Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-27

| hunting with juvenile
scion of the Eagle fam
lily of Hoonah, division Of the Thlinkets Twins
on Chicagoff Island.
Now, these young gentlemen Dragged about
their parents. Young man-with-a pad
die casually remarked to Young big fish
story that his pa had re ad more Browning thar
had his pa This is a very delicate point
story allowed that although that might be so
he would wager hisfanciest halibut hook against
| a round pebble that his ma had the deepest
understanding of Richard Wagner's surf-shore.
in-a-storm music of any lady in the land
| From this the young men compared their
| respective merits in other directions. They
| spoke of their ability at padding and canoe
| building with words of unmistakable approba-
ton and yet with that courtly old-style modesty
| and reservation 30 common among Indiana
| FATAL ACCIDENT
They compared hunting weapons. Young.
an-with-a-carved-paddle brought his gun
down from his shoulder in order to exhibit its
technical beauties. In this act lay the pabulum
| OF series of Indian negotiations rivaling the
| white mans Boring sea controversies For
purely by accident this young man discharged
| his weapon at his companion and brought him
back to camp with hole in his heart The
bullet had not stopped to argue by the wayside,
| but had passed qnite through in a hurried i'm
petuous fashion, and the young man with a
| musical mamma was dead.
The explanations were satisfactory enough
| and the Hoorahs cleared the young man of any
intent to kill But that did not change the
damage done the tribe in general. They had
lost promising braggart, who bid fair to out
| class the whole archipelago on fish whoppers.
| So demand was sent down to the Sitka Thin
| kets for some substantial reparation. This was
| not Immediately forthcoming. The Sitkas were
| IN doubt about it. They consulted District At
torney Johnston with such persistency that the
good-natured official had to air out his Office
| two and three times q day. However, his
opinion declared something due the Hoorahs
| according to the ancient code of custom.
Time passed aud nothing was done. The
| Hoorahs waited in their northern home. Then
| they waited some more. The big tyee used to
| sit up nights waiting, and yet no paddles Of a
Sitka embassy smote the silver sheen of Hoonah
| bay.
Finally seven war canoes showed off from
Hoorah laden with a choice selection Of fight
Ing bucks, yelping dogs and dried herring.
They were bound for Sitka after 100 blankets
or a few pounds of choice Sitka flesh in lieu
thereof. They decided to declare these alter
natives with perfect indifference.
Before they reached Sitka sound the Indians
| thereabout had scented their approsch and
donned their war paint and weapons.
One brave had an old Russian sword and belt
| BIS trousers were light colored and had enough
| checks to hit out a dozen chess boards. His
| headgear was the decided English Of double
vIZered travelling cap. He was trying to be
| the most crusty and noisome rust on the gang,
| but certain old fellow with iron gray hair was
surely the leader against all corners.
| His name was Father-of-the-mink. His hat
was mammoth watershed of pyramid shape.
HIS dress was long robe of squirrel skins with
| the tails hung along the bottom for trimming
He held wand in his hand with which he en-
phasized his remarks on the head of any young
| Ihlinket who was trying to get into politics be-
/ fore his time.
| Such was the motley gang. The leaders had
| approved all this pomp and parade in consid-
| GRAFTON OF its possible utility. 1t might beat
| down the visitors a few blankets less than they
| should demand.
| THE HoosAH FLEET ARRIVES.
The sun was high in the heavens when the
| Hoonah fleet moved down the sound and came
abreast the huts Of the sitkas. Slowly and
| majestically the little squadron made its half
| turn and bore down on the beach. The Ameri-
| can flag foated from the middle canoe and the
sun shot thousand diamond lights from wet
| paddles.
Then came the fun, also the fine work of a
game OF bluff, also some Indian diplomacy.
Both sides rolled out a little preliminary ora
| toricai thunder y was as yet too far off to be
| artlculate to eitheH The distance lessened and
quiet possessed every one. 1t was large, un-
certain, staggering, conical-shaped quiet, like
| the church steeple when the chimes tried to
play Annie Rooney.
When it became evident that the Hoonahs
were going to try to land some excited Thlinket
raised grunt out of his chest and grabbed a
Tending pole. In a minute the air was full of
| lending poles, Indians and large mouthfuls of
| cultural sounds
The fleet stopped. In fact there was nothing
to do but stop when Q barricade of pole heads
stretched out yearningly toward them across
| the cool water.
| Father-of-the-mink then appeared on the
| threshold and stood until his dignity should
get the tribute of good square silence. He
| had previously smiled with his inner man over
small nip of hoochinoo and was in q fine ora
| torical humor.
| His first remarks were highly tinged with
| sarcasm. He reminded the Hoonahs that this
was not his day at home and he was extremely
| averse TO receiving on any other. He believed
| the white inhabitants OF Sitka charitable to
| tramp Thlinkets and shiftless Siwash and ad-
| vised them to seek such aims.
"hereupon the Hoonah chief stood up in his
| canoe and requested the favor of a little Wah-
wah (talk or bickering).
Fatner-o f-the-mink yelled back that 1t was
scarcely in his line to wah-wah. He was emil
| nently man of action rather than wah-wah
In his younger days, he continued, he had been
man of unequaied endurance at padding
| All the young lady Thlinkets used to stare as
he padded by and each feminine nose held its
| largest brass ring when he called. But he
would not dwell upon personal matters. 1t
| always panied him when circumstances made
such talk necessary.
THE STORY OF THE CALAMITY.
| Then up rose the spokesman of the feet He
cleared his vocal deck for action and asked the
stroke paddler to punch him if he slipped up
| on grammar.
There had come upon his people, he said. Q
great distress. The most promising young man
OF their number had gone where the halibut are
thick and the salmon swim up and jump into
| the boat.
Then followed rapid and pathetic descrip-
ton Of the sorrowfui occasion. They did not
want blankets for the poor departed. Oh, no
He was warm enough without them. He had
gone where the sheep carry shears and blankets
are thicker than kodaks in Switzerland.
All this was .recited in kind OF dolorous
| chant varying scarcely q half-tone. It seemed
| to have small effect with the auditors on shore.
But 1t did. They we're only hiding their true
feelings under a mantle OF crafty fox skin, a. il
| were.
Father-of-mink replied that all this wah-wah
was like the flowers that bloom in the spring
in other words, that it did not possess any re-
Il m ark abla reIevauev In the occcs;oc