The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-12-04
PRESENT SUPPORT IMPERFECT.
Ieachsrs Should BE Devoted to the Cause
Of Humanity-Heroic Death
OF An Instructor.
From secretary Noble,s Ranort

Oh making contracts with missionary So
cieties for the instruction and IN maintenance
oil the children in their vicinity was early
ADOPTED by the bureau. This plan, by
which the society shares the expense of
the school, secures to the pupils an equal
amount OF care and instruction at less cost
to the government.
The commissioner says that on the earn
est representations of Commander c. H.
Stockton, of the o. 6. s. Thetis, who had
recently returned from q cruise in Behring
sea and the Arctic ocean, DR.. Jackson was
authorized to interest some OF the mission
airy societies in the quimaux settlements
at Point Barrow, perhaps the most north
ern land Of our continent, Cape Prince of
wales, on Behring strait, and Point Hope,
lying about midway between the other two,
where civilizing influences are greatly
needed. DR.. jackson accordingly ex-
planned the condition of these settlements
To number OF societies which he visited,
and the opportunities for labor in the cause
OF humanity were promptly seized, the
American Missionary Association of the
Congregational church selecting Cape
Prince OF Wales, the Episcopal Board of
Home Missions choosing Point Hope, and
the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions
taking Point Barrow.
With the secretary's approval agreements
were entered into with each of these socie-
ties TO contribute 81 600 toward the cost of
their buildings and the expense of travel
and supplies. From these new stations
favorable information has already been re-
ceived. The Congregational Society re-
port that two missionaries sailed from San
Francisco early in June, taking with them
the frame of house ready to be put up,
and that they arrived safely at their desti-
nation, the society having already ex-
pended a. 500 on the mission. The Epis-
copal Board of Home Missions report that
their missionary. provided with building
costing $500 had reached Port Clearance,
200 miles from Point Hope, July 3. The
Presbyterian board reports that a we'll
qualified teacher sailed for Port Barrow on
June l with supplies for two years.
For lack Of transportation an inspection
of the schools on the western islands has
not been possible since their establishment
in 1856. This season, through the courtesy
of the secretary of the navy. permission
was granted to the general agent to accom-
pany the government vessels on their an
nual cruise to the Arctic, and the COM
manders were instructed to land at the set
dement's where schools existed or were to
be established. DR.. Jackson started
on his voyage early in May. He was at
Afognak June IT, and at Cape Prince OF
Wales early in July. He expected to reach
Sitka on his return early in October, when
he will present full report of the conduct
of the schools in Alaska for the year
1889. go.
In the meantime an increase of the ap-
preparation for the education of children
in Alaska is recommended. The work has
developed as far as can be expected with
the present funds. Teachers who are sent
to such distant and difficult fields should
be thoroughly we'll qualified for the work
and should be literally paid for their labor
and sacrifice. As an example of these q
picture of devotion to the cause of human
ity is wildly drawn by the general agent
as follows:
The school year at Klawack opened with sor-
row. in the death of Mr.. Currie, who was the
first teacher the school ever had. Mr. Currie
was q native of North Carolina. q graduate of
Hampden and sidney College and Union Theo-
logical Seminary, Virginia He gave his life TO
Indian education. He did valuable work as
teacher among the Choctaw Indians, and when
a call came for some one to 60 TO . remnant Of
Indians in Southeastern Texas that were in dan
ger of extinction, he went to them. While
there his school-house was burned, and his life
threatened. To escape the malaria incident to
long-continued residence in that section,
he came TO Alaska and took charge
of the newly opened school at Kiawack
under circumstances OF great heroism
Far away from any officer of the law he battled
alone against Intent erance and witchcraft
Upon one occasion four men attempted to carry
away one of his pupils "a girD On the charge of
witchcrait. Mr.. Carrie rescued her, keeping
her at mis- house. A few days afterwards they
returned, reinforced by party of Hydahs, on
another attempt TO get possession OF ner While
some OF them venemently claimed her, others
stood near the missionary with open knives
Finally the brother OF the girl was inundated
into paying q ransom for her. This Mr. Currie
could not prevent but the girl at least was
saved.
The present method of supporting the
schools of Alaska by an annual appro-
priation from congress Is very unsatis-
factory. As congress one year votes SIS 900,
and the second nothing. and the third
$50 it can readily be seen that neither
can the school-board of teachers arrange
for the schools until after congressional
action has been taken. nor until such action
is had can they be sure that there will be
auy SCHOOLS Anu Hot only tuht, Dut
some wears the action of congress is
not known in Alaska until three months
after the fiscal school year commences. A
failure on the part of congress any one year
to make the necessary appropriation would
close the schools, scatter the government
property, and throw the teachers out OF
employment thousands OF miles away from
home and friends. The disadvantages of
the present system need but to be stated to
be seen.
In the Western states and territories the
general land laws of The country provide
that sections Is and So in each township be
set apart for the use of the schools in said
| states and territor les. In some Of the states
this has been q munifcent endowment.
But Alaska has no townships and olaw by
which they can be surveyed. and when, in
the course eli time. the general land
laws are extended over II the
| nature of the country and the pecui-
| lar climate and the requirements OF
the population will prevent TO any great
extent the laying out of the lands IN Sec
tons of q mile square. Thus while no
school fund is practicable for years 70 come
from the lands, the general government de-
rives a regular revenue from the seal
Islands and other sources. portion OF
which could be used in the place of the
nroceeds of the sale OF the school lands.
a