davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The herald., 1897-10-10

A very remarkable lawsuit will soon
come to trial in New York state.
Brought by the representatives of an
Indian tribe, it involves the possession
not Of anything ordinarily recognized
as property, but of certain strings of
wampum. and turns upon the question
whether the official wampum-keeper
has the right to sell the heirlooms of
his tribe or whether he simply holds
them in trust for his fellows. This trial
will be extremely picturesque, both on
account Of the singular and interesting
character Of the article in dispute, and
because so many Of the witnesses. on one
side at least, will be Indians. 1t is prob
able, too, that some very curious usages
and beliefs will be brought out in the
course Of this novel litigation.
The wampum over which the present
dispute has arisen belonged to the
quois, who live on reservation near
Syracuse, N. Y. When the wampum-
keeper, whose "white name" was Thom-
as Webster, died a few months ago, it
was found that several strings Of fine
wampum were missing, and an investi-
cation disclosed the fact that they had
been sold. They are now, 1t is said.
in the possession of Mayor John Boyd
Thatcher, Of Albany. Webster had mar
ried a white woman and had become a
Christian, and the Indians who cling to
the religion of their fathers say that
this is the reason for his reasonable
act. They say, too, that he had no right
to dispose of the tribal wampum; and
having secured the services Of promi-
nent lawyers, they will make stiff
fight in the courts to regain their lost
treasure. Indeed, one of the most inter-
esting features Of this unique lawsuit is
that it shows how the Indians continue
to value their ancient wampum, even
after they have adopted the dress. man.
ners, and language Of the whites. The
reason for this Is that the wampum
contains the record of their history.
One of the strings disposed of by Web
ster was presented to the chiefs of the
Six Nations by President Washington.
when he made treaty with them soon
after the United States became an inde-
pendent nation. Another, still older
than this and far more famous, is the
Hiawatha belt, which dates back to the
time when the six tribes living in what
is now the State of New York formed
the celebrated confederacy which made
the Iroquois the strongest Indian nation
in the land. This relic is therefore some
five centuries old, and it means as much
to the Indians as the original manu-
scripts of the Declaration of Indepen-
dence and the Constitution do to loyal
Americans.
The Indian story of Hiawatha is even
more beautiful than that which Long
fellow has told SO charmingly in the
justly popular poem bearing that title;
but it depicts the hero as a very differ
ent man from the bold and tender
hearted warrior Of whom the poet
writes. The Indian story, though in
The herald., 1897-10-10

the league which he founded continued
for centuries and was never conquered
by it's enemies, and every year since
the wampum has been brought out at
the great council and the solemn rites
with which Hiawatha had instituted the
confederacy have been rehearsed.
What wonder, therefore, that the
handful of Indians that still remain of
the once powerful confederacy prize
their wampum above all other posses
sions, and will struggle hard to recover
this sacred relic of their former great
ness?
Copyright 1897. by Bacheller Syndicate.
The herald., 1897-10-10
The Hiawatha Belt and Its Legend.
Why indians Prize Relics.

thirst. When they arose the water had
entirely disappeared, but all over the
dry bottom of the lake lay a deposit of
beautiful white shells. some Of the finest
of which the hero gathered, and of these
he made the first wampum
Such is the legend, but it Is probable
that the Iroquois had been accustomed
to the use of the shells for trading
sending messages and recording treat
les long before the time in which til
Indian George Washington lived.
Meanwhile the troubles of the tribe
continued. There were many meetings
of the chiefs, but they could never agree
upon any plan for union. Hiawatha. liv-
ing alone all this time and never seeing
any man, learned much from the Great
Spirit. 1t was finally revealed to him
The herald., 1897-10-10

that his people were at last ready to
unite, and he hastened back to them.
Then there was a great meeting, which
all the chiefs attended. Atatarho still
sat black and defiant. saying never
word. When at last Hiawatha arose and
began to speak, the people were
charmed by his voice and listened in ST.
lence. for it seemed to them that he
spoke with the wisdom of the Great
Spirit himself. Lifting his strings of
wampum, Hiawatha unfolded his plan
for the union, telling off on each shell
the position and power allotted to each
tribe and to it's chiefs. Atatarho was to
The herald., 1897-10-10
UniuJc lawsuit Br0uQht 10 Recover the Tribal NdTpUn

be made the great war chief Of the con-
federacy-which shows that Hiawatha
was something Of a politician-and at
this even he gave way. and the treaty
was adopted.
While the people were celebrating the
treaty with the usual feasting. it was
observed that Hiawatha was sad and
silent. "Feasting is not for me-" he said
when his friends urged him to join the
festivities. Il am to go on a far jour
ney."
At that moment a beautiful white
canoe was seen approaching across the
lake, driven by some unseen power
7 When 1t reached the shore Hiawatha,
bidding farewell to those who had
'rowded about him, stepped into the
canoe, which moved rapidly away. AS
it reached the middle of the lake it sud-
denly rose into the air. Higher and
higher into the blue sky flew the white
canoe with it's single passenger, until
it became a dim speck and then van
ished altogether.
That was the last of Hiawatha, but
The herald., 1897-10-10

to a beautiful lake (probably Oneida).
On the shore he picked up a quantity OF
beautiful white shells, and stringing
them together, hung them across his
breast to show the next tribe to which
he came that his mission was one OF
peace. White is emblematic of peace
among the Indians, as it is among the
whites.
A very wild version of this legend Is
sometimes told by the older men of the
tribe. They say that as Hiawatha
stood by the lake an innumerable host
of water fowl swarmed down upon it to
wet their plumage and satisfy their
The herald., 1897-10-10

part fiction, is founded on fact; there Is
no doubt that such a man as Hiawatha
once lived, and that the played lead
ing part in forming the compact Of the
Six Nations.
According to the story, Hiawatha was
the wisest man of the Onondagas, and
when the different tribes were troubled
by the Hurons, who lived to the north
of them. and the Algonquins, who were
their eastern neighbors, he proposed a
meeting of the tribes to form a union
for mutual defence. But the scheme
was defeated by Atatarho, great war
chief of the Onondagas, who was jeal-
Gus Of dividing his power, and Hia-
watha was driven out of the tribe. He
did not give up his plan, however. AS
he journeyed toward the south he came
The herald., 1897-10-10
CHINESE BID FAIR TO Be THE COAL KINGS Of THE FUTURE

novations mark such radical depar-
ture from the attitude hitherto taken by
the Chinese in matters of internal de-
velopment that they are of the greatest
significance. The truth is, the mineral
wealth of China is enormous, and its
development will have considerable ef-
feet not only on this country. but on
Europe.
The most plentiful of all China's min
erals is coal, and one of the most at
tractive features of the principal depos-
its is their proximity to navigable riv-
ers. Iron ores occur abundantly in Chi
The herald., 1897-10-10

OF the value of the other metals, 1t is
difficult to form a definite opinion. Gold
Is widely distributed. occurring in at
least sixty-four provinces. The quanti-
ty obtained. however, is small. and the
mines are Improbable. with the excep-
ton of those in one province. Yun-Nan.
Lead, silver. copper, tin, and zinc are
found in large quantities. In the Yum
Nan province alone the area through
which they are distributed comprises at
least 10000 square miles.
But the mineral of most Importance
to China Is the coal, which is found IN
eight provinces. 1t is practically i'm
possible to make any fair comparison
between the value and extent of China's
coal fields and those of the United
States, but some idea may be gained
when it is known that in the Shan Sc
province alone it is estimated the guam
tity is about 63O,O00,000 tons, which
compared with the amount produced IN
one year in Pennsylvania (accordlng 10
the last census a little over S1OOO,OOO
tons), certainly makes a creditaple
showing.
The province of Shan Sc is first In
Importance, and in proportion to lts
area has probably the largest and most
easily workable coal fields of any region
on the globe The coal is in plateau
in the southeastern part of the province,
both bituminous and anthracite being
found, the latter as good as the best
Pennsylvania The coal bed is thin
where it crops out on the hillside, but at
distance of 200 feet from the entrance
of the mine the thickness increases to
over thirty feet. The prices ranges
from - to 40 cents per ton.
OTHER PROVINCES.
Shan Tung province has four consid-
erable coal districts and several OF min
or Importance. The province is bounded
on the south and west by the courses
/ of the Hoang-Ho River, and is also ira
yersed by the Grand Canal, which would
give excellent water facilities. In one
district only fifteen pits are in operation
though botn anthracite and bituminous
! coal of excellent quality abound there.
In HUI Nan there are three coal fields
two furnishing bituminous and one an
thracite. In the extent of its coal fields
this province ranks next in Importance
to Shan Sc. 1t possesses coal-bearlns
area of 81 900 square miles, which
compared to the LOO square miles o
Pennsylvania seems tremendous. ant
makes ~reditable $ wing ever
against the $1,000 square mile
Of the State of Illinois. Ter
again, however, the difficulty of obtain
ing reliable figures makes comparison
Of little value. The mines are worked
after obsolete methods. and only the
best quality and largest Jumps are sen
away.
Pe-Chi-Lis coal formation Is notet
for its almost unparalleled stratagraph
ical development, having an aggregat
minimum of 40 feet of coal One of TIL
mines-that of Kaiping-is the onl.
one in the country for the development
Of which European aid has been in
voked.
The province of Yum Nan abounds Il
minerals of all kinds, and for it's varie
ty ranks first in China Coal is found il
three places. and is an excellent qualit
of anthracite, called by the people o
the province mo smoke" coal.
Copyright. 1907, by Bacheller Syndicate.
The herald., 1897-10-10

When all the coal in the western hem
isphere has gone up in smoke-and that
Is only a matter of time. scientists de-
The herald., 1897-10-10
Careful Estimate of the Great Coal Area of the Various
Provinces of the Flowery Empire and
Its Possibilities.

Recent indications appear to show
that the Chinese Government has real
ly awakened to the desirability of ex-
The herald., 1897-10-10

plotting the mineral wealth Of the king
dom. A mining concession has been
granted to an English company desir-
Gus Of working the gold deposits OF
Manchuria and bureau of mines has
been established in Ho Nan. These in
The herald., 1897-10-10

ma. but only one variety is used. Though
the methods of manufacture are primi-
tive, the iron produced is of high quail
ity-that of the Shan Sc province being
generally preferred in the country to
iron imported from Europe.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-23
THE DEVELOPMENT OF alaska.

juneau. Alaska. Oct Q. 1897.
To the Editor: ] have been good deal
interested in looking over the papers Of
the three Pacific states and observing the
views they take with reference 10 the sup
ply trade demanded by the development OF
the north. 7 do not conceive that any enc
state viii enjoy a monopoly Of the Alaskan
and Northwest territory trade. The stu
alton Is such that trade advantages must
be determined largely from The facilities
the coast cities enjoy for communication
with The interior cf their states and
through transportation from the East.
This rivalry between san Francisco.
Portland and Seattle is all right in its
way. aud II I we're a Washing oman I
should never fear for the interests Of my
state or chiet commercial city IN the in
dustrial revolution thai is about 10 trans
form Alaska.
but matter 81 much more supreme
concern matter that as this time should
he paramount 20 every other Constdera-
tjon-as the problem Of better facilities for
reaching the headwaters If tire Yukon-in
other NERDS. tha already developed and
the s,iH more extensive set TO be devel-
opel sold regions. What sort Of comm r
ciai ANOMALY is tnis. that has extensive
railway and steamship lines at one end
and awir5i.s down 70 pack saddles am
mems 0eeks over impossible mountain
3ur.uE 1St whether CD she pyea. SkaguRy.
Dalton or ans other trails as we'll as over
the Yukon from - Michael is a slur on
the spirit ~ th acc and a disgrace 10 the
genius - the nineteenth century. Il ought
never IS pc -e-en3cted
T. is clearly evident hat trade inter-
course between she new gold regions and
The outside world must be maintained over
three general avenues o. communica. lion
FIRST IN Eeosrap hi-al order VIII he an all
Canadian. part raj and part water route.
starting probably from Vancouver or some
other po.ai ola the Csnad an Pacific or At
q -oaSt no.rt or tbFi- domain stiu further
norrh am satisfied thar this s and Y
oatewg'lt-ec. Tire second system wiu he
the eoa>t water line from the states and
raI r1utst ln'ard AZ various points s0d
gre third Is tsr route by ,se Way u :,
NJ hazel ard tee Yukon river
os rsese trree general systems sac KEY
20 enc u5rtrls03 IS hsli by the coast route
and tee s..aatan has absolutely M par
allai ou gre earth Here from Puget
sseod north soy nearly e+a miles IS a sz<-
trst ot SD lttred natural canals on a s-a =
comparable 90 nathins hat t1e alleged
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-23
GOV. BRADY'S REPORT.
lie trges Congress to give settlers
la Alaska Code of laws and
Nancy for Srhnofs

WASHINGTON Oct 22-The report of
John q Brady governor az Alaska far
sae past rscai year has been submitted 10
the secretary % the interior.
u estimates the present population AZ
W.Ha natives and le@a whites. predicts
thai with reindeer iranspor alton. malis
can he seat all over Alaska in winter and
recommends that sie4 exc De approprlatsd
Tor government balldlnRs aud tsl co. Tor
schools u stYs nothing has 50 retarded
Alaskas subs aatlai growth as lha heip-
ieauess Of seitlers 20 obtain titles to their
homes on 8ccount of thc failure of canRrs s.
q extend the general land laws and urges
cangrew te create a commission Of five
ens senator, one represents and taree
Bona 2de Alaska residtnfs-to cnsiifv the
laws fog Alaska
The secretary % the treasury is urged "a
sonfiue ths hunting 81 sea atters e. the
natives To- ~ ere white man ~ rot ssut
oil as one the Aleuts WlU have 20 lte
esfed fof by the trnmeni"
keviewins epid operations. GOV. R.s5s
saye
SIM ioad sitter ealp load % soils e-cstrs
SAL ineif frFlen5 ngSt hHs0 rushed g. l1n
eNffrftle NHntt - sat Wa-Nr navigation
VyNa eanal aci ta re- Eey bsHe .r.
Aaafr Hs&h water t1t ra2us below as tare
learned ~ tceie roFroN Fh.n t-r a sf-~
covered shew 8# discs staut The eaff
3 ektfs have laH e tnrgih'o txnr hst .HfN
afc Brave 8ad sf2rtet 1nt .r e1iure h1r1.
s7lns Aa cl4s hcy rank fsf ahate
iuMnfr q i Demand HaH 'ots are s-' nt
as hssh "a Ns@ Aneg3csDs ave anY5.l@
81 eerdfs Is f1ate te tar AuHr~ Wrf-H ,l..'t
70 Hnt0cA Ufae lHteta States t,FfscHf.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-23
BREAD DUTTERED WITH GOLD.
Seattle Men at Munook Write
of Fine Prospects.
BETTER THAN THE klONDlkE.
Two Thousand Dollars in Twenty
Days-Ramparf Bound to BE a See
ond Dawson City-Pienty of Food
on the River-atmosphere Laden
With Activity, Earth stored With
Gold Encouraging Reports.

Walter A Hall a well-known young
Seattle man. who is now in Rampant City.
Alaska. writes 10 airs. NJ. +. Kenworthy,
Of this city, as follows. under date Of
September IS:
Harry Bigelow. c. II. Knapp. Claire
BlgeIow and myself have just opened the
first real estate and mining brokerage Of
fee In Rampant city. We have taken up
claims on Hunter. Hoosler and Alder
creeks and have secured some lots on
Front street, where we will erect our win
ter cabins. We have on Exhibition in our
temporary Office tent ten gold nuggets.
varying in value from $40 TO SIS. Our
mines are IN the same gold belt where
s2e0 was taken out in twenty days. in
Guiding work of sinking to bed rock In
the same creek two men took out 500 in
six days, and. although the camp is new,
top gravel pans out better than in klon-
dixie. SO this place is bound to become a
second Dawson City in the spring.
Grub rushes in by boats coming up the
river. and there will be no shortage of
supplies during the winter. We are strong
and healthy. although We have gone
through what we never expected We could.
The location is beautiful. and we consider
this trip one of the lucky events of our
lives.
"Ex-Gov. J. II McGraw and Gen. f. NJ.
Carr have located here for the winter.
Yes a year Is a long time to be away
from Seattle and Seattle friends. but 1
am equal 10 the emergency. The very
atmosphere is laden with life and activity.
and the earth Is stored with gold.
our bread has been cast upon the
waters. but viii return next summer. but
tered with gold for everything we touch
seems to turn into that precious metal
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-23
FROM ALAskA's ICY MOUNTAINS.
snohomf.h Man Writes of aHardshtps
ON the Way 10 the Yukon.

Special Dispatch 10 the Post-Intelligencer.
SNoHOMIsH. Oct. 22.-E. g. Kruger
has received letter from his son Arthur,
who left snohomish for the Yukon in Au-
gust II Is dated al Lake Bennett, Sep
TENDER %. and is as follows:
To-day If the wind goes down. We viii
sail down Lake Bennett, and continue IN
our course down the Yukon. We have
already crossed Lake Linderman. and our
boat works Ike a charm. She Is gal
Vauized iron boat and Is the nrst Of her
kind 20 cross the Chilkoot pass. The snow
Is falling fast outside the tent, and the
SIN water Is freezing. Yesterday, While
lowering our boat over the mile OF river
between Llnderman and Bennett. the rope
that we lowered IL with was frozen as
STA as cable wire. a great many people
are stuck on both trails-on the Dyea on
account o. snow on the summit and on
the Skaguay on account OF boys and dead
horses there being over 20g dead horses
on the trafl I do not know OF any rem
edy FOR the unfortunates who are stuck
on the trails whore there X no wood. and
no timber 10 build cabins. We do not
know yet where we viii land or stop this
winter ~ We get down we VIII so up
Stewart river. as rumor has II that rich
strikes have been made there recently
For three weeks | have slept IN wet
clothes and blankets and never was dry
The hardships one has 10 endure during
this season OF the year cannot he est-
mated There are over thirty boats here
AZ present ready ia sail as soon as the
wind calms a little The only thing we
We sold our stock when We got through
hacking with them for $3.50 and paid the
money out for packing and freiEbting
over some email lakes.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-23
NEW SEATTLE STEAMER.
The Neptune Turned Out by n Ballard
ship Yard for Alaska Business
- Model Boat.

The sfez r1er Neptune. a rev craft q
sturdy buad vas ~ the Goek % TIRE Queen
City Towing Company yesterday. an OBJ
fect CO admiration % small crowd o.
water front idfera. The Neptune Is hailt
for keeua. and she g. also pI1t together
with the idea e carrying big cargo OF
freight. That she is designed for service
e. Alaska waters need hardly be added
The steamer came s. early yesterday
morning from Ballard. where she has
heen 81 process q construction for the last
SIX months tn the ship yard of Charles
HeuneTer. The boat coE- 3 GO and she
8 the property - Capt. J. " Collins.
mar who has been prominent II steam
boat circles on Puget sound Tor the last
twenty years The hun and woodwork
were auiit under the supervision ~ Henne-
ger. while the machinery was put IN ~
Engineer John r. Sewan. assisted ~
Harry Swift. beth men vel known. espe-
eaily On tire lower Sound.
Capt Collins idea il 10 run the steamer
between Seattle. Dyea and Skaguay for
40 months prior 70 the opening Up 81 tho
Yukon river. WIFI the spring freshet he
will make a through voyage from here 10
Dawson city with q cargo y general
merchandise TIE Neptune has a draft
loaded % ~ feet and when low water
shall render the Yukon unuavigable by
craft OF such draft the steamer VII
hs bFnuz1t back and resume the DFea
aud skagiiay route Crittendeu Sewaii.
well acquainted with Alaska waters. viii
20 with the boat as first officer and pilot
The Neptune Is - feet IN length. = feet
beam and feet deep. Her machinery -
IN the stern. leaving all the space amid
ships and forward for freight. and giving
her the same draft. AZ feet. when load
et as when light The between decks af-
lords large store room for freight. and
the hold will also accommodate cargo.
Altogether there Is room for 400 sacks 81
oats. or 10 tons OF hay. Capt Collins has
now a contract 10 move 10000 sacks or
oats. which viii keep the boat busy until
spring. In conjunction with the steamer
have been constructed two barges. which
viii carry 5000 sacks OF grain. Partcu-
lar attention viii be given the transporta-
ION OF hay and grain. and her adaDtabihty
FOR such business IS not surpassed by any
other steamer % the size on Puget sound.
The steamer will be freighting on the
Sound until February. Early this morn
lng che went 10 Stanwood and Florence for
10 tons OF hay.
IN the matter Of speed. those on the Nep-
tune claim that she easily turns or nine
miles an hour. Her engines are fore and
aft compound and she has twin screws
when the ice breaks up next spring IN
the Yukon the Neptune viii be loaded
here with freight. and accommodations
viii be put IN for 50 or 100 passengers.
The boat Is bound 10 be popular on the
Sound.
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-23
carr. HOOPER SAYS IT'S TRUE.
starvation - Predicted by Command
er af Bering Sea Patrol Fleet.

WASHINGTON. oct. 12-Capt. Hooper.
commander OF the Bering sea patrol nect.
who arrived in Washington "a attend the
seal conference. said today that reports
concerning the scarcity OF food IN the
Kianaikc region are not exaggerated.
In the ueighhorhood 81 Dawson city
there are ne says about 5oo0 miners.
whose supplies Of provisions for the com
fng winter Ga no greater than barely sur
acient Tor haf that number. Great sur
fering would be Inevitable as che result
~ the scarcity 81 food. All passes were
practically closed some weeks ago. ana
many hundreds 90 miners are now along
the different trails With bttis or no shell
tsr and with lnsumcien. feoa supplies.
EaFor reports. Capt Hooper said. indie
Gated that rIch aiseoVtrle~ hsd becr made
on Nupook creek q tributary - the Yu-
kou. relatively wrAjn easy reach of So
Michael r. was pe8r Nanaok rrcsk that
the last Kloraike steamer was compelled
20 unload her cern7 OF prov sleua SD THAT
miners iD thar section are .u NtCe danger
% q food famine
The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-10-23

Different Parties are ucw c1f and are
carefully examining ere mountains BE-
trees Y7kutat ard Geek inIe,. IBIS -
fhe sz8ra eeason af EoFk g COOK snlss-
dra~el r1srv z~av from ffat district.
fsevhrth eleas tt1s output q gold rnsE Tear
v.n - no mean sun. TIE posEta4littss 81
the whole regsen Dor1ersnE up7n tbs 80
- ard upor Prime william sound viii
draw crowds o. aGve1tgrers 81 the near
S4srmr@ -