The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-23
CONDITIONS IN ALASKA
Governor John G.. Brady's An
nual Trip of Inspection.
WITCHCRAFT is PRACTICED
He Says the Time Has Come to Take
the Natives Vigorously in lar
and Make Them Respect the
United States Laws.

Washington, March 22.-Secretary
Bliss submits to the public an interest
ing letter from Governor John G.. Brady,
containing the observations made by
him while on his annual trip of inspec-
ton to the various points on the coast
aboard the United tates steamship
Wheeling. While passing up the Linn
canal the governor says the officers OF
the ship saw a piece of wreckage, which
was afterwards ascertained to be part
of the Inflated steamer Clara Nevada.
of whose crew or passengers not one
was left to tell the tale. Special atten-
ton, 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 end
of Chicago island called Hoonah. Here
one of the leading men OF the village
had been accidentally killed by a child
6 years of age. The people never take
account OF accidents and the Hoonah
natives held the child's mother AMI her
people responsible, and demanded repa-
ration. which was given, a body of 200
men thoroughly armed going to a native
village near killisnoo. at which place
the child's mother and her people be-
longed. and compelling them to turn
over many blankets, trunks and money.
They severely admonished the natives
and told them their old customs would
not be tolerated.
From the point, the Wheeling pro-
ceeded to Yakutat where, upon inves-
tigatlon. IL was found that nearly
everything that had been reported to
the navy department regarding the
conditions of affairs there was correct.
The governor has considerable To say
about the practice of w~itchery, which
seems to exist to a considerable extent
in that part of the N lie tells
of a man and two women who were
bound and tied for bewitching a IA
on the ninth day the bound man was
released. and as he had nothing To eat
and but a few drings of water. he was
in a fearful physical condition. The
governor spent some time talking to
these people. and after explaining the
laws of the United States, told them
In the future he YOU not deal lenient-
ly with those who had practiced witch
craft. Captain Sebreo OF the Wheel
ing n his men practice with the guns
Of the vessel as a useful object lesson
to the natives.
There were about a dozen miners at
Yakutat waiting To proceed to the head
of Disenchantment bay. Thence they
were to cross over the glacier to the
Olsek river, where they intended to
prospect and afterwards proceed to the
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 a great good to the natives. as
they needed a gunboat more than any
thing else. He says he is convinced
IL is time to take the natives vigorously
in hand and break up their witchcraft.
distilling of rum and manufacture of
beer and compel them TO conform to
our laws in all respects. The native
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 account
able also under the tribal customs. n
executive concludes by saying that If
backed up by the good will and force
Of the navy department. he feels he
can do much to eradicate existing con-
ditions during his term of office.