The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-23

ritory. the Collector Of the Port. U. s.
District Judge. Rev. Mr.. Austin and
Captains Couden and Webster. the Of
ficers OF the navy in uniform. also the
marines and representative boys OF the
training scoOl. together with an ar
ray Of natives. men and sQuaws, squat
ted on the dock and along the plank
walk Of the entire Main street, even up
to the Greek church. q quarter Of o
mile distant.
VICE-PRESIDENT'S RECEPTION.
The following account Of the vice.
presidents reception Is taken from The
Alaskan. Sttka paper. under date Of
Aug. II. 1886: Probably no other place
as small as Sitka In the union has SO
many distinguished visitors during the
year as We have. So accustomed have
we become Of seeing men OF high posi-.
tton, and millionaires step from the
steamer that they seldom attract any
notice. But when the last Queen
brought the vice-president the patriotic
pride Of our people was touched, and
the usual avocations We're thrown aside
long enough to show that We appreciat-
ed the honor of receiving visit from so
high a parsonage. Before the boat had
reached the dock large numbers OF our
people had assembled to welcome Vice
President Stevenson. wife, family and
two brothers. The governor accCmpa-
MED by Captains Couden and Webster
in full uniform. stepped on board the
Queen and welcomed the distinguished
visitors to our port. Governor Sneak
ley then escorted the vice-president to
the executive office and introduced our
fellow townsmen to our temporary
guest. The party after taking in the
town, repaired to the residence OF the
governor and partOok of a hearty re-
past. The presidential party expressed
themselves highly pleased with Alaska
In general. and Sitka In particular "
After the reception. Governor Sheak-
ley escorted our party through Indian
Town and the Greek church. and also
to the Presbyterian mission. While
the presidential party were visiting the
mission, Photographers Albertstone, Of
Sitka. and c. A. Mayo. of Chicago. and
the writer secured photographs OF them.
grouped with the teachers and the ma.
tive children. Governor Sheakley and
family. Rev. and Mrs. Austin. and Col
lector Moore were In the group.
AMONG THE NATIVES.
The natives occupy a portion of the
town known as the "Rancherie." We
visited the ''rancherie" on two occa-
sions. first, with the vice presidential
party. escorted by Governor Sheakley
and Rev. Mr. Austin. and at evening
with Head Chief Annahootz, of the Sit
ka Indians, Christian chief. of whom
will speak later. This Indian town,
or ''rancherie," stretches along the
shore of the bay to the left for a half
mile. Here are located from 800 to 1000
Indians. They live In a peculiar kind
or frame houses common to other parts
Of Southern Alaska. The rancherie
proper, IL a row Of detached one-story
wooden houses, with gable roofs, built
along the waters rocky edge, at an ele-
walton of four or five feet above the
ground. each one approached by a sep
arate flight Of board steps. These
houses always front the sea. There is
q marked difference between the houses
occupied by the Pagan" Indian and
those of the christian" Indian. In both
exterior and interior. While the fer
mer are wretched enough, their whole
character Is an improvement on those
at Fort Weangell. AS the Indians Of
Canada, on the whole, are superior to
those of the United States, so. in many
respects. the Indians of Alaska excel
those of British America. There is,
however, a difference I'm the Alaska In
dians. Those Of Sitka are more intelli-
gent. but given to drunkenness and
gambling.
We found nothing in the form of to-
tenn poles here, although. the Sitkans,
once powerful. insolent. and really
dangerous tribe. have customs common
to other Alaskan natives. The major
ity OF these natives are half-breeds, or
creOles, descendants Of Indians and
Russians.
AN UNINVITING SCENE.
The shore In front of the rancherie Is
strewn with canoes usually lying upside
down and covered with mats or skins to
protect them from the sun. Here are
old oil barrels tin cans, clothes lines,
strings of fish In all stages Of the dry
ing process. decaying fish and veget-
ables. dead dogs, bedding set out to air
and broken utensils of all kinds. The
sight and odOr are simply sickening
and the filth Is almost intolerable. There
are exceptions though where greater
order, cleanliness and thrift are apuar-
ent, for some Of these natives have been
led to a higher plane Of living, through
the influence of the missionaries. Every
house is surrounded by Eskimos and n
KIND OF fox dog, q NANCY, mongrel
breed that have a wild look, usually
sleeping, but ready to start up In an
instant. Each family seems to have
as many dogs as children. Idleness
ana Spir1tlessneSS were never more
plainly exhibited than among these In
dians. both men and women. The
squaws who sat around the walks were
very inattractive. Some sat in the sun
with nothing to cover them but q blank
ct, while the infants hung about them
in repulsive way. The young squaws
run about barefooted and barelegged,
while the interiors of their (pagan)
houses were as uncleanly as were their
owners persons or the blankets they
wear.
All these natives have massive heads
but delicately formed hands and feet.
They have an Asiatic cast of features
and seem to have come from Japanese
or Russian stock. Their complexion is
nut brown. They have high cheeks,
dark almond eyes and straight black
hair. Some have fine features and
figures.
They are inveterate gamblers. We
see them seated on the board walk in
companies, two rows facing each other.
One acts as leader. With head thrown
back, muscles tensely drawn and quick
movements he keeps time to a rude
song while the others energetically beat
an accompaniment. Quickly the small
colored gambling sticks pass from one
hand to another as the leader tosses
his arms uD. down. behind him and in
front, until at a sudden signal, the stick
chosen by the opposite person Is
tossed into the center while all may
see at O glance IL the color has
been rightly guessed. The really re-
markable thing is that so simple a game
can arouse such intense excitement and
that they will thus squander all their
possessions. j. E, Richmond
A GRIEVANCE.
She was not q woman who INDUCED in
circumlocuton. She strobe I'D to the desk
nd I'M Ia