Digital Bob Archive

JULY 30, 1883-There was an all-night vigil along the top of Chicken Ridge and especially around the Navy barracks by armed men who feared an attempt to liberate Charley Green or an attack on the settlement. There were, however, no hostile moves from the Auk village. The day is not yet over, but two sad events have already occurred-the hanging of the young Sitka Indian, Charley Green, and the funeral of Major Given, who was buried in the little cemetery at the top to the hill, just west of Main Street.

A citizens? meeting having been called for 10 o?clock this morning to decide Green?s fate, it was duly called to order by N. A. Fuller. The camp?s only lawyer, Daniel H. Murphy, acted as secretary. Some citizens wanted to hold Green until the arrival of the mail steamer, when he could be sent to Sitka and turned over to the Navy. This was voted down. It was pointed out that the steamer is at least a week overdue and there is no knowing when it will arrive. And so long as Green remains a prisoner, he will have to be heavily guarded by men who are impatient to get back to their sluice boxes.
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It was finally decided that Green must hang and the execution was ordered to take place between the hours of noon and 1 p.m., or so soon thereafter as a gallows could be completed on the beach at the foot of Seward Street. Six names were placed in a hat, and Dankert Petersen was selected as hangman.

A crowd gathered at the appointed place near 1 o?clock, including both whites and Indians. Among the latter were several recognized as Sitkas, and it was feared that they might attempt a rescue. Accordingly, 27 men, each armed with a rifle, surrounded the gallows. The Indians, however, remained passive. Green was asked whether he had anything to say. He spoke first in Tlingit, then in quite good English. He advised his people to adopt the ways of the white man, except for the drinking of whiskey, which he said is evil. He said he forgave his enemies and hoped they forgave him. He said he was ready, and the execution was quickly carried out.