The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-13
CRUISE Of Gutter GRANT.
SEARCHING FOR SURVIVORS OF THE
ILL-STARRED PELICAN.
tou Island Crew Gives Away
Clothing AID Food-Miseionary

Mrs. slamm, of this city, IL in receipt Of
q letter from her husband. Capt. 6lamm.
Of the Grant, which has lately returned to
Dutch Harbor from Q sixteen days cruise
through the Aleutian islands.
Two OF the prime objects OF the trip
were: A search for any possible survivors
Of the ill-starred Pelican, and the study
OF ocean currents in Boring sea and vi
cinity, for which purpose numerous bot
ties were cast overheard. with instructions
inside to the finders to forward an account
of the finding. locality. etc., to Washing
ton.
The Grant left Dutch Harbor July Z.
Tho weather was fine for a time. but q
day or 50 out found the Grant in genuine
Boring sea weather: cold, overcast sky and
frequent squalls prevailing. After cru.s-
ing along and sending numerous bottles
adr.ft. meanwhile keeping . sharp look
out for any OF the Pelican's crew that
should have had the misfortune to be cast
away on any OF the practically un.nhaoit-
ed islands. the Grant stopped at Attou
island. one OF the Boring sea group. They
found the natives OF this place in sore
straits: in no immediate danger OF star
walton. but with the exception OF good
fish and wild fowl supplies besides sozne
roots and berries. practically destitute.
The Inhabitants. numbering seventy-..hree
and children. were in a pit.able condition.
many OF the children being without o rag
to their backs and the majority OF the
others but little better, being chiefly de-
pendent for bodily warmth upon the COM
mon practice Of budding, five or six toge-
Their, In their "barabaras'' or native nuts.
built OF earth and stones, the fuel, except
the scant supply OF drift wood. having been
exhausted from tne island.
Huddling In Huts.
II Is common for number of the natives,
in the absence of q fire. to crowd into one
of the huts. which, unventilated, foul and
nauseating, holds but little advantage over
decent death by exposure. and this In
deed would be preferred (by any but a
native OF Attou) to such a heroic method
OF preserving life. The crew Of the Grant
gave away hero much spare clothing be-
side some OF their own private supply, and
as a result. men. women and children went
around clad In miscellaneous garments
ranging from msflt, brass buttoned Of
fetal uniforms to scant underwear and
old shoes. The people were suffering from
lack OF salt. and being without fuel could
obtain none by distillation. This resulted
in much sickness and kept the physician
busy for while dispensing medicines.
The contents of the single store consisted
of Is small bags Of -four, pounds OF gun
powder. 10 yards of cotton cloth and 5
gallons OF kerosene.
The officers distributed -four. tea. bis
cult. tobacco. garments. and last, but not
least, plenty OF soap.
The natives are quite religious. and at
tend regularly the services held in a lit
tie Russian church, where Philareek. ex-
agent and lay reader for the Russian
church. holds services every Sunday.
This man was educated in Alaska and
sent 10 head the colony on Attou island
h.. GxIt
natives are laying in their supply o. fish
Philareek goes over regularly TO the fish
Ing grounds Sundays and holy days
and holds services.
Population Diminishing.
Attou island has In time past been fam
fortunes have been made I'm their ira ffic,
but the traders, and not the natives. have
made the money. The foxes have all
been killed OF and the population is d.
minishsng year BY year.
The remainder are. strange TO say.
quite content with their lot never hav-
Ing known ANYTHING better. and cling
fondly Ia the bleak frozen island which
hardly affords them means Of susie
nance, and which Is often the scene of
furious earthquakes and landsIides
The Grant stayed four DAYS at Alton
leaving on July Is for Dutch harbor.
which she reached. after a bad passage.
on Juiy -
Capt Slamm's letter stated that the
ttstft Na- to8iSft ana ready Ter n cruise
In the Prihllof islands. on which she was
IN start July - There she will patrol
the seal fishing grounds and enforce the
sealing laws
Ten sealing vessels were already on
the ground and ten more expected 10
arrive shortly. AT tne time OF Cart
Sia,nrus writing
Last year as the revenue cutters on
account OF the war. did net 60 north
the seal slaughter nrohab iS far exceeded
the legal limit. beside probable unlawful
fishing being prosecuted This year sne-
.ssi efforts Will be- made IN enforce :he
"a. 49,