The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-03-18
They Wait in Vain for the Com
ing of Cariboo and Moose.
WHITE MEN SEND RELIEF.
Tananas Live ut the Headwaters OF
-When Their Food supply Failed
Then They Ate Their Dogs and
Then Settled Down to Dfe-Trap-
Der Carries News TO Circle City.

The Tanana Indians have been fighting
against death in the form OF starvation
this winter, according 10 reports that
have jus. been received from Circle City.
Up on the headwaters Of the river that
is named after them. they waited through
December fer the passing of the moose
and carihoo. upon which they depend for
their food supply. The moose and Carl
boo did not appear al the usual tirae, but
the Indians thought that the passing
would only be later than usual. They
did not think that the animals had taken
some other route for their trip into the
interior.
They waited until all their food had
been eaten up. and then began TO live
On the flesh Of their dogs. Still the
nearly all of the dogs had been eaten up
ana the Indians had no way Of frave.ing
TO the river
trapper who passed through the coun-
try al this time brought the news TO
Circle City. A relief party was at once
plies as could be spared were losaded UP
and expert dog teams hitched Oh. These
We're placed in charge of Old Yukoners
who are familiar with the country. and
who started about January Is over the
snow 10 the relief of the Indians.
The news of the starvation on the
ianana was brought to Seattle yesterday
D. ~
arrived from Dawson on the steamer City
OF Seattle. lie left Dawson on February
s. and the story was told him by Thomas
Conif, who also halls from Snohonisa.
and who had Just come up the Yukon
from Circle City. The report was con-
flrned by Windy Atwater the United
States mail carrier. who arrived at Daw-
son on February 7. and who made the
trip to Skagway with Petit
MIR. Petit gave the following account
of the matter to a Post-fnteiligencer re-
porter yesterday:
About January i a trapper and far
buyer who had been hunting near the
headwaters OF the Tanana river brought
the report TO Circle City that a tribe of
Tanana Indians were starving. They
were away up on the headwaters OF the
Tanana, ard. having eaten their dogs
had no means of getting TO the settle
men,s. lie said there were 500 men. wo-
men and children in the tribe, and that
they would surely siarve unless relief was
sent At once.
The Indians had gone into the Mills near
the headwaters Of the river to wal, for the
coming of the cariboo and moose. as was
their usual custom. The animals pass in
herds. going from the coast towards the
interior. They are usually three or four
days in passing. and the Indians slaughter
large numbers Of them. The passage is at
tended with great Indian ceremonies. ana
after the animals have gene a big feast is
held. The meat thus secured is dried after
the Indian manner. and forms the prin-
cipal SOURCE OF their food until summer.
The passage usually takes place in Deem
Der. and for years has bsen on the Tanana
side of the Yukon.
Their supply OF dried meat and salmon
was very nearly exhausted when the In
dams went into ambush, as IL were. for
the moose and carihoo. All through De-
cernbcr they waited for their coming. but
no deer appeared The Indians figured
that the run was 10 he later than usual
hut did not Ter a minute imagine that they
were not coming at all. The supply OF
food ran oat late IN December. and the
Indians began % XIII and eat their dogs
they disappeared with great rapidly when
GO Indians began 20 live On them. When
the Indians finally realized their position
they dd nos know what 10 DO. They did
not have food 20 last them for a trip 10 The
settlements ga the river. and even If they
had. there were 10 dogs left 10 make st.
They could Secure SO food hy hunting. and
the frozen rivers gave them no chance 10
ash. In true Indian fashion they settled
d5gn 20 meet their fate. The ira PIPER Who
by chance turned up promised ,hom that
b. would make p quick trip 10 the river
and send back mea with supplies
When be reached Cir,}e city he stated
Ihe condition in which he had found the
iu4.ans. auJ the Circle Gay people 3miee-
d.atcly organized "a rslss expedition. Tire
men IN chsrgs Of the food leet with dog
teams about the same time that Alwater
md Cop3G started 81 tHe river Whether
they w.I reach il14 Indians ia slime s. "A
question - doubt It IL hslisse1. however.
INA. the greater portion ~ ~. tt5},s Will
manage to pan saroara rs sa;fnE herbs and
sa-3 aa.naals SIS .eey may he able to KIN