Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1882-06-03
Letter ssSclc PAUL ~. flUsgS,
JOINS ISLAND, May IA, 1882.


EDITOR ENTERPRISE:
l noticed in your interesting little sheet
under date of April 22d, my name, with
comments ending in my whereabouts
among the Indians of Fender Island,
which is as erroneous as would be the
publication of the conquest of Hymen
announcing the nuptial relations Of Pres
ident Arthur and Her Majesty the Queen
of Greac Britain and Ireland with their
connubial felicity amid amatory wars.
Owing to the severe treatment of my
father while boy left the home govern,
ment at an early age, and coming to. Vans
couver Island married the pre.tie 81 laugh
ing, black eyed girl on the coast accord
ing to the usages of the tribe, with whom
wandered north among the different
tribes, and giving way to my eccentric
and erratic disposition virtually became
an Indian. Therefore it is true that the
early days of my youth and early man
hood was spent among the Indians. /
have been among every tribe from the Me-
te-Nats to the Skenas, and have been
nearly year, when not otherwise en-
gagged, writing the history of my life
and adventures etrong them. Those
were the happiest days of my life. The
kindness shown me when far beyond the
protection of the whites is ir lasting re-
membrance. 1t is not strange that the
affinity still exists Such life in those
days wac not altogether without its dam
gers; tribes were savage enemies. No
Stimid youth would have ventured to
travel at their mercy, but, on the contra
ry, would have chung to the fostering pro-
lection of the maternal roof. Their
wars were carried on with indiscrim!nate
slaughter, while their trophies were the
trembling slaves and human heads. Not
withstanding all this those were the "hap-
piest days of their sunshine" which has
been eclipsed by the Nimbus cloud of
civilization, bursting with its over-
charge d elements, as it were, the thunder
peal of the heavens, proceeded by the
forked lightning, causing devastation and
prostrating the humble dwellings and an
initiating the helpless tenants-the in .
alienable .inheritors of the land.
Fender island Is neither contiguous or
adjacent to my present place OF residence,
but is separated by channel, which
few years since seemed to puzzle the
most enlightened men of the world to as
certain its whereabouts, and because they
could not find it were going to fight
about it.
Johns island, where I clio engaged in
sheep raising, husbandry, farming and
| fishing, is in San Juan county. There
are no Indians on the island, and they
seldom visit 1t, excepting to dig camas in
the sbring of the year. I mention this
to correct the error in your paper, which
In other respects was complimentary, and
to mention that my living with the Indi-
ans is far from being derogatory, and nei>
Their do I consider it SO; but my mail
might be misdirected, and perhaps may
want to follow the example of some Of
my Anticipated friends who once looked
in "siwash ranches" for black>eyed maid
ems, and are now surrounded by full
blooded white children with blue eyes.
Indeed feel it Is evident that the time
is approaching such crisis. / went to
see an old friend not long since, who un-
fortunately has an Indian vile. She in
terested herself in my domestic affairs
and inquired why l did not get klooch-
man replied that did not want one,
| which brought from her the retort that
| she guessed l was nearly "played out"
and would soon get white woman.
Very respectfully,
PAUL K. HOBBs.