The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-03-20
From The Neeo York E0oning Star.
LING DESTRUCTION OF NORTHWEST INDI

|
SMALL PoX.
We gave Yesterday an account of the origin OF
this epidemic by means of n steamboat trading on
the Missouri 10 day wo subjoin from the st. Louis
Bulletin of March Sd, detailed account Of its
ages. The disease had reached the remote band Of
the BlacIicct, and thousands of them had fallen
victims They do not blame the traders.
The "Pipe Stem, Il 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 al may, =
says of the traders, abe blamed for not using
measures TO arrest the progress Of the disease, but
without resort to arms on the arrival of the boat
with supplies, tho Indians could not have been driv
en- from the fort.
An express went two days ahead of the boat but
it Of no preaching to the Indians to Ay,-
they focked down to the boat usual when she
arrived. The PeIry trade in that quarter is ruined
for years. The company agent at Fort Union writes
Nov. 80, that all their prospects on the Upper Mis-
souri, totally Frustrated The epidemic spread
into the most distant part of the Assnabon country
and the tribes dying by fftes and hundreds n
day. The disease appeared to be Of peculiarly
malignant cast--some, few moments after severe
attacks of pain in the head and loans, fell down
dead, and the bodies turned black Immediately after
and swelled to twice their natural size. The com.
pauies erected hospitals, but they were Of no use
The disease has not reached the Sioux, many OF
whom have been Vaccinated.
The Mandans numbering 1000, living in perma,
nent villages 1000 miles aboye st. Louis, have all
! died but 81.
|
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, and joined the Mandans
were about half dead and the disease still among
them. 1t is probable they have been reduced in
proportion to the Mandans.
The Assinaboins, u powerful tribe, about 5000
strong, living entirely by the chase, and ranging
north Of the Missouri in the plains below tho Rocky
Mountains, down towards The Hudsons Bay Com
pany, on the north Red River, literally annihi-
lated. Their principal trade was at Fort Union
mouth of the Yellow Stone.
The Crees living in the region, numbering
5000 are nearly all destroyed. The great nation
called Dlac(eet, no wander and live by the chase
ranging through all the region of the Rocky Noun
tans, divided into bands-Pegans, Gros Ventres,
Blood Indians and Blac<ieet, amounting in all TO
$4,000 10000, have deeply suffered. One thous-
and lodges families have been destroyed and the
disease rapidly spreading among the different
bands The average number in lodge is from 6
to persons.
The boat that brought up the small pCx made her
voyage last summer and the ravagcs of the d!stem-
per- appear to have been greatest in October. 1t
broke ont among the Mandans July 49, Many OF
the handsome Arckarees who had recovered, seeing
the designation of their features, committed sui
eide! Some by throwing themselves from rocks,
others by stabbing, shooting, sc. 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 Of hundreds Of car
casses unburied. The woman and children are
wandering in groups without food, or bowling over
the dead The mon flying in every direction.
The proud warlke, and noble looking Black feet
arc no more The deserted lodges are seen on the
hills but no smoke issues from them. No sound
but the ravens croaI< and tho VOLTS long howl,
breaks the awful stiffness. The wolves fiitten on
dead carcasses. The of desoaticn as des-
cribcd is appalling beyond the powers of imagination
|