The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-08-24
An oLD-rIME RATTLE IN ALASKA.
\ Yankee skipper and Siberian
Trader Were Interested In It.
From The New York sun.

From the New York sun.
Just about 100 years ago there was a
sanguinary battle in Alaska between the
Tlinkis and the Aleuts, two tribes that
then entertained sentiments of hostility
for each other. The cause Of the bat
tie, the circumstances of Il, and the dire
ending Of IL are described In the Russian
records appertaining to the far northern
territory. which is now under the Ameri-
can flag. but formerly belonged 70 the
cars empire.
To Alaska there came from Siberia, in
or about the year 1880. an adventurous
trader, a Russian named Baranon, for
the purpose of otter hunting. Arriving
at the Aleutian Isles, he took about 300
AIeut hunters into hts service. OFF they
went to their kayaks, or little skin boats,
for those parts Of the archipelago In which
sea offers then abounded They got
many otter skins for the trader, who be-
lieved that i'm a few years he would be-
come rich and great. He determined TO
form a settlement 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 OF
ter hunters stayed for several years, TO
the prOut or BdiduOH, WHO utulNaAth 'ic
place to the Archangel Gabriel and com
mittcd 4 to his protection.
The native Tlinkits, who were savage
tribe and had dwelt In that region from
time immemorial. took umbrage at the
presence Of the Aleuts, whom they re-
garded as intruders upon their hunting
grounds The Thnkit chiefs formed res
oution to exterminate the intruding
Aleuts They made ready for war. APP
preaching the settlement unexpectedly,
they fell upon Il with great FURY; they
killed about half of the Aleuts; they
fought like savages; they fired the guns
which had been obtained years before
from Siberian traders; they seized the OF
ter skins which belonged to the Aleuts;
they plundered the huts and afterward de-
strOyed them It was a triumph for the
TIinkits; il was a battle worthy of song
and story The victors danced with JOY
They had brought glory TO their tribe.
But the episode in the history of Alaska
ala not come 20 an end all at once. Some
Of the Aleuts had saved their lives by
flight and had taken refuge In the Tor
ests. where the Infatuated enemy could not
reach them II was under these circum-
stances that a strange ana unexpected
thing occurred. II happened that about
this time which was over 100 years ago,
a Yankee skipper from Boston named
O'Kane came along in his bark, schooner
or other sea craft looking for a chance TO
trade with the natives. II is not known
what kind Of an assortment Of yankee no
tions he had IN his ship, but he was doubt
less ready 20 pay fair price for any otter
skins that we're for sale As he made his
way up Sitka sound he caught sight OF
some OF the Aleut fugitlves, who also
caught sight Of him. He took them aboard
ship, and got the news from them In some
way. sent them below the decks. and then
started out TO look for the Tlinkits. lie
found them, got some Of their big chiefs
TO come aboard, gave them to understand
that they were prisoners. and held them
for ransom. Here was a case. After
while no effected an exchange. The Think
IT'S delivered to MIN the otter skins which
they Tad taken from the Aleuts and also
a number Of the Aleut hunters whose lives
had been spared The big chiefs OF the
Tlinkts were thereupon released and sent
ashore through the grace OF the yankee
skipper from Boston, and 20 his profit.
Some others Of the fugitive Aleuts who
had found safety In the forest got posses
sion Of their skin boats or kayaks. and
made their way along the coast 10 Kadiak.
where Baranor. the Russian from Siberia.
was then quartercd. They told him OF the
deeds OF the savage Tllnklts: his anger
was stirred up; he said the savagcs must
Ice punished. II happened that Just at this
time a Russian naval brig. tho Neva, ar
rived az Kadiak; and the captain Of the
NtNh iold bdfauOH When ne came aboard.
that he would see TO the punishment OF
the Tlinkits. who. by their conduct. had
manifested enmity to his master. the Gear
Of Russia.
The naval brig headed for sitka Sound.
arrived there came TO the enemy's land
ana attacked a stronghold which The
Ilinkits had constructed. II was a SIN
fight; The Russian marines made q brave
attack. the Tllnkits made brave defense:
the Russians had several pieces OF cannon.
the 1linkits had only a few nintlocka aud
very little powder, the Russians battered
the stronghold; the Tlinkits fell back. be-
cause their powder had given out. they
fought till IL was dark. they docamped In
the night time They were beaten. they
had been punished. the crime which they
pcrpeiratcd upon the Aleuts had been
avenged. their powcr was broken. Russia
was victorious. Amer the events here mar.
rated the Tlinkita Of Alaska were Of but
small account in war.
When Baranon found the settlement OF
The Aleut otter hunters upon Htka sound
De- put IA under che protection Of the
AfchanRcl Gabriel. but as the place had
not been protected against tho savage
Iilnklts hf committed The new trading
most which HN FnfHhllahNN fH4Fa "a fHr