Passaic City record., 1893-03-11
The Vengeance of Waage.

While the revenue cutter Bear was
at Princes Island, Alaska, last sum
mer, one of the exploring parties
found, not far from shore, habita-
ton that appeared different from any
on the island. 1t was not so much the
shape of the house or hut. or the man
ner of its construction, but the way it
was decorated at the back.
1t was constructed of the usual ma
terial, mud and old timber, and in
front looked exactly like the dozen
other houses of the people who live
near the Arctic circle. The roof was
overgrown with crop of grass strug-
Cling for existence, and out of this
protruded the usual number of poles
surmounted by old, battered tin cans
and buckets. The fence was kept in
the best of order possible in that
dreary corner of the world, and the
owner regularly decorated the front
with the hideous paints of the native.
But the back of the house was what
attracted the attention of the officers.
Nothing like it was ever seen in any
part of the country where the Eski-
mos lived. The whole end of the
house was covered with walrus skulls.
piled in rows until they looked like the
catacombs of Paris. There were hum
dreds of them of all sizes, from the
baby's, no larger than mans fist, to
that of the monstrous bull, who could
sink whaleboat in an instant. Some
of them were bleached and crumbling,
and others were fresh as if just put in
the pile.
The natives did not like the place,
and would walk long distance to get
around it. 1t was not that they were
afraid of walrus skulls, but they were
somewhat superstitious, knowing how
the skulls came to be there.
The officers of the vessel became in
terested and tried to find out why that
particular hut should be different from
others in the village. 1t was with
great difficulty that the story was
learned, as most of the natives seemed
afraid to talk about it.
After great deal Of urging it was
learned that the owner of the house
was not native of the island, but had
come there many years before on a
whaler and remained. He married
and became one of the people, and
everybody thought as much of him as
it was possible for such people to-.
The man was Scandinavian by birth
named Waage. His childhood's home
was near the North cape Of Europe.
and he was not at all out of place
among his Arctic surroundings.
After his marriage he was devoted
to his wife, and his superior skill as q
hunter and fisher gave him greater
means than the other inhabitants OF
the village, SO she had better sur
roundings than the others.
Wage always had a smile fol
everybody and his jolly good nature
and liberality made all respect him.
Often wien coming from hunt he
would divide all he had with those
who had none. But when his boy was
born was the happiest moment of hil
life, and he made up his mind tba
his child should be great man in the
world.
His education was commenced early
and the fathers ambition stood gool
chance of becoming a reality. Aftel
the boy got old enough he was never
out of his fathers company. He wa
taken everywhere and Wage was th'
proadest man in existence.
But the fathers anxiety for th,
greatness Of his son caused the child,
death. One day both were out on tn,
water in the fathers boat, and th'
little fellow was amusing himsel
splashing the icy faid on his parent
Both seemed very happy, but it di,
not last long. Before the father real