The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-24
CREMATION IN ALASKA.
Interesting Ceremony witnessed by
a Denver Missionary.

Denver Tribunel
Rev. Sheldon Jackson, of this city, syn
odical missionary of Colorado, New Mex
leo, Utah and Montana, recently made a
visit to Alaska, and while there saw many
interesting things He gives an account
of visit made to garden owned by a
Mr.. Davidson, of Fort Wrange.
At the upper end Of Mr.. Davidson's
garden he saw white sheet stretched be-
tween two poles and looking as if it
might be intended for a scare-crow.
Upon inquiry he found that it contained
the ashes of boy that was drowned the
week before. His friends had promised
Rev. Mr.. Young that it should have a
Christian burial; but during Saturday
night they took the body up the beach,
and early Sabbath morning burned it, the
charred wood still remaining.
Several large, dry sticks were laid side
by side upon the beach. Upon these were
placed the body of the boy. Other sticks
were piled over the body. and the whole
set on fire amid the walls and supersti-
tious incantations of hired mourners
In about an hour the body was con-
sumed. After the fire had cooled down
the ashes We're carefully gathered up, and
placed in basket until a suitable box
could be carved for their permanent
preservation. When all was ready an
old Indian woman, bowed down with age
and infrmities, took up the basket and
started for pine tree, which had been
previous y selected for the purpo'e. She
was followed by the mourners and friends
with bowed heads and loud walls of sor
row. At the base of the tree two poles,
about eight feet high, were driven into
the ground two feet apart. The basket
containing the ashes was then tied be-
tween these POLES and muslin bag, like
a large pillow slip, pulled down over the
the poles and basket and closed at the
bottom. On tive outside of the sheet is
sometimes rudely painted face, through
which the spilit of the departed is sup
posed to look out upon the bay.
Morning and evening the parents of
the boy came out from their hut, and
turning their faces to tho north utter
loud cries Of distress. And this will be
kept up for months, fol they have never
heard of the great Comforter, who alone
can comfort sor owing hearts. Those
whose bodies are burned are supposed to
be warm in the next world, and the
others cold. They believe in the trans
migration of souls from one body to
another, but not to animals And the
wish is often expressed that in the ncxt
change they may be born into this or
that powerful family. The funeral cere-
monies of chiefs often last four days If
slaves are then sacrificed, it relieves their
owners from work in the next word.
Dead slaves are often cast into the sea.
At the funeral of chiefs the traditions
and history of the tribe are rehearscd.
If these ceremonies are not conducted
properly, the water of deal swallows up
t1e departed soul or it is lost in the for
ests But, if conducted properly, the
chief of the gods speaks the word, and
the water of death is small, and the soul
is carried to place of rest or forgetful-
ness. Then, after long time, it comes
back to some descendant on it's sisters
side and lives another life. To such Su
perstitions these people are bound, body
md soul. and to rescue them from this,
ameliorating and elevating their condi
ton in this life, and presenting to them
glorious immortality through the cruel
Fl d and risen Savior, is the work of the
Board of Home III ssions.