The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-03-23
ALASKAN TRIBAL CUSTOMS
Great Moral Effect of a GunbOat in
Rreaking Them Id.

Washington, March 22-Secretary Bliss
today made public an interesting letter
from John B. Brady, governor of Alaska,
containing the observations made by him
while on his annual trip of inspection to
the various points on the coast aboard the
United States ship Wheeling.
While passing up the Lynn canal, the
governor says, the officers Of the ship saw
piece of wreckage which was afterwards
ascertained to be part of the Inflated
steamer clara Nevada" of whose crew
of 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
island. called Hoonah. Here one of the
leading men of ths village had been acct
dentally killed by a child six years of age.
The people never take account of acct
dents and the Hoonah natives held the
child's mother and her people responsible
and demanded reparation, which was
given, body Of 200 men thoroughly
armed going to a native village near Kill
lisnoo at which place the childs mother
and her people belonged, and compelling
them to turn over many blankets, trinkets
and money. They severely admonished
the natives and told them their old Gus
toms would not be tolerated.
From this point the Wheeling proceeded
to Yukatat where, upon investigation, it
was found that nearly everything that
had been reported TO the navy department
regarding 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
man and two women who were bound and
tied for bewitching man. On the ninth
day the bound man was released and as
he had had nothing to eat and but few
drinks of water, he was in fearful phys
ical condition. The governor spent some
time talking to these people and after ex-
planning the laws of the United States,
told them that in the future he would not
deal leniently with those who had pare
ticed witchcraft.
Captain Sebree of the Wheeling had his
men practice with the guns OF the NeSSel
as a useful object lesson TO the natives.
There were about a dozen miners at
Yallutat waiting 10 proceed to the head
OF Disenchantment bay. Thence they
were to cross over the glacier TO the Ole
SEX river. where they intended to pros
pect and afterwards proceed TO the White
river and get back 20 the St. Elias range
Of mountains.
The Wheeling returned 10 Sitka. Her
cruise. in the governors opinion, had done
great good 10 the natives, as they dread
cd a gunboat more than anything else.
He says he is convinced it IS time To take
the natives vigorously in hand and break
up their witchcraft. distilling Of rum and
manufacturing Of beer, and compel them
10 conform TO our laws in all respects.
The native who commits murder or any
crime or another native does not escape
with the punishment that this govern
men- metes out 10 him. but is held &C
cauntab,e also under the tribal customs.
The executive concludes by saying THAI
il backed up by the good VIII and force
Of the navy department he feels he can
do much 70 eradicate existing conditions
during his term Of Office.