The Portland daily press., 1886-07-31
SUFFERING LABRADOR.
Stories of Misery and Starvation that
Almost Stagger Belief.
Cannibalisr1 Added to the Other
Horrors of the Fearful Situation.
Fighting With Bears Over Dead
Friends-An Esquimaux's
Sad Story.

ST. JOHNS, N. F., July 30.-Hergenatis
Yer, one of the Esquimaux who recently ar
rived here on the Nancy Barrett, from Ok
kak, Labrador, tells a frightful story OF des-
titution and suffering which the IN nhabitants
of that region are undergoing. The. popula-
tion of this settlement was not far from 130
souls, yet when he left with his wife not
soul remained. He says that early In Marcn
the food gave out, and they were unable to
obtain more. Every available drop OF o oil or
piece of sealslzin was utilized as food. FINAL
ly, in June, there was absolutely nothing
left. Now and then bear would be killed,
but this was the exception, On June Sd
they had had no food for six days, and now
they were to escape death was TO them
mystery. Several whites and few Indians
had died from exposure to the cold blasts
which came sweeping down frcm the Arctic
north, and the only thing left was to resort
to cannibalism which was done; When one
of the party died, his or her body was cut
der frozen up for use. From this food a ter
rible dysentery set in among the survivors,
and on July 1St there were but 10 persons
left alive, the bodies of over % having been
eaten.
a sledge drawn by four dogs, the only living
creatures left them, their ponies having been
sacrificed to appease hunger long pefore
When about "a miles from Cape Mugford,
heavy snow storm set in. While the party
were endeavoring to find their way they
were attacked by white bears to the number
of % or 80 which killed all of the party but
two, the survivors being among the number
at Cape Musford.
Yer reports that more than one-half of the
entire population have died from hunger.
The stores of Okkak have been ransacked
by bears, and the food deyoured. There are
hundreds and even thousands of these big
white brutes, which have passed over from
Pemryland, it is thought on account of the
severity of the weather, and doubtless, be-
ing attracted by the dead bodies which
everywhere abound. The graves OF the dead
have been dug open by these bears, and the
bodies eaten. Not content with this, the
bears assault and devour the living, who are
too weak to help themselves. They have
devastated an immense district, as the lew
inhabitants of that inhospitable region live
far apart, and all those who were able have
abandoned the settlements-whlch otten-
times comprise no greater population than
three or four famiiies-and flocked to the
larger settlements and fishing ports on the
coast. Into these last resorts they nave
been followed by the hordes OF famlshlng
bears, and are being attacked and devoureo
in great numbers.
Another neighborhood which has suffered
both from scarcity of food and the attacks OF
wild animals, is Hopedale. This place mas
long been the centre OF q considerable seal
fishing traffic, but owing to the unusual arc
tic conditions which have obtained thlS year
it has been perforce shut against all comeTrS
or even communication with the worlG, while
the winter stores laid in have long since CIV
en- out. AT one time there were over 10y 4old n
ing thea the augmentations from the outlying, dis
tricts over $50 have perished either from from
starvation or exposure during the past Two
months The inhabitants have been entlTeo re-
ly unable to cope against the feroclty@ @ Oh nf Inf
wolves and bears, and those who nave HOY
already succumbed, eking out life by feeding il5
on the bodies of their dead companions III
some cases. Men, driven mad by munger,
have been known to fight with the bears OYER 9S,ea
the remains of some friend or other. I'll fn1
bears. however, were generally successful
and secured double repast.l