Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-07-29
GRIZZLY HORRORS.
Starving Bears from the North Raiding
newfoundland Settlements-Famish
Indians Devourins their Dead-Great
Distress Among Labrador Fishermen
Fifteen Hundred Persons Believed to
Have Perished Already.
ST. JOINS, n. F., July IS.

SA. uOaNs, ~ L July 90.
A dispatch from White Bay SAYS that a
large number of Arctic bears, driven south
by starvation, have crossed over from Penny
land and are devastating the country. The
bears number over 100. The Indians in that
locality are eating their dead companions
Those who die among the white settlers are
buried secretly to keep the Esquimsux from
getting their bodies.
Further distress among the fishermen in
Labrador state that the EsquimauA who de-
manded food from the stores at Mugford
which could not be given them owing to the
needs of the inhabitants and to the small sup
ply, made rush for the harbor storehouses.
where the -four and fish were stored. The
men of the small settlement gathered to de-
fend their only hope for existence, and des
perste fight ensued, in which four of the
maraudiDg Esquimaux were nearly killed and
two of the storehouse defenders were seri-
ously injured. The Esquimaux, find
force, retreated and sent in several
of their number to ask for small
quantity of food, which they said was abso-
lutely necessary TO the continued existence
of their wives and children. Two hundred
pounds of -four and about fifty pounds of
cod were given them.
1t was reported that in Astoria alone, out
OF 30 or 40 families, or 4 total of POO persons.
over 100 had died, mostly all women or chill
dren. In Main, the catch of fish has not been
sufficient to afford food to the inhabitants.
The season, which opened on Nav LIST, was
very backward, and had it not been for the
seal industry, which was toerably good, not
a soul would be living. Along Hamilton
Inlet and Sandwich Bay there is not so much
suffering. although many have died
In Webuck and Indian Harbors fish is the
only food besides a small quantity of corn
meal. They have had no vegetables since
March /, and the people are almost without
clothing. At Hopedale not over twenty-five
families remain out of the entire population.
Many have gone east along the coast in the
hope of getting into better supplied settle
ments, while eighty persons, forty of whom
were squaws and thirty-five children, died
from starvation in June alone. There were
some deaths IN April and May, but these were
principally from exposure to the cold.
The Okkah Indians are suffering greatly
but there are not as many deaths among them
as was at first reported, only twelve having
died this spring out of the 125 who made up
the tribe. The whole settlement is, however
on the verge of starvation. The places
spoken of do not include the whole district
where there is to be found destitution and
death. In the country living back from
Okkah, Hopedale, Main and Cape Mugford
there are a number of families, most of them
Indians or Esqumeux, among whom the suf
ferng is really greater than 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 Newfoundland, 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 o
persons died last month, and no one knows
how many since. No fewer than 1900 per-
sons must have persisted, but the exact figures
can never be known, owing to the isolated
region in which the suffering exists
OTTAWA, July 2S.
Dispatches having appeared in several
United States and Canadian newspapers stat
ing that the Canadian government had in re-
sponse to appeals fer assistance sent out a
vessel hearing provisions for the distressed
fishermen in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The officers of the marine and fishery de-
partment here have been interviewed con-
corning the matter. They state that no YES
sci has been sent and that the departments
here have no official knowledge of the matter
which is beyond their jurisdiction.