Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1895-01-04
INDIANS OF ALASKA
Stories Of Their Queer Customs
and Traits Now In Parctice.
100 MILES IN A C0NOE FOR MAIL
The Natives Have Strange Ways OF
Marrying and Furnishing
Criminals.

Colonel Sol Ripinsky, of Chilkat. Alas
ka, arrived in Portland a few days ago
on business and pleasure trip.
Ten years ago Mr. Rapinsky was a
prominent merchant of Salem, and an
officer of the oregon state MALTA. He
is now engaged in the general merchan-
disc business in Chilkat, and is also
postmaster of that far-off trading post.
Chilkat is the last stopping place on
the road to the Yukon mines No regu-
lar mail Is received there, and very often
native travels down the river 100
miles In a canoe for mail.
There are three canneries in Chill
kat" he said, land during the fishing
season about $50 whites and 300 natives
are employed there. In the winter the
population decreases to about 80 whites
and 200 natives. A mile across the Chill
kat peninsula is located the Haines
mission of the Presbyterian church.
Rev. w. w. Warne is the minister, and
is also government teacher. He is doing
much good for that section of the coun-
try"
In speaking of the costumes of the
natives, Colonel Rapinsky said:
Marriage among the natives is d
strange ceremony, If it may be called a
ceremony. The women are bought
prices ranging from 10 to 100 blankets
according to their beauty. That ends
the proceeding. Blankets are a staple
article and are used instead of money
All monetary earnings are invested in
al MI wi I'M
the possessor of more than $500 worth
of blankets at 81 each. he sends an lnvl-
tation to all his tribe to be present al
the potlach or feast. When all have ar
rived he ascends high scaffold with all
his blankets and cuts them into strips
about foot wide, which he delivers to
each of his tribe. until his supply Is eX-
hausted. This is considered an honor
and is 1T their only ambition to possess
wealth to distribute among their tribes
Nearly all Indians have more than one
wife. When the husband dies his pos
sessions revert to his relatives, not to
his widows, and If the deceased has
nephews they become the husbands
of the widows.
when one Indian kills another. the
wife of the murdered man goes to his
murderer and demands a penalty, which
is paid by his tribe giving so many
blankets to the tribe to which the de.
cedent belonged. This is the customary
way among the natives of settling a
murder. and a murder is an everyday
occurrence. The government at present
has three Indian policemen there-one
for each of the three tribes. When an
Indian is killed by a member of his
own tribe the policeman belonging to
that tribe settles the matter by award
ing so many blankets to the murdered
mans friends. When one belonging to
another tribe is killed the police of
that tribe goes to the police of the other
and demands so many blankets. If his
demand is not satisfied by the immedi-
ate delivery of the amount asked for
he and his escort kill the first man of
the murderer's tribe they find. whether
he be the murderer or not. This may
seem strange to many of your readers,
but 1t is true. and it happens every day.
when native is sick his near re-
lations consult doctor. The doctor
comes and examines the patient, first
by pulling his hair. punching him in the
ribs and pulling his nose. and then de-
clares the patient can not live. He is
then asked: Can you do anything for
the patient?" Yes. but it will cost you
90 blankets" When the required num-
Der of blankets is collected from the pa
TENTS friends, the doctor dresses him
self in peculiar manner, builds bon
fire and makes ready for the work of
driving away the devil which, he claims
is in the patient.
After the patient is almost beaten to
death by the doctor the latter an
nounces that the devil has taken his
leave. Should the patient grow worse
the doctor, after charging his friends as
many blankets as they can get, goes in
to the forest and remains three days
consulting his god and then returns
with the information that the patient is
bewitched, and places the charge of be-
witching him upon some friendless ma
tive. Without ceremony the friends OF
the sick man then seize and tie the ac-
cused with the head drawn back as far
as possible without breaking the neck
His hands are tied behind his back and
he is then taken into dark cellar and
left in that condition for three days
without food. Although the victim
pleads for mercy and protests his limo
cence. yet he is left there until uncon.
scious, when it is expected an explana.
ton will be made by him. In many cases
persons accused of such crimes are left
alone until death relieves them from
suffering. This is not an unusual sight
and many native without friends has
gone to his grave in this way"
In speaking of the first and only
horse ever seen by the natives. Mr.
Ripinsky said: 'Some time ago the mis-
sionary received horse at Chilkat, anC
| when the natives beheld the animal the,
took to the forest. Finally, when nigh
came on and they We're compelled. t.
| return to their huts, they sent their ole
wives first, saying that If the horse att
| them they would have their young wive
left. This is no joke, but is a true story
All have said in regard to the native
| of Alaska may be seen almost any day
| There is much to be done in regard L
| bringing Alaska into the civilized
| world"
A CONFIDENCE.