Arizona republican., 1901-05-17
FINISH OF THE FAMOUS FROG.
Hopper Caused Contention Between
 two Tribes of Indians

Alaskas famous frog Is no more. For twenty years this great wooden frog, claimed as the emblem of two tribes of Alaskan Indians. has caused the United States authorities trouble. and now the warning tribes threaten more trouble and the possible annihilation of one faction, if not Of both claimants.
 News from Sitka is that a number of native malcontents armed themselves with the necesoary tools and imple- ments and succeeded in tearing down the wooden frog which had hoped its way through the all lower and higher courts of the district. The attack was unexpected, and before the, holders of the frog could prepare for resistance or call for help, the emblem had been re- duced to splinters
 The United States marshal and dep utles arrested a number of the frog smashers. who made no effort to palli- ate their conduct. Instead, they were proud of their victory, and said with satisfaction that they had committed the deed. Tn default of s1 900 bail each they were remanded to jail to await trial in the district court.
 All the tribes of Alaska have emblems of some kind, as, for instance, crows, whales, bears. salmon and other ani- mals. Thege have been handed down in the tribeo for countless generations. Each tribe looks upon its emblem in much the same light as a country does its flag, and seeks to protect it from disgrace. Naturally the strength and resources of tribe vary, and this has been the case of the frog tribe. While the frog has been it's emblem for thous- andn of years, it is stated either through unfortunate circumstances or poor management, the tribe has never pos sessed enough worldly goods to conduct the ceremonies necessary for the formal erection of the frog. Nevertheless near | ly all of the tribes have accepted the frog as the emblem of the present hold CTS.
 A few years ago a visiting tribe from the far northwest claimed the frog as It's emblem had one carved and were about to give 1t publicity when an in junction from the district court forbade | 1t. The law was obeyed. but the for malities were carried out minus the frog
 Last September Judge Brown dis solved the injunction and the frog was triumphantly placed in a prominent place. despite the protestations of the original Irog Indians, who claimed that the unIrpers of the frog should use theil own emblem. whale.
 The usurpers. however, kept the fros in its position and jeered at the other tribes inability to recover it. Unable to stand longer what they considered z | disgrace, the losing tribe held a meeting last week and decided to destroy thu frog at all costs.
 The Ketchikan and Wrangle Indians sympathiZe with the old tribe and { clash between the Indians Is not i'm probable, a., the rivals are desperate One of the best pocted and most civil ized Indiars at Sitks prophecies that | the court inhicts severe punishment or the offending frog smashers 1t will no only incite the local Indians to furthe
 violence. but will produce a general up rising by the frog tribes sympathizer
 throughout Alaska. The Indiano arr charged with riOting. the punishmen
 for which ranges from three to fifteer
 years imprisonment.