-
ment which they written. Civil authority
has been extended the settlers. American
troops sent the Territory in the latter part of
1867, and kept there until june 1877. when they
withdrawn. not to be replaced. Tho soldiers"
ontip nod no 10
Russians and the natives. They brought loathsome
diseases into the land, which in time wrought great
evil. The soldiers soon discovered the way to manu-
facture vile intoxicating liquor from moasses. dis
titled in coal oil cans and it was not long before the
production immense and drunkenness terribly
increased This liquor is called 'Hoochnoo, and is
than the far-famed Jersey lightning
which is said to Xxi, kin at many rods
from sugar, only small quantities Of crude spirits
being required by the manufacturers. AS many as
fifty barrels of moasses have been received by parties
i'll Sitka at one time for this purpose alone. With
increased drunkenness came more insecure state of
society and crime grew apace. The soldiers were
alone Responsible for this state Of affairs True the
Russians formerly gave the natives small supplies Of
liquor, and the Hudson Bay Company oftentimes
other distributed it with such liberal hand as to
GUNpoArs ARE REQUIRED.
1.-The American soldiers were never required in the
Territory for its defence. The numerous islands
vented them from going any considerable distance
from their garrison in Sitka and had their
been required miles away 1t would have been found
| impossible to them. Eastern Alaska contains
100 islands and the inland navigation is Of very
| superior character The territory can be easily
controlled by two gunboas, and in this partc
ular the federal government has been very negligent
The reason why gunboats can afford the protection
demanded is that the Indians build large permanent
houses at high water mark. They draw their canoes
up beach in front Of these hsbtatons and use
them in going from place to place. None of the ma
|
i'll the possession OF the natives. such blankets,
guns h amd so . articles ;na are n away IN
property would be at the mercy OF gunboat
in case of an outbreak. The coast Indians
ii is well known and admitted by them that they
afraid to go far away since the troops were
withdrawn from the territory the settlers have had
nothing to fall back upon in Of trouble arising
from the lawcss natives. Such, at least, has been
country. The western part OF the land is IN the
firm grip of powerful monopoly-the Alaska Com
mercial Company-who use tho natives much like
slaves The Collector Of Customs at Sitka has
in several reports fully advised the Treasury Depart
men at Washington OF the deplorable ana unsettled
character of things about him. but attention it
il said been given the matter The Russian
of Sitka and Fort Wrangle last summer sent a
petition to Baron Shiskin. the Russian Minister at
! Washington. citing their many grievances, and
begging him to see they had protection i'll
accordance with the terms of the treaty but.
far known, nothing it. At
that time the Indians breaking into
their houses and stealing their property. and they
|
were officers to arrest them and ii they
rested no tribunals in which to try them. Nor is
there any way in which civil suits may be adJudi-
Gated. Men die in Alaska. elsewhere. and they
leave property behind them. yet there is no legal
OF affairs for fully twenty months.
SORRY CONDITION OF THINGS.
although there ten stores at Sitka and many
at Fort Wraneo. carrying thousands OF dollars of
stock there is in which debts be collected
| by the owners. The two hundred or three hundred
| miners who annually winter at Fort wrange are
given credit to extent by the storekeepers. and
| II the former do not see ht to make prompt pay
| mcnts there is no law to compel them to do so.
| During the year there many as three
thousand IONS OF freight passing through Fort
wrange to the Cassiar diSgings in British Columbia.
where all the miners hail but this
| of property is without the least protection. The
! only wonder is that this freight has long been
To show you the unprotected condition of society.
! added the missionary. "a miner committed murder
at Fort wrange in December last. The Deputy Col
lector asked try the culpr but that official
clared he had no authority to act The miners then
formed court of their own number. Three judges
were appointed and jury empanellcd. fair trial
| was given the prisoner and upon his being found
| guilty he hanged. The miners a body
/ fairly disposed ana commit but few lawless acts.
The drilling they receive at the mines at the hands
! of the British authorities makes them very civil
and quiet They do much. however. to corrupt
the Is of the young Indian girls, and debasing
work VT this kind IL not alone confined their
Der Some of the settlers have for years been in the
/ habit OF purchasing these young females and
rupting their morals to an alarming extent. During
the past year there has been stop put to this
aries there. and a home. In small way, has been
founded TO reclaim the lost aud tit them for a
more useful sphere than 1t seemed possible at
time for them to be capable Of reaching The In
dams themselves. in measure. are responsible for
the ruin many of their children but with proper
education they will the evil which this
moral lcprosy causes and do all they to prevent
its continuance.
MADpESrp BROKEN rRoMIsks.
I'm the face OF the wrongs committol by the
tiyes OF Eastern Alaska. they arc much better peo
pie than Is supposed by the outside world.
They superior IN every respect ~ our Western
lndians being more intelligent and thrifty.
and they always willing to work. They will give
you air equivalent for every thing they receive and
they will fuh all contracts in way to shame many
laborcrs and tradcSmen in more civilized communi-
tics. Madienci by promises broken the part of
the federal government. many OF them NJ last
cluded there was no happier future for them aud
commenced dcpredations that would
! have occurred had they been fairly treated.
A people who are willing TO work have
in them the element of civilization. Immediately