The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-10
THE SITUATION In ALASKA.
Report Of Capt. selden ana 0t spsciaf
Agent Morris ON tho Indian Out
break and Needs of the Territory.


WASHINGTON, April 4.-The following is
the substance OF the official report of Capt.
Ssden of the United States revenue marine,
with regard to his visit in the steamer Wal-
colt to Sitka In obedience to orders from the
Treasury Department:
STEAMER WALooTT. sITRA. March g. 1879.
Hon. John Sherman, Secretary of the Treasury:
iyir-In obedience to your telegram OF Feb
ruary IS / sailed for Alaska In the steamer
Walcott on the twenty-frst utimo. and ar
rived here, after boisterous passage, on the
third Of March. | found her Malesty's ship
Osprey ln the harbor and at once comrnunl-
Gated with her commanding officer and with
Collector Ball In reference to the state OF
affairs. The Indian troubles seem to have
arisen out OF q demand by an influential 9lit
young Indian chief that the citizens OF Sitka
should pay his tribe $1,000 to indemnify 1t for
the loss OF some OF it's members In schooner
upon which they were employed several
years ago, and for O. certain other Indian who
drank himself to death last winter LII Inc
| company OF q miner.
The chief threatened If his demands were
not complied with. to have white mems
blood. In the hope OF avoiding trouble, the
| citizens imprudently compromised the claim
| by q payment Of $3.50, which was then &c
| cepted as full settlement. He now demands,
| however, the balance Of the $1,000 originally
claimed. In addition to this he attempted to
| take from the steamer California, on her last
| trip, two Indians, arrested on charge OF
| murder, and but for the interference OF some
peacsably disposed Indians, would have sue
| ceeded. He then tried to induce the whole
tribe here to rise, plunder. the town and mas,
sacre the inhabitants, saying that they could
get booty enough to sustain themselves in
/ the interior, even IL the government should
send q force to destroy their village. Find
ing this tribe unwilling to take this step, ne
started down the coast with the Intention OF
inciting the neighboring indians to join him
| In an attack ON the place. The danger OF
such an attack, however, has been averted for
| the present by the arrival Of the Osprey. At
/ the urgent request Of the citizens the COM
manding officer, Capt. ACourt, has consented
4 to remain at least until the arrival OF the
California. II by that time no force comes TO
our assistance the Osprey Will stay here q, 70
protect the town, while the Waleott will visit
| the tribes with whom this chief is negotiat-
| ing, and either secure his arrest or prevent
/ their cooperation.
/ / have lust been visited by two chiefs OF the
| Kaloshian tribe, who confirm the statements
of the citizens with regard to Chief Callans
| expedition, and say he expects to induce the
Koutznous and Iakons tribes, numbering
about 200 men each, to join him, but will not
attempt to accomplish his purpose unless the
1 snow is gone two or three months hence:
i They say, furthermore. that the withdrawal
4 OF the United States troops gave the Indians
the impression that the government had sur
rendered the country, and that the people re-
naming In 1T stayed at their own risk, 80 that
the former were safe in making such demands
as they chose. 1t is my opinion that IL ter
ritorial government be not established In
Alaska armed protection should be afforded
to Wrangel and Sitka. I think q man-of-war
should be sent to cruise In these waters, not
only to afford protection, but to make such
surveys Of the coast and channels as are
necessary IL the country is to be developed
and opened for settlement. The interior
channels are now 80 inaccurately laid down
on the charts as to make their navigation ex-
tremely perilous. ! am etc,
j. M. bELDEN, Captain U. S. r. M.
William Gouverneur Morris, special agent
OF the Treasury Department, in his official
report upon the customs district, public SER
vices end resources Of Alaska Territory, says
there are now enough American citizens in
Alaska, not counting the citizens acquired by
purchase to entitle 1t to a territorial form OF
government. There will be this year at least
, 1000 additional white persons In Alaska. The
! tide Of emigration Is setting thither. The
Russians who elected to become citizens Ok
!, the United States were not serfs, but free
born, and have been guaranteed all the bless
ings OF civil and religious liberty. Mr. Nor
rs says that human beings are at the pres
ent time held in bondage In Alaska Indian
slaves, male and female, are owned by the
chiefs and the principal men OF the different
tribes all along the coast and also In the inte-
. rior.
I'll Mr. Morriseregards the conditions for sue
i cessful mining In Alaska as far superior 70
those afforded in Arizona or the Black Hills
in respect to the abundance OF fuel. He fs
sanguine regarding the future wealth o.
Alaska In minerals, but says congressional
legislation is needed for the protection OF the
. miner