Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-03-19
Belief lin witches.

Two more deliberate murders have been
added to an already long list Ut mlsdeeds
committed by the indians of Hoonah vii.
lage and vicinity. the direct result of deep
~ rooted superstition rs to witchcraft,
Fora member of a tribe to be stigma
tized as a witch by the medicine man is
equivalent to a living death-complete
ostracism = SO far as his further relation
ship with his ~fellow-men Is concerned. and
an indian thus accused may as well end his
earthly career at once. For life will hence
forth be a burden to him, unless blankets
enough can be produced with which to pay
the doctor for disposing of the evil intlu-
ence at once. Cases of this kind are
occasionally cured, but the price Is gener.
ally an exorbitant one. virtually slavery for
life, and suicide is preferable to the vic.
tim, such a thing as casting out a witch
being lare, says the Alaska News.
During the early part of December the
medicine man in the latest affair. who is a
doct-in-tun-shul. o. member of the Grows,
having become dissatisfied VITA his reye-
nue., sought to increase the number of his
blankets. With this end in view he ac-
cused a Chuch-a-na-tee, or Wolf, of being
a witch. Knowing only too well the sig
nitcance of such an accusation, the Wolf
made a feint to raise the price demanded,
but instead procured his rifle, and, meeting
his accuser later in the day, he proceeded
to perforate the doctors anatomy to sucl,
good purpose that death resulted instantly.
two bullets from a 45-iO Winchester doing
the deed. On December &, a council of
the crows was summoned, ana decided
that nothing short of death of the Wolf
would prevent precipitating general hos
fIifiAG hnfxUyaSvl TIM tr;fNnc n1t1NN,,.vl~ A.
latter's kinslnen were profuse in their
offerings of blankets. Yet the Crows re-
NAMED Obdurate, and to prevent a long
struggle, bloodshed and destruction of
property, the Wolves reluctantly submitted
to the ultimatum and selected three of
their tribes men by lot.
AT sunset the following day the execu-
TONERS led the murderer to the beach,
lined themselves up in front OF him at a
distance OF ten PAGES, and. ~leveling their
rifles at his head, the report sounded as one
and three crimson spots appeared. The
body rolled to the waters edge, when
friends and relatives TOOK charge of 1t and
buried it with the usual ceremonies. 1t is
worthy OF note that a custom exists among
these natives which makes it compulsory
for each tribe to mete out punishment to
its own members.
In an en'ieavor to pacify and retard ac-
ton on the part OF of the revengaful Crows
until word could be sent to the authorities,
MIR. Albert Peterson, who has charge of
Frank Kane's store, had q gun thrust into
his face with a peremptory command to
mind his own affairs, and he accordingly
retired to a safe distance. but sent word at
the earliest moment. Mr.. Peterson is the
only white man in the village, while there
are two white ladies-Mrs. Mcfarland who
has charge of the mission school, and her
sister Mrs. Howse. 1t Is said that Mrs.
Mcfarland was an involuntary witness of
the shooting, and angry mutterings and
lowering looks Of the savages were a
source of much uneasiness to her at the
time, though 1t is believed that she is in
no immediate danger.
The village of Hoonah contains perhaps
40O or 500 Indians, and almost opposite is
anOthed village on the shores of Discretion
inlet, or Hudson bay, as it is called by
some. A year ago the latter village was
the scene Of the killing of poor inoffen-
siye boy, who had neither parents nor rela-
tives. whom the medicine man accused of
being possessed.