The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-04-14
CANNIBAL FEAST.
The Horrible Orgies Of Nah
Witt Indians.
SEEN " TWO SEATTLE MEN.
Gea. Beats go Ssha Hsees~sss's kH-
psssss~ss wnss~ Grstssns Aissg
ssss Nsssssss~ Cs4ss


- Nsvshss~ Cssss.
G~neras Lyman Banks and John Hutch
esnu, fwo cisfsens Of seattle. have 5ass re-
fuYned from two months cruise Of the
northern coast Of British Columbia and
they sefI some thrilling stories Of sights
th<y have seen and dangerous adventures
sbey experienced during their cruise
Ths cid Hudson Bay Company's trap
pers ali units In calling the past winter the
worst thas he's been known In this part OF
the country In the last forty years. and
seaf or two from their og-book shows that
the cruisers found thst fact 70 b only too
true.
A posy-IxrxLIfexscxn reporter hap
pensd 10 meet Gensrsi Banks on the street
yesterday and II his request the general
rectssd the story OF bis most exciting and
interesting cruise. The story Is interest
ing and IL IL given below in the language OF
General Banks himself. He began hts mar
ration O. foliows. I'VE started ont full Of
rrssf expectations and pleasant ansicipa-
lions and ne did not realize
for moment what trials We
would hsvs 70 80 through, and, ted you.
at Times II required . great deal Of Western
grit and push TO get ahead Those who
are acquainted with the difficulties Of ira
vrrsing In summer . coast forest. with its
thousands Of uprooted trees and still
worse apbeaved foundations, can perhaps
readily imagine how much greater hard
ship Il was for us to travel over three feet
Of SHOW on level and occasionally strike
drifts much deeper and . great deal too
much tAngie OF sai-lal bush for snow-shoes.
Hat, TO add 70 I'll our difficulties. our half
breed guide and the two Indian packers
refused 20 70 with "a ~ soon ~ We had
penetrated . short distance inland. We
had iust sigilted some hills which they said
We eouid never pass over. and they alleged
that no human being had ever succeeded
ia the attempt
They strongly urged and prayed us not
70 proceed any further. but We had started
out with determination 70 accomplish
work and We we're not 10 be bsffled SO
easily in the beginning OF our journey. so
Ne packed up . couple Of weeks rations
and an axe in our blankets and, shoulder
ING eur winchcsters. we pushed on alone.
Oh. what Journey that was. never shall
forget II ~ long - ! live.
Where che snow vas too soft and deep We
managed 10 make progress by crawling on
our hands and knees. aud at times we
were obliged 10 lie down and roll 10 get out
Of ti1e snow. IL was hard struggling by
day, but tho snow made soft bed At
night. We canoed over three hundred
miles OF our journey. and some OF it Was
In very rough waters. But the most start
ling experience We had and the
ono that would interest you most, hap
psned one day just as We were
running into . cave 10 avoid storm. We
got into the cave Ill right enough. but inn
sgine our horror and disgust when We
found ourselves in tbs midst Of the Nah
witt Indian tribe ~ their cannibal orgies.
CannibAiism h prohibited by the Dominion
government, but only monthly visit from
vessels, and ths nearest port being over
miles away. they carry on the horrible
practics with impunity.
I'VE watched the heathsns during the
day 81 long range, but under assurance OF
safety We ventured after awhile into their
circle at night and watched them. can
only describe the sight this way: There
Was high fire Of logs in the center of the
circle, which Was constantly attended by
tWQ uGBs 0xu VtI81tVtAAy kA&Ct0 VINE I'll
extra hiss and fash as some uneaten fat
Was thrown on. The entire tribe encircied
the FIRE, dressed In blankets OF many bril-
liant hncs. There were naked dancers.
and dozen or more iusty savages with
clubs in their hands beating m
accompaniment 10 their wild songs and
dances and the whole sight made . weird
scene that is not soon forgotten. Their
feast consisted Of the bodies of their dead.
They seldom kill strangers TO furnish
food for these horrible orgies, As they were
all the time quarrcling between themselves
and generally had enough dead bodies OF
braves to satisfy their appetites.
II had bean told Ia Victoria OF the possi-
blllty OF this and warned that when Wild
with the dance the braves rush out and bite
piece out of the first person they come 10.
Nov ! have no objection 10 being eaten
after am dead. but 10 he bitten by one OF
those wild fellows would he rs undesirable
as the bite OF o mad dog. and lest in their
excitement they might forget their promise
OF Immunity, held my hand under my
overcoat and grasped a si-ealibre revolver
that would have furnished rations fitting
the occasion.
"our sense OF security was not increased
hy ole oi them making speech. noticing
our presence and herating the white mans
government for trying 20 deprive the poor
indian OF the pleasure of being can,hbal
occasionally. especially as he only fed upon
his own dead.
The boys erswled behind the older peo-
PIE and hid. men were bitten or simulated
H. and was aiterward shown scars where
they claimed 90 have been bitten. But We
we're not melested. One brave. however,
probably to test rs. made dash in our d.
rcction, bot others caught him and turned
him another way, Ii was an all night
session. no one was allowed TO leave TN
through, which VAS 5 o'clock the next
morning. We hal seen enough. though.
and were glad 20 leave. We proceeded on
eur Journey and came back again without
any more exciting adventures, arriving In
Seattle only a short time aso. Rut never
In all my life pat in such night as did
the time ot those iFsghEul orgies. and |
esnaidly confess | donf want To soon
again."