Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1837-1839, 1838-03-17
ST. Louis BuLLErIn, MARcm ., 1885,
SMALL POX AMONG TIE INDIANS.


pears tina, this dreadful disease has found its way
to the most remote bands Of the Blackfeet. and
has been fatal to a most lamentable extent.
Thousands Of the Backfcet have fallen a sacra-
nee TO the scourge. yet they are said to blame
themselves. and attribute it to fault Of the
whites. They now say they always thought the
traders their friends, and had they listened TO
their advice, their plains would not have been
strewn with the dead bodies of their chiefs and
braves. The Pipe Stcm," chief Of great in
huence, when dying, called his people around
him.and his last request was that they would love
their traders.and be always ovcrned by their adj |
vice. II may, says one Of the traders, she /
blamed for not using measures to arrest the pro- !
gross of the disease, but without resort to arms
on the arrival of the boat with supplies, the In
dams could not have been driven from tho fort.
An express arrived two days in advance Of the
boat, bringing the melancholy intelligence that
the small poN was on board, and l represented to
the Indians that they would if they went near it,
! be infected BY it, but might well talk to
the winds. The survivors, however, very sorry
for their obstinacy, and as humble as the poor
dogs who seek in vain for their dead masters
Our trade this section utterly ruined for
to come, can all the pcltries pay the expen-
ses of the fort. The few surs ing Indians have
seen. beg o. me not to leave them in their caam-
itv, and if We will have pity them, they
promise never again to act contrary TO our
wishes.
From Port Union the accounts of the Com
panys Agent, are distressing. 4 letter dated the
Both of Nov, 1887. Ns:-"all our prospects on
the Upper Missouri completely Frustrated,
the trade is ruined, if not forever, at least for
years to come. On my arrival here Oh the
10Th of October, found the Small Pox or what
ever disease it il, (and it appears to me to be q
hundred fold more terrible than the ordinary
kindly had penetrated to the most distant part of
the Assinaboin country, and that the poor Indi-
were dying by iftics and hundreds day.
The patient when attacked, complains OF excess
pains in the head(kd loins. and in few
hours would fall down dead The body turned
black almost Immediately, and swelled to nearly
three times its ordinary size. Several hospitals
have been erected by people, and medi-
cine stores were exhausted, but all in vain. For
many weeks my men and carts have been en-
ployed in collecting the dead bodies and Lurying
them IN holes, but since the earth has become
frozen, we have been compelled to consign then,
to watery grave. Many widows and orphans
, are left in a state of most appalling Distress
They were wholly dependent on the fort Tor sub
siscnce. and every feeling of huma unity compes
me TO support them, though with my limited
means il Is a heavy burden. | shoad have been
more or less than nan, if could have behcld the
misery and wretchedness around me, with indif-
ference. And sir, am not ashamed to aclsnowl-
edge, that have shed tears # bitter anguish o.
yer the dying and the dead
The disease, before stated, has not vet
: spread among the Sioux, and many of them
: have been vaccinated, it is hoped that the dis
tress will not prove SO disastrous, even If i
t shoutd reach this numerous and most powerful
il nation.
J. From The great mass of in.orn.ation will
. which we have been furnishes! by friends, W.
give the following summary, and feel con!iden
l. that iIll crelence may be given toit.
/ The Assnabplns. powerful tribe, about 5000
+ strong, living entirely by the chase. and ranging
pnrtb ,t fnn in he nj hal, In,
: Rocky Mountains, down towards the Hudson
Bay Company, north Red river, literally
annihilated. Their principal trade was at fort
9 Union, mouth If the Yellow Stone.
The Crees living III the same region mum
/ bcrng 5000 are nearly all DESTROYED The grea
n nation called Blackfec,, who wander and live b,
e the chase, ranging through all the Region of thu
= Rocky Mountains; divided into; bands--Piegan.
S Ores. Vontres, Blood Indians, aud Blckfcet a
mounting in all to $4,000 10000, have deepi,
suffered. One thousand lodges Of families have
been destroyed, and the disease was rapidly
/ spreading among the different bands The av
> crage number in lodge is from six TO eight per
sons.
This fearful and alarming disease aiil doubt
less be communicated, to all the tribes on IN,
Columbia river, and in all probability MI thu
a tribes south of the Missouri. to the Mexican set
n dement's. The unfortunate Beings haze beer
: fast disappearing before advances. and Prov
q Idence has at last threatened to sweep them from
+ the earth, leaving nothing but their graves, u.
Y mcInentos Of their former existence. Oar coun
n try abounds with evidence Of having been once
h occupied by another race, and may they not a,
these have fallen victims some such scourre
The ways Of heaven just, vet mysterious
!, and nations must bow before It's WILL as the rec:
: before the storm.-Bulletln.
" FROM THE NORTHERN FRONTIER.
- Tho Albany Argus states that letters from tn
Northern Frontier to the Governor of y. Yor
gives Information that the State arsenal at Bata
via was broken open on the 18th, and 100 n,a:
a. ke's and 1000 pounds Of powder taken there
D. from and the arsenal at Eiizabethtown Esse
"a county was broken 1pen the 2oth and robbie
10 of muskets, rifles. pistols, cartridge boxes g.
The Governor of New York issued his p:ocla
cd nation on Thursday, Offering reward of $50
r. respectfully for information that shall lead to tn
;. detection and conviction of the persons VIII
broke open the arsenals at Batavia, Waterfowl
OF and ElIzabethtown. Also a reward Of 100 f
OF information leading to the detection and convi'
DIS ton of persons guilty Of feoniousy taking iva
r. any piece Of ordnance, belonging TO the Stat