The Nome nugget., 1903-03-18
H00TCH
 TRAFFIC In Early Days Among
 tie Natives. PROFITABLE TRADE Which Was UnbIuShingly Carried on for Years.--0utrages
 Upon Natives.
PROFITABLE TRADE

The Pacific Steam Whaling Co own ed about fourteen vessels mostly steam CTS. The company also conducted a large whaling and trading station at Cape Smythe, not fifty yards away from the United States refuge station. Other stations are conducted here also. On board ships and steamers at these sta tions will be found the Cape Verde negro, the Azores islands Portuguese, the California tramp and the scum of the Barbary coast and tenderlOin. But a new era has begun: even the Siberian native is pressed into service, as well as some from Port Clarence, Cape Prince of Wales and the Diomede islands. Only subsequently do you find the boy from the city or the young man from the farm or the college graduate. The new era seems to be one of graft and the abuse of power.
 The reader will readily understand that low order of intelligence was best suited for the illicit part of the whal- ing industry, and this illicit trade was very profitable. It consisted of trading in cheap alcohol, Sandwich island rum, 6rcech-lo loading rifles and fixed ammu- aition. These were all cOntrabrand until recent years when rifles and ann munition were permitted to be sold. 1t was on cheap alcohol and chop rum or hootch that the big profits were made. As many d. fifty barrels would be disposed of in one season, by one Oi these hootch traders, and there were from ten to thirty of them, and from three to five that attended strictly to trading and carried no whale boats. They carried on the traffic without let or hindrance. I saw the steamer Orca al anchor and surrounded by native boats, which were being landed on the beach from the steamer contain, ,ng natives so drunk that they fell into the water, whence they were dragged out by their more sober companions.
 knew notorious hoOtch trader lying at anchor in Hotham inlet; the United States revenue cutter Bear sent 2 boat alongside, and then went ashore where they found large number of the natives intoxicated. Lying in Port Clarence harbor, an officer from the Bear boarded one of these steamers belonging to the Pacific Steam Whal- ing Co and found the natives in q beast ly state of intOxication about the deck. A native woman feil into an oil tank and had just been tished out.
 Not many years ago during the life of the United States refuge station at Cape Smylhe, the keeper read to me from his journal an incident which goes to prove the inhumanity with which the natives have been treated. A man named Wolf was manager of the company's station at that place and he had large number of native employ ees. One of these natives was sudden bidden to return; his wife was kept a prisoner and when he attempted to enter, which he did on several Occas ions, he was forcibly elected. He learn- ed through other natives and native woman that his wife had been approp- riated by one of the Portuguese em- ployees of the place. The native went to the United States refuge station and asked Capt. Borden, the keeper, to go with him and help him to get his wife, stating that if he did not get her he would kill the man she was living with. Capt. Borden sent for Wolf and demonstrated with him, but it was of no avail. The native woman was kept inside continuously, and the native con- stinued to make threats, while watch ing for an opportunity to talk with his vie. His opportunity came when s4 Ming commenced in the spring, He shot and killed the POrtugese, loaded his sled and went to the station and got his wife and started for the interior. As soon as Capt. Borden learned of the killing, a few hOuRe after the native had started, he sent for the chief and a few of the head natives of the Cape Smythe tribe. He offered them one hundred dollars worth of gOvernmen, supplies if they would bring the native back. promising to keep him at the refuge station untilethe arrival of the Bear later in the season. The hOmi eide was brought back and taken tt the refuge station where he was put ir jrOns.
 Some time later Wolf and other al teged white mer, including all th' Portuguese and other foreigners, em ployes of the diherenb outfits ~ho.wer