Iditarod pioneer., 1917-05-12
OLD KNIK, ONCE POPULOUS, WILL SOON BE A REPLICA
 OF GOLDSMITH'S VILLAGE

OF GOLDSMlIHS VlLLAGE
 One of the prominent points of interest along the line of the new government rall- road in Alaska is Old knik, the Indian village founded more than 100 years sgo and once the headquarters of a popnlouS community. while today it houses but remnant of once powerful tribe.
 This old village is located on the man line of the railroad, about twenty elsht miles from Anchorage, and it was founded in the regime of Chief Nlcholai. Many years before the settlement of Old hnlk this tribe had established a village at the forks of the Matanuska and knlk rivers ahich was literally wiped out by the bg flood that is matter of Alaska history during the Russian rule. A great number of lives were lost in the flood, and the balance of the tribe moved to the country adjacent to what is now New hnk, and established settlement.
 Owing to internal strife and tribal jeal ousv the tribe split up and the present village of Old Knik was settled by that part of the tribe that followed the fortunes ot Chife Afansia, and the old RusslanGreek church WAS moved to this place. While the petty differences have been wiped out and the two sections still hold potlatches and visit back and forth the father of the church refuses to hold religious services in the building, owing to some part ot thelr belief making it q sacrilege to move church building or the vestments from the spot previously made sacred by reLglous rites.
 However, the fathers did condescend to consecrate the burial ground. This prop ertv is still in possession of the church, as Russia reserved all the church property when the territory of Alaska passed to the United States
 Father Paul Shadura of kenal has jurlS Cliction over the knlk Indians and visits the two settlements on his regular religious trips. The old tribal laws of allottlng each fajmlv certain section of country for hunting. trapping and fishing privileges are still in vogue. and the Indians follow hunt ing and fishing for pastlme and sustenance. They also make snowshoes tan hides and furs and make moccaslns mukluks, etc, but as a rule do not go Tn for tarmng, al though this industry IS being agltated with some success.
 The old church building shows the wear and tear of time and exposure to the ele- ments; the gray. worn roof tips q trlHe and the door sags. Several boards are missing from the outside and several panes of glass in the windows are broken. The ground outside is Uttered and unkempt, and shows lack of care and attention, but the interior of the church does not particularly show the ravages of the hand of time. Many of the religious vestments and crosses pecul- iar to the service adorn the walls. and the ,acred images of the Holy Trinity Father, Son and Holy Ghost-loOk down upon the empty pews. The prayer books are yellow with age, and the richly embroidered altar cloth is duty and moth-eaten.
 There are no candles in the old-fashloned candlestcks, and the soft beams of the afternoons sun light up the interior of this old Russian Greek church that has been made sacred and hallowed by many reh- gious services.
 The crowded church graveyard, too. sur rounded by small board fences, with its many different wooden designs and em- blems presents 6 quaint appearance. The Indians bury their dead in collins placed on top or lne ground, but lit COIi4lS al covered and surrounded by small board fences. Each mausOleum is marked by wooden design symbolic of the family, to- gether with an icon of the Greek church, all decorated with vari-co!ored paint made by the natives.
 This once hardy race is gradually dying out mainly due to the ravages of tubercu- loss and inbreeding that often leaves the mark of physical defect The village only numbers fifty -ei ght souls at the present time, and each year sees more and more of the cabins deserted caused either by death or by the flight of the inhabitants further into the Interior in dread of the march of civ ilIzation.
 It is only a question of time until Old knik Indian village. like Goldsmith's De serted Village" will no more resound to the laughter of little children or the shuf- fling tramp of old age, but will be deserted, it's inhabitants wiped out by disease and contact with the white man.
 It is pity, as this was one of the old landmarks of Alaska. and much history had been mdae in and around this location, Valdez Miner