The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-27
STARVATION In LABRADOR.
Further Details of PrivatiOn and Death-Fif-
teen Hundred People Perish Of Famine

ST. JOHNS, N. f., July 26. Further particulars
of thedistress among the fishermen of Labrador
haze A~uR received. The seventy Esquimaux
who demanded food from the store at Mugford,
which could not be given TO them, owing to the
needs of the inhabitants and the small supply,
made rush for the harbor store-house, where
the -four and fish were stored. The men of the
small settlement gathered to defend their only
hope of existence, and a desperate fight ensued
in which four of the marauding Esquimaux were
nearly killed, and two of the store house defend
ers were seriously injured The ESquimaux,
finding that they could not obtain food by force
retreated and sent in several of their number to
ask for a small quantity of food, which they said
was absolutely necessary to the continued exist.
ence of their wives and children. Two
hundred pounds of -four and about fifty
pounds Of frozen goldfish were given
to them. 1t was reported that in
Astoria alone, out of thirty five or forty fami-
lies, or total of 200 persons, over 100 had died,
mostly all women and children. In Main the
catch of fish has not been sufficient to afford
food to the inhabitants. The season which
opened on May was very backward, and had
it not been for the seal industry, which was toll
erably good, not soul would be living. Along
Hamilton inlet and Sandwich bay there is not
so much suffering, although many hare died. In
Webuck and Indian harbors fish is the only food.
besides small quantity of corn-meal. They
have had no vegetables since March /, and the
people are almost without clothing At Hope
dale not over twenty five families remain out of
the entire former population. Many have gone east
along the coast, in the hope Of getting into bet
ter supplied settlements, while eighty persons,
of which forty were squaws and thirty-fve chill
dren, died from starvation in June alone. There
were some deaths in April and May, but these
were principally from exposure to the
cold. The Okkaha Indians are sufferings
greatly, but there were not as many deaths
among them as was at first reported, only
twelve persons having died this spring out of the
125 who make up the tribe The whole settle
ment is, however, on the verge on starvation.
The places spoken of do not include the whole
district where there is to be found destitution
and death. In the country lying back from
Okkaha, Hopedale, Main and Cape Mugford
there are large number of families most Of
them Indians or Esquimaux, among whom the
suffering is really greater than 1t is in the more
thickly populated settlements. The deaths here
from starvation cannot be estimated, but it is
thought judging from the reports now and then
brought in that the number is very large. In
New Foundland, along the north coast, there is
great destitution. From Cape Bauld to Hearts
Content hundreds are in dying condition. In
White bay alone, forty-two persons died last
month. and no one knows how many since. Not
less than 1900 persons must have perished, but
the exact figures can never be known, owing to
the isolated region in which the suffering ex
lists.