Vol. VI.
JUNE 5, 1903.
No 37
Last Sunday's Examiner contains n. his
torical sketch of the, town of Metlakehtla,
Alaska, by Ilerbr rt Bashford, and entitled,
"Wonderful Work Achieved by Wm.
Duncan in Alaska with Chimsyan Tribe of
Indians."
William Duncan, more commonly k:,own
us Father Duncan, was sent to Alaska in
18"i7, fis a missionary. He was sent amnna;
tli e Chimsyan Indians, and stationed at
Fort Simpson. Finding these Indians in
the lowest state of barbarity, he at once
set about to improve their conditions and
hy his kindly friendship at once won their
confidence. FortSimpson at that time was
a trading post established by the Hudson
Bay Co., which brought with it only those
evil qualities of civilization that serve
to destroy and degrade: To avoid these
evil influences, Father Duncan chose fifty
followers among his converts and left the
post for Annette island, four years later,
where the village of Metlakehtla was
founded. Following Father Duncan's
work from the time he went among these
people in 1857 the writer, in giving the
result of this faithful man's efforts 46 years
later, cays in part :
This Arcadian hamlet, which attracts
the especial attention of tourists who visit
Alaska, and the. fame of which is by no
means restricted to our country, contains
about 300 houses, the grea'er number of
them of pretentious dimensions, neatly
pninted and decidedly modern in their
furnishings. The church is a stately edifice.
A comfortable rectory adjoins it. There
is a spacious public hall, a schoolhouse
built after the most approved models and
Feveral handsome structures u-ed for bus
iness purposes for Metlakahtla is commer
cial as wpll as industrial.
There are stores conduct'"' entirely hv the
natives which carry groceries nd general
merchandise. AH the imposing sfrnei 11 r s
to be seen here were built, by the Indians
with the lumber sawed and planed in the
mill operated bv them, the mchi rerv of
which they 'put into place and thoroughly
uodestand. Father Pu'.can has conducted
along with h's religious work an industrial
school, teaching the villagers the arts
necessary to their comfort, and dividing
the fruits of thir labor among them. Un
der the co-operative plan formulated by
him a salmon cannery was e-tah,ished
which is, perhaps, he most noteworthy of
the town's various industries. This car -nery
is scrupulously ne it and clean, doub
less owi'iy; to the watchfulnessof the super
intendent wrhen it was first put in operation
although t he work is don throughout try
'the natives. The cans are made, filled,
8o'dred, . varnished, laheled and packed
for shipment by these former savage.
A steam launch used in towing the fish
ing boats to the cannery is mannd by the
swarthy parishioners of the white haired
missionary.
The bewildering mechanism of the
marine engine has been mnatert-d hy some
of these once-savage natives.
The, Metlakahtla salmon bring the
highest price in the London markets.
Thousands of eases are bping shipped to
foreign ports each year, with a constantly
increasing demand from home buyers.
The women of Metlakahtla have bfen
taught to spin and weave. The fleece of
the mountain noil is woven into shawls,
blankets and cloths of various kinds.
Boots, shoes and leather goods of fine
quality are among the many articles man
ufactured by these natives, many of whom
(Continued on page seven.)