The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-11-13
Ghiu0s Abroad.
Polar Famine Horrors.


Polar Famine Horrors.
The following extract is takon from the
story Of the cruise of the Arctic exploring
vessel CorWin On the second day out
from St. Michaels we reached &c. Lawrence
Island, where il was reported famine had
swept away nearly the whole population
during the previous year. The island is
ninety miles long from east to west. We
steamed along close in by the shore, work
ing our way through Che ice. At last the
settlements were reached and each one
that was visited presented the same dreary
scene Of death aud desolation. Not a
solitary dog or rat was TO be found about
any Of the rude huts; but in front of the
houses, in a CHASTITY row, lay the dead bo.
dies Of those who had succumbed to the
terrible hunger. They had lain there for
fifteen months, and we were probably the
first to look upon them. Their clothes had
rotted off the bodies, but the forms were
preserved by the cold 30 that they looked
like mummies. The skin was drawn tight
ly over their emaciated faces aud forms,
aud looked like ancient parchment. So
perfectly had the dry air preserved them
that we could distinguish tho bodies of
the women from the men by the deep tat
too marks on the chin, which is one Of the
peculiar styles of femenine face ornament.
In few houses bodies were found in va
rious Pastures, just as they fell in the last
agony Of solitary death. As long as there
were any survivors to perform the service,
the corpses were placed in the regular rows
in front Of the huts. At one place we
found fifty bodies side by side, some being
the remains Of little children, while others
were the corpses Of old people.
The usual litter aud refuse which sur
round the Esquimaux huts were lacking,
and there was not scrap left Of any kind
offoOd. The cleanly-gnawed bones showed
that they had eaten their dogs; they had
even devoured the rats which infested the
village; they had chewed up the old bits
Of walrus-hide-everything which could
satisfy the cravings Of hunger. At last
they had persisted miserably, dying by in
ches, with no hope ofsuoeor and no chance
Of escape. At least 500 Of the poor
wretches suffered this hideous death. To
explain this terrible famine, which was as
unusual as il was fatal, it must be added
that the season was one of unparalleled
severity. The natives Of this island were
large, robust men and expert hunters anc
fishermen, but, like most Of their race
they were improyident and made no pro
vision for such winter. The cold set il
early and continued without interruption
The mercury was forty degrees below ger,
for weeks at a time. The cold and violeu
storms prevented them from going out OIL
the ice TO catch walrus and seals -thei
main dependence for food in the winter
Their scanty stock of meat was soon ex
hausted; they were many miles from Sibe
ria and could not have reached it alive il
the face of the bitter winter. Attic north
west end Of the island we found settle
ment of about $50 people. They had SUI
fcred from the famine, only about one hal
the original colony having survived The
had had larger stock of provisions tina
their unfortunate nei2hhnrs- and TINA a.
| capped complete annIhilation.
-. -i;-' saitlement TWO sailors from
wrecked bark were left several years az,
They are living there still, having adopte
native customs. One has taken natiy
wife, and the woman's husband, on a
tempting to reclaim her, was killed by tn
sailor. The customs of the natives al
savage and brutal. II Is usual for the Of
| people, when they feel that they can wor
no longer, to announce the fact to the
children. Then the poor creatures al
taken out Of the hut and either knockC
on the head or stabbed by their sons.
they fail To give warning Of their helples
ness, the children are quick to detect Il
signs Of age aud promptly dispatch the
parents, generally by beating them ov
the head The bodies are seldom burie,
they are cast to the dogs, who devour ther
At this place also we had new evidence
some native peculiarities--the ease wi
which they could see at great distan
with the naked eye and the marvellous WI
in which news was transmitted from d
most distant points. A native will
/ scribe the dress and appearance If mi
who is approaching at great distance.
white man, even sharped-eycd sailor, CT
just make out that it is q human figur
So, If anything occurs on the coast--if
piece Of wreck comes ashore-thc 20
ticulars will be known in very sho
time 1000 miles from the spot where
occurred. 1t is a wonderful system
telegraphy-oae native rushing of to pa
the news to another, and thus spreadir
the intelligence over hundreds Of miles
territory in single day. The inform
ton which we received in this way W
also very accurate.