The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-10-23
CONDITIONS IN ALASKA.
Natives AIopgFfhe YaiSon Dying OF
Disease and Want.


A report has Just reached the Treasury
Department from Alaska that has opened
the eyes Of the officials to the horrible
condition of tbs. natives living along the
Yukon From the mouth Of the river to
Fort Gfbbon at ,least 80 per cent Of the
population is sick, all the people are in
want, and the dead hase accumulated so
fast that the living unable to give
them proper burial. In some instances the
dogs of the villages have dug up the
corpses and have dragged the mangled re-
mains from place to place, and there arr
meme among the living able either to stop
this dissertation of the dead or give the
mutiiated remains proper interment
The Department received the facts from
First Lieutenant Cantwell, commanding
the revenue cutter Nunivak, which l.;
about to go into winter quarters at Dial
River, after ascending the Yukon from its
mouth. The cutter was sent up the river
TO leave supplies and medicines for the
destitute natives but as the authorities at
Washington and ST. Michael had no idea Of
the dreadful condition of affairs, she was
altogether unable to give aid to tenth
part of the sufferers. Lieutenant CantweIl,
IN describing the condition Of the natives
and the attack Of the grip that spread SO
rapidly over the entire country, says:
SO sudden and overwhelming was the
attack of the disease that in many cases
ceming under my own observation whole
villages would be Frustrated, with hardly
single person left well enough TO attend
TO the wants of the sick and helpless. In
some OF the villages the dead were left
unDuried. as none of the living were ply
stcally able to perform the duty, and at
one place We visited six corpses had been
thrown into a grave. and so insecurity
buried that the dogs had dug them up and
partsyof the bodies were found lying around
the village, nlangied and gnawed in the
most repulsive manner by the animals.
Wherever We went the same~eonditiGns
| as regards sickness and starvation con-
fronted us. The force of the Nuniyak was
! employed constantly on the way up stream
! in the work of caring for the living All
/ buryiEg the dead
After urging the Department TO send
more supplies to the sufferers Lieutenant
Garfield continues: Il wish to call the at
! tentiol of the Department to the noble
self-saerifcing and devoted manner in
/ which the Christian men and women at
! tached to all the church missions along
/ the river have carried relief and succor
/ to the stricken people under their spirit
ual charge. No work has been TOO hard
no sacrifice too great. no Office too mental
| or repulsive to deter them from its per-
! Torrance Night and day, in good weather
/ and bad, far and near, they have Iabored
| to relieve suffering. Without q murmur
and with a total absence OF ostentation,
| they have gone about their work, giving
| freely of their own sCanty provisions. en-
| during without complaint all hardships,
| and in one case, that of the Sister Supe-
rior at Holy Cross. even laying down her
| lt{e. as direct result of the exposure and
| fatigue brought on by long continued
effort to relieve distress"
! Lieutenant CanfieId gives the following
| estimate of the number OF natives destf-
tute in the Yukon region. nfne-tenths OF
whom are also sick: In the Delta region
| ESQ: at and near the Russian Mission. Goo:
at Holy Cross, 300; at Anvik Mission. $50;
at NuIato Mission. Goo; at KoTkrine S
Trading Post. 200; at small camps and
| isolated haInlets, 250.
/ The Treasury Department officials will
| do all in their power 10 relieve the dis
tress so era ph{callF reDorted