The morning call., 1894-09-28
How the Alaska Natives
Are Deceived
BY BOGUS MISSIONARIES.
Cruise of the Nicotine i'm the
Arctic Seas.
HAVOC WROUGHT BY A STORM.
Two Schooners Wrecked - Sealers
killing With Spears-A Long
Stay Near the Pole.

captain IIlton OF the whaling schooner
Nicotine. who has been whaling ia the
northern seas for nearly TWO decades, does
not think much of some of the mission
aries that HE themselves to the frozen
zone to purify the souls of the poor Esqui-
maux aud Indians of Alaska.
"The missionaries are divided into three
classes" said the captain, land there are
some good men among them, to be sure,
but they are as scarce as the aurora in a
summers cline.
"Those whom l condemn belong to a
sect called free workers. who are willing
to worship god and mammon for a chance
to make few dollars
1.-The Government should take hold of
this matter. The Indians OF Alaska are
an easily Influenced race, who are very
anxious to become educated and civilized.
The question of sending good women and
righteous men to labor among them should
meet with support from Congress
81 do not desire to condemn all the mis-
sjonaries of the territory. for there are
many good men up there who are doing
much exemplary work in teaching the
natives. L do, however, want TO say
something about the Scoundrels who in
fest the northern part of Alaska, and
who under the guise of missionaries take
advantage OF their position TO lie, cheat
and steal IL manner that would aslOnish
a horsethief. They are more degraded far
than the natives themselves.
'These individuals 60 out on the pre-
tense OF working among the Indians, but
in reality they ara Schemlug to gather in
skins and to be the recipients of favors
that are not granted 10 men in an ordinary
station OF lie"
Captain TiltOn gives in addition TO his
f,f 10 mis- inn rin ooif al
of the story of the storm that drove the
San Francisco schooners Silver Wave and
Emile Schroeder ashore near Point Hope.
The gale was one of the fercest he had
ever experienced In fourteen years among
the icefioes and bergs. 1t swooped down
on the poi1t like a typhoOn of terrific
energy, and drove the two vessels high on
the rocks.
The sea lifted almost simultaneously
with the coming OF the wind ann swept
landward in great tidal waves that bur
led Point Hope from view. dashed the
spray high up on the surrounding cliffs
and crags and destroyed the native village
that sQuatted at the base of the rocks.
The inhaDitanls fed in terror to the high
ground. dragging canoes, sheds and house
hold equipments after them. The blind
ing sleet and snow almost covered them
over before they could make good their re-
treat TO spot partly sheltered from the
storm.
The whaling stations, which are situa-
ted on comparatively low ground, were
com p!etely submerged at times. Two feet
or waller covered the fioUrs and poured out
through the doors and windows.
The schooner Schroeder was in an ex-
posed position and was driven farther up
on shore than the Silver Wave. The Nico-
lines anchors, two ia number, held we'll
and saved the vessel.
After the storm had subsidized great
quaint les of wreckage drifted ashore.
There were casks of apples, cases Of canned
goods. bedding, ships boats and broken
timbers and spars. The Indians reaped
great harvest.
Some S cries of interest are told by the
Nicoline's crew about the ice about Point
Hope last July. The bergs were of un-
usual size and the foes and broken ice ex-
tended for miles, packed so tightly that the
sea in the DeighbOrhood was almost a solid
frozen mass.
The winter was an extremely cold one.
The men OF the schooner did not suffer 20
any great extent, however for they had
come provided for long stay. The Nico-
line it must be remem bered has been away
from San Francisco two aud half years.
She left here provided with plenty Of good
provi ions and warm clothing.
Captain Tilton says that the Govern
ment has done a good turn for the sealers
by fOrbldding the use of seal guns. Near
ly all the sealers are now using spears.
and il has been found that the spear is
better weapon for killing seals than the
frearm.
All the sealers were doing well. The
Minnie of Victoria had 1900 skins and the
Mary and Ellen 1000, must of which were
secured by using the spear. The schooner
Favorite, a Britlsher, Yves seized, as has
been reported heretofore.
Not one of the Nicoline's crew has been
sick since she left San Francisco. Captain
Tilton advances this fact as an argument
in favor OF the health-givlng properties OF
the Arctic climate. The schooner returned
with the same men that she went away
with.
The Nicotine Is sixty-two days from
Point Hope and twenty-six days fro m
Fox Island. She has a cargo of bone,
skins and ivory consigned 10 j. A. Magee
Jr.