, 1881-08-13
DISTANT ALASKA.
A Description Of sitka and the Aanner
which the People Live.
Prom the Note Book Of h H. Brodeck for the
Statesman
LETTER No. >.

At my arrival at Fort Wrangle, Sltka and
other places in the Territory, was sasprised
TO see sqraws with their faces painted coal
black, which at first supposed was their
, manner OF mourning their dead, but on IN
vestigating the subject could not receive
anY satisfactory answer In fact whites who
have lived with the Indians Tor years seem
to know no more of the object in painting
their faces black than a new arrival The
only answer given is that in summer it pre-
vents their faces from getting sun-hurnt
When asked why they paint in the winter
their reply is 1T Keeps out the cCld" On
my arrival ut Sitka l was very much dis
gusted with the weather. Snow, rain, hail,
freezing and sunshine all in one day, bat
when the weather clears and the sun shines
then 4 more beautiful scene cannot ne ina
gined- The hxrbor, dotted all over with
beautiful green isles, grand Mount Fdgeconbe
in the tar distance covered with snow; u
the rear Of Sitka loom up immense mountains
covered with timber, and the summit cover
ed with snow, the sun shining on all changes
the color from yellow to gold and silver.
The favorite promenade is TO Indian River
distance of about three miles The road Is
macadamized and in splendid condition. it
is about ten feet wide and on both sides sur
mounted by beautiful
EvERGEESS, WILD ROSES.
Blue bells, torget-me-nots and other plants
and flowers. Vegetation grows very rapidly
in fact it is hard to realize that you are not
in the tropics. Oh, how often have wished
that Walla WalIa had such surrounding
scenery. On my arrival at Sitka present
ell my letter OF introduction to Capt Henry
Glass Of the United States steamsh;ip'JdmeS-
tO.ch, who kindly placed at my service the
steam launch of the ship for the purpose OF
facilitating my object in illustrating the
scenery of Alaska, and to whose kind, codr-
teous favor am indebted for many a view
which otherwise could not have been taken,
and right here wish to state that too much
credit cannot be given to the officers and
men Of the Janiesto,ra for their endeavors to
bring Alaska into prominence and to devel-
money which betrayed the expenses to fully
prospect the country and now to deveiope
its mines. Hardly III enterprise hut what
their money has not assisted IN, and it Is
but Just and right that they receive some
credit for their work. Credit should be
gwen to Capt. Glass for the manner IN which
he treats Indians The Indian ranch or
town near Sitka, which formerly was dirty
and filthy, has now clean and healthy ap-
pearance The houses, some forty or more,
are neatly
WHITE WASHED AND NUNEEgEp,
and the streets clean and nice. He has also
established home for children, where they
are well fed, clothed and educated A dis
pensatory is also connected with the home,
where the sick are looked after and taken
care Of The educational branch of the Home
is under the superintendeney of Mr.. G. +.
A. Austin and daughter, who have IN aver
age attendance of 2.l children. Divine SER
wees are held every Sunday morning, when
a rare treat is in store for visitors. Old and
young, dressed up in their hest clothes, SIT
ting or squatted on the benches or floor ike
SO many monkies, singing hymns and repeat-
ing lessons which they do not understand
the meaning II. This may he good method
Of civiiizing the siwash and christianizing
him, but as intend hereafter to give more
fully my views ON the minor business in the
Territory | will chop the subject at pres
ent Shortly after my arrival in Sitka | en-
gagged n canoe and boarded the n w r.
Company's steamer Facor;te, which was to
be my home during my stay in Alaska, ami
found the steamer very comfortably fitted
up having good accommodation for the
officers and crew. The crew consisting Of
Indians, and the steamer commanded by
Capt. J. NJ. Vanderbilt, one of the managers
Of the company. The Fdror;if is used for
the purpose Of trading with the Indians liv-
mg on the waters of the
ALEXANDEIaN sEcHIPELEGo
And also for supplying the Companys posts
which are scattered at different places.
Leaving Sitka We went up the inland passage
leaving Mount Edgecombe to our left, We
passed two rapids where the tide runs so
swiftly that steamers only pass through them
Will the tue UT MAR siaeh "atei- fhe Chin-
mel is crooked, winding through rocks, some
OF which do not show themselves except at
very low tide. After run OF about twenty
hours We arrived at night at Hoo-che-nOo
horbor, where the company have trading
post Oh Kenasnow Island in charge Of Mr..
Ryley, who has a brother here in Walla
Waila and as Mr. Eyley IS the only white
man in the vicinity he has plenty OF time to
study the cussedness "i Indian character.
The Indian village of Hoo-ehe-noo is about
one and half mile from the pert but several
families were camping near the post fishing
and drying salmon for winter use. Here
L.