Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-06-23

He Arrived I'm Unalaska and Found the I'm
| ported Reindeer in q Flourishing Condition.
Information has been received at the bureau
Of education that DR.. Sheldon jackson, agent
Of education for Alaska, who was reported to
have been killed in Alaska by whisky smngglers
few weeks ago, has arrived at Unalsska.
On May IA DR.. Jackson sailed from Port
Townsend on the o. 8. s. Bear, Capt. N. A.
Healy, commander, and arrived at Unalaska on
May "a. The Bear did not touch at any point
between the two places, consequently the re-
port Of the assassination was utterly without
foundation.
Two years ago, upon his return from his first
visit to arctic Aaska, DR.. Jackson reported that
the Esldmo inhsbiting the shores Of the Arctic
ocean and Boring sea were in a starving condi-
ton, the whale and the walrus, their food from
time immemorial, having been almost exter-
minated BY the whalers. As an immediate
means Of relief to the furnishing people and as
permanent food supply and reuIuner-
alive industry for the future he recon-
mended that steps be taken to introduce
into Alaska, In connection with the industrial
Schools, the domesticated reindeer Of Siberia.
pose was introduced into the Fifty-frst Con-
gress. The bill passed the Senate and was re-
ported favorably by the committee on educa-
ton OF the House. but failed to be reached on
the calendar Of the House. A similar measure
has been introduced into the present Congress.
In the meantime, as the need Of the starving
people was considered urgent, subscription lists
were opened and more than 81 900 was secured.
II had been asserted by some persons that the
Siberian would not part with his reindeer, be-
ing as greatly attached to them as the tradi-
tional Arab Is to bis steed, and that if any REIN
deer were purchased IL would be impossible to
keep them alive on board ship, as they would
not eat anything that had been touched by q
white man.
IMPORTED REINDEER.
In order to test the question, last summer
DR.. jackson visited Siberia, obtained by barter
a few of the reindeer and transported them
several hundred miles to Unalaska, where they
were left upon one Of the wooded islands in the
harbor, in charge Of the United States marshal
at that place. Word has been received by the
bureau of education that on May 20, as the
Bear steamed into the beautiful harbor Of
Unnlaska, these deer were seen grazing on the
mountain side close 10 the anchorage, as plump
and In as good condition as they ever were
upon the bleak, storm-swept wastes Of their
native Siberia.
This summer It Is proposed to transport sew
eral hundreds of the animals, with some Of the
Siberian herders, TO a central distributing sta-
ton at Port Clar ence. Alaska, where, under the
supervision of the United States government
teacher, in the employ Of the bureau of educa-
ton, they will instruct the native Alaskans in
the care and management of the reindeer
AS soon as additional funds are secured it is
intended to extend the work as rapidly as pos
sible, thus relieving the needs of the people and
by system Of reindeer expresses open up to
civilization that vast and hitherto almost un-
known region.