The daily morning Alaskan., 1900-02-06
CH|LCAT CHEF
 ID G|VE PO1AICH Two Thousand Indians to
 Celebrate.
GATHER AT KLUCKWAN
Chief George shortridge or the Crow Family To Distribute Ills Wealth.

Not since 1886 has there been such a potlateh In all Alaska as will be that to be given in next August bv the Crow Chiefs of the Chileat tribe of ln- dans to the Eagle Chiefs and their tribes. There will be two thousand of the dusky aborlginees present and for two weeks they will be the guests of the Crow family at Kluckwan. The head chief of the Crows. George Shortridge. upon whom will fall the most of the burden of the grand affair, Is :having a large house constructed al Kluckwan at cost ois2ooo. The entire first floor of this house, which Is forty feet square, will be arranged to accommodate the dancers, while the second story will be used as q gallery. After the potlateh It Is Chief Georges intention to use the house as a state house of the Chileats, the upper story to be used as his residence. while the first floor will remain in one large council room.
 chief George, who by the way, has ac- cumulated considerable wealth as an ex- ienslve trader amongst the Stick Indians, was in Skagway Sunday, having come to see his son-in-law, who was injured in the railroad aeeldet last week, whom he was gratIhed to find in good condition.
 Chief George is a magnificent specimen of physical manhood, standing as straight as an arrow and being several inches above six feet in heighth. He Is about $ years of age, and during the wears since the ad- vent of the white trader he has made two trips each year to the interior, where he tiaded blankets, calicos and all kinds of wearing apparel. provisions, fire arms, ax- es, cutlery and other utensils for furS, which he would bring out and sell for the filthy luere to the white man.
 in speaking of the potlatch, talking through an interpreter, George said:
 "We will be ready for the potlateh in August. Several times before have at tempted to get the Crows to help me give a big potlateh, butthey have not all of them been ready at any one time. Now 1 have got enough of them ready to help and the invitations have gone forth. lt will be held in my big house at Kluekwan.
 All the Indians from Sitka and Juneau will be there, including all between those places and Skagway. In about two weeks will go into the interior on trading ex' petition and while there will invite the Stick Indians. think there will be about 1000 people there all told and they will remain for about two weeks"
 When asked how much lt would cost, Chic. George winced. Lots, lots" he said. "rhere will be blankets and other presents to give to the entire 1000 people. besides all the eatables that will be re- quired to feed them for two weeks and let them take some home. They only eat about once a day though. they get so inter- ested in dancing that they forget to eat.
 "The last big po,latch given by the Crows was in 1886, when my father who was then head chief of the Chileat Indians gave one that has ever since been f. nous. Prior to that time the Crows, and to les ser extent the Eagles were great slave owners. The Indians farther south used to go down on the coast yet farther to the south, where they would capture Flathead Indians and bring them north to sell. On account of our wealth we furnished them the best market. It was matter of remark when slave was given his liberty The generous slave own CT was hailed as a benifeent hero. Imagine then the sensation when my father, in 1886 gave their liberty to twenty slaves while who helped in the potlatch made seven ireemen.
 "Our intention is to make this potlateh as large as that one.Of course there will be no slaves to give their freedom, as slave holding was long ago abandoned by our people.
 one of the reasons 1 will go into the land of the sticks In two weeks will be to collect debts. The stick Indians owe me for goods have sold them and will go In and get furs from them in payment. The Indians always piy. l never have any fear of selling them anything have on their promise to give furs, as the furs
 
 are always forthcoming"
 Chief George will be a poor man after the great potlatch. For years he has la bored and exercised economy for this oeea- sion. That off, he will again seek to re- habilitate his fortune sufficiently to make a trip 10 the states and see the big cities about which so much has been told him. He has a nephew who was graduated bv rarIisle univerSity