Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-12

A correspondent OF the Springfield
Republican lately wrote of the dan
ger there was that the rush to Klondike
might have the effeot,as one of its incl
dents. of deprivlng the Metlakahtla
Indians of their lands and rights, and
intiicting upon them the vices of the
mining camp. The modern history of
the tribe Is full of romantic, pathetic
and heroic elements and this is par
ticularly true OF the life of william
Duncan. its leader and reformer. The
home of the tribe is Annette island. off
the coast OF Alaskan was threatened
to be overrun with miners and pros
pectors. to the dismay and demorali-
cation of Its Inhabitants. Congress-
was petitioned to prevent this. The
correspondent writes
civilian Duncan, u modest London
clerk. coming to British Columbia in
October, 1857, simply to lift men out
of sorcery, witchcraft, degradation,
oannibalism. into the light and liberty
of Christian Ymanhood-has, as the
Chicago Record says, built little city
at Metlakahtla. Alaska. that is not par
alleled in any part of the world The
man has found by bitter experience
that the cruelty of the white man in
subtle form Is greater than that of the
out and out savage. and Is now In
deepest anxiety as to the pending bill
before Congress. Read again the let
ter of the Republicans Washington
correspondent under date of February
23rd and the strong appeal OF Mr.. Dun
can. One OF the last official acts of
President Arthur was to sign bill,
presented by Congress for the absolute
transfer of Annette island to the tribe
OF Metlakahtla Indians. In 1883, under
the direction of Mr. Duncan. they left
their home, as did the Pilgrims of old.
moved to an island that was then n
| wilderness and today, as the editorial
in the Republican says, is a thriving
| city free from all the vices and evils
of modern life Last year they solu
over $4,000 cases of salmon at 1925 Il
case. The machinery is of modern
pattern, operated by steam and managed
| by the natives; saw mill manufac-
lures high grade of lumber and has 4
capacity of 10000 feet per day; fine
sidewalks, good streets. the largest
church in Alaska, electric lights, and
! In every respect n model town. They
have a native band of thirty pieces, the
leader, Ben Halden. full-bleoded
young Indian, who can play any in
strument on the island, the only teach
er he ever had being Mr.. Duncan.
Aside from this special work in the
two towns built up by him, his infiu-
ence is felt far and wide. At Juneau
Sitka and all along the coast are men
and women who are living Christian
lives, who have established schools
and churches, the outcome OF Mr.. Dun
cans labors Now shall this noble and
| royal saint on the shady side of three
score and ten see his life work sorely
crippled, his people--happy and con-
tent in that secluded settlement
brought into contact with the vices OF
a frontier barbarism, all for the little
gold which possibly may exist In the
lodges? or shall he remain unmolested
in the home solemnly given TO his peo-
ple by Congress? Let petitions. letters
pour in TO Congress from every section
OF our land, consigning to eternal in
fnmy any man that would vote to rot
that noble race of their rightful in
heritance.
The numerous petitions that were
laid before Congress. including the rep
reservations of william Duncan. the
leader and presiding genius of the In
dams. had the desired effect. Acting
under the authority Of Congress the
Interior department formally and com
pletely confirmed the grant of Annette
island to the tribe.nnd excluded 1t from
the public lands on which miners and
prospectors may operate, The Indians
are thus granted the rights and pro-
lection which were asked in their be
/ half