The record-union., 1895-01-19
INDIAN RICH ASSOCIATION, !
l20h ARCH STREET
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 9. 1895. J

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 9, 1895.
DEAR SIR: l feel justified in appealing
to the charitably disposed public, through
your kindness, on behalf OF the starving
Navajo Indians, for such contributions
as may be given, 10 relieve the most
pressing ana serious causes OF destitutiou
among them.
! ask on behalf OF this association that
contributions OF money should be spent
payable TO nay order as Secretary. Such
| funds / Will use promptly, through re-
liable persons on the Navajo Reservation,
for the purpose specified.
The essential facts Of the case NAV be
briefly given. On December y, 1884, l
issued an appeal to the friends Of the In
diaus TO urge upon Congress, through
their individual Representatives and
upon the Indian Bureau, an appropria-
ton Of 50, 600 to relieve starvation
among the NaVaJOs, threatened by the
total failure Of their crops. Captain
Williams, the army officer acting as
their agent, wrote me: Tho destitute
are living on the charity Of those who
have something, bat the resources of
these latter viii soon be exhausted, be-
ing very limited. All of them will have
10 face starvation unless some speedy
pr0yision be made TOR their relief. /
have only the regular supply necessary
for the help of the small number of poor
in ordinary years, and this is nothing to
what is required nOw.'
In answer 10 this appeal hundreds of
letters were written 10 members OF Con-
gress and to the Indian Office, urging
action. At later date I visited the In
dian Commissioner upon this matter
To told me that he believed Captain
Williams had oeen 100 snort time in
charUe OF the NavajOs to understand fully
fheir condition; that he would do everv-
tbin,- in his power TO relieve whateyer
yauf might exist among them, but he
wished to avoid putting the Indians on
! rattions lest they should become pauper-
lied.
! Canyon. Ariz., competent authority.
nos written me: II fully agree with Won
that something should be done by the
/ Government 10 assist those of the tribe
who are now suffering, and many others
that will be in the same condition before
| the winter IS over.
have also received reliable informa-
! tion that Captain Williams has been ad-
! monished by the Secretary OF War, upon
! the reauest OF the Secretary OF the In
! terror. 10 'thOld no correspondence with
/ outside parties on official business which
! is TO receive action by Congress-" This
! means. | presume, that be IS not to ap-
! neal further TO the Indian Rights Associ-
alton calling iOr relief to the starving
! Navajos. But we havo other sources of
! information. \ lady engaged as a teacher
/ upon the reservation, writes:
"If you were here and could see the
suffering among the Navajos, it would
/ cause your heart to acne. 1ney are starry
! inc. and como to me and beg Tor some
! thug to eat, and language cannot de-
scribe my hearts pain when / ain obliged
/ to refuse them. / sometimes wish l were
where | could not witness 50 much mis- :
/ cry, being powerless to help them. On,
something must be done for them. To
think we are living among people who
are literally starving TO death. / have
visited number OF their hogans and
| found nothing whatever to cat. In one
/ hogan | saw Il horsa's head, which
showed they had killed ono to eat. They
/ have killed most Of their sheep and goats,
| and are now killing their horses"
Commissioners Browning writes me-.
under date oil January 9th: II am giving
earnest support to aiding the Navajos III
the way that / think Will be best for
! them" But it seems clear to me that IN