The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-23

WASHINGTON. March 2a.-Secretary
Bliss submits to the public an interesting
letter from Gov. John G. Brady. contain
ing the observations made by him while on
his annual trip Of inspection to the various
points on the coast aboard the United
States steamer Wheeling. While passing
I'D Lynn canal. the governor says. the off,
GERS of the ship saw a piece of wreckage.
which was afterward ascertained to be
part Of the Inflated steamer Clara Nevada.
Of whose crew and passengers not one was
left to tell the tale.
Special attention, the executive says.
should be paid to vessels navigating the
Yukon. the traffic on which Is SO large
that the tendency Is to take great risks
The Wheeling. after leaving Dyea. called
at the village at the north OF Chicago ISL
and. called Hoonah. Here one OF the Lead
ing men OF the village has been accidental
ly killed by child years Of age. The
people never take account Of accidents. and
the Hoonah natives held the child's moth
er and her people were responsible, and de-
manded reparation, which was given. a
body Of 200 men. thoroughly armed. going
to a native village near killisnoo. at which
place the child's mother and her people
lived. and compelling them to turn over
many blankets. trunks and money. They
severely admonished the natives and told
them their old customs would not be toll
Grated.
From this point the Wheeling proceeded
to Yakutat. where. upon investigation. it
was found that nearly everything that had
been reported to the navy department re-
garding the condition OF affairs there was
correct. The governor has considerable to
say about the practice Of witchery. which
seems to exist to a considerable extent in
that part of the country. He tells OF a
man and two women who were bound and
tied for bewitching man. On The ninth
day the bound man was released. and as
had nothing to eat, and but few drinks OF
water, he was in fearful physical condi-
ton. The governor spent some time talk
ing to these people. and after explaining
the laws Of the United States. told them In
the future he would not deal leniently with
those who had practiced witehcraft. Capt.
Sebree. of the Wheeling. had his men prac-
tice with the guns of the vessel as a result
ing object lesson to the natives.
There were about a dozen miners at
Yakutat waiting to proceed TO the head of
Dsenchantment bay. Thence they were
10 cross over the glacier to the Disk river.
where they intended to prospect and aft
erwards proceed to the White river and
get back to the st. Elias range OF mount
aims.
The Wheeling returned to Sitka. Her
cruise. in the governors opinion. had .
good effect on the natives. as they dread
runboat more than anything else. He
saws he is convinced 1t is time to take the
natives vigorously in hand and break up
their witchcraft, the distilling of rum and
the manufacture OF beer. and compel them
TO conform to our laws in all respects.
The native who commits murder or any
crime on another native does not escape
with the punishment that this government
metes out to him, but Is held accountable
also under the tribal customs.
The executive concludes by saying that
II backed up by the good will and force
Of the navy department. he feels he can
do much to eradicate existing conditions
during his term OK office.