The daily sentinel., 1907-05-03
Old Skookum Jim,
A Quaint Character
This Picturesque Indian Discovered the
KlOndike-- e--Rewarded by Free
Citizenship

pended on Pe-ru-na. but even thls
was rapidly exhausted.
The Canadian penalty for giving
an Indian whiskey is long jail SEN
tence and the enforcement of several
had acted as a splendid moral lesson
So when the Canadian government
anxious to reward all that had any
hand in the discovery that so enrich
ed the nation, reached Skookum Jim.
and asked him what he desired as
token of a fond country's gratitude,
Jim began TO think. He wanted many
things but chief of his desires was the
one for strong water.
And SO, with the nobility that at
the time rang all over the Dominion,
Jim replied to the governments com
missioner. 81 want no reward for the
doing of my simple duty. There is
one thing, however that | viii accept,
and only one. If the government
wishes to reward me. let it make me
free man. Let it take from on my
shoulders the civic disabilities that
are imposed upon me because am an
Indian. Make me free man, allow
me to vote, l only ask for the privil-
eyes that are granted to the poorest
white man in the country.
When the government received the
commissioner report there was an
instant acquiescence. The story of
! the noble red man who wanted the
privileges of British citizenship. and
who would accept no other reward
spread like wildfre. The newspapers
of the whole country told the story,
women cried when they read 1t; peo-
pie wrote letters to Skookum Jim,
and more than one parcel containing
presents expressive of the admiration
and good will of the patriots who
administered to the Indians request,
went North in the Yukon Mail. A
bill was hastily introduced into par
lament and unanimously passed CIV
ing Jim all privileges of citizenship,
and a copy was sent to him along with
certificate telling the world that
Canada had one indian equal to his
white brethren.
Jim got his certificate Five min
utes afterward he was on his way to
the nearest saloon. Twenty minut-
es afterwRrd he was mellow, ten min
utes after that he was offering to
fight seven men at once with his
hands tied behind his back; fifteen
minutes later he was weeping bitter
ly because the small log cabin saloon
stock of whiskey had been exhausted
and he couldn't get any more till
the following day. That night about
window smashing time, the town of
Caribou Crossing resounded to wild
and hoots. Jim had been generous
and before the supply of wet goods
had been exhausted he had purchased
a dozen bottles and carried them tC
the Indian encampment. His brother,
one and all partook and the noise ol
the town that night was more ter
rible than an army with banners.
Jim was arrested. fined, let go, anC
on his way from the police court Il
his cabin, he did 1t all over again
He was fined again. This time tn,
people of the neighborhood were be
ginning to understand his anxiet!
to be made a British citizen.
Jim is still at Caribou Crossing
He Is the envy and the darling of hi
tribe and all other Indians. For wha
other red skin in all America coult
walk into a soloon like a real gentle
man and buy and drink his whiske.
without any fear of the public. Blu
Jim is not made to stand the head,
beverage he loves, and the result on
of these days will be dead Indian
But should Jim live, and should h
behave himself he Will be present a
the Alaska-Yuhon exposition at Seat
; tie in 1909.