The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-09-09

Willapa. which arrived in port last even
Ing. state that the chilkOot and Cnilcat
Indians engaged IN a free-for-an fight
near Dyea recently. during which two IN
dams were shot dead. and a squaw badly
wounded The cause OF the bloody ARRAY
was whisky. and ii is feared that more
bIoodshed VIII follow. owing to the law
less. fierce and warlike nature OF the Chill
kats
Firewater Calls for Firearms.
The Alaska News. printed at juneau,
says that the primary cause Of the fight
was two Swedes. who were headed for the
Yukon country with a large quantity Of
whisky in their possession. They hired
some Chilk0ot Indians TO pack their out
ut over the summit, and claim that six
kegs or old Bourbon were stolen from them
by the Indians. On the other hand. the
Indians claim they received the " whisky in
part payment for their services. How
ever that may be. the Chilkoots obtained
the whisky. and invited some Chilkat In
dams 10 join in a social event. In short
time all were lighting drunk. and an al
tcTcation took place between the members
Of the different tribes
In less time than il takes 10 tell il. the
devil in the red men came TO the surface.
and firearms were flashing all around \
general night ensued, and there was an
exchange Of shots. resulting in thu killing
OF a Chilkat brave by a member of the
Chlkoots
"A Wounded >quaw and Dead Brave.
TO make matters worse, a Chilkat squaw
caught a flying bullet in her leg. Then
the Chikats retaliated by shooting one of
the Chilkoot braves dead
The hight was stopped al this point and
the ChlIkats Immediately started for their
village. A large number of Chilkats are
away from home, but Will return shortly
ana II is feared that they will march on
the Chilkoot village in a body and wipe
II out Of existence
The News says that the Chnkats are
holding absolute sway over all the other
Indian tribes in that section and are as
Iawiess set of siwashes as ever lived.
III Is impossible for Stick Indian TO pass
through their country with furs without
paying very heavy tribute. When trad
ing excursions are made TO the interior
by the Chilkats they take along a lot of
whisky, and II the Stick Indians Go not
trade according to their ideas they get
them intoxicated and rob them The Chill
kats are very vindictive. and unless the
Chilkoots should pay an indemnity for the
dead Ch.ikat and the squaws leg there
VIII be trouble sure.
Authorities should stop Lawlessness.
In an editorial the News says that the
continued state of lawlessness in the
neighborhood of the Chilkat and Ch;lk.ot
villages should receive attention from the
Federal government. Continuing the ed
itorial says:
I'VE have il from unquestioned author
lty that scarcely canoe lands at Chlkat
but has whisky aboard. British Columbia
Indians come from Port Simpson, and with
perfect impunity trade their Hudson bay
blankets and Hudson bay rum for furs.
The white residents should have some
protection. and are loud in their demands
for local deputy marshal 1t is I'M
possible for the officials located at Juneau
TO be Of benefit to a community distant 100
miles, no matter how efficient they may
be. The demand for a deputy is perfectly
just and reasonable. Especially should
there been an official located there during
the heavy Yukon travel, when the oppor-
tuniti6s of making a few dollars in booze
seem so irresistible 10 some of the de-
generate whites who mas be passing
through the country
The Mining Record gives the following
account OF the pitched battle:
The reports in regard 10 the latest In
dian row at Dyea are rather conflicting.
Inquiry. however, leads us TO believe that
the Indians got their liquor. three kegs,
from two Swedes who were going into
the Yukon, as compensation for packing
across the pass. As is always the case
when the siwash is in possession of liquor
they got on a hilarious jag which termi-
mated In the death Of a Chilkat brave and
the wound.ng Of klootchman. who. we
learn has since died also. The shooting
il is said was done by a Chilkoot indian
and the Chilkat tribes are now demanding
his surrender. II Is feared by the whites
at that place tFat It will Ultimately ter
inmate In a free-for-all fight which would
be a sure victory for the Chilkats. who
outnumher the Chilkoots three to one"