Evening journal., 1897-09-30
EARLY ALASKAN WAR.
An Old-Time Battle Between the
Thinkits and Aleuts.
sanguinnry strife Where Now Amer
fcans Are Seeking Coda Yam
Ixee skipper Had
Hand in Et.

=
a sanguinnry battle in Alaska between
the Tlnkits and the Aleuts, two tribes |
that then entertained sentiments OF
hostility for each other. The cause OF
the battle, the circumstances of il, and
the dire ending of it are described in
the Russian records appertaining to
the far northern territory, which is
now under the American flag. but for
merly belonged TO the cars empire.
To Alaska there came from Siberia,
in OF about the year 1880, an adven-
turous trader, a Russian named Baran-
off. for the purpose of otter hunting.
Arriving at the Aleutian Isles, he took
about 300 Aleut aunters into his serv-
ice Of they went in their kayaks. or
little skin bouts. for those parts of the
archipelago in which sea otters then
abouaded. They got many otter skins
for the trader. who believed that in a
few years he would become rich and
great. lie determined to form a set
tlement of them on the strait extending
northward from Sitka sound. not far
from the situation of the modern town
of Juneau, where at this time there are
multitudes of gold seekers bound for
the Klondike mines. There the Aleut
otter hunters stayed for several years,
20 the profit of Baranoif, who dedicated
the place TO the Archangel Gabriel and
committed it 10 his protection.
The native Tlinkits, who were n saw
age tribe and had dwet in that region
from time immemorial, took umbragc
at the presence of the Aleuts, whom
they regarded as intruders upon their
hunting grounds. The TlinlSit chiefs
formed a resolution to exterminate the
intruding Aleuts. They made ready
for war. Approaching the settlement
unexpectedly. they fell upon it with
great fury; they fought like savages;
they fired the guns which had been OBJ
tanned years before from Siberian trad
ers; they seized the otter skins
which belonged TO the Aleuts; they
plundered the hnts and afterwards de-
stroyed them. 1t was n triumph for
the Tlinkits; Il was a battle worthy of
song and story. The victors danced
with joy. They had brought glory TO
their tribe.
But this episode in the history of
Alaska did not come to an end all at
once. Some of the Aleuts had saved
their lives by flight and had taken ref
uge in the forests. where the in
furiated enemy could not reach them.
il was under these circumstances that
a strange and unexpected thing oc-
Cured. 1t happened that about this
time, which was over 100 years ago, n
Yankee skipper from Boston named
O'Kane came along In his bark, schoon-
er or other sea craft looking for a
chance 70 trade with the natives. IL is
not known what kind Of an assortment
of Yankee notions he had in his ship,
but he was doubtless ready to pay a
fair price for any otter skins that were
for sale. As he made his way up Sitka
sound he caught sight of some of the
Aleut fugitives. who also caught sight
OF him. He took them aboard ship, got
the news from them in some way, sent
them below decks, and then started out
TO look for the TlinlSits. He found
them, got some of their big chiefs to
come aboard, gave them to understand
that they were his prisoners, and held
them for ransom. Here was a case.
After awhile. he effected an exchange
The Tlinlsits delivered to him the otter
skins which they had taken from the
Aleuts, and also number of the Aleui
hunters whose lives had been spared
The big chiefs of the TlinlSits were
thereupon released and sent ashor,
through the grace of the Yankee skip
per from Boston, and to his profit.
Some others of the fugitive Aleuti
who had found safety in the forest go
possession of their skin boats or kay
AXIS, and made their way along the coas
TO Kadiak. where Baranoff, the Rus
sian from Siberia, was then quartered
They told him of the deeds of the sav
age Tlinkits; his anger was stirred up
he said the savages must be punished
1t happened that just at this time {
Russian naval brig, the Neva, arrived
at Kadiah; and the captain of the New
told Baranoff, when he came aboard
that he. would see TO the punishment
of the Tlinkits, who, by their conduct
had manifested their enmity TO hi
master, the car of Russia. The nava
brig headed for SitlSa sound, arrive,
there, came to the enemy's land, ant
attacked a stronghold which the Tin
kits had constructed. 1t was a still
fight; the Russian marines made a bray
attack; the TlinlSits made a brave de
fense; the Russians had several piece
of cannon; the Tlinldts had only fey
fintlocks and very little powder; tn
Russians battered the stronghold; tn
Tlinkits fell back, because their powde
had given out; they fought till it wa
dark; they decamped in the night tins
They were beaten; they had been pur
ished; the crime which they perpetrate
upon the Aleuts had been avenged
their power was broken. Russia wa
victorious. After the events here nal
rated the Tlinldts of Alaska were {
but small account in war.
Now that the early history of Alask
has acquired fresh interest for Amei
leans. it is possible that more con
plete account of the Tlinlit campaig
will yet be procured from origin,
COIIrpac ffhara r