Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-04-14
JOSEPH DICKINSON.
Ex,rac. from letter from Maj. Pitcher, dnted

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 81, 1888,
SIR: Having received authentic information,
from the remote region Of the Upper Missouri,
OF highly important character, deem il my
duty to communicate it without delay, though
not entirely applicable tomy own agency, hav.
llarris's letter Of the 18th ut.
1t appears that the effects of the small nor
among most of the Indian tribes of the Timer
Missouri surpass all former scourges, and Ina,
the country through which i. has passed is liz.
orally depopulated, and converted into one great
graveyard. The Mandans, consisting Of GOO
souls, had been reduced, by the LIST Of Octo.
Der last, to thirty-one persons. The Gras Pen.
tres, or Minetarees, tribe about I 900 strong,
took the disease month later than their neigh.
bors, the Mandans. One half had persisted,
and the disease was still raging. ;They, no.
doubt, shared the same fate with the Mandans.
The Dicaris, who had recently joined the
! last.namcd tribes, and numbered about three
thousand, were most OF them out on-a hunt.
! ing excursion when the disease broke out a.
mong the Mandans, and consequently rsce'
ed it something later. One half of II ;-.~
f fiiccR and the disease was raci. mad
baed fury, .c . . : ., 3oe out Of Sd 'ina.
vcring from il. Most Of those that 81. ieco.
subsequently committed suicide, des ,;,n
suppose at the loss Of friends, and IL n"g, !.
es wrought by the disease in ,s,.ir ns, sons
some By shooting. others siabb iIa,01 and
some by throwing thems yes from my h ;na
precipIcs along the Missouri. The great hasg% d
=" y Ass.nepp.ns, sly 10000 strong, and The
oae :.;, nu'npe1'lg abou, 5000 have been almost
a" ',;" ,,a and, twtl,standing all THEY'RE.
. ...". "ssd ny The gentlemen engaged in the
d; s ana1 remote region to prevent it, the
o'soase had reached the Blackfeet Of the Roc.
ify Mountains. band Of 1000 lodges had
been swept oil, and the disease was rapidly
spreading among the different bands Of that
great trlbo, numbering. Think, about GO, 900
souls. have no doubt but the predictions
contained in my letter Of the 9th nltinfo. will
be fully realized, and all the Indians on ,ha
Columbus river. rs far as the Pacifc ocean.
Will share the fate Of those before alluded to.
Gen. WILLIAM CLARK,
Superintendent Indian Affairs.
This is fearful description OF depiorable
suffering among the red men. II is gratifying
70 know, that as soon as authentic accounts of
the ravages of the small pox among the tribes
on the Missouri were received. inquiries were
promptly instituted by the proper authorities
10 ascertain their origin and extent, and meas.
nres adopted 10 afford alienation, and, wfere
practicable to prevent further infection. Funds
for vaccinating the Indians were immediatelv
RENTED, with. authority to employ the neces.
sary agents.
The agents charged with the execution Of
these measures, possess great energy, and tho
most favored results may be anticipated.
a Poughkeeasie editor, in contendinr that
the proposed National Foundry should be los
leIed inihat town, reasons thus cogcr,ly..
ncigbo.hood wanll, IL !nish the nfTicefs vsi,l =
the pieasantestqpar,hrs tile most ga,ne 10 shcots
and the fines. airsteconrt Of any u L. aos1i
Of Mason and Dixoii's line.' = q
Tbs Legislature Of Mansshas snspendei ~ y
operation Of tho law prohibiting The hanhs Der r.
suing small Notes, for the term Of two Yxass ~ s.
bill was approved BY The Governor 81 III Ell.