West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1885-09-18
AMONG THE CHILKATS.
a Thrilling Adventure with an
Alaskan Brown Bear.
Ihelingenlous Devices Adopted by North
erh Indians to Removs = Monster
Grizzly from = Log BrldKs-Chmkat
Traders and Their Patrons.

Alaska, our Arctic colony, way off in
Che northwestern part of our continent,
has a coast-line equal to that of all the
United States on the Atlantic and Pa
clhc Oceans and Gulf of Mexico put to-
gether. All along the northern coast
and much of Behring's Sea the ice HUGS
the shores, and here the polar bear is
found never extending his excursions
very far from land upon the wandering
packs Of ice. and still less inland.
Nearly all the rest of Alaska is popu-
lated with the brown and black bears
IN varying quantities, and of the brown
species intend to tell 9 story which |
heard while travelling ia that far-away
land.
II You look in your Alaskan maps for
Sltka, the capital and largest town in
Alaska, you will see that it is ON An
island, with many islands around n
close to the coast. Among the north
ern Stands of this long group and the
mainland, near by. is a large tribe of
Indians called the Chilkats, a most war
Ike band not very long ago. Their
country is very rugged aud mountain
Gus, aud back inland a little WAYS the
hgh mountains sre covered with snow
and ice the whole year round. the cross
ing OF which is attended with consider
able danger. Through this glacier-cla
mountain range the Chilkat Indians
knew of two or three passes which led
them TO a mOr level country beyond
Where. another tribe OF Indians lived
mat secure large numbers OF valuable
iurs. These Warlike Chilkats. however.
never allowed the white men Of the
coast 70 60 inland through tie few
mountain passes and trade for the fine
turs that the Indians there caught. nor
would they allow these same Indians 10
come through the passes and trade their
tWs 70 the white men for such things
As they wanted. but buying trading
material from the white men on the
coast they put 10 IN convenient sized
bundles that they could easily carry
over such peuiOus paths rs those Of the
coast range of mountains. and. gaining
the inland country Of their Indian ne Oh
OOr-, traded this material for their furs.
and putting these again IN bundles
carried them back 10 the white men. and
old them ~ these people Al good.
round profits, considering the mere pit.
tances at which they had been secured
from the Indians Of the interior ANY
one. however, who has ever been over
these Alpine trails. a. was the author a
few years agO. would think they bad
fairly earned their money by their hard
work IN carrying the huge lCads on their
backs over them Sometime they
made two irips q year when energetic.
and from this source u trade for year.
they are the richest tribe Of Indians that
/ know
In The heavily wooded country on
either side Of tie snow and ic, clad
mountain passes are found The blac.
and brown bear. For the former CIV,
Indian have mo tear. in fact, they arc
very eager ~ meet DO in order "a secure
She GLOSSY. Of black robe 10 carrie
81. und with DO and the meat which the,
get for food out forfho biz brown lear.
two or three times 81 fargo as bis iiafB
brother Q ~ have che greatest dread.
and pniv h,. Doc viii keep cut of their
way when on the.r travels The black
bear when ns secs tHem coming seems
hardly able .o g.t out Of the gay hali
ta-' enough from the way boz breaks
through tfe brush and -Cf8mbIes over
thc log h.i tla brown beast. If dis
tur cd suddenly. makes o |ferOc.Ou.
rush on ilc pfr OH, and generally tear.
hIn t9 pieces not luickIy dispatch %.
u the Indians Gre iE Iorgc number b,
may run away. lut otherwise IS sure o.
back ont cutie lJWiy enough 20 suit nj,
own cout cuicuce The big brown tcti
OF l kH q % great deal IKE the gtI
tt % 'Ag western part Of coun
$685. I'D ct many ~ AlsAs aBeak of