New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-20
SHELLING AN ALASKAN VILLAGE


COMMANDER MERRnIAN DECLARES FORMER RE-
PORTS TO HAVE BEEN EXAGGERATED, AXD
HIS ACTION TO HAVE BEEN ENTIRELY COM
MENDABLg.
To the EdttOF Of the Tribune.
SIR: In THE TRIBUNE of November 26 L
read an article crtcisng my burning the village OF Au-
COON at Kilsnos entitled study in Compensation
once upon a time tailor founded family. In the
will entaing the property he left clause compel
ling his heirs to keep forever his portrait lpanted with
shears I'm hand cutting out clothing hanging In con-
spcuous place the property was TO go to the TAIL
ors Union" one Disconnected descendant turned tho
picture to the wall and the reverse side caused the
same features TO be painted only this time In armor as
a mounted Crusader. lie was within eighth OF an
inch OF the truth.
The article in question IS based the view that l. on
an indefinite threat from the Indians TO destroy property
youtonly burned their houses bedding and winter pro-
visions and then turned out their women and children
to perish in the ptess cold Of Arctic night Ipur-
pose to give You the lacking eighth OF an inch OF truth
A Shauan, or Medicine Man. OF the Hootsn"o tribe OK
Indians eIyhty miles from Stka,was accidentally killed
while whaling with white men. Inc tfloe lhlhieuIa'ey
ID the two white men, demanded two hundred blank
ct. and on their demand not being complied WIFE,
waited to get another white one OF the two cap
tred had but one eye intending then 70 put the two 10
death They captured steam launch two nshlns boats
and all the -eines Of the value in AL OF several thousand
dollars The prisoners 20 have been prt 10 dean
on the evening % the day arrived The daughter OK
the killed medicine tells me the third man would
have been taken the day. Besides the actual value
of the captured property the stoppage Of the fishing in
the middle OF the enaed loss OF much money 70
the owners As punishment for stealing properly 10
the amount OF several thousand dollars for stopping the
fishing " force and for violently taking the laH INTO their
own hands demanded double the amount they claimed
or four hundred blankets and told them II the demand
Ma not complied WITH would burn their town. gavo
them until the next day. They at first said they would
They went 10 their village and a-chuck tee the richest
chief Of the trbe-fcndy, but 10 the time ahscut-tes
me they broke open his house, stole one hundred and
sxy-slx blankets which he had stored there and sent
me eighty Of them. hauled up their large canoes took
their winter provisions. blankets and bedding back into
the woods aud sent word they would not pay tho
fine but To come ana they would defend the town
DESTROYED what were 10 the vicinity OF the vessel
and burned their town, purposey smrins enough 10
house for the winter and their large canoes No
ootng was done, provisions were burned ana no
Indians were killed, Us some accounts have IT, ka-
chuck-tce says blankets were burned but that his
were stolen and he grizzly added " | will get my fur
coat and every blanket back from Saginaw Jake >"
tb culprlt chief The Indians think the houses spared
were saved 10y accident. and that purpose was TO
destroy all their property and provisions wanted
them to think desired to teach them lesson. and
succeeded. Had not done So they would have killed
moro OF less white people aud DESTROYED trading post
aud fishing station aud property OF much value. am
OF the opinion that the necessary and
Will be productive OF much good and may add that tbs
propery S!ders and missionaries here agree with
believe the will last the Indians for general
ton although they rebuilt their houses in "A month.
Nv aim in this letter however. Is not TO attempt to
guide public opinion but simply u supply you with ths
facts The daughter tKn2e Of the man who was killed
described hole plot the motive for IT, and tho
manner in which they TO Kill the three men. They
consider one hundred blankets the equivalent for the
death OF their number II they could have had
the blood OF white then one hundred blankets
would have answered. The extra hundred was TO sat
isfy them for the death or Indian killed some tins
before while Telling timber for wharf Their heller IN
lie for a ite" hundred blankets for lie, will
vet cause trouble unless put down They should 90
mis- case aud probably would have been their
hasv action This blanket business does not consist as
mi rb 6ihiESt IL thr Indian dollar The Standard il
single blanket Of the Hudson Bay type, worth 81 ka-
chuck-tec, mentioned above Is worth llOVO blankets
Ken al koo. another chief. 5000.
the Indians of southeastern Alaska most inter-
mains aud the EsquimauX. ReNengeful and cruel IN
war tney are. when wei treated and not under the IN
cont skfu not honest but easily led for good. They
do not want the white on their fathers land az
kills one of the tribe, either purposey or by ACCIDENT
they want 10 kill white man, or be paid hnnirea
blankets. They claim the game and the land OF the
country, and want Ia keep them II All KINDS OF ma.s
liquor we'll as distilled We're lhtetihe1u anu lU sec
supported by the Government established predict ta.
the Alaskan Indian would be source OF revenue To the
Governments ne Is AT all times willing 10 give nm hon
est DAYS work for reasonable pay an attribute unpOs-
scssci nv anv other tribe within my knowledge. Ta
United states Government should provide some KIND of
law 10 protect the miner and Indian In this Territory or
abandon IT, There is law prohibiting the sale OF dis
TILED liquors, bat beer The rumselers taking All
vantage OF This mix Oay-rum Forida-water ETC., lntd
the beer. and sell the mixture To Indians, and then
troubles arise The rumscets themselves such cases
veil the most Justify clip. All the fault lies entirely
M their doors The winters here far from rigorous
The average OF thermometer from October - To dare
IS 400 ~ Fahr for meridan ana 39' 90 tahr iOr md-
| night. Very truly yours . 80.
| T., G. MLRRIMAN. Commander l. ;. Navy.
/ Y I.L.,.la LD.u