Douglas Island news., 1900-08-29

A great potlatch and peace making
 attempt is to be held at the Indian viii
 lage of KIukwan, on the Dalton trail,
 September 10. Chief Kodowatt is to
 give the potlatch and to be king in the
 other movements connected with the
 affair. Great stocks of white mems
 food classed by the aboriginies of the
 district as delicacies are being sent in-
 to Klukwan in preparation for the
 grand event. The Alaskan says that
 Kodowatt will endeavor to settle, dur
 ing this potlatch, feud that has eX-
 isted among the warning tribes of the
 Indians of the district for generations
 and for centuries. It is between the
 Wrangels and Sitkas that he will at
 tempt to bear the olive branch. J. M.
 Blankenburg, a business man of
 Haines. tells the story as follows:
 "This celebration, Kodowatt says, is to
 be the last of the kind. He has issued invitations to the Wrangels and the Sitkas to join, and it is his purpose to unite them after their long alienation, in bonds of love and friendship, and to have the hatchet buried forever. To this end the old fellow is bending his energies, and declares this is to be the last great potIatch, and that after'it the Indians shall be good and live as the white man, and peace shall reign among the tribes. The trouble between the Wrangels and the Sitkas began 600 years ago at big feast held at Wran- gel. The Sitkas had. been invited by the Wrangels and were present. The Wrangels proceeded to give their guests jolly time Before long all were so jubiiant that a. free, for-all fight resulted, and when it was over only a few of the Sitkas had escaped alive. Then the incensed Sitkans thirsted for the blood of revenge, and they got it. Feuds resulted, and fights prevailed. At last the Sitkans showed a friendly spirit and invited the Wrangels to visit them. They foolishly accepted. The Sitkas opened the entertainment with most gracious ostentation. They got their guests into large building and as the mirth increased and good cheer gained control the hosts began to slip out. Before the Wrangels knew it the Sitkans were all out and had the doors barred. Then the Sitkans set fire to the building, and, to make the story short, the Wrangels were ciemated. That was perhaps an hundred years ago, but enough of the Wrangels had stayed at home to prolong the feud, and still the fires of enmity. burn, but Kodowatt has undertaken to bring peace to his brothers" S. Weitzman, Haines merchant, says he has sold great amount of merchandise to the In dians for their potlatch. Kodowatt is the greatest buyer. MT. Weitzman said: ''I have already. sold and deliv- cred 275 boxes of pilot bread or hard tack to the Indians. Pilot bread is one of their most loved foods. They dip it in lard, soak it in the oil of the candle or hooligan fish, and eat with the utmost delight. have seen buck and his squaw sit down beside box of and eat until all were gone In the coming potlatch the Indians will also eat great deal of sugar, canned peaches, canned grapes, cakes and can dies. 1 have sold 250 boxes of food supplies to Geo. Shortridge, another chief of the tribe, who will also take a big part in the celebration. Many oth- CTS of the Indians have bought as high as twenty-five boxes"