St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-04-25

00W the J1nsaa InAlaas 0peaA 1AsoR
Tl0e-eoArleey Net PspalaR.

T10o-0o0faeey Net IOpoloR.
The Indians Of AUX village have been
entertaining number Of Kakes during
the past week. Four canoes of the
latter tribe were here attending court,
and judging from the amount of noise
emanating nightly from the village the
entire outfit are guests. Small pot
latches and hi-yu dancing are prin-
cipally indulget in, while hootchihoo
fiows like water. The other evening
there was not sober AUX or kalse
within 50 miles Of Juneau.
We have been requested to state
that Mr.. Franklin. who has been col
Letting money for the purpose OF send
ing Louis Grainer to the soldiers
home and using the rame of the Horre-
shoe saloon. who Ii supposed to act
as custodian of funds, has no authority
whatever for doing 20. While the OBJ
ject II most worthy. yet It IL not the
desire Of the Horseshoe to pose ~ the
treasurer of fund they have never
seen and know absolutely nothing of.
Inasmuch as the recent conviction
and the subsequent infiictior OF the
death penalty upon Tla-koo-yel-lee. the
Knke island murderer, Is the first in the
history Of Alaska. the sentence and the
death warrant will possess in future
years somewhat of historical interest.
Until the time the prisoner was
brought into court for sentence he was
kept in ignorance of his fate, and when
the sentence was interpreted to him IL
brought to the surface several kinds
of demons, and had not shackles been
placed upon him he might have made
things lively in the courtroom for
few moments. He was removed to his
cell. and he made many boasts that he
would never hang. It is character
istic of the Kakes that when they per-
ceive death to be flxed and inevitable
they lose all fear Of the grim destroyer
and will resort to any and every man.
ner possible in which to kill them
selves.
Recent news from Kake island dis
closes the fact that during the pres
ent week a huge. big celebration is be-
ing held in the Indian village and.
strange to relate, the usual accompani-
ments of hootchinoo, broken noses.
chewed ears and other pleasantries arc
not down ON the programme. Con'-
prising the Kake tribe of Indians arc
the Otter, Sea Otter, Blacklist. Crow,
Dognsh. Cedar and Eagle families The
family now in the ascendancy, and who
in fact have held the throne for .
number of years, il the Sea Otter
branch, and the occasion Of the ieasts
and dancing now being held is in COM
memoration OF the death . year ago
of the mighty chief, Gashan. and tn.
accession Of his successor, Augusho.
Several weeks ago five large war
canoes, containing 50 men. were sent
out with y great deal Of ceremony to
procure log suitable for totem poll:
for the dead Gashan, the chief being
in the last canoe with . large American
hag floating at the stern. A spruce
stick Is feet long and three feet 10
diameter was secured, and In tow OF
the five canoes it was brought to tic
village in great state ut racehorse speed.
The carvers were set to work, and now
there has been evolved from the plain
log of wood q most elaborate totem,
entirely covered from top to bottom.
with figures symbolical of the proud
ancestry Of the deceased. marvels of
beauty to the eyes Of the untutored
Siwash, yet so hideous to others as TO
develop a well-defned case of snakes
ut first sight.
This pole, in company with numer-
ous smaller totems, was erected last
Monday on the grave Of Gashan amidst
great ceremonies. Over 800 Indians
have congregated in the Kake village.
to witness the scenes and partake Of
the new chiefs hospitality. After the
totem was in place all the dead chiefs
blankets, numbering over 800, were
brought to the grave and torn into
strips, each person present receiving
one or two of the pieces. which they
regard as amulets. On Saturday tl,c
new chief brought the festivities 10
q close by giving a big potlatch. during
which time he distributed 81 600 worth
of blankets. bolts Of bright calicoes
and other articles of value to different
members of the tribe. Religious cere-
monies and feasts are held every day,
urd during the night dancing IN in.
6ulged In until everyone is exhausted
Juneau (Alaska) News.