The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1898-07-08
Correspondence And County Notes.
HOOD CANAL, July 9th, 18o

HOOD CANAL, July 9th, 1898.
Fourth of July among the Indians
takes the place of the old potlatch, but
the potlatch part or distribution of
gifts is left out, and also some of the
other old-fashioned ceremonies, for
the practices OF which the Indians
have became too civilized. Like that
+ however, it occupies about week, the
plans for it are made months or even
Z year beforehand, the invitations are
sent out weeks previous. and the ex-
pense is mainly borne by very few.
In this case Billy Williams was the
head of the affair, assisted by his rel
ative Joseph Pulisfer. both.of the Sko-
kolnsh reservation and each shared
very nearly equally in the expense,
The invitations were sent out early
IN May. The first of last week the
Indians began to arrive, and contin-
ued to come until Saturday. They
came from Dungeness, Port Town
send, Port Gamble, Mud Bay, Squak-
son, Nisqually, Puyallup, and Cheha-
lis, with few from other places, six
Or seven hundred in all, besides the
hundred and seventy five who live on
the reservation. They came by steam
er, in canoes, on sloops, in wagons,
time was spent in feasting and visit
ing. AS extras there was some gamb-
ling, game of base ball, horse racing
foot racing, jumping, and the like,
church on the sabbath, while the Shak-
ers of whom large number were pres
ent, spent two or three evenings Shak-
ing.
The fourth day of July was much
like the others, except that a picked
nine, mostly from Port Gamble, with
numerous friends went to Shelton, and
PLAYED against the white team of that
place. In the evening on the reserva-
tion, Bill Williams gave away three
horses. to friends to help them in pay
ing their expenses on the steamer, and
TO his cook, and a dollar or so to each
team to buy feed for their horses on
the way home. There was also d small
potlatch Of calico and the like among
the women. On Tuesday all started
for home.
During the time they ate two sheep,
eight beeves, forty sacks of flour, $50
pounds Of sugar. together with large
amount of biscuit, tea, coffee and 9TH
er food. Toward the last when all had
arrived one good sized beef lasted for
two meals. The tables seated about
four hundred at once A stand was
kept on the ground, one of the Indians
at which lemonade, candy, nuts, pop
corn, oranges, fire crackers flags and
the like were sold. All went off order
~, and your correspondent has not
heard of single case of drunkenness
at the grounds.
The weather report for June gives
$40 inches ST rain, more than for any
other June during the last five years.
the others having ranged from SOP
inches to twenty three hundredths of
an inch, the average having boon 227.
There were eleven days on which rain
fell; fourteen clear ones; six partly
cloudy ones. The highest temperature
was eighty eight degrees, the lowest
forty, and the average 1913.
The steamer Hattie Hanson came up
from Seattle last Saturday for the first
time with the mail, she having the
contract for the next four years. The
Delta has laid off for a few days, but
expects to run again this week.
| William Whitlock of Riverside, lett
last week to find work east of the cas-
cades.
Mrs. L. w. Quimby came from the
Puyallup reservation last Saturday to
| Skokonish to spend a week. She is
! field matron of the Puyallup agency,
and spends her time in teaching the
women the housekeeping art and the
| like. S.