Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-04-14
Extract from letter from Maj Pitcher, dated

Ixtracl rom letler nom MAJ. Iilcher, dated
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 81, 1888.
| Sir: Having received authentic information.
from the remote region of the Upper Missouri,
of a highly important character, deem il INV
duty to communicate it without DELAY, though
not entirely applicable to my own agency, hsy.
Ing, as conceive 1t does, bearing upon Mr.
Harris's letter ofthe llth ult.
1t appears that the effects Of the small por
among most Of The Indian tribes of the upper
Missouri surpass all former scourges, and thar
the country through which it has passed ia In.
orally depopuated, 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 Zen.
tres, or Minetarees, tribe about 200 strong.
took the disease month later than their NEIGH.
bors, the Mandans. One nalf had perished.
and the disease was still raging. They, no,
doubt, shared the same fate with the Mandans,
The bicaris, 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 h1andans, and consequently rece
ed it something later. One half of II ..r
ffalllca, and the disease was raoi, No: :em had
baed fury. e. s.". out Of fiftv ana. ina
venng from II. Most Of those tina. SUI, ;scc-
subsequently committed suicide, des ,,;,;n,
suppose at the loss Of friends, and r.
es wrought by the disease in y, 'ne cnang.
some by shooting, others >. .,a,. persons.
some by throwing thems no. cc.aoo,ng' ana
pfec,pIfs along the Missouri. The great band Sd
= ,eos nm,ona.;, ~ 10000 strong, and the
ann;h;,,,ad. about 5000 have been almost
:. ",;nn ,,s, ard, Notwithstanding all she!pre-
o ,..n" :, "ssd by the gentlemen engaged IN the
trade o. that remote region TO prsyent !, -.
o'sease had reached the Blaclsfeet of The y -,
ny Moi.ntains, hand Of 1000 lodges Mad
been swept oil, and tho disease was ranidIv
spreading among the different bands Of TIA,
great trlbo, numbering. ffhink, about ca. 600
souls. have no doubt but the predictions
contained in my letter Of the 9th nItinio. will
be fully realized, and all the Indians on ,he
Columbus river, as far az the Pacific ocean.
will share the fate Of those before alluded "a.
Gen. William CLARK,
Superintendent Indian Affairs.
This is fearful description OF Jepiorable
suffering among the red men. It is gratifying
20 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
TO ascertain their origin and extent, and meas.
nrrs adopted 10 afford alienation, and, wfseere
practicable. TO prevent iurIber Injection. Funds
for vaccinatng the Indians were Immediately
RENTED. with authority toiemploy the neces.
sary agents.
The agents charged with the execution 81
these measures, possess great energy, and ,hs
mostJayored results may be anticipated.
r---+-rz----- ------------- - q
a Pougbkeepsie editor, in contendinr that
The proposed National Foundry should be IL,
c.ned i'ii'sat town, reasons thus coger,ly.-.HeY
neistborhood wnn'a finish the ofIiceis win
the pieasantestq quarters, tte most Is shoes.
and heiussl girissocourt. of any ~ asseH
Of Mason and Dixoii's liue.' IS = & .s
Tn, Legislature of sfainsshas .saspe0deii ~ i,
Operation Of the law prohibiting the hks heu IN Y,
suing small notes, for tho term Of two ySase. ISe
bill was approved BY The Gcvsraos Sp ~ On 80