The Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (New Albuquerque, N.M.) 1882-1884, 1884-02-27
ZUNI COUNTRY.
The Terrible Condition of the In
diang.

The Terrible Condition of the In
dians.
ZUNI, VALENCIA Co., N NJ, Feb. II. '84.
EDITOR JoURNAL:-A few items from
this Pueblo may not be uninteresting to
your readers. The number of Americans
resident in Zuni has been augmented by
the arrival of Miss Allison from the east,
who comes to take charge of one depart
ment of the school; now under the pro-
fcssorship of Mr.. Wilson. The number
of Americans here at present is eleven
who are engaged in different vocations,
and your correspondent who is patiently
waiting for the clerk of The weather to
withdraw his canopy from Soils rays that
the roads may be made passible.
THE ZUNI PUEBLO.
The mortality among the Indians of
this Pueblo in the past sixty days
beggars description, Notwithstanding
the efforts OF Mr. and Mrs. Wilson to
check the measles, the disease has carried
off within the time specified between
fifty and sixty children to an early grave.
The scenes in the pueblo have been heart
rending in the extreme, and one hears
and sees nothing but weeping and lam
entations. The disease at the present
writing is greatly abated and will prob
ablv soon have numbered its last victim.
The sanitary condition of this pueblo can
not be described. Though we have fair
amount OF learning we fail to find words
: IL. 1i-I h,,1oyxr hla nt AA-
scIibing the scene. Should one of the
hercer contagious diseases come among
these Indians in their present condition
very few, in my opinion. would survive.
have been under the impression that an
M. D. was appointed to attend profess
sionally to the Pueblo Indians. If such
is the case the incumbent OF the Office has
neglected his duty terribly as regards the
Zuni Pueblo. While death has been
reaping a rich harvest uncontested. The
one that should have stood with the sword
of professional knowledge to dispute his
progress is undoubtedly reclining in his
easy chair, oblivious of the many heart
aches that he will have to give an account
for in that last great day. If there is no
NJ. D. appointee, it would be a charity, in
the greatest sense of the term, for those
who to some extent have the care of these
| Indians under their control to call the at
tention OF Congress to the fact, through
New Mexico's delegate, Mr.. Luna, who
will undoubtedly make the condition OF
these Indians his study.
THE SCHOOL.
Under the supervision of Prof Wilson,
assisted by Mrs. Wilson and the talented
Miss Allison the school is advancing
very rapidly in the English branches and
the dawn of intelligence is beginning to
beam on those benighted people. Not
manyyears hence we may hope that the
gods of mythology, which they now wor-
Ship will be something of the past to
them, while they raise their voices in
praise and prayer to the true and living
God. Such will undoubtedly be the
case if they are supplied with teachers as
capable of imparting knowledge as those
now here at the helm of education. The
school numbers at the present, from
seventy-hve to eighty scholars. This
number will undoubtedly be augmented
as the winter seas on gives place to spring
and summer.
MR.. FRANK CUSHING.
This gentleman is prosecuting his work
of unraveling the mystery that surrounds
the origin of these Indians, with an en-
ergy unsurpassed by the researchers of
antiquity, and should he remain to pros
ecute his work for few years longer, he
may be able to settle question that has
puzzled the scientific world through all
ages, namely, the origin of the Indian
race on the American continent. Should
he be able to accomplish this he will add
to science in this nineteenth century, one
of its brightest lustres, an honor to him
self and his employers.
Mr.. Graham, wide awake merchant at
Zuni, is driving brisk trade at intervals
with the Indians of this Pueblo, in wool
and pelts and unless all signs fail he will
make commotion in com mercial circles
in your growing city some time in the
near future.
Asking pardon for taking up so much
your valuable space, remain as ever,
GNOAIE.