DOMESTICATED REINDEEK INTO ALASKA. 117 



Exhiiut A. 



LIQUOR SEIZED AT REINDEER STATION. 



Teller Reindeer Station, 



Port Clarence, Alaska, September 25, ISO.?. 



Sir: Early yesterday morning a Port Clarence native, known by ns at the station 

 as "The Thug," came to the house very drunk and insolently demanded some matches. 



I was standing near some natives who were at work sawing wood at the time, and 

 20 or 30 more natives stood around, some of whom were evidently frightened at the 

 sudden appearance of this man in such a condition. He is the bully of this camp, 

 and is in the habit of running things about as he wants to, and for sometime it has 

 been evident that he would try to run this station. Last winter he killed a native 

 at this place in cold blood, and he evidently considers himself a better man on that 

 account and entitled to the privilege of running over everyone in whose contact he 

 is thrown. This position is made more emphatic because it is known he carries a 

 big revolver about him all the time. 



In view of all the circumstances, we made up our minds that this was the time for 

 a little heroic treatment, and I at once took hold of " The Thug" and dragged him 

 to the beach. 



I then went to a tent occupied by some Cape Prince of Wales natives who had 

 arrived the day before, and from whom "The Thug," as we concluded, had obtained 

 his whisky. They all protested that he got it from some Diomede natives that had 

 left that morning, and I finally returned to the station. Here I found two natives 

 who declared he obtained the whisky from the strangers, and after consultation with 

 Mr. Gibson we concluded to search the tent. On our way there we saw a native 

 start away in a suspicious manner, and when we arrived there they were anxious 

 we should not make a search. 



As previously arranged, Mr. Gibson stood near to be ready in case of any hostile 

 action, and I went into an adjoining tent, where I found two quart bottles of whisky, 

 which I still hold. 



For a while it looked as if we might have trouble, as some of the natives were a 

 little demonstrative, and "The Thug" had joined them, but they evidently thought 

 better of it, and we returned to the station. The natives soon went on to Grantley 

 Harbor, but will return in a few days on their way home. 



Some of the natives about here, either through a spirit of fun or because they 

 really contemplate making trouble, have told the herders that the herd of reindeer 

 will be raided this winter and all of us killed. 



We do not apprehend any trouble on this score, but the herders are evidently fear- 

 ful that something will happen. We realize that if our Siberian herders are molested 

 it will be a very difficult matter to save the deer. 



What effect our action in seizing the whisky will have remains to be seen. It 

 will either effectually stop the sale of it at this place or cause trouble. We feel 

 now as if we will be obliged to carry out the policy of seizing all the whisky brought 

 here at whatever cost, and have served notice on the natives to this effect. We have 

 also notified the teachers at Cape Prince of Wales of our determination, and asked 

 them to take pains to notify their people that we will not tolerate it here. 



I believe you are aware that besides your instructions to seize all the whisky 

 brought here, Capt. Healy made the same order, and told us to tell them he would 

 settle with them when he returned next season. 



