The Banner-Democrat., 1901-02-23
WILL END INDIAN FEuD.
Alaskan fubs 10 Make Up ouarre! Of
Several Centuries Standing.

Tbs celebrated feud which has e1
isted among the Indians OF Alaska ror
more than 900 years Is about 70 De
settled, and the rattlesnake skin wnicn |
has been dangling from the doorport
~ tbe Sitkas and the Wrangel lsiand
indian tribes for more than six CEN
turtles viii soon be replaced Dy tns
olive branch Of peace. Generatioh
after generation has heard from their
PARENTS the wrongs the tribe has SUI
fered at the hands Of their mortar
foes. until it is part OF the rehslous
duty of parents to teach their children
to hate their ancient enemy. A 1euo
of so long standing could not be wipeo
ont In a moment, In fact for more than
100 wears there has been movement
an foot to settle the difficulty ana hVe
IN peace. The coming Of the miners
/, and other whites during the last iour
or Eve years has done much to nasten
the settlement that Is about 10 Do
| made. a.
The potlatch, the arbiter OF all feuos
and follies, the leveler Of all sectional
and tribal troubles, has been managed
, hv Kodowatt, Klukwan CHIEF, at the
village of Klukwan. on the Dai'on
=, trail, who has spent the greater par
of his life in trying to get the various
tribes to consent to treaty OF peace
= and has expended the savings OF
y lifetime in his effort to provide for INT
. coming meeting of the tribes. He ma
! n,rcbesed hard tack, sugar and guam.
titles of the choicest viands known u
81 the Indian. which he will dispens
- with a hospitality known only 10 I'd
" indian brave. Merchants in town
near Klukwan say that they have soi
immense stocks to the Indians IN an
ID ticipation of the great feast which
OF to he the last of the kind by the IA
~ nous chief.
sn When seen by J. NJ. Blankenbur
~ a few days ago, as he was on ms wa
% from the Dalton country to Seatti
el Washington, Kodowatt said: In
as celebration Is to be the last OF Il
II kind I have sent messages to Oil u
oe tribes of the Sitkas and Wrangels
as come or send their chiefs to this NEE
OF ing TO unite them after this long allel
ne ation. in bonds Of love and friendshl
n and to bury the hatchet forever.
this end am bending all my energie
VS. for It is to be the last great potlatc
q and after 1t Is held the Indians W
en-, he good and live as white men. al
nd. peace will reign among the tribes"
no Tho trouble between the Sitkas q
w. Wrangels began 600 years ago, at
as big feast held at Wrangel. The Silk
inJ had been invited by the Wrangels tt
ney great feast. The Wrangels proceed
to give their guests jolly time. t
fore long all were so 1ubllant tha'
free-for-all fight resulted and when
wv was over there were only a few OF
n sitkas left to tell the story. Then
nee incensed Sitkas thirsted for the bi'
iiar of revenge, and they got 1t. Feuds
uA suited and fights prevailed. AT
was the Sitkas showed friendly spl
arts and, with every pretense OF I
ana friendship, invited the Wrangels to
tne tend a feast given in recognition
nine renewed friendship. The Wran,
mas foolishly accepted and the Sit
nice opened the feast with the most
ting o;o,. ostentat,on. They got their gu
noes into a large building, and as the m
not ,nouoosoa ond good cheer gained c
troll, the hosts began to slip out.
the fore the Wrangels knew it, the 81
rid were out and the doors barred. !
rsel1 the Sitkas set fire to the building
ince- the Wrangels were burned alive.
the h.nnoned nearly 200 years ago,
the aronob of the Wrangels were lef
tlous home TO prolong the feud, but x
thout watt has succeeded in bringing
con- together again in bonds Of enligh
upon Cd friendship.-Chicago Record.