Tlingit
During one cold afternoon, the Native Tlingit Shaman Tith Klane was out on one of the NorthWest Company's whaling boats. While using a harpoon, the explosive inside the harpoon prematurely exploded, killing the shaman.
Bombardment of Angoon -
Reactions to a Cultural Clash and Delayed Reforms
Conflict
Navy
On October 26, 1882, the USS Adams, USRC Corwin, and Tugboat Favorite were sent to Angoon, due to a disturbance with the Angoon tribes. The Tlingit had demanded 200 blankets and had taken control of the NorthWest Company's whaling boat.
Alaska Whaling Harpoon. Early 1900s. Alaska Digital Archive
USRC Corwin. naval-history.net
Til'Tlein - The Misunderstanding. See Stories. Dec 17, 2024
In response to this, the Tlingit Clan had seized the whaling ship and crew, while also demanding 200 blankets from (at the time) NorthWest Trading Company. Per Tlingit Clan law, this was considered fair restitution for the loss of the Shaman.
Department of the Navy - Naval Historical Center
In response to the actions by the Tlingit, the Navy retrieved the hostages, and then demanded 400 blankets from the Tlingit as retribution.
“Immediately we anchored the white men were released, some of the ringleading Indians captured, and the release of the property affected. In addition to this, as a punishment and as a guarantee for future good behavior, Captain Merriman demanded twice the number of blankets demanded by the Indians, and threatened, in case of refusal, to destroy their canoes and villages. Refusing to pay the amount and remaining defiant, their canoes, to the number of forty, were taken and destroyed, after having selected those which belonged to the Indians who had remained friendly to the white men. Remaining unsubdued, their summer camp at this place was burned. Weighing anchor we steamed out of the lagoon, and at two o'clock hove to off the village of Hootsnoo and proceeded to shell the town. After shelling the village the marines were landed under cover of the guns, and they, setting fire to the houses, destroyed the entire village, with the exception of the friendly Indians. After the boats returned we steamed down to Killisnoo, and, remaining there during the night, reached Sitka the following afternoon, with twenty-two seamen of the Adams, whom we had received on board for transportation.” - www.history.uscg.mil, Nov 20, 1882, Letter from M. A. Healy, First Lieutenant, U.S.R.M., Commanding, to Hon. Charles J. Folger, Secretary of the Treasury, Washington, D.C.
Bombardment Perspectives
Tlingit
From the perspective of the Tlingit people of Angoon, the bombardment was a sudden attack on them that hurt their people.
Three Chiefs in Regalia.1882. Alaska's Digital Archive
Navy
The United States military perspective was that the Tlingit people did not obey the demand of paying in full the 400 blankets as punishment for taking two Northwest Trading Company's workers hostage.
The military only received 81 blankets from the Tlingit, due to the Clan's members preparing a funeral for the dead Shaman.
The Navy then began the bombardment.
JoAnn George. Sealaska Heritage Institute
Young Billy Jones in the middle. Alaska State Library
According to Billy Jones, a resident of Angoon during the bombardment:
"They were merely holding a funeral for the Shaman that was killed by the Whaling Harpoon. The Tlingit people had no warning that the America Ship was coming"
- Billy Jones. Sealaska Heritage Institute
Billy Jones Deisheetaan- Raven Bones House. Alaska Digtal Archives
Billy Jones. Courtesy of Daniel Johnson Jr.