The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-06-12
ALASKA'S ISLAND UTOPIA
THE SINGULAR SETTLEMENT OF THE
METlkkAHTLA INDIANS.

VIC are ices Il ne nag OF inc
United States has taken us into its
folds"
These patriotic and thrilling words
were uttered in broken English on
tho 14th day of August. 1897. bv
Metlaknhtla Indian when he carried To
his brothers III British Columbia the
Information that the colony estab-
lished on Annette Island, off the coast
of Alaska, was formed and would be
protected by the United States.
For years the natives living mt Met
lakahtln, British Columbia, had been
IN "A state of excitement aud strife. 1t
was known as the associated commuu-
ity, and was under the English fag.
In the autumn of 1856 there was II
crisis in the affairs of the community.
deputy was sent to Washington to
beg the United States Government to
give them place in Alaska, where
they might build for themselves an
other home. Accordingly Annette
Island was set aside and the settle
mcnt started. The island is from
eighteen to twenty miles long. with an
average width of eight miles, aud al e
though moro than seventy.fve per
cent. of it consists of mountains aud
rock, the place is well suited for
settlement. A number OF natives im-
mediately moved to their new home.
and when the messenger returned to
MetlaSahtla and delivered the message
OF freedom and the protection of the
United States there was universal re-
Joicin8. Reports received by the
torr~ nj hn TIT \
OF tao occurrences. The messenger
extemporized a song of freedom and
sang 1t to an inspiring native chant.
The people were electrified, and in
their JOY the work ofpulliug aud pack
ing mp for Alaska at once commenced.
by the 18th OF August over eight hun
dred had safely crossed the water.
The natives have considerable in
telligence, and they Immediately
started to organize the community and
adopt regulations for its good govern
ment. The native council consists of
eighty members, ten of whom are
agent men, and twenty OF them are
elected by ballot every New Year day.
The duties of the council are TO at
tend to the public affairs and improve
aud disburse the yearly tax OF So i'm
posed upon every abiebodiel male
member of the community. The
council selects treasury and secre-
tary to keep the village record.
Admission to settle in the commu-
nifty is open to all those who are will
ing to Adopt its regulations Every
applicant for membership, however,
must be approved by the council. and
after probation il publicly admitte |
on New Year day at a general mass
meeting. On this occasion each can
didate for membership makes his
declaration, giving his reasons for
seeking adniittauce to tho settlement.
and solcmnly pie lges himself to OBJ
serve its laws and regulations. After
the declarations have been made, the
new members are addressed by some
member &C the council. Lots are then
cast to determine the company to
which each new member is drafted.
badge is given him, aud the com
pany thon welcomes hi by ac-llnI-
ton to the rankg.
ON each New Year day, after the
| council is selected, twenty men are
chosen as elders for the church.
! Their duties are to watch over the
IL )ral all religious afilir5 OF the set
| tlencnt, look up and correct offenders
aad conduct religious services where
ever they may be when on fishing or
! hunting expeditions.
After the election Of eldcrsj the
voters arc called upon 20 elect twenty
men as peace officers of the settle
lnent, from whom two are selected
weekly for speciaLduties rs watchmen
for the town. All gre expected TO
keep watchful care over the pea,
wherever they arc travelling or arc
/ located. The two watchman or duty
! parade tho village occasionally during
| the day md with especial vigilancc At
night. At9:30p. III. the bug,e warns
| I'll to go 90 bed. when the watchmcn
/ see that all are indoors except those
/ who may have reason for being out
side
The members Of the company arc
! divided into ten companies, each being
| named by its color and each rpcmbcr
/ provided with badge bearing the
words: Faith, Love, Loyalty" On
! circlod by the words. United B-eth-
| rem o. Mctlakahtla.
When it came time tobuiid tho town
| site it was decided that each building
should have corner lot which shout.
be eighty feet front by ninety feet
deep. TO avoid contention a. to selec-
| ton OF sites it was determined to per
nit the eldest tho first choice There
1re no horses or vehicles i'm the VILLAGE.
and sotheroads were only madc twenty
feet wide. There is q church. school.
town hall md residences FOR the minis
| ter, doctor and school teacher There
Us a natural reservoir I'm the shape o.. n
'eke 800 feet above the town, and this
supplies water for running saw mill.
/ running the machinery for the canning
! house and serves good drinking water
| Tor the village.
There are now about 500 persons I'm
The community, and the settlement is
! steadily growing inresources. OF the
Alaskan nativcsabout sixty have ioincl
The settlement aud many more would
have come except for the strict rules
/ against intoxicants aud gambling.
] Although there is little need OF 10 the
settlement has Jail for the accommo-
I