The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1838-03-23
APPALLING DESTRUCTION OF N.
". INDIANS BY SMALL P0X.

". INDIANS BY SMALL POA.
We gave yesterday an account Of the
origin Of this epidemic by means Of
steam boat trading on the Missouri. To-
day we subinin from The 81. Louis Bull
leiin slip al March Sd, detailed account
OF It's rasages. The disease had reached
the remote band Of the Black Feet. and
thousands of them had fallen victims.
They do not blame the traders:
1.-The Pipe Stem,' chief Of great
influence, when dying, called his people
around him, and his last request was,
that they would love their traders. and be
always governed by their advice. i
nav says one Of the traders, be blam-
ed Tor not using measures TO arrest the
progress of the disease, but without resort
20 arms on the arrival Of the boat with
supplies, the Indians could not have been
driven from the fort. ="
Anexpress went two days ahead Of the
boa,. but i. was Of no use preaching 10
the Indians 10 Ay-Ihey fiOcked down TO
the boa. as usual when she arrived. The
PeIuy trade in that quarter is ruined for
wears. The company agent at Fort I'm
ion, writes, Nov. 80. that all their pros
pecls on the Upper Missouri are totally
nrostrsied. The epidemic spread into
he mos, distant part Of the Assinsboin
coun,ry, and this tribe were dyIng BY
fifues and hundreds day. The disease
appeared to be Of a peculiarly malignant
cas,--snme a few moments after severe
attacks of pain in the head and loins. fell
down dead, and the bodies turned black
immediately after and swelled 10 three
tio,es its natural size. The companies
erscieh hssrfls. but they we're of no
use. The carts were constantly employ
ed bofyine the dead in h"les-afterwsrds
when the earth was frozen they were
consigned to The water. Many Of the
souaws are left in miserable condition.
The disease has not reached the Sioux,
inany OF whom have been vaccinaied.
The Msndans numbering 1900. living
in permanent villages 1000 miles above
St Louis, have all died but 81.
The Minatsrees or Gros Vontres, liv-
inc near the Mandans. numbering about
1000. were BY our last accounts about one
half dead. and the disease still raging.
The Arickarees amounting to 5000,
who but lately abandoned wandering
life. anil Joined the Mandans. were about
half dead. and the disease still among
them. Il is probable they have been
reduced in proportion to the Mandans.
The Assinsboins, a powerful tribe
about 5000 strong. living entirely by the
chase. and ranging north Of the Missouri
in the plains below the Rocky Mountains,
down towards the Hudson's Bay Com
pany. on the north Red River, are literal
IL snnihilated. Their principal trade vas
a,Fun Union. mouth OF The Yellow Stone.
the Crees. living in the same region.
numbering 5000, are nearly all destroyed.
'rh, great nation called Blsckfeel, who
wander and live BY the chase, ranging
through all the region Of the Rocky
Mountains, divided into bsnds-PIegsns.
Gros Ven,res. Blood Indians and Back
feet, amounting in all 10 $4,000 Or 1000,
have deeply suffered. One Thousand
lodges or families have been destroyed.
and the disease was rapidly spreading
amung the different bands. The average
number N a lodge is fr"m 6 10 8 persons
The boat that brought up the snail
pox made her voyage last summer, md
The ravages Of the dis,emper apntaf TO
have been creates: in Oclober. IL troke
out among the Mandans July Is. M1ny
of the handsome Arickarees VIII: had
recovered, seeing the dIsfgorailon other
features, committed suicide! Some by
throwing themselves from rocks, Others
bv s,abbing. shooting, &c. The prairie
has become a grave yard; its wild flowers
bloom over the sepulchres Of Indians.
The atmosphere for miles is poisoned BY
the stencil If hundreds of carcases un-
buried. The women and children are