The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-10
sRALsKINs IN SUMNER.
FsquimaUx in Chicago Object TO
Wearing Them at TO-.
From The Baltimore american.

hEQulmaCX In Chicago ob]eC0 10
Wearing Then at TO-.
From the Baltimore American.
CHICAGO, March 3L-Can a man DO com
PEELED to parade around in heavy sealskin
clothes for the sdihcation Of the public
when the mercury IS soaring about 6J9 or
7O9.
That is question that will have to be
very soon solved in connection with the
troubles that threaten to disrupt the Esqui-
maux village al the worlds fair. From all
accounts, too, IL will be the main issue for
settlement.
Peter Mesher. who represents at least
five Of the EsquimauX in the village, hes
made application In the circuit court for q
writ OF habess corpus to release certain
residents Of the village, who alleGo that they
are being detained against their will and
are not being well treated.
Magistrate Porter OF Hyde Park has oon-
stituted himself the champion of the Esqui-
maux villagers, and facts, as told by him
to-day in talking Of the habeas corpus pro-
ceedings, were strange and startling enough
for any one. Some time ago one or the Ice
landers, named Zachartas, was arrslgued
before Magistrate Porter, charged with ass
sauting an Official OF the EsquimauX VIZ
lage Company. Supt. Daniels of the viii
lage company wanted Zacharias locked up
for three weeks, but this the magistrate re-
fused to order. This action tickled the
Northlaud folks nightly, and ever since the
Esquimsux have made the magistrate their
confdant, and have told him of their mani
fold woes. The result is that he has been
led TO make an investigation into the trou-
bles OF the foreigners, with a result, as he
says, that is startling. AS q consequence OF
bis inquiries, he will soon begin SUIT in the
United States court here on behalf Of Gers
tain Esquimaux families, asking heavy
damages from the company that brought
these people to this country.
IT'S an outrage the way these poor men
have been treated, said tho magistrate to-
day. 81 have investigated this matter care
fully, and know what | am talking about.
The whole trouble grows out of the refusal
Of certain Of these Esquimaux TO wear their
heavy sealskin fur clothing on warm days.
Some months ago one of the men-R fellow
known Rs Tom Deer-escaped from the vii
lage aud ran away, claiming that he was
badly treated and did not get enough to eat.
He secured work as a carpenter on one OF
the buildings, and is now SO employed. One
OF the chief causes of Deer's complaints
was that he was compelled to wear his
heavy fuTs on warm days. A little later
Peter u esher also had trouble on the same
score. Mr.. Dauiels led him to the gate and
told him 20 skip. Mesher gladly complied,
and ID now working on one of the buildings
as carpenter at 81 25 a day. In the mean
time the dissatisfaction was spreading. On
Feb. 16 two brothers-Tom and Peter Pal
locier-cRme out Of their huts attired il
duck and jean goods, leaving their fur
habiliments behind them to don the latter.
They promptly refused. Then he ordered
them back into their huts, and told them to
stay there until they could obey his orders,
Daniels told the Columbian guards who
were on watch in the village to see that the
disobedient men did not come out until
they were attired in their fErs.
THE Columbian guards obeyed orders
until 1 saw Col. Rice and told him that the
action Of his guards would involve the eI-
position company In suit for damages that
might be instituted. Accordingly, Rice had
the guards taken away. Then Daniels hired
big six-footer named Myers, who has boon
on guard, and kept the men to their houses
up to this time. The poor Esquimeux are
virtually in Jail and have been kept prison
ers for weeks, oil because they would not
wear turs onRwsrm days.
But this il not all. On March Is Jonos
Pellasion aud John Lutz refused TO wear
their seaisklns on account OF the weather
being so warm, and they, too, were ordered
back into their huts, there to remain uRtil
they could obey orders. Peter is down with
q violent case of measles, and is very SICK
man, indeed. l believe his illness is mainly
due to his being looked up in the close
stuffy hut. OF course the act of the village
officials il ordering these people locked W
was clearly Illegal, and the former can be
sued under the statute providing punish
ment for false imprisonment. / am utter
ested in these people merely because l have
a humane feeling for them as fellow beings.
propose to gee that they get Justice"
Mr.. Porter says that the Esquimeux vii
lage Company has contract with these
people which was made on foreign waters
and is, therefore, clearly illegal. This fact
he is certain, can be established. The con-
tract is one for common labor and Drovidea
that for the entire three years the Esqui,
maux are under n contract. Each head %
family is to receive 800 in cash and 800
worth OF supplies.
Mr. Daniels of the Esquimaux company
denies the stories of i'll treatment, and says
none Of his charges has been loc8ed up. But
on this latter point Mr.. Porter is confirmed
by Col. Edmund Rice Of the Columbian
guards. A number of the native who were
seen to-day either could not understand the
queries put to them regarding their alleged
i'll treatment or were too sullen over che
matter to say anything.