The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-09-24
HUNGER ON ARCTIC SHORES.
whisky and Disease killing the Natives
No Supplies for the Winter.

whisky and Disease killing the Natives
No Supplies for the Winter.
Point Barrow. Alaska, letter in San Francisco
Chronicle.
The past season has been marked at this
northernmost point of the United States
by the total failure on the part Of the
natives to catch whales for their winter
food supply. At least ten years have
elapsed since the natives OF the Alaskan
coast, from Icy cape to Point Barrow, have
had such bad fortune in their spring whal-
ing ventures.
The ice pack went Off from the foe
about April q. and on the 18th the canoes
at this point were out TO the lead. From
the abOve>oate until June Is the lead kept
open Dy stiff north and northeast winds.
varied in width from tive to eight miles,
the water, however. filled with slush and
floating ice. precluding the launching of
canoes.
Meanwhile the whales of large size were
passing north in sight of the baf1led biup-
Der hunters in vast numbers. At inter.
vais westerly and southwesterly hreezes
closed the lead, and no water was visible.
But four baby whales were killed by the
Cape Smythe and Point Barrow natives,
and one of moderate size by o white man.
Several large fish we're struck, but circuu-
stance prevented their being killed. OF
and three-inch long whalebone were se-
cured, but within q few days the entire
mass was consumed by the hungry ma
| lives. Only hal OF the large whale was
| secured, as gale coming on forced the
| abandonment of the carcass. At Icy cape
three canoes win whaling guns and gear
were carried OF by the breaking of the noe,
| their crews narrowly escaping with their
| lives, while at Point Beicher whales III
| large numbers were seen, but none were
| struck.
| The opinion of Lieutenant Raw in his
| report to the signal officer of the United
| States army, dated 1883, that whales were
being exterminated and would in few
| years be rare" was certainly at fault this
| last season. Both natives and white men
| resident here for some years state that
| there is no sign of diminutiOn in the num-
| Der OF whales passing here in the spring.
| The ice presented peculiar condi-
tons this year. High masses piled
| on the shoals interviewed between the
| and sieds had to be cut distance of ten
miles TO the water. Along the lead there
| were but one or two fiat places suitable 10
| hsul q canoe up, the entire line of the foe
being perpendicular wall of ice extending
some forty mics along the coast These
conditions. combined with the wide lead,
| slush and floating hummocks, with q four
and sometimes six-knot current to pull
against operated against a successful sea-
| son.
After the natives came TO the village, in a
few weeks, the houses were entirely de-
| serted. Not soul save one old decrepit
| woman remained. South of the island and
to the eastward of Point Barrow people
| spread in search OF deer fish and seals for
/ their food. Fortunately large numbers of
/ seals came TO the coast and several were
| secured, while reports from the interior
state deer to be plentiful.
But Their is no doubt that these people
| will suffer hunger during the coming win
ter. as with the exception Of one or two,
! who saved L cd by storage, the majority
| are improvident, iazy and never look be-
| yond the present Last winter, 1889, the
| hunting parties for deer were very poorly
| rewarded for their labors. Continued
| northeast winds with an unprecedented
snowfall drove the deer to the south.
When the parties returned TO the village
| the lazy ones. according to native ideas.
| Were treated to meat.
An intense craving for liquor, engen-
dered by the supplies of vile alcoholic mix
| lures and mo!asses OBJ aimed from the
whaling fleet and Portuguese from the
Azores resident here. kept number of ma
tives in the village who otherwise would
hsve been engaged hunting and trapping.
| FOR ~ o-pound can of black molasses
these people viii part with their clothing,
anu Tor i've pounds their arms and ammu-
| milton are sacrificed. They make no secret
o. brewing spirits from -four and molasses,
ana during debauch quarrelng and beat
ing their women is 8 common event.
The medicine supply of the Pacific Steam
| Whaling Companys station was ex-
haussed from the frequent demands made
| upon IT. Terrible cases of venereal dis.
eases we're inflicted upon the natives bv
the whalemen last summer. and it is safe
10 assert that ont of q population OF $50 at
Cape Smythe village at least 100 were suf-
| itrers. A slmi.sr state prevailed at the
| Point Barrow village. Extreme solicita.
| ton from the keeper OF the United States
government relief station resulted in OBJ.
tanning little medicine suitable for the
diseases. II ad il not been for attention 10
the diseased natives quite a number would
have been unable TO hunt or 60 in their
| canoes.
The sale Of mclasses and sugar is pro-
hieited by law. so that only a combined
/ agreement between he owners ant, mas
ters OF the whaling feet will stop the sun
/ ply OF these articles 10 the natives. Un;ess
| This Is effected a decade will witness the
| disappearance OF these people. The rstio
| of deaths TO births is steadily increasing
| yearly. Diseases and liquor introduced by
whites are the main factors.