The Cordova daily times., 1921-07-09

threatened. the little settlement at Fort Nulato escaped injury. Derabin, in charge of the station. meanwhile carrying on a lucrative traffic with the natives for furs. In the spring of 1851 Lieut.. Bernard, of Her Maj esty's steamer Enterprise. arrived at Nulato with the bidarshik in search of information with regard to the fate of Sir John Franklin, who was a member of Captain Collisions eX petition. and with Mir Adams, a sur geon, and one man, had been left by the Enterprise at St. Michael the preceding fall.
 Being probably a blunt, straight forward Englishman. with no knOwl- edge of Indian character and sus- picion, he made the remark in the presence of others that he intended to send" for the principal chief of the koyukun tribe of Indians, whose headquarters were on the Koyukuk and Kotelkakat rivers, and who were then holding one of their annual fes- tivals about % miles from Nulato. This unfortunately worded remark was conveyed to the chief in ques- ton. through some of the Indians at the post, by passing native. The chief was the most wealthy and In. fucntial in that part of tn" country. widely known and distinguished by remarkably large and prominent Roman nose. from which he had re- ceived d name which, literally trans lated. means "hump-backed nose He was not accustomed to be sent for When the Russians desired to see him they respectfully requested the honor of his presence. His In dian pride rose at the insult and he immediately called a council to dis cuss the rumor. The shamans were of course first consulted. and they unanimously declared that it boded no good to the chief in question. The council then decided that if the re- port proved true they would, with all the Indians there assembled go together to the fort and demand sat. isfaction They waited some time, and finally were about to disperse to their home when a single dog sled appeared on the river This sled was accompanied by Ivan Bule' gin. a Russian, and an Indian work man of the Nulato tribe, who had been sent up to see if any intorma- ton were attainable, and if so. to bring down the Tyone of Koyukuk. The ill-fated Bulegin drew his sled up on the bank, sending the Indian who accompanied him for water to boil the chynik. Sitting down on his sled to rest himself. he was ap- preached stealthily from behind, and, being struck on the head with ax or club, was instantly killed. The sled was dragged away and plum dered. When Nulato Indian returned and saw what had been done he turned to run, but the Koyukuns called to him, saying, Are you not one of us? We will not hurt you" Overcome by fear, he returned and unwillingly assisted in the atrocity which followed Bulegins body was stripped. the flesh cut in slices from the bones, and the savages, infuriat- ed like wild animals by the sight Of blood, roasted these remains and de- voured them. An Indian who noticed the reluctance with which Bulegin's companion joined in the hurried feast. crept up behind him and drove his knife up to the hilt in his neck. The fighting men present then stripped themselves of all incum- brances except their bows and ar rows. and putting on their snow shoes. set out at once for Nulato. btSS lluil Hall d bClo" Nht ti ing post were three large winter houses crowded with Ingaliks of the Nulato tribe. in all about a hundred men. women and children. These houses were situated near the river bank. few rods northeast of the mouth of the Nulato river. It being in the month of February and an unusually warm spring, the Nulato Indians had taken the precaution to clear away the snow from above their birch bark canoes, 90 or 60 of which were lying about. Intending to fore stall retaliation for the death of Bulegin's companion, the Koyukuns approached with the greatest quiet
 .I- IL s.,