The Indianapolis journal., 1899-08-25
TALE OF WOE AND DEATH
TERRIBLE CONDITION OF GOLD
SEEKERS IN KOTZEBUE SOUND.
Lieut.. ID. III. Jarvis's Report on the
Rescue Of Adventurous People Who
Were Lured to Alaska.


the commander of the revenue cutter Bear.
containing an account of the rescue OF the
gold seekers who rushed in the Kotzebue
gold country. Alaska. in the summer of 1898.
Lieut.. Jarvis was taking the Bear north TO
Cape Barrow on her regular trip. AT Cape
Prince of Wales he learned Of the awful
destitution which had overtaken the gold
seekers at Kotzebue sound. On arrival there
he found terrible condition of affairs Men
had died of starvation, scurvy and by
drowning, and he obtained list of forty
eight deaths. But the list is by no means
complete. This list has been published in
the Associated Press dispatches. Over 1000
of the gold seekers had wintered there. The
Bear, after relieving much of the distress
as possible and leaving stores, lime fruit
juice, etc., for the survivors, took eighty
two of the survivors TO ST. Michaels, where
they were turned over to the military au-
thorities.
Lieut.. Jarviss report is dated July 80 at
st. Michaers. He reported that he left be-
tween a25 and go survivors at Kotzebue
sound. He Informed the department that
he would proceed to Cape Barrow and upon
his return would touch at Kotzebue sound
and pick up any who desired to return with
him. Lieut.. Jarvis says: First Lieut.. Ber-
thol and Surgeon Hawley were sent to the
camp at Hotam inlet. They returned with
thirty-two sick and convalescent, all affect
ed with scurvy. Some Of these were in
very low condition and the chances are
would not have survived many days without
medical attendance. From 225 to 80 people
were still in the camp. Some had plenty of
food and means of paying their way out.
Returning to the camp, Lieut.. Berthol and
the surgeon brought off all those In des-
titute condition or without means-forty-
eight men, two women and an infant, MAX
ing eighty-three persons In all taken from
the camp. 1t was not possible to take any
more at that time, but assurance was given
the people ashore that If they did not sue
ceed in getting away before the vesseis re-
turn they would be taken out by the Bear
There were plenty of provisions for the use
of those remaining, many Of them having
a years outfit. and the only sick person re-
manning was Mrs Smith. whose case was
so serious that she could not be moved.
The bark Alaska, of San Francisco. was
expected to arrive, and the steamer Town
send passed in as the Bear left, the char
terer of the Townsend, Mr.. c. D. Lane, as
sured me that he would take out all VINO
wished to go. Many If not all, Will De aDle
to leave by these two vessels, but upon
beach of all who remain. :.
1.-The rush of people to Kotzebue SOUND
was a sad deblorable affair. M1sled Dy
false information and advertisements, 1.ao9
people many totally united 10 stand naru
conditions and climate, rushed there curing
the season of 1898. During the winter no
gold whatever was found, and in the spring
they sought every means of escaping from
the region. Many were drowned IN tne
swift currents of the rivers in the fall OF
1898: others lost their lives during the winter
from the cold, and, worst of all, In the
spring scurvy broke out in nearly all the
deaths These are all that could be gath
cred from the people at Holman Inlet, pu.
l have no doubt that many others occurred
that were not recorded or could not De
learned. 1 apprehend also that many OF
those who started coasting along the shore
for Cape Nome may have lost their iives IN
the ice and bad weather. The two brothers
Pickering, of Princeton, KY, were killed by
a native named kokomuk on the Selawlck
river. These men are given bad character
themselves killed one Mardis, of Santa
Rosa, Cal, for his money. Kokomuk could
killing was done in self-defense, as the
Pickerings were shooting at him at the
time for some trivial offense. 1 will inves-
7.The schooner General Mcpherson was
met off Cape Espenberg on the 22d inst, and
Second Lieutenant Ralhnger and Seaman
to St Michaeps, but she was fallen in with
off Ledge island on the 26th and towed to
Name Norton sound, and there turned over
d. S. Swift; the master, Jams b. Nelson,
was arrested by Deputy Swift on warrant
for piracy and was brought on board, To-
gether with his family, for transportation
to this port. A stop was made at Point
Rodney on the night of the 18th. and II was
that on he @
inst had passed that point the same morn
ing native camp was vas found S1Si IA. little title
farther on on the 18th rasts1 and M1oarloo was
Upon arriving at this port on the 9th
the United States steamers Corwin Rush
end Nunivak were found in port. Arrange
ments were Immediately made with Captain
Walker, United States army, commanding
Fort st. Michael and the sick and destitute
from Kotzebue were landed and turned over
to lin. The stores of the United States
steamer Nunivaiy were delivered TO her on
the 18th, and on the 18th the prisoners were
er. Sablok Captain JaclO was sentenced to
six months confinement; and Aseruk Nu,
o1er for trial before the United states Dis
trict Court at sitka, Alaska
was landed on the 18th inst ,t,!, the Alaska
vided quarters and the attendance OF their
medical officer"
board GI0wtas the United I States s steamer Bear:
George Sargent, ]. Fred Gordon. James Fl.
Kilner, Charles o. Ford, j. H. Cole, Charles
g. III. VALLEY, h s. De Long. <. w Martin.
A. ]. Hayward, c. ]. Connolly w. r. Hast
ing, Thomas Meadon, Arthur McGavitt.
John Bergquist, Frank Harris. Sabn Har-
ris, John Meyer, 7. Francisco, George st.
Clair, T. NJ. Lane, III. w. Pike, G. w. Breed,
John Wilson, Fred EtZel, Hans Bastian,
August Fahrenholz James A. Steel, -
Bush.
Following is list of destitute: g. w. Berry.
Ed Humphrey, Mark Thomas, 8. M. Fuller,
Chris Schumacher, Mrs. Alvina Herman,
alias Bowman, and infant, H. b. Atzroth,
M. Kane John Madden. b. ARIA, Frank +.
Smith, George c. Bence, William II. Shafer,
E. W. Clark, c. Ashley, A. Johnson, c. 5.
Lieut. Jarvis who accomplished the res
cue of the gold seekers at kotzebue sound,
is the revenue marine officer who distin-
guished himself in the win of 1S91-9S by
leading a relief expedition ON Tunnuak,
300 miles below ST. Michaers, to Point Bar
row. Over 1900 miles of snow and ice I'm the
dead of winter. he pushed an expedition for
the relief of the ice-imprisoned whalers at
Point Barrow. He arrived there with near
ly 500 reindeer after four months Of almost
indescriba BILE hardships. II was the only
Arctic relief expedition ever attempted in
midwinter. For his heroism on that ac-
count the President recommended that Con-
gress give him a vote of thanks and award
him a gold medal.
GLAND OF COLOSSAL LIARS"