Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-01-25

THE ALASKAN HORROR.
Native Women Bought and Sold for
Bad Tobacco and Worse Whisky.


Bad Tobacco and Worse Whisky.
That the Alaskan horrors have not been
one whit overdrawn, but are, on the con
trary, rather underestimate, has been
vouched for by Lieut.. G. III. Wilhelm, "A
well-known gentleman OF Pittsburg, who,
SAYS tho Dispatch of that city, in the years
1879 and 1880 was engaged in northern whal-
ing expeditions, and in 1881 passed the win
ter of terror in an effort 10 discover the
northwest passage,
As an indication that affairs have not i'm
proved there, but rather grown worse with
the lapse of time, Lieut.. Wilhelm says that
his last years experience there was by far
the worst, and that this was owing entirely
to the introduction among the native men
and women Of whalers and Alaska fur com
pany agents and still viler whisky. Mr..
Wilhelm said:
'The natives live like animals, and there
is no such thing known between them and
the fur agents and their employees except
sociability in its worst sense. All publish
ed reports about the conditions there are
true, and it is impossible TO overdraw the
degrading picture. During the winter
months they actually live in holes in the
ground, not in families separately, but in
disgusting pell nell way that can not be
"In the summer months OF July, August
and September affairs are even worse as far
as the foreign element is concerned, Tor 1t
is then the able bodied men leave on long
hunting expeditions and the women are
completely at the mercy OF the government
employees and the men belonging TO the fur
companies. AS for the government people
in the southern portions they are practically
non est. There is no government there ex-
cept that of the seal monopoly, and the rea-
yhvo oil no hp 20
wild, crazy for the possession of their two
gods, whisky and tobacco, and it is the fur
company that supplies them and for this
reason they hold the ruling hand. The mar
riage relation there is entirely unknown,
and as for morality, it is unheard Of.
"Will you believe me when give you this
one instance of the many far more degrad
ing that came under my own personal obser
walton! We had been lying off Point Bar
row, and / was on shore with an English
man stationed there mo matter whether "A
government servant or seal company en-
ploye, for they are practically one and the
same). The native after a deal Of haggling
over the price in whisky and tobacco sold
his wife.
This Is only one illustration, and it is
actually the only one / think will bear the
light OF print, so YOU may imagine what the
others may be. | heard most appalling tales
from the shipmen in regard to the cruelties
practiced by the fur people and the govern
ment employees, many Of whom are not one
whit better, and | believed every one Of
them. 1t is the curse Of whisky and tobacco
that is doing all this.
1.-THE natives worshipa queer sort Of thing
something like a weasels tail, but first and
foremost is their love for whisky, and in
this fact lies the secret of their terrible
power the seal company hold over the wo
men, who become mad with drink and smoke
and chew even more than the men. The
company has virtually enslavei the women
through its employees, and so far as known
there is no remedy. What can be expected
in the way of morality from people who
live in dirt sad misery worse than animals,
who kill their helpless aged, and are taught
worse things than even they ever knew by
foreigners, who are there but temporarily,
have no regard for consequences, and can
demand that any woman they may fancy
shall do whatever they WISH"