The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-22
A LABOR OF LOVE.
DR.. DunCan's Great Work
at MetlakaIta.
AFTER THIRTY-FlVE YEARS
lie Realizes His Reward i'm the Pros
perity of His Wards and Their
High Civilization.

Il am here negotiating for an electric
light plant for the settlement of Metlakatla
and hope to succeed in establishing it, but
as | have only about $1,000 to expend in it
may have to defer tho matter for another
season."
The speaker was Rev. DR.. Duncan, the
pioneer missionary of Alaska and British
Columbia, who started out thirty-fve years
ago to attempt th e civilization OF the Indians
in that then littIe-known country.
when ! first set out / met with many
difficulties, chief among which was the OPP
position Of the powerful Hudson Bay Com
pany, who then owned and governed the
whole country from what is now the west
eTn border of Ontario clear 10 the Pacific
Ocean. with the exception of that country
since purchased by the United States from
Russia.
They were averse to anv attempt be-
ing made TO christianiZe the Indians. alleg-
ing that no man was safe to go among the
Indians alone and unprotected at all times,
and that il | were killed the company would
be blamed.
Il insisted, however, and said that all l
wanted was TO have an opportunity to
learn the language OF the country, and
eventually this privilege was granted and
was installed in O log stOckade with guards
was given me TO instruct me in the Ian
Cuage.
The instructions were given in this
way: l would make q sign representing
some one thing and my Instructor would
give It's name, which would repeat, and
this went on for eight months of steady,
hard, persistent work.
AT the end Of that time ! felt myself
we'll able TO cope with the language and
started out to preach to the TsmShran Iu-
4 In fhnIF
In consequence of being able TO speak
their own language | was able to appeal 10
them directly and be fully understood.
at was an uphill battle, but | was never
III personal danger, and before long a little
crowd OF earnest adherents gathered around
me and these gradually Increased.
I'VE found some trouble by reason of the
immediate contact with the pagans of the
tribe aud decided to move away from the
original settlement to a spot some seventeen
miles away, where we began to establish
industries of various kinds, for | did not
consider II at ell desirable simply to teach
them the religion of Christ but wanted to
elYlize them at the same time.
Difficulties we're many and money was
scarce, and 1t was hard TO teach men who
had never known the advantages OF in
dustry the benefits Of at; bat success
crowned my efforts.
Two attempts were made to induce
ladies' TO come 10 my assistance. One STAY ed
ten months and went away much TO the
regret OF her husband, who was compelled
10 accompany her, aud the other, who was
especially recommended as a strong-minded
woman left in six weeks.
Then l gave up he attempt TO obtain
female help, and have consequently re-
manned single all my life. for | argued that
II woman who had her husband with her
could not stay, might be placed in the
same DC sitiOn II L took wife
WITH more or less success the little
settlement grew, till about six years ago the
Canadian Government decided that the land
that had been settled and brought into cuI-
uyStion, and where We had the only pros
porous Indian settlement west of the
Rockies. TO say the least, was not the
property ofthe indians, and that they we're
dependent on the will OF Queen Victoria
as 10 what should or should not be granted
All the Indians were indignant when this
decision was reached, and it was only A
question as to whether they should emigrate
10 the United States or go TO war for their
rights.
population came to seesme. They had been
sent down by the little band under nv
-ch2Hge, and L did not know what deter.
miDatlUn had been arrived at, and | called
on the late Hon. John Robson, one of The
Ministers Of the Crown, and told him what
/ heard, but as the Indians refused 10 give
me any information until We should be
alone | could not say what the result
would be.
Next morning / went to Washington as
soon as had learned that they had decided
10 leave and become q part Of the United
States.
II was able to secure very desirable
concession from the United States Govern
ment in the shape of the island where we
now are, and which is about twelve miles
long by three or four wide, and where the
new Metiakatla now is. a year ago full
title to this island was granted us and is
vested IN the Tsimshean Indians of Metla-
Ratla.
we now have a cannery, a sawmiIl and
other industries, and as ] said before are
about to establish an electric light plant.
This year our cannery turned out II. 900
cases of salmon Of fhs quality, for we have
the two best varieties on tho coast-the sill
Verside and The lockeye, and these Melted
US between $4,000 and $4,000, giving us
some money to spend.
Our settlement should be seen to be ap-