The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1907-09-13
GREAT INDIAN Chief
EIGHTY YEARS old.
His Intellect, Will Power, and
Physical Strength Won
RenOWn.


State Historical Society, has returned
from trip along the Straits of San.
Juan de Fuca, during which he secur.
valuable data relating TO old Indiar
dibes that for many centuries made
their tribal headquarters and theil
hunting and fishing grounds on the
straits.
One of the features picked up by
the Secretary during hte trip was the
history of How-a-Thlub, hereditary
chief at the Neah Bay agency, who, az
the age of eighty years, is still hale
ID hearty, and Mr.. Gilstrap declares
one Of the greatest Indian characters
in the Northwest, in the matter OF
intellectual and will power. He also
is imposing looking in physical APP
pearance. How-a-Thlub, whom the
whites call Peter Brown for short, is
the third son of the great chief, Held
ah-Tah-wish, celebrated Indian of
bygone days. Tats-Kit, the Oldest son
of He-di-ah-Tah-wish, was killed in a
battle with the Clallam Indians more
than half a century ago. Whay-
Lash, the second son, then became
chief, and he dying, How-a-Thlub as
sumed the tribal dignity.
In physical strength and endurance
How-a-Thlub, in the days of his prime,
showed extraordinary distinction. He
is credited with being able to pick
up any man who had the hardihood
to attempt wrestling bout with him
= and throw him over his head. In
those days he measured fifty-four inch
es around the chest, and excelled in
woodcraft and in resources in the ex-
igencies the chase.
In addition.to being probably the best
hunter Of his tribe his daring and
courage on the sea as 2 whale hunter
was celebrated among all the tribes
of the Olympic peninsula. In 90 of
the largest canoes ever made by Pu-
get Sound Indians, How-a-Tnlub, fifty
years ago, with a selected crew of In
dian sea hunters, would venture far
out on the ocean in pursuit of schools
of whales. They rarely returned empty
handed.
In the expeditions How-a-Thlub did
the harpoon work, and Secretary Gil
strap was fortunate enough TO secure
the harpoon which ne used in those
ancient times, with all IFS attendant
apparatus.
While 1t is weapon OF primitive
Character, in the hands of a man
having the power of arm of How-aThlu
it becomes a terrible menace to a whale
rocking peacefully in the long swells
of the ocean. The staff OF the har-
pooh alone is prodigious when il is
considered that 1t is a weapon that
must be thrown. 1t is about sixteen
feet long and weights forty pounds,
and Indians who hunted with How-a-
Thlub in the old days say that he
would throw it anywhere from fifty
to seventy-five feet. The long rope
attached to the harpoon is made of
sinew from the belly of the whale,
and is so strong that there would be
no possibility of its being broken. AS
floats to be attached at regular inter-
walls to hts harpoon rope, number of
air bags made of sealskins were us
ed. The entire apparatus was turned
over by How-a-Thlub TO Secretary
Gilstrap, and will probably be kept in
the city museum or some other .depos-
itory as examples of the weapons us
ed by the primitive people of the
Northwest in whaling.
After the killing of Tats-Kit, How
a-Thlub's brother, by the Callams,
How-a-Thlub, true Evolutionary usage
among the Indians, made a decent
upon the Clallams and killed a men,
Der of that tribe. The white soldiers
were then appealed TO, ard, going 20
the straits, arrested How-a-1 hlub, who
made no resistance, but asked that
he be not shackled.
Nevertheless, the soldiers put hand
cuffs on him. Enraged at their lack
of respect for his position as chief,
How-a-Thlub, with one wrench of his
hands, tore off the manacles and walk
ed of the steamer upon which he had
been placed in order to bring him to
Steilacoom for trial. He was finally
prevailed upon to go peaceably and
unbound to Steilacoom, where ne was
tried and given his liberty. For many
years How-a-Thlub has been an In
dian policeman of the Mean Bay tribe,
and is regarded by the whites as
man of integrity and honor.-Seattle
lPost-Intelligcncer.