The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-03
LIFE FOR a LIFE
Strange Workings o a Lay. of the Nat,v
of Aiaska.


Strange Workings a Law of the Natives
of Alaska.
An Androscoggin County LADY, who
recently returned from Alaska, where
her husband was employed by the
United States Government as a teacher
among the natives, gives some interest
Ing particulars of the country aud peo-
pie. While at Chilclt the lady wit
messed tragedy and it's consequences,
which illustrates the peculiar code of
justice among the natives.
party of white miners were at the
supply agency preparing to start off on
prospecting tour to the Yukon or
some other distant mining locality
Several Indians wanted to accompany
them, but objection was raised by 9TH
ers. Liquor had been freely drunk,
and bad blood was in the ascendant. An
old chief, much respected by the whites
excited the ire of chief of another
tribe, and the latter sought to vent his
wrath by striking the others son. who
CHANGED to be present The father re-
taliated by knocking the aggressor
down. The latter thereupon drew his
revolver and fired, the bullet penetrat-
ing the old chiefs lungs
Knowing that the custom of his coun-
trymen demanded life for life, he at
once darted from the scene of the affray
and fed directly for the house in which
the white lady was stopping, hoping, if
he could once gain an entrance, to be
enabled to secure immunity from pun
1shment. She stood N the doorway as
he approached. but he was destined
never to enter. 1t appears that his dis
sipated. quarrelsome habits had already
placed him in bad odor with his own
tribe and one of the f1eet-footed Young
men intercepted him when almost at
the threshold and with terrible cut
with huge knife almost severed his
body in two
Now comes the singular part that JUS
tice had to take in the affair. Instead
OF the actual murderer paying the PEN
atty OF the crime, according to their iu-
dicial code the life of the old chief. as
the assumed prime cause of it. was to
be forfeited, Notwithstanding he had at
first acted mainly ON the defensive, and
had already been perforated with the
bullet OF his enemy. He sought protec-
ton from his white friends, but, while
they were heartily in sympathy with
him, they did not deem it prudent to in
terfere in the matter Seeing no hope
in that direction he turned from them
with the remark: ''Me show white man
how brave Indian de-" and gave him
self up to be shot
After his wife had adjusted black
cap to his head dozen or so men of his
own tribe drew themselves up for the
execution, but their hands trembled so,
or they so disliked to shoot their be-
loved chief, that in firing the bullets
that entered his person only mangled
him and did not at once prove fatal. He
begged for them to kill him outright,
but they desisted, and he was carried to
his hut to slowly die from his wounds.
Thus he fingered for nearly two weeks,
suffering the greatest agony His wife
would go to his bedside night after
night and plunge knife into his side
to hasten death and his release, which
seemed so long a time coming. During
his suffering the lady visited him almost
daily, and he seemed very grateful for
her solicitude. Finally he died, and
Justice" was satisfed.-Lewisto Me }