Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-03-19
ALASKA A FAMINE LAND,
THE FOOD SOURCES OF THE EsKI-
MOS DESTROYED.
An Effort to Save the Starving by
Demonstrating the Asian Reindeer
Small Herds for Each Family.

| ''S""i ioou icSouiCeb nave repeatedly
failed them. They have been re-
duced to extreme destitution, and
many have perished of starvation
One year or another famine has
afflicted the entire inhabited region
from Labrador to Alaska.
Little as we know of the history of
the Eskimos on the American main
formerly lived where hundreds are
now found. Captain French, an ex-
perienced pilot along the Labrador
coast, says there is now only one
Eskimo where twenty used to live.
Years ago the Indians killed many of
them, and they have been gradually
diminishing ever since on account
of the growing scarcity of seal, fish,
birds and other game, and also be-
cause of their contact with civilization,
their close winter houses inducing
consumption and other diseases.
The condition of these few thou
sands of people on the islands and
along the coasts of Alaska appeals all
the more to our sympathy because
their sources of food have been de-
stroyed by the industries of white
men.
Right across the narrow sea from
Alaska, ON the shores of Asia, and ex-
tending some ways into the interior,
live hardy, active and well-fed tribes,
allied to the Eskimos of our continent,
who own tens of thousands of domestic
reindeer. The flesh and skins of these
animals supply them with food, shelter
and clothing. As far as their own peo-
pie are concerned, they do not know
what starvation means. During the
past two years the matter has been
well looked into, and it has been found
that there is no reason why the do
mesticated reindeer should not thrive
in Alaska and further east. Indeed,
there seems to be no reason why these
animals should not be source of
wealth and security to the natives
clear across the northern part of this
continent. On the shores of Alaska,
and further inland, the MOSES and
grasses thrive on which these animals
live in Asia.
The Rev. Sheldon jackson, our gen.
eral agent of education in Alaska, had
the honor of suggesting the importa-
tion of domesticated reindeer. A con-
siderable sum of money contributed
by the public in 1891 and grant of
SIS, 900 from the Government in 1892
enabled Mr.. Sheldon, with the assist
ance of Captain Healy and the revenue
cutter Bear, to try the experiment. 1t
is now so far advanced that its sue
cess, as far as the practicability of
raising reindeer in Alaska ig concerned,
is assured. Mr.. Sheldon's report on
the work has been printed by the Gov
ernment, and the facts given here are
taken from it.
1t was objected to the work at the
outset that though the natives of
Siberia would kill their deer and sell
the meat, they would not sell live ami
mails. In Kennans book he says that
in the two and a half years he spent in
Siberia not one of his parties was ever
able to buy from the Koraks and
Tchuctchees single living reindeer.
II was also said that the animals would
not bear transportation across the sea.
The work of 1891 was planned on a
small scale, to test the correctness of
these assumptions.
1t was found that the natives would
sell reindeer, though it took days of
palaver to overcome their reluctance
to part with live animals. Sixteen
were finally purchased. They were
kept on shipboard for over three weeks,
passed through a severe gale, and were
finally landed in good condition at
Unalaska, after sea voyage of over
1000 miles. 1t was thus proven that
they could be transported on ship
board as easily and safely as other
domestic cattle. The reindeer thrived
during the winter at Unalaska, and by
spring two additions had been made
to the herd.
In the summer of 1892 operations
were much enlarged, in view of the
success of the preliminary experiments
and with the aid of the Government
grant. A herd of It's selected ami
mails was purchased in Siberia and
landed at Port Clarence, on the Alas
kan coast. This point was selected
for the reindeer station because it is
the nearest good harbot to Siberia,
and because it is central point from
which the animals may easily be dis
tributed
-Four Siberians who are we'll ac-
quainted with the management of
reindeer were taken to Port Clarence
and placed in charge of the herd.
Under their direction a few Alaskan
Eskimos are learning the care and
management of reindeer. The inten-
tlon is from year to year to increase
the number of Eskimo apprentices
to the herders. The Eskimos who are
learning the business are all young
men. AS soon as each of them has
demonstrated his capacity and learned
the business a small herd will be given
to him as q start in life. From year
to year the number of these native
herders will be increased, and some of
them will be set up in business as
herders on their own account, and in
this way the herds will naturally be-
| ooma mora and more distributed