Douglas Island news., 1921-03-04
TOTElIS
 LARGEST GROUP
Totems Are Prey to Elements and Are Disappearing From Sight
 to Man

Tho rawgos of tho clements to- go,hor with Che gradual decline In Che observance of native customs is robbing Alaska og one of ita great est attractions to summer tourists -lho totem pole. Here in South eastern Alaska we have some of Che best specimens Of caryors art, rot- uug away mcared for and unno- uccd.
 Iu old Kosaan. only twenty-five miles from Ketchikan. we have one of Che largest groups Of totem poles found anywhere n Alaska. The cemetery there contains a collection chat Che mncIful tourist or anyone with an eye for Che quaint and Che curious win m years to come. or oven now. travel miles to see.
 The village and cemetery ot old Kasaan about twelve miles Go Che soutbvard ot new Kasaan. cone uus it has been estimated. nearly one hundred and fifty Of these tu- bal cmbloms Of Che natives. some over a hundred years old. Yet now. a prey Co Che weather and socmiug- y under Che caro Of no one. they arc gradually dctcuoraune Some already ,have vegetation spr.ng.ng from thc.r dccay.ug tops
 In Kctcbiban. Goo. tho Johnson
 and Ryan totems win before long, unless stops arc taken for their preservation. be a memory only. On pnuock island che many totems thcro and Che quaint Indian graves win eventually become a thing Of tho past
 Usually we think Of Che nrosorya- uon of such historic or legendary objects too lato And Che people living uolr chem and seeing them every day soon forget their signif- icmoc Europe has learned Che great attraction such things have for tho visitor to its shores and has taken care to advertise und guard her legendary treasures.
 Wero Che old Kasaau village and cemetery anywhere but in Alaska it would long ago have been made a reservation and every care taken to Ict Che world know about it
 Only fcw miles out of tho prcs- eut track oi steamers thcro ia no doubt but that bis ships could be taken close to Kasaan situated as It is on Che north sborc of skowl Arm about four miles from thc cn- trance. and near deep water. It has boon the subject of study by thc Smithsonian Institute and found cs- pccIaIy rich In cthuoIos.cal mt t.raI
 Tho village of old Kaman suffer- cd severely by fire on Angus. 25tb. 1915. which nearly destroyed Che buildings Most Of Che totcms and a icv ol Che houses sm stand how cvcr deserted by Che population who moved years ago Go Che new village of Kasaan
 The t0,oms of old Kasaan are eraIy varied. some being ol im- posing proportions. with Che four distinct cmblcma. Che bcar Che crow. Che toad and Che caslc represented. This feature In itself is Of immense value to archaeological rcsoarch iu yIcw of Che fact that Che gorgeous sign language carved in from base to pinnacle if dcciphcrod would loosen thc tongue Of every totem and prehistoric inscription from Point Barrow to Patagonia.
 It s within Che realm of Che pos- able bat Che old Kasaon carvings on slow pcrshine cedar totems may shed light on Che mysterious iuscrip- uons and sculptures on Che ancient marble temples and stone totems of Gmtamala and Persia. n Central America. as In Alaska. Che toad at least was thc emblem of mighty people. now almost extinct
 
 One of the most iurcsuug Of the houses is that of thc famous Chief skowl where he held council. and after h.s death laid iu state for many days surrounded by his riches.
 At each corner of Che chiefs home Is large section Of hollow trees tbat must have been eight feet through. which helps support Che roof Strange hicroelyphics are carved on each slab. Tho Interior has Che appearance Of @ Coliseum. with its hole iu Che center. and sav- oral sots ot shelves cut In Che ground graduating upwards from it The eroat reproduction of a whale near che beach Is another object Of special interest but is only one Of a hum drol or more
 n the totem pole Alaska. and cs-