The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-27

draw upon IL, Wouiu pay OAi 'S
al debt in a trice, buy all the RAILROADS.
and telegraph lines. build new navies TO
Guido the world, and equip myriad regi-
ments of fighting men.
The governments surveyors and otner
men who haveinvaded the isles OF the
Alexander archipelago have brought
back word that this mountain Is without
question the richest piece of earth the
bright sun ever shone on.
1t was years ago, early in the eighties.
that that lordly gift was given. When
decade latter the news came OF the
millinos that had thus been DECIDE away
gratis to Father Duncan and his dusky
wards, many men, afiame with avarice,
went knocking at the government doors
in Washington, praying permission 70
porspect on Metlakahtla- The govern
turned a deaf ear to them, ana the
quartz still lies undisturbed.
There was nothing but bare justice in
it. either. IT was away back in 1857 that
William Duncan, unaided by any church
or mission, set out from London and
journeyed-madly, some people Thought
to British Columbia to teach the gos-
pei 10 Timseans, then known only as
barbarians OF the lowest order. For SIX
months he studied at their unspeilable
speech, and then opened a school in the
tepae os the chief. He soon gained
good following in the tribe and 700 OF
them in May, 1860, agreed TO follow him,
remove from the native habitations,
build a new village, and adopt European
dress and customs. They bound them
selves 70 give up sourcery. TO cease from
gambling. from painting their faces, from
calling in courcers when sick, from
drinking liquor. They promised TO keep
the Sabbath, attend religious services,
send heirc children TO school, be clearly
industrius, and peaceful, as well as lib
eral and honest in trade; to build neat
houses and pay the village tax.
Upon these fifteen amendments old
Metlakahtla was founIed. Duncan made
Christianity second TO civilization.
The next twenty years was an era Of
prosperity. for they had saw mills, sal
mon cannery. cooperative store. church,
assembly hall, native police, and viii
iage council OF twelve; the population in
creased from fifty to 10000. AS the In
dams becamecivilized they amassed
wealth. They paved their streets and
provided drainage.
In 1880, naturally enough, the English
Church Mission society sent bishop 10
assume control OF this thriving colony.
That was the beginning of trouble. Two
factions arose. Then the Canadian Pa
cifc company surveyed a road through
the Metlakathia territory. Protest TO
the Canadian parliament brought no re-
dress. Appeal p London was equally
useless.
In the winter of 1861 Duncan visited
Washington ana conferred with the
president, the Secretary OF Te. interior
and other prominent men. Congress in
1891 gave them a reserve in this wise:
Section Is. THAI until otherwise pro-
vided by law, the body of lands known
as Annette Islands, situated in Alexand-
er Archipelago. in Southeastern Alaska,
on the north side Of Dixon's entrance, be
and the same is hereby set apart as
reservation for the Use of the Metlaka-
htla Indians, and those people known as
Metlakahtlans who have recently emil
grated from British Columbia 10 Alas
ka, and such other Alaskan natives as
may join them, 10 be held and used by
them in common. under such rules ana
regulations and subject 70 such restric-
tons as may be prescribed from time 10
tina by the secretary of the interior.
That is the enactment which now
stands stuboornly in the way OF the adj
venturers who fain would dig up and
carry away the golden treasure which
belongs to Duncan and his converts.
on the eastern and northern sides of
the island the gaunt mountains come
down in picturesque foothills TO the wa
ter's edge and on the south a low, green
shore. skirted by gravel beech, smiles
out upon the sea. The Indians have pur-
sued there the policy nk thrift and pro-
gressiveness which fifzt lifted them from
barbarism. Before they had long been
settled in theire new home they had 100
dwellings. with gasstens, two large school
buildings. mills, flores and a gothic
church of yellowAc edar which any little
town might be proud Of
They know the fabulous richness Of
their land and. upheld by the inviola bic
deed of gift which they had from Uncle
sam. permit no prospecting Of il by in
vaders from the south. II has. therefore,
never been possible 10 get an accurate
description Of the gold deposit OF which
they are masters. but reliable men who
have been allowed 70 make curSory in
spection of the island declare that il sur
passes that of the Alaska-Treadwen
mine. which biologists consider the most
marvellous gold accumulation extan:.
That nearly all the islands in the Alex
ander Archipelago. OF which this is one.
are richly stored with gold. is indisputa-
bly, asserted by scientists who have
made government surveys there. The
most recent of these reports was sub
mi:tei by George +. Seeker 10 the geo.
logical survey one day last week and is
now in the hands OF the public printer
a Washington. He says:
There is a distinct zonal development
OF the deposits in the Alexander Archi
pelago. The grea; mine Of this belt is
the famous a-Treadwel. The de-
posts Of this belt are similar in posi-
ton and character 20 those Of British
Columbia ami California. and may be re
garded as contemporaneous with them.
PRINCE LUIGI IN SEATTLE
Having Successfully Skinned Up Mount St