The Daily Alaska empire., 1936-05-12
ALASKA OPENED HERRING PLANT
 50 YEARS AGO
Smelling of Angoon by U. S Force Is Caused by
 Whale Gun Mishap


 Of interest to those who might like to know how long fishing re- duction plants have operated in Alaska, is the history of Angoon and Killisnoo, showing that her ring oil plants existed in this coun- try more than fifty years ago probably before any similar equip ment was operating anywhere else on the Pacific Coast
 The principal feature in the his tory ot Angoon was the shelling of the town in 1882 by United States Marines. This action was brought about as a result of an accident in the operation of the reduction plant.
 The reduction plant was estab- lished at Killisnoo in 1880 by the Alaska Oil and Guano Company, of Portland, Oregon. Edward De- groff came to the district first in 1879, prospecting the region as a site for a plant to render the oil from whale.
 Lived on Scow 1 He lived for a year on Scow at Killisnco, and upon reporting favorably, the company sent up a force of men and equipment to start operating.
 l Carl Spuhn was President, and the others in the outfit included Joseph zuboff, father of Cyril zu- boff, President of the Alaska Ma tive Brotherhcod Capt. Ben F. Brightman, Superintendent of the plant, Captain William Brightman in charge of the company's steam CT and Arthur Brightman, who had charge of native crews seining her ring.
 The company had confined itself Ito whale at first, and the crews brought up for whaling were most fly Scandinavians But seeing the schools of herring, it was decided to seine these and put the fish through the reduction plant for their oil Natives were employed under William Brightman in this work
 Gun Explodes
 After a time some or the r- tives sought employment in tn boats chasing whales, and on one trip the whaling gun exploded and blew the head off the native Shaman who was in the bow of the boat. According to the Indians law, this called for retribution, and they de- manded pay from the oil company. The m dium of exchange was blankets, and they asked 400 blankets for the death of the medicine man.
 When this was refused they withdrew to their village at An !goon, across the channel from Kill ilisnoo. Shortly after they went up to Mitchell Bay and captured two prospectors who knew nothing about the accident, and held them for ransom, asking 400 blankets or threatening to kill the prospectors
 Steamer Goes for Help The companys steamer Favorite immediately set out for Sitka and reported the trouble. Father A. P Kashevaroff, Curator of the Ter ritorial seum, recounted the story, saying he was making trip from Sitka to Juneau as a guest of Captain M. A. Healy on the Revenue Cutter Corwin, and was apprised of the trouble upon his return by Captain Merryman of the U. s. warship Wachusset. Cap tain Merryman had taken a party of sixteen Marines under command of Lieutenant Benson and steam ed back to Killisnoo on the Fav- orite, taking two gatling guns with them.
 Upon the arrival of Captain Mer- lyman and the Marines, the na- tives became frightened and re- leased the captives. Captain Mer- Iryman called the chiefs aboard and asked them to explain. They told their story, and asked the 400 blankets for the death of the Shaman
 To Shell Town That was an accident" said the Captain. You get no pay for that But I want you to pay 400 blankets for capturing and holding these two miners. I'll give you two hours to bring the blankets or I'll shell your village"
 In two hours the natives brought about 50 battered and disreputable blankets.
 Throw those blankets over board" ordered the Captain, and then turning to the chiefs he told them to get ashore and abandon the village as he was going to start shelling it in ten minutes.
 The village was demolished with the exception of settlement on the south end housing totally different clan than the Angoon natives.
 Kant Twn HaurS