The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-23
THEY BELIEVE in w1TcHCRAFr.
Governor brady Writes About the In
dams of hIaSlxa

WASHINGTON, March 22-Secretarv
Bliss to-day made public an interesting let
ter from John G. Brady of Alaska. con-
tanning the observations made by him while
on his annual trip of inspection to the vari-
Gus points on the coast aboard the United
States ship Wheeling. While passing up
the Lyman canal, the Gogernor SAYS the Of
hcers of the ship a piece of wreckage
which was afterwards ascertained to be
part of the Inflated steamer Clara Nevada.
or whose crew or passengers not one was
lett 10 tell the tale. Special attention the
letter 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 native village at the north of Chicha-
got island, called Hoonap. Here one of the
leading men of the village had been ac-
cfdentally killed by a child six years of
age The people never take account of ac-
cidents, and the Hoonop natives held the
mother and her people responsible and de-
manded reparation, which was given a
body of 200 men thoroughly armed going to
a native village near Kilisnoo at which
place the child's mother and her people be-
longed and compelling them to turn over
many blankets, trunks and money. The
Governor admonished the natives and told
them their old customs could not be toll
Grated.
From Hoonap the Wheeling proceeded to
Yankutat, where, upon investigation, it was
found that nearly everything that had been
reported to the Navy Department regard
ing the condition of affairs there was cor
rect. The governor has considerable to say
about the practice of witchcraft, 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 a man. On the ninth
day the bound man was released, and as
he had had nothing to eat and but a few
drinks of water, he was in fearful
some time talking to these people.
and after explaining the laws of the
United States, told them that in
the future he would not deal lienently
with those who practiced witchcraft. Cap
tain Sebree of the Wheeling had his men
practice with the guns of the vessel as
useful object lesson to the natives. There
were about a dozen miners at Yankutat
waiting TO proceed to the head of Olsen
chantment bay. Thence they We're to cross
over the glacier to Olesek river. where they
intended to prospect and afterwards pro-
coed to White river and get back to the
ST. Elias range of mountains.
The Wheeling returned to Sitka. Her
cruise, in the governors opinion. had done
great good to the natives, as they dreaded
a gunboat more than anything else. Tie
saws he is convinced 1T is best TO take the
natives vigorously in hand and break up
the witchcraft distilling of rum and manu-
featuring of beer, and compel them to con-
form TO laws in all respects The ma
tive 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 I'M
der the tribal custom. The executive con-
Guided by saying that If backed up by the
good viii and force of the Navy Depart
ment he feels sure that ne can do much to
correct existing conditions during his term
of office.