The San Francisco call., 1899-05-06
CHILKATS LIKELY
TO 60 TO WAR
Situation in Alaska Is
Serious.
BY HAL HOFFMAN.
Special Correspondence of The Call.

JUNEAU, Alaska, April 2S.-The red
mans burden is becoming heavier in
Alaska owing to the encroachment of
the whites and he is growing impatient
under it. The situation has been quite
serious at Haines Mission within the
week. Though the reported battle be-
tween Canadian police and American
miners never took place at Porcupine
a clash al arms is really imminent be
tween white men and Indians over the
making Of a trail to follow the north
shore of Chilkat Inlet and river from
Haines Mission to klGCkwan, the prin-
cipal Indian village of the Chilkat
country and the largest in Alaska. The
ChilkatS have threatened mischief, and
last Sunday thoroughly coWed the
whites and threatened to force them to
abandon work on the trail
The trail is being opened under the
auspices of the Haines Mission Cham
Der of Commerce The ChilkatS are
physically and mentally, probably the
best tribe of Indians in Southeastern
Alaska and KluckWan, the metropolis,
has d number of two-story frame
houses which for external appearance
and size will compare favorably with
many in San Francisco. They are
owned and occupied by leading men of
the tribe.
In order to open a public trail in
Alaska a permit or charter must be
procured from the United States De-
partment of the Interior. Colonel
Frank Grygla, special agent of the
Land Department, stationed in
Alaska, says so. He was at Chnkat
several weeks ago and adjusted diff
ferences between number Of Chilkats
and Jack Dalton, promoter of the
Dalton trail from Pyramid Harbor to
the Porcupine diggings. The Chilkats
are a fearless tribe when well stirred
up over anything. They have put
their threats in writing through their
chief, whose English name is
George ShOrtTidge, as witness the ac-
companying letter received yesterday
by Colonel Grygla. The latter cOnsid-
ers the situation very serious and will
leave on steamer tonight for the
scene Of the threatened trouble No
Government permit for the trail in
controversy has been given. The In
dianS claim it will run through three Of
their villages besides Kluckwan and
destroy the value Of their property
They also see it will spoil their chance
Of canoeing supplies up the river, and
take away their opportunity to make
money during the opening up of the
country. This is a copy of the letter;
it has been forwarded to the Secretary
of the Interior by Colonel Grygla, who
has fully, by the last mail, acquainted
the department with the crisis:
CHILKAT Alaska
April %, 1899.
Dear Mr.. Grygla
We are going TO say few lines.
We are in great trouble with our white
friends They are Mr. W w. Warne lWarrenI
our pastor and Mr.. Biglow. the discoverer Of
Shorty Creek they want to take away our
money and our work they trying to make
a new trail From Haines Mission by way Of
Cluck-aun. to the Gold fields. And the trail
will be a public trail. But don't want it TO
be done, because 1t the only work for the In
dian to freight up the River.
Mr. Warne say he will fight with as And he
is going to order the soldiers from Dyea to pro-
tected them from Indian to make trouble
with them. this is what he says 10 US Indians
the other day. When we had a talk with him
he says that ! rich and strong enough to
make that trail We told him that we will
try and stand for the. So Il you will give US
a hand to strenged us.
they will be plenty Of trouble If this thing
don't stop
this is all I will say.
Your Sincere Friend,
GEORGE SHORTRIDGE.
Soldiers have arrived from Dyea and
are at Kluckwan. Captain Yeatman is
having a pow-wOw with the big chiefs.