The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-08-14
AN INDIAN CITY.
Metlakaatla Ruled by
Redskins.
The Inhabitants are All
Total AbStainerS.
Practical Application OF the Arts
of the White Man.

owned and governed entirely by Indians,
has history that Is not parallelled IN
| any other part OF the world. II is nestled
! on the east side Of the Annette island.
anu is one of the first ports Of call on
the southeast coast OF Alaska From
two mountains with frowning peaks,
| which profile the clear western sky.
| comes dashing down from their snow
| capped SUBMITS volume Of water which
| is one Of tho scenic attractions OF this
picturesque coast. The city itself Is in an
| advanced state of improvements, and the
| inhabitants, whose ancestors some IOrty
| years ago were Dloodthirsty sayages. nave
| developed a remarkable character ior
utilizing the modern arts OF civilization.
A little over two score OF years ago tho
| Rev. William duncan, representing the
Church of England, first went among
| this tribe of Indians and sought to plant
the first seeds OF Christianity in their
savage natures. They were then living
on tho Skeena river. in British territory,
and what few white men had UP 10 that
time dared to invade the territory oi
sayagery had been put tn death. lt re-
auired nearly thirty years to wean them
from the teachings OF their ancestors OF
centuries gone by, and many tlines' SO
Mr. Duncan informed me- his life was
betray the slightest suspicion OF fear Tor
his own or Mrs. Duncan's safety. By
kind acts, religious teachings and trust
ing them In ali things, the good mission
ary was successful in winning the whole
trib of some 800 people over TO the ap-
probation of the advantages OF reilglous
and commercial civilization. AT the
opportune time he applied TO the Domln-
ion government for the exclusive reserva-
tion of the site occupied by the tribe, and
asked for protection against the encroach-
ment of the whites The request was re-
fused. and the proposition was laid be.
fore the American Congress. ana one OF
the last official acts of President Arthur
was TO sign a bill for the absolute trans
fer of Annette island to the tribe OF
Metlakahtla Indians.
In 1858, under the direction Of Mr.. Dun
can, the Indians moved to the island. laid
out and began the occupation OF the town
Site of Metlakahtla What was then a
wilderness Is now thriving little city,
and is policeu and governed in much the
same manner as the municipalities OF the
states An Indian magistrnte, elected by
the .householders, adjusts all disputes
and DEGREES judgments for violation OF
any of the city's ordinances. council
of ten delegates, which is elected annually
by popular vote adopt the laws and native
police officers enforce their DEGREES. Not
n drop Of spirits IL allowed on the island
and there is only one man OF this colony
of 500 Indians who uses tobacco, and he Is
nearly 80 years old. White people are dis
oouraged from coming here. The Indians
want to be left alone to pursue their
work. A largo salmon cannery affords
employment for nearly POD people. in both
canning and fishing. and every depart
ment is in charge of an experienced In
dian ard many of them are exceptionally
weIl-trained ana skilful in attending to
o. hair
over IL. 600 cases of salmon for 81 20 per
case The machinery Is OF modern pat
tern, operated by steam and mechaDized
by natives Close by is the saw mill,
which manufactures high grade OF
Ium ber and has u capacity of 10. 600 feet a
day. Scattered throughout the city are
six stores all well stocked with staple
articles OF commerce. and IL is particular
ly noticeable that there is general lack
of cheap jewelry Of catchpenny Yankee
notions. In all OF the stores / only noticed
ono white shirt for sale, and IL was
marked at DOC.
Tie streets are laid off on straight lines
and substantial board sidewalks lead to
all parts OF the city. Each family lives
in neat one or two story cottage, neatly
painted. ana in the center OF large sized
lots, in which grow all kinds of vegetables,
| flowers and house plants. The dwellings
are painted white and the rooms Ne as
| comfortably furnished as the majority
| of houses in more civilized communities.
One feature in particular l noticed was
| the large, open and old fashioned fire places
| that were so noticeable in times succeeding
| the colonial davs. A large school, divided
| into three departments, two Of which are
| under the control of white people, and the
other-the Juvenile olass--is taught by
| n native furnishes the necessary educu-
| tional facilities. The average daily at-
| tendance, i avn told, is about ninety
| pupils A handsome large CHURCH builds
| Inc, the interior of which Ia Hastily ar
| ranged, and with seating capacity for
| about 600, is the place " here these people
| assemble each Sunday for worship.
One of the attractive features Of this
unique community is the native band OF
| thirty pieces. The music is good, and
| manv of the national Mrs are played two
| or three times week. The leader Is full
| Hooded Indian by the name Of Ben
Halden. and is "a years old. Ho can play
q tune on any instrument on the island,
and the only instruction he ever received
was from Mr. Duncan. The string band
is exceptionally good and affords music
| for all dances and entertainments. An
| electric plant is being installed and next
| winter every dwelling will DO supplied
with artificial illumination.
Happy and contentod rs these people are
| in their little island homes, surrounded
| with all the necessary comforts of civili-
ZatiOn, it has not been their providence to
| escape from the attempted enforcement.
| or rather encroachmont, OF what Is re-
! garded as modern civilization. Their little
| island was invaded by prospectors in their
! efforts TO find gold. and some few
| miles distant rich and valuable quartz
| leugos were discovere'. and at once com.
/ pany Of rich men was formed in san
| Frarcisco 20 wrest the wealth away
from tde rightfui owners. Tho go, (
| guardian Of the community. the Re-.
| Mr.. Duncan, went Co Washington and
told the president about the little colony.
/ It's prosperous condition, aud asked Co
! have their island freed from the threat
encd invasion Of white men. The appeal
was not In vain. and the secretary OF tho
! interior has Just instructed the United
\ States district attorney OF Alaska to
/ order the prospectors 10 yacatc the island,
under penalty of prosecution Of trespass-
! ing.
The founder OF this remarkable little
colony. aud which Is about tho only tripo
| of Indians on the coast which has not
suffered or deteriorated greatly from tho
effects OF religious contagion, IL short
| little old man who Is passing down the
I aIu at.N u ..ff s.e.