The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 18, 1901, Page 6

THE SUND/Y CALL. —7 FRI EDRICH o . N\ WL s\ GEN ROBRFERT A V.5 ATTORNEY For ALASHA OR something over two years General Robert A. Friedrich vas United States Attorney for Alaska, and during that time convicted more criminals than all his predecessors: com- bined since the Territory came under the sway of civil government in 1884. The result of his labors to-day are said to be safer than the Mississippi River. is that life and property in Aluska in any State or Territory wes! of General Friedrich writes this account of the Horton murder, and as he was the prosecuting attorney at that ‘trial he may justly be considered as one in authority to know twhercof he speaks- and not y is witness for itsclf. t the man to be other than an impartial judge. In this respect That murder of Hortos and his young zwife on an island in the wild Alaskan waters is certainly one of the most fiendish and remarkable in the histo character of Hanson. His evolution from a red-handed savage o a God-fearing man is made consistent through the virile pen of Cen- eral Friedrich. O millions of readers Alaska, with its 500,000 square miles of territory, with a population of only eleven nan beings to a hundred square is a veritable land of my mil tery, unknown and unknowable. Within this imperial domain are count- less thousands of acres, consisting of mountains and valleys, upon which the foot of a human being has never tréd and over which eternal and everlasting silence has held unchallenged sway since that earliest morning of time when the choral symphonies of the stars first rang out through celestial space. : The coast lines of Southeastern Alaska are broken at inter of from one hun- dred to five hundred miles apart with vil- lJages and hamlets, whose inhabitants daily look on mountains which no one of them has ever scaled or explored nor has the remotest idea of ever attempting to en to those who have dwelt for ong its waterways or have pros- do s years 3 pected the streams and foothills for gold its great interior is a terra incognita. The authentic history of Alaska has never been written. We are as yet uncer- as to its boundary lines. We paid 87, of our title an instrument which, if the for it and received as evidence t tion had been between individuais, would have been denominated a “guit- claim ¢ o The Emperor of all the Russias—so the instrument through his Privy Councilor and ¥ xtraordinary, Ed- ed reads ward de Stoeckl, on the 30th day of March, 1867, affixed his signature to a pa- per which in the parlance of diplomatic ncing is called a “Treaty of Ces- eion whereby his Maje: the Emperor conveyed to the United States of America “all Russia's rig franchises and priyileges in the said territory or domin- ion ppu nces thereto.” The territory conveyed is described as follows: “Commencing at & point in the parallel of 5 degrees 4 minutes north latitude, and between the 13lst and 1324 degree of west longitude (meridian of Greenwich), the said line shall 2scend to the north along the channel called Portland Channel — ime. None the less interesting is the as far as the point of the continent wher strikes the 56th degree of morth lat! tude; from the last mentioned point th line of demarcation shall follow the sum- mit of the mountains situated parallel t the coast so far as the intersection of the 141st degree of west longitude (of the same meridian), and finally from the saié point of intersection the said meridian line of the 141st degree in its prolongation as far as the frozen ocean.” And this is mostly all we know of Alaska. It is no wonder, then, that fer- tile and elastic imaginations, when their owners attempt to write anything Alaskan, revel wildly and madly when turned loose in these practically limitless realms, 1 recently read a story in the June num- ber of a well known publication, which goes far to strengthen this theory, and which largely infiluenced me to give to the readers of The Sunday Call the true history of what under the circumstances and conditions -was the most remarkable case in the criminal history of the North- ern Pacific Coast, namely the murder of Florence and Burt Horton by Alaska In- and their subsequent trial, conviction and sentence. For the benefit of those who have read, or may read, the story referred to, I will explain that it is entitied *The True Story of Kebeth, the Aleut.” As United States Attorney for the Dis- trict of Alaska it devolved upon me to prosecute Jim Hanson—the “Kebeth” of the aforesaid story, and his companions ir crime, for the cruel murder of that un- fortunate young couple. Burt and Florence Horton were natives of the little town of Eugene, in the State of Oregon, and at the time of their death had been married less than one vear. A few weeks after their marriage they migrated to Skaguay. He was 27 years of age, and a member of high standing of the orders of Elks and Knights of Pythias. She was 19 years of age, and a devout member of the Episcopal church. From Skaguay they went to White Pass, a camp at the head of the terrible trail of that name, * over which thousands toiled, and many died, in the early rush to 0 82, i, //‘ N\~ AL the Klondike country. At White Pass, during the summer months of 1899, the Hortons kept a little restaurant, and many a worn and discouraged miner went on his way more encouraged and with a lighter heart after he had broken his fast at the little eating house near the summit, where Florence Horton, with her hand- some girlish face and winsome manners, administered to his want In the fall of 1899 they returned to Skaguay and took up their residence with Mr. and Mrs. Ses- sioms, whom they had known years be- fore. About the first of October Mrs. Hor- e = BUET AND FLORENCE HapToN. ERAN ATHOTOGAR, TAuEN AT SHAGWAY. T7%S, WFEK/ BEFORE THEIR DEPARTURF ON THEIR ILL -FATED JOURNEY, W l‘« S A AN / (i DICGGING 1O THE Bopifs. ton being in delicate health, her husband concluded to take an outing hnd spend a few weeks hunting and fishing at the head of Sullivan Island. on Lynn Canal. He accordingly purchased a small boat and such necessary articles, including a tent, as would make camp life compara- tively comfortable. Mrs. Sessions had as- sisted the girl wife in the preparation of a humble wardrobe suitable for an out- door life, and as near as can be ascertain- ed they pitched their camp on the main- land opposite the head of Sullivan Island, about October 10.. Horton hud two guns, a Winchester rifle and double barrel shot- gun. About this time the Indian tribe known as the Kahk-won-tons and certain of t.he Chilkats concluded to have a sort of in- ter-tribal potlatch (which is Indian for a general council), lasting sometimes a week or ten days, with plenty to eat and all the alcoholic drinkables they can possibly procure. A brother of Jim Hanson, ac- companied by his wife, and a boy, nephew of the woman and son of Una-hootch, one of the Indians subsequently arrested, em- harked in a canoe for the purpose of visit- Ing other Indians and soliciting supplies for the great council feast. These Indians were never heard of again. Undoubtedly their canoe met with mishap and the oc- cupants were drowned. After waiting some days an expedition consisting of Jim Hanscn, whose Indian name is Qualth, Kichtc Mark Klanat, Dave Klanat, Juch Klane, Jim Williams, John Kesh, Qua-ni-ish, Una-hootch, Goos, Day-kan- teen and Martha Hanson, wife of Jim Hanson, all relatives and friends of the migsing Indians, after a council of the tribe, outfitted a war canoce and went in search of their lost relatives. The first night they camped at Taku Glacier; the second day out they landed on Sullivan Island, opposite the camp of the Hortons, about thirty-five miles below Skaguay on Lynn Canal, made a camp, cooked and ate their dinner and then sent out certain of their members to search for traces of their friends. They had agreed that if anything was discovered a gun should be fired, which would be the signal for a hur- ried assembly at the camp. Some two hours later two shots were heard and im- mediately afterward Kichtoo and Qua-ni- ish appeared at the camp with a small piece of the canoe in which their friends had embarked. It was recogmized by Una- hootch, who claimed to have himself painted the cance. This fragment was found on the sands of the mainland, where it had drifted ashore, as it after- ward turned out, some hundred and fifty yards from tne tent of the Hortons. These Indians reported that they had gone up to Horton's camp and made inquiries re- garding thelr missing friends; that there was a white man and woman there, and that when they asked the man if he had seen a canoe in that vicinity he hung this head and looked scared and finaily ad- mitted that he had seen a canoe with an Indian man and woman and little boy passing along the channel some hundred yards from the shore a few days pre- vious, The finding of this piece of canoe near the white man’s camp and his mannes when being interrogated were proof posi- tive to the Indians that in some way these white people were responsible for the loss of the three missing people. They held a council and decided that the white man and woman must die. Immediately they embarked and paddled across the channel, landing some quarter of a mile from Hor- ton's camp. Hanson undoubtedly was the leader. Although young, he was a man of magnificent physique and marvelous cour- age. He was known as a “bear fighter” and had killed with his knife (which I now have) in hand to hand encounters, it was claimed, over 100 of these formidable animals. His hunting fields were along the Chilkat River, its tributaries and the interior of that portion of the country bounded by the mountain range bordering on Lynn Canal. ‘When the canoe grounded Hanson, with his Winchester in hand, was the first to leap ashore. As he did so he exclaimed: “Kahk-won-tons, make your hearts strong!” He was followed by seven of the Indiars. Una-hootch, Martha Hanson and Goos remained with the canoe. The story of the Imndians materially differs on minor points as to what oc- curred immediately upon coming upon the white people, but Jim Hanson's story, which 1 believe to be true, was substan- tially as follow When they arrived in sight of the tent the white man with a gun in his hands was standing near the entrance and mo- tioned them to keep off. The woman was not in sight. As undoubtedly had been prearranged Mark Klanat spoke to the white man for the purpose of attracting his attention. The moment he looked to- ward him Hanson, quick as a flash and with unerring aim, shot him through the heart and he fell without a moan. At this moment Mrs. Horton ran from the rear of the tent screaming and calling to her hus- band, who lay some twenty feet away. Kichtoo fired two shots at her, both tak- ing effect, one through the face, the other in the upper part of her body. She fell and as Kesh, the Indian boy, testified, “squealed.” The Indians gathered around her and Jim Willlams, who claimed at the trial that Hanson pointed his gun at him and at the same time handing him a knife. responsible party. After the murder the Indians put the two bodies in blankets, carried them down near high water mark, dug a hole in the sand among the boulders, placed the bodies therein, covered them over with the tent, weighting it down with stones, and over all they piled branches from trees. Previous to doing this, they took from the body of Horton a watch and some $75 in money. Ome hundred and twenty dollars in gold was . found on the bedy when afterward exhumed. From Mrs. Horton they took several ringa, among others her wedding ring. This property was divided among the Indians, Hanson took the rifle and the money was divided among the other Indians. The watch and rings, including Mrs. Horton's wedding ring, was found by the Deputy Marshal in Kichtoo's cabin. The shotgun had letters on it, which one of the In- dians, Mark Klanat, who could read and speak English, decided to be the initials of the man they had murdered and that its retention would be dangerous, so it was broken over a log and secreted with the woman's clothing in a little tin trunk, all of which were afterward found and produced at the trial Thus far I have attempted to describe what, up to the killing of Horton and his wife and distribution of their effects, was simply a savage murder and robbery, the result of a conspiracy which had for its inception the belief that in some way either those or some other white person or persons were responsible for the loss of the Indian canoe and its occupants. It was shown in evidence that as they pushed off from Sullivan Island they all gave vent to a weird cry, which as given in court sounded like the angry growl of a wolt—“00-ah-00, 00-ah-co.” An old white woman, who had been with the In- dians twe: years, testified that it AAar=HALL TANNER AND 7OS5E. WITH BODY ON SLED PERELPAFATORY 70 said: the knife from Hanson’s hand and cut the woman's throat, almost severing her head “You are the Raven's son,” took from her body. I am satisfied that this statement of Willlams was false. The testimony developed beyond question that it had been agreed that if any one should ever tell of this murder and it got to the white people they would all combine and swear that he alone was the guilty and G ABOARD 7HE ALBERIT meant, “Some one is about to die.” As time went on the friends of the Hor- tons began to wonder at their long stay, which gradually became fear for their safety. After some six weeks a search was made along Lynn Canal, but no evi- dence was found that threw light on their disappearance. By some it was thought they had been drowned, others that they had caught a passing steamer and gone to T BITORS of the British Museum, in- \- /Ep-cflng the antiquities in the W Eeyptian rooms, are much inter- ested In the array of cat mummies in one of the wall cases. Wonder is often expressed why cats and crocodiles should have been embalmed and why the gods of Egypt should have various animal heads, such as the lon, the jackal, the ibis and the hawk. It seems so incredibly stupid, as well as so superstitious, considering how advanced the Egyptians were in civ- flization and culture. They could build temples, erect massive obelisks and carry t great enginecring works. There are sculptured figures in the museum which date from 3500 B. C. There are manufac- tured cles and specimens of writing probably a thousand years older than that. The ancient people possessed an in- RS hicroglyphic writing in which a feather was the letter A and a lion the letter L. But a feather was also form of the emblem of truth and all the letters had been emblems or symbols of things and qualities. Does it not oceur to us that perhaps the animal heads were symbblic also and the cats and crocodiles were embalmed be- cause of their sacred significance? The Egyptians were not fools and we must not laugh at their. worship of the cat without seeking to understand it. Trees, serpents and other things had a place in the religious symbolism of the Egyptians. The persea tree seems to mark the place of sun rising on midsum- mer day, and, curiously, there was a “qr@nl cat” conneeted with this tree. In the seventeenth chapter of the “Book of the Dead” the cat is explained to be Ra himself, the chief god. A serpent was often carried in long mystical procession and in some of the pictures a cat is rep- resented in the act of cutting off its head. Along with the ass the cat is called a Many Queer Deities {orshiped by the People of Olden Jimes. sayer of great words in the Hall of the Two Truths. These instances are enough to show that the cat had a place in the religious symbolism of the Egyptians. The lion, the serpent, the crocodile, the bull and other animals each had its special sig- nificance. The bull was so important that a sacred bull called the Apis was kept at Memphis and treated with great re- spect. But he was mnot allowed to iive more than twenty-five years, and the most likely reason is that he represented a lunar cycle of twenty-five years, which must terminate punctually. When he wgs taken through the city in annual procession people would ask and tell how old he was, and he would thus be a walking almanac. If he did not die nat- urally he was drowned at the age of 25, because the new cycle had to begin, and a new divine Apis must be found. But he was honored by being embalmed and buried in a granite sarcophagus in the neighborhood of the pyramids. The burial place ot the sacred bulls was discovered by Mariette in 1851, and every visitor to Egypt goes to see these tombs. Each of the stone coffins had its mem- orial inscription. For example: “In the twentieth year, under the reign of King Psametik I, the majesty of the living Apis departed to heaven. This god was carrled in peace (to his burial) to the beautiful land of the blest.” Now there was a burial place for sa- cred cats, as well as sacred bulls, and the reason was no doubt the same—namely, that they had a place in the symbolic worship. A cemetery of cats existed near Bubastis, which is the modern Tel Basta, not far from Zag-a-zig Junction, on the railway. Buried in the mound M. Na- ville some years ago found the ruined temple of Bast or Pasht, the cat goddess, who gave her name to the city. The foundation of Bubastis carries us back to the beginning of the historical times of Egypt and is contemporary with the pyramids, the oldest monuments. Herodotus says: “The temple stands in the middle of the city and is visible on all sides as one walks around it; for, as the city has been raised up by an embank- ment while the temple has been left un- touched in its original condition, you look down upom it wherever you are. A low wall runs around the inclosure, having figures engraved upon it, and inside there is a grove of beautiful tall trees growing around the shrine which contains the im- age of the goddess.” And concerning the goddess herself he says: “The Bubastis of the Egyptians is the same as the Ar- X2 temis of the Greeks.” To this we may add that the Artemis of the Greeks is generally said to be the same as the Diana of the Romans, a goddess of light representing the moon. Thus we see that Bast or Pasht was connected with the cat on the one hand and the moon on the other. So it is quite feasible that puss when she figures as a symbol in the Egyptian worship repre- sents something in the domain of astron- omy and the calendar. Ovid calls the cat the sister of the moon, and sa; that Pasht took the form of a cat to avoid Typhon. According to Plutarch a ecat placed in a lustrum denoted the moon. It is a night animal and its eyes glisten in the dark. Hyde Clarke remarks that there are phenomena of periodicity in the cat which are supposed to have given rise to its relationship to the moon. What I think I have discovered, or at least made clearer than it was before, is that the cat was an intercalary month, added In the one hundred and twentleth year to rectify the calendar.—Gentleman's Magazine.