The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-10-19
ALASKA At TIE
ST, LOUIS FAIR
HER BUILDING WILL BE A
HYDAH INDIAN HOUSE WITH
FOUR TOTEM POLES.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24--Although
there has been so much delay in set
ting the squabble over the Alaskan
commissionership to the st. Louis eX-
position, partial arrangements have al
ready been made for the territory's
exhibit at the fair. The plans for the
educational exhibit, under the direction
of DR.. Sheldon Jackson, are well under
way.
The design for the Alaska building at
st. Louis has been selected. 1t is to be
Hydah Indian house. No one has eX-
planned why an Indian dwelling should
be used to typify commercial and in
dustrial Alaska but it is given out
that the building will be a model of
It's kind, ant that a totem pole will be
placed at each corner. This will in
crease the popular impression that
Alaska is a land of savages and ice
bergs.
Representatives of the exposition
company have given out the following
statement in regard to the building and
the exhibit. Some of it is interesting
for it's inaccuracy:
The Alaskan building will be a Hy-
dab Indian house, with totem poles at
each corner, The tribe of Hydah In
dams now number 7SS. They are
large, well-formed and handsome rtce,
with light complexion and have long
been noted for their bravery and fero-
city in war. Their houses are probably
the most attractive among the Alaskan
tribes, and for this reason one was
chosen to represent Alaskan at the st.
Louis exposition. The Hydahs ere
known as the Bull Dogs of the NoTth
ho- -
tate to attack and plumber English and
American vessels. In 1854 they held the
captain and crew of an American vessel
in captivity until ransomed by the
Hudson Bay Fur Company.
Their villages are remarkable for the
number of totem columns. These q te
carved logs, from one to two feet iii
diameter and from twenty to sixty feet
high. Some of them contain hollow cav
!ties, in which are placed the ashes of
cremated chiefs; others are heraldic,
and represent the family totem or Or
ders. In some cases large oval open
ing through one of these columns forms
the entrance to the house. in others the
pole is at one side Of the entrance. The
house Is a large, low, plank building,
gr n f,'ty "a fifty fel- sqlare. with =
fireplace in the center of the floor and
care of the smoke. Some have insert
ed windows and uoors H. their bu.i-
ings, and procured bedsrelds, tables,
stoves, dishes and other appliances of
civilized lie.
Their food consists largely of fish,
dried or fresh, according to the season,
Wild berries and deer are plentiful.
The berries are preserved in fish oil
for winter use. Their coast also abounds
with good clans They raise large
quantities of potatoes.
The IIydahs are noted for their skill
in carving wood, bone, gold, silver and
stone. The finest OF ire great cedar
canoes of the Northwest coast are man.
ufactured l'y them. The exhibit in the
Hydah house at st. Louis will contain
many queer things showing how they
live, their ingenuity, etc.
There will be types of all the vari-
Gus tribes at st. Louis. According to
the census reports these are approx
imately: Fifteen thousand Nnnuit or
Eskimo, 2,145 Aleuts, 1,756 Creoles, 500
Tinneh, 5000 Thilngets, 1888 Hydah and
30, 493 whites, making a total of SO, 592
The Eskimo exhibit at st. Louis can
not fail to interest and instruct. This
tribe inhabits the coast line AMI outly-
ing islands.
THE school exhibit is now being COL
lected by the local teachers under the
supervision of DR.. Sheldon Jackson. 1t
will consist of: A complete exhibit of
schoolrOom work, showing course of in
struction, methods, etc. Books and ap-
paratus. Photographs of characteristic
scenes. Specimens of Industrial work
Harnessed deer with driver. Ha, ness
sleds, vehicles, etc, showing manner of
caring for and using deer. Articles
made of deer products, clothing, food
tents, utensils and implements. Eth
biological specimens showing i'fe of ma
tiNes under nOmadic conditions, and the
improvements wrought by pastoral life
resulting from the introduction of
reindeer.
The walls of the Hydah Indian house
will be hung with photographs OF the
wild and beautiful scenery of Alaska as
well as pastoral views showing crops
and flowers in profusion. This will
show grass on the banks of Rampant
creek, Alaska, growing as high as a
mans head, a hay field in the Yukon
valley, a vegetable garden near Circle
| City, rich barley field at Holy Cross
Mission, display of vegetables grown
! IN the hlondike, a waterfall in Key
stone canyon over 700 feet high, eX-
changing views of mountains, rivers
and canons which will give visitors to
the Alaskan building an entirely new
conception of the attractions and re-
sources of that territory. There will
be piles of rare minerals and nuggets
of gold that will tempt men to try their
fortune in the new Ell Dorado of the
far Northwest"
A NJ