The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1883-12-05
Scenes and Incidents in Sitka.

The misty rain did not prevent us from
further exploration of the strange old
town. The lower part is built of block
houses, formerly occupied b ysoldiers, but
now given over entirely to the Indians.
The beach is strewn with canoes just in
from fishing, and women are busy clean
ing the fish and keeping an eye on the
babies. Said babies, from six years down
to infancy, are on the sound padding
around by themselves in canoes. On the
common a crowd of Indian boys are
playing base ball. Though all their talk
was in native tongue, they cried in Eng
lish %"out," %"foul," "tally," lone
strike" as they had heard sailors play.
Their actions were very amusing, and
their ball looked and felt like a potato
tied up in a rag. A lot of girls sitting
OH a huge pile of high boulders over
looked the scene, and busted themselves
in nursing rag dolls, whose wooden heads
showed skill of carving that seems Won
dcrful in these untaught people. These
Indians are so superior in many Ways to
tribes of the plains that any progressive
person would naturally become interested
in their advancement. The Presbyterian
mission established a school here five
years ago that. after a hard struggle, has
at last come to Il firm footing, and, with
those Mt Wrangcl and other ports, has
done much to suppress witchcraft cruel
ties, and to teach Indian girls industry
| and virtue
The chief is generally appointed spc.
cial policeman to Indiantown. The pres
emf chief is "Captain Tom," a good Off
Ger, having great influence with his tribe.
lie has acquired IS, 900 by trading, owns
a good house, bought from a departing
Russian. and sports Il brass-buttoncd blue
suit. Quite rs conspicuous as himself is
his fat squaw, who gives her name rs
"Mary Tom" and is also Il great trader.
having $1,000 on her own account, prof
its as "middlcman" between her own
people and the whites. She has the
%wabbling walk characteristic of her pco-
pie, caused by their all being pigeon
tocd from continual squatting, Instead of
sitting, to rest. All the Indians wear
American made shoes and stockings,
and one israrcly seen b~are-footcd. Their
compilations arc fair as light japanese,
the babies being almost white. The hui
mid atmosphere and lack of sunshine
cause this effect, and also cause another
| which is less agreeable, inflammatory
rheumatism. We have seen several per
| sons drawn all out of shape with it, and
several dwarf children. This last speaks
well for their humanity, rs it is the GUS
tom of Indians to put dwarfs to death.
There is no agriculture at Sitka, except
gardening, towlichthe Indians have lately
taken on their own account. with success
as to hardy vegetables. These, with
abundance of cod, halibut, salmon, deer,
| grouse. and numerous berries to be had
with little labor, enable them to run bet
ter boarding houses than the usual sum-
mel resorts. There are no cattle or sheep
in Alaska, and except game no meat un-
less steamers furnish an occasional sup
ply to Il favored few. There are four
cows who do their duty at Sitka, and
three mules that do nothing except at
rare intervals. Before reaching there
the tourists discussed quite warmly
whether it would be best 10 60 on horse
back or in a hack to see the town. On
arrival we found a livcryman who does
an extensive business at other ports, a
party named Shanks, who furnished us
with the only horses known in Sitka.-
Nn.tL3covt NI3rv