The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-27
REINDEER IN ALASKA.
How They Were Secured md 'DOmes-
ticated by sheldon jackson.
M. L. Rayne in Chicago TimesHerald.

nj. l.. Rayne, in Chicago Times-Herald.
A party of Eskimos sightseeing IN Chi
cago recently aroused a passing interest in
those queer little people, which was deep
ened and sustained when the fact was
learned that they were In the employment
of the government. and were on their way
to the seaboard under the care of United
States official. They represented at the
same time an experiment and a failure.
Their mission was to teach the Aleutians
of Alaska how to utilize the reindeer, the
Eskimos being able to get more service in
an endless variety of ways out OF dome5-
ticated reindeer than any other people
In January. 1891, Senator Teller laid before
Congress the report of Sheldon jackson,
general agent OF education in Alaska, urg-
ing the government to import reindeer from
Siberia for the benefit and relief of the In
dams of Alaska, insisting that starvation
would depopulate the country II the reindeer
We're not imported. He also urged the os-
tablishment of an agricultural experiment
and walrus flesh, seal, fish and aquatic
birds, and cariboo, d second cousin OF the
wild reindeer. But whale and walrus nave
been driven away by whaling cruisers, and
the Indians have been reduced by hunger 10
kill their dogs, of which they are very fond:
Senator Teller asked for an appropriation OF
SIS Geo hut il was too late when the report
was presented to the Fifty-tirst Congress
Then Sheldon Jackson made an apDfal 70
the sympathies of the public through the
newspapers of all large cities, and received
in voluntary contributions the sum or $2,l4h:
This money he expended IN the purchase o.
sailed for Siberia on the government rev.
enue steamer the Bear Captain NJ. A. Hen
Nv commanding. His object was 10 pur-
chase a herd Of live reindeer, but strange
complication caused by a LOCAL superstitu-
ton delayed the project ana even threat
ened to render his trip to Siberia futile
The Eskimos of Siberia have supersti-
ton that If they sell live reindeer something
fatal will happen TO the rest OF their herds,
There is a way. however, to overcome the
danger, enc probably suggested Dy cupid
ity The families to which the reindeer be-
long sit in circle and smoke for some time,
xyhn nf
kills a single reindeer The tather OF the
family then goes to the dead animal and
toward the spirit that they look upon as
the one to propitiate. The wife fonoWs ms
example. and under cover~ot the killlng OF
one reindeer the whole herd may be sold.
Uncle Sans representative, Sheldon jack
son was thus enabled to purchase one hum
bred of the animals, he having exchanged
his trinkets for flour or food or presents
for the women and children Four or five
was the limit of the sale from one herd,
and there were long delays, and II was not
until July 4. 1892. that the reindeer, with
four Siberian herders, were landed at Port
Clarence from the revenue steamer Bear
This was the beginning OF the govern
ment's experiment in DEMONSTRATING the
reindeer. for which purpose the four original
Esquimos were imported Now. there. are
two classes of Observation-Disclosures and native
Eskimos. They train the native Alaskans
to tame and handle the reindeer for which
for two years. They are supplied with
shelter, clothing and food. If at the end Of
that time the Alaskan mas learned MS DuSi-
ness thoroughly he Is given ten deer in
payment.
When Jackson returned to Siberia for an
ether invoice of deer he found that Captain
Wagner of the schooner Berwick had
bought a number of reindeer for exhibition
purposes and had paid for them in whisky.
The Siberans refused TO sell single deer
for any other consideration. No whisky
no reindeer However, when they
learned that the Bear was about TO leave
they relented. but IL was then too late TO
secure more than rev animals.
The first fawa born at Reindeer Station,
Alaska was named April Fool F." that title
designating the day of its nativity, April ].
The swiftest OF these hardy animals can
travel 100 miles a lay but their regular
gait is a hundred miles. The farther north
the larger and stronger the deer. They are
In parting with their poorest and wild
est of a herd they show a great reluctance,
and. going from one animal TO another
when the herd is about to be shipped, they