The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-02
AMONG ALASKAN NATIVES
FIRST Glimpse At the lsterior ef aa
Eskimo nut.
Mr.. Richmond Givss - Eutsrtetain1
Description Of Mis- Initiation Inso
Siwssh HOus OusekeeplaS-OsAsr
Experiences Ia Alaska.
Written for The Tribune.

Written for The Tribune.
At early day break we find ourselves
among charming scenery In Sttkine
Strait. and after winding around Eto-
line and ZarembO Islands and some less
er islands-a rem .ri able series OF de-
vious Waterways ~until tn. eye is be-
wildered with all their beauty. We reach
the characteristic Indian village Of Fort
WanEel. nn old Russian settlement.
that stands at tht head Of Wangel Is
land and at the mouth of the Stikine
river. one Of the water ways that lead
to the Cassiar gold mines OF British
Columbia.
This Is a tumbie.down. dilapidated
looking town and perhaps as uninvit-
ing a spot as found anywhere on the
coast rave for the few cOrtos'ties OF
Indian huts. graves and totem poles.
This melancholy out post Is historic
land mark in Alaskan history. and lives
only In the glory Of by.gone days. the
town was named for Baron Wangel.
who in 1881 was the Russian governor.
who constructed fort which has since
gone to decay. Here was the scene or
continual conflicts between the COVER
ror Of Russian America and the cid
Hudson Bay company, In Olden times,
1hen the latter encroached upon the
territory of the former, BY traffic with
feated by the Russians.
FROM WAR TO PEACE.
After the purchase by our govern
ment this fort was garrisoned by two
companies Of United States troops.
until 1877, when all troops we're per-
mauently withdrawn from Alaskan ter
ritory. The rot and dilapldated bar
racks and officers quarters as seen
from the steamer. give evidence Of
their occupation as once stronghold.
They are now occupied by the Presby-
tertan missions. There IL a government
house and postoffice hero. and the mis-
sion and school under the direction and
control OF Rev. Clarence Thwing M.
D., and wife, are in a flourishing con-
dltion, Of which l will speak later Dur
ing the gold excitement in 1862, 1t was
the winter rendezvous OF 1900 gold min
ers and also q distributing point for
supplies for the mining camps OF Brit
: ish northwestern territory. When these
claims were exhausted the life and ac-
tivity of Waugel disappeared and today
about forty whites and 200 to 300 ma
tives occupy the same log buildings
that were erected during the years
when gold was almost as plentiful as
salmon. When military trading port,
II was center Of immortality and ignor-
ance. With few exceptions the white
men were Of the lowest type, had
brought and taught vice Of all kinds,
introduced liquor and led the Indians
in diabolical orgies and inhumanities
Its commercial value now consists al
most entirely in the curio trade during
the tourist season. On the arrival OF
every steamer. the wharf. the streets
the interior Of almost every house, pre-
sents an animated appearance by the
curio-hunting passengers thrOnging
them to the doors, in search Of their ma
tive wares. Looking over the town
the first object that arrests the eye are
the numerous totem poles and also the
memorial posts. Shorn of its old time
prosperity as mining center this close
ly huddled town has an air Of desola-
tiorl. weird and wild, pitiful in the ex-
treme-so unlike that Of New Meta