Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1913 — SAVED FROM TRIBE [ARTICLE]

SAVED FROM TRIBE

Alaska Indian Maiden Is a Mod* em Pocahontas. Chief’s Daughter Marries Chlnese'Sailor She Rescued From Death, and Now They Are Living In San Francisco. Nashville.—Under date line of Washington, D. C„ Mrs. L. M.. Cheshire contributes the following unique story to the Nashville Banner: j "Pocahontas has been outdone by an Alaskan maiden. John Smith was only in danger of having his brains spattered over the surrounding real estate when Pocahontas rescued him with her love. The John Smith of Alaska was not only In danger of being killed, but of being eaten when the women in whose eyes he had found favor saved him. “The Alaskan John Smith was not a titled explorer when he fell into the hands of savages, nor was his name John Smith. He was only a common yellow-skinned sea cook. His name is Ah Wing, and there is nothing attractive about him. He is about as home ly a mixture of Chinaman and Malay pirate as could be found in a day’s walk. His Pocahontas answers to the name of Jule now, but nobody knows what her Indian name was. She is a long way of being Pocahontas’ equal in beauty, and the Siwash features of generations were consolidated when her face was made. Ah Wing some nine years ago was a cook in the employ of the navy department and was shipped north on the Jamestown. While on the Sitka station Wing’s time expired, or he deserted—just which is not quite plain — and he shipped aboard fl whaler. The whaler was wrecked and Wing was cast upon an inhospitable ice floe. Julie was the daughter of a chief of a .tribe of Indians, and while with her father discovered Ah Wing, who was as near dead from starvation, cold and exposure as it was possible for him to be and retain life. For days and days Julie nursed him, and he Anally recovered to find himself the object of a great deal of attention on the part of the Indians. They could apeak no Chinese or Engglish, and Wing had no comprehension of their dialect He was at a loss to

understand the solicitude with which they took in watching the accumulation of fat on his ribs. At last the horrid truth dawned upon him —at least he says so. They were going to barbecue and eat him. He gave all up for lost, when he Was inspired by the sight of Julia in tears. He made love to her. She com prehended and went to ask papa. The old chief was fond of his daughter and could refuse her nothing, He issued an edict against baking Wing. The remainder of the village protested, and the chief was obliged to state why he desired the stranger’s life pre-

served. The objectors gave in and Wing and Julie were married in Indian style. Finally he had a chance to escape. A boat’s crew came in from a schooner to trade for skins. The cook was dead, and Wing begged them to take him away with them. Wing’s father-, in-law gave him leave of»hree months and sent Juiie along to insure his return. Wing's leave of absence has long since expired, but in the confines of civilization he has become his own master, and has no intention of returning to the land of his wife’s people.