Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-11-07
CREMATION IN ALASKA.
Interesting Ceremony Witness
nv n Denver Missionary.
Denver Tribune.

L
Rev. Sheldon Jackson, of this city,
synodical missionary OF Colorado, New
Mexico, Utah, and Montana, recently
made a visit To Alaska, and while there
saw many interesting things. He gives
an account of visit made to a garden
owned by Mr.. Davidson, OF Fort
Wrangle.
At the upper end OF Mr.. DavidsOn's
garden he saw white sheet stretched
between two poles and looking as if it
might be intended for a scare crow.
Upon inquiry he found that it contain
ell the ashes of boy that was drowned
the week before. His friends had prom
ised Rev. Mr.. Young that il 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
bv 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 SUI
perstitiOus incantations OF hiredmoun-
ers.
In about an hour the body was con-
sumel. After the fire had cooled down,
the ashes were carefully gathered up,and
placed in a basket until suitable box
could be carved for their permanent
preservation. When all was ready, on
Old Indian woman, bowed down with
age and infrmities, took up the basket
and started for q pine tree, which had
been previously selected for the prr-
pose. She was followed by the mourn
ers and friends with bowed heads and
loud walls of sorrow. At the base OF
the tree two poles, about eight feet hlgh
were driven into the ground two feet
apart. The basket containing the ashes
was tied between these poles, and a
muslin bag, like a large FELLOWSHIP pull
ell down over the poles and basket and
closed at the bottom. On the outside
of the sheet is sometimes rudely painted
face, through which the spirit OF the
departed is supposed to look out upon
the bay. .
Mornings and evenings the parents OF
the boy come out from their hut, and
turning their faces to the North utter
LIQUIDS cries of distress. And this will be
kept MP for months, for they have
never heard of the great Comforter, who
alone can comfort sorrOwlng hearts.
Those whose bodies are burned are said
TO be warm the next world, and the
others cold. They believe in the trans
migration of souls from the body to
another, but not to animals. And the
wish is often expressed that in the next
change they may be born into this or
that powerful family.
The funeral ceremonies Oichiets often
last four DAYS. il slaves aie then sacrl-
feed it relieves their owners from work
m the next world. Dead slaves are OF
ten cast in the sea. At the funerals OF
chiefs the traditions and history OF the
tribe are rehearsed. II these ceremon-
les are not conducted properly, the wa
ter Of death swallows up the departed
soul, or il is lost in the forests. But, II
conducted properly, the chief OF the
gods speaks the word, and the water OF
death is small, and the soul is carried TO
a place of rest or fOrgetiulnesS. Then
after long time it comes back to some
descendent on its sisters side and lives
another life. TO such superstitions these
people are bound body and soul, and to
rescue them from this, ameliorating and
eleyating their condilioniu this lie, and
presenting to them glorious immortal
itv through the cruCiied aud risen Sa-
vior, is the work OF the Board OF Home
Missions.