The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-23

ever way he thought best and quickest In
the cause of the church 1t is said OF him
that while he was riding across the prairie
been q Presbyterian. He organized her
into PRESBYTERIAN church, and then rode
on his way. His career as a pioneer mis-
people by his rough and ready simplicity
than any other missionary of the Presby-
terrain Church. He carved out the West
for the church while the professors who are
now famous in the presbytery were learn
ing the first rudiments OF the Westminster
Confession. Early in the SOs he was sent 10
Alaska, and was the first missionary TO
make his appearance there. Here he de,
veoped the talents of the statesman ana
the civil economist. He had fight on his
hands Immediately with the corrupt OF
ficials He found no sort of government IN
Alaska, and started to lay the beginnings
of administration. He was always the most
incessant plucky, cool-headed and warm
hearted missionary that ever rode bronc4o
or swan a river TO preach the gospel. re
found the problem OF starvation awaiting
him. He was made United States agent
for education in the far northern territory
and went to work at once. The AlaSkanS
could not get enough to eat. SO DR.. Jack
son started in to feed the natives and then
to convert them.
Long before his advent in Alaska large
herds of reindeer used to roam over the
marshy, moss-covered tundra of the north
ern peninsula. These were eXtermlnated
by injudicious slaughter. Walrus, whale
and seal were also rapidly disappearing
owing to the inroads OF the rapaclous
Britain, and 1T seemed only a matter of
short time when the natives of Alaska
would be face to face with starvation. In
this emergency DR.. Jackson suggested that
the government should transport from ST.
IBERIA the domesticated reindeer. that are
to the Siberian what herds of cattle are to
the Texan. DR.. Jackson's plan met with
favor He bought and transported to Alas
ka herd of about seven hundred reindeer,
which he thought would furnish food, cloth
ing and transportation to the 1900 Eskimos
who inhabit Alaska and its adjacent ISL
ands. In one year the herd increased more
of colony of Laplanders that was i'm
ported from Siberia. They speedily became
homesick and Dr. Jackson employed Will
liam A. Kjelmann, of Madison, Wis., to
officiate as superintendent OF the reindeer
station.
herds of twenty reindeer to the most sub
stantial residents of the Eskimo villages
with the understanding that in five years
one hundred must be returned to the
United States government. AT the end of
five years it was calculated that the Eski-
mo should be able to return this number
his own. DR.. Jackson's experiment was a
success. The reindeer are null
tiplying and Dr. Jackson has
just received news that one of his assoc
ciates made a 1000-mile ride to the Yukon
river on a sleigh drawn by three of the
imported reindeer. When he began carry
ing out his plan DR.. Jackson was told by
George KEENAN, and others that on account
of certain superstitions the Siberian natives
would on no account sell the government
reindeer. and that even If they did the
deer would not eat food that had been
handled and would die in few days on
board a steamer Both predictions have
proved untrue. DR.. Jackson work had
scattered many of the native superstitions.
His work in building up the Presbyterian
Church in the West, where noble struc-
lures testify to his arduous toll in behalf
of the church. and his struggle in Alaska
against corrupt officials make DR.. Jackson
one of the most prominent figures in the
church to-day His election as moderator is
considered as a reward for the many years
of toll in the far West