Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1870-03-10

From the St. Paul Press.l

Yesterday Captain Brown Wallis. late
| of the British army, and Mr.. Ranald Nc
Donell arrived from Fort William en- route
for Toronto, Canada. We learn some facts
| from Captain Wallis concerning the con
dition of the Indians in that region, and
incidents of the Journey.
Before these gentlemen left the Fort re-
ports came in from various parts of the in
! terror, to the effect that the Indians were
starving to death. One Indian died of
starvation on the northwestern shore of
| Dog Lake, distant about 100 miles from
Fort William, in the latter part of Janu-
ary, and many others were reported in
such a furnishing conditions that they
would probably perish before relief could
| reach them. The information of this des-
titution was brought to the Fort by a mes
senger sent in by the agent of the III. B.
Co., at Dog Lake to the Chief Factor of
the III. b. Co., at the Fort, Mr.. John Nc
Intyre. He at once loaded more than a
dozen trains with provisions and despatch
ed them for the relief of the Indians, but
from all accounts other Indians doubtless
died of starvation before the food could
possibly reach its destination. Mr.. White
the agent of the Ii. b. Co, at Wabalan or
Basswood Lake 200 miles in the interior,
reports similar distress in that vicinity.
On their way down these gentlemen
conversed with trader from Vermllion,
and he reports great destitution among
the Indians there. Indeed, reports of star
vatiOn reached them at all the trading
posts on the way down, and these gentle
men think that many deaths from abso-
lutte starvation will be heard of so6n.-
The causes of this destitution are a search
ty of fish and game. The fish seem to have
deserted the shallow waters in the inte-
rior from some unknown cause, and part
ridges, reindeer and hares are not to be
found at all. The long and severe rains of
last season seem to have almost cxtin-
guished the partridges and hares, and
where they were to be found by hundreds
during previous winters. there are none to
be had this winter at all. The reindeer, |
from some cause. have departed to some |
other section, and on the whole journey |
our informant only heard of five being |
killed. What makes the matter worse is |
the fact that nearly all the traders are out /
of provisions. Mr.. Parker. the trader ut |
Pigion river, has no provisions, his vessel |
having been wrecked last fall at Ontona-
gan. All the other traders are in about |
the same condition. -, ~ 1r
The party left Fort William on the 9TH /
of February. on snow shoes, with two /
faithful and very expert Chippewa Indi-
AN guides. The distance to Superior City |
is about 2l2 miles, but owing to the many |
deviations they we're compelled to make.
owing to ice mountains, &c. they travel
led a much greater distance. The first
day, February z. they marched eight miles (
s-iI.s!fts,i,std for the might tffe
Following are the distances made on the
sueeessiSr day of t,ieir Journey, Tuesday
February s. 81 miles; "Wednesday. j 6 miles
Thursday. % miles; Friday. IL miles; Sa-
turday, miles; Sunday miles; Monday
l6 miles; Tuesday II miles; Wednesday.
there was terrible storm. and snow fell
to the depth of'about one foot, in addition
to that previously on the ground, making
m all about five feet of snow upon the
ground. On Thursday the party rested
1t Beaver Bay Station, and sent the Indi-
III guides back about five miles for the
rains, which had been left behind the day I
before. Friday. February Is, Is miles; I
saturday, February 10, "3 miles; Sunday. ,
February 20. Is miles. @
This brought them to Superior City. ,
rom whence they came on by stage and
all.
They state that the whole country from
'ort William to Superior is covered with l
now TO the.depth of from four to five feet
vt Fort William on the night of January
Z, it was "a degrees Fahrenheit below
ero, and on the night of February =. it
vas 40 degrees Fahrenheit below At 8
\. NJ, of the Sd of February it was 80 de-
rees Fahrenheit below zero.