The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-10-28

mink 1t likely l shall be prouder yet
He sprang from nowhere In particular
but think he will go far.-Longmant!
Magazine.
EsKIMos ARE DYING OUT.
Natives In Western Alaska Decreas-
ing Rapidly.
From the Seattle Pest -Inteiiigencer)
Among the great questions that are be-
ing studied by scientists, in connection
with the far northern district of Alaska.
Is whether or not the advent Of civilizati on
into that section is making inroads on ths
native races. Strange as 1t may seem.
within the las. two years the native popu-
lation Of Alaska has been decreasing. and
by those who have made a careful study
Of the matter II is said that within the
last twelve months there has been a de-
crease OF fully 60 per cent In the number
OF those who in former days were consider
ed among the hardest races and who In
sunshine or frost, were physically strong
and knew but very little of fatigue.
| As matter OF fact. investigations. 1t IL
said, show that the native races Of the
new realm Of gold are fast dying OF. and
at the same rate of decrease. as in the last
two years. it will only be short time I'M
til the Eskimo will be only told of in his
tory or in the hreside tales Of those who
have been the pioneers In the land Of six
months night.
In the work Of research the Alaska &C.
ographical society has made extensive In
vestigations and the above facts are the
result Of its labors. In July last Arthur
G. Jackson, president Of the society. went
to Alaska in the interests of the society
and-during the two months of his stay there
he paid much attention to the condition
OF the natives. Among the sights he wit
messed In a number Of the small Indian
settlements along the western coast Of the
district and far into the interior were
many that were heartrending and told
tale Of want and suffering that are sa-ely
carrying the native Eskimo to his doom.
MI. Jackson returned to Seattle on the
roanoke and In an Interview regarding
THIS subject, given at the Rainier-Crand
he said:
The condition of the native Eskimos in
western Alaska is pitiful to behold Dur
ing the past year disease has wrought
much havoc among them and unless some
measures are taken shortly by the Gov
eminent to better their condition il will
only pc a short time until that race of
people will be numbered with the past.
during our travels. for my wife was with
me, we saw many touching sights, some
OF which are never to be forgotten.
TO the advance of civilization is partly
due their state, for it cannot be said that
the Eskimo has yet adapted himself to the
new conditions. While I was at Cana
Nome talked with the census supervisor
He Informed me that many Of his emu
merators who did the work In the Koyu-
kuk district brought in with them stories
OF an appalling nature. He said that in
several Of the districts, from reports that
ne lad received. he was convinced that
fully so per cent Of the Indians had died
from disease and privation since the emu
meration began
I'm several Of the sections that We Wis
tied we found little Indian huts In which
there had been no fire for the entire win
ter season. Wood was scarce, the head
OF the family was either dead or Ill with
some one of the many diseases that have
been rampant among the Indians of that
section during the last season, and there
was no one left to go on a journey for
wood. So through the long winter day
and night these impoverished people lived
in squalid poverty with no fire to keep
the body warm or with which to prepare
a meal, should the victuaIs be in tina
house with which to do 1t.
But this is but one Of the conditions
that we found among the Alaska Indians
hat would make the heart sad. Since the
advent Of the white men into the district
n great numbers and the consequent in
reduction of firearms in abundance the
indian has found it a comparatively easy
natter to get all the guns he wanted. II
vas not long before he understood that
powder and ball was quicker method of
skins to sell to his white broth
II than the bow and arrow. The result Of
his knowledge was that, whereas in for
ner times he killed as rule only a sum.
lent number of fur animals to keep him
n meat. with arms in his possession he
iegan to ruthlessly slaughter large num-
lers Of fur-bearing animals, the meat Of
which he could not use and which he al
owed to lie on the ground and rot. He
aw the white man do this and gave no
bought to the consequences or that he
'as not in the same position as the for
isner whom he attempted to follow.
1.-The result of this is that today there
a scarcity of the fur bearing animals In
Western Alaska. The Indian, before be
ealized 1t, was robbed Of all his meat
ubsistence, and worse than all, probably,
!; the fact that In this wanton destruction
e has lost the animals that furnished
i'm with the furs from which he made his
lothing. So it has come to pass that
uring the last winter. while the house
as cold. there was very little meat and
he average Eskimo had not sufficient
lothing to keep himself warm
1T is true that within the past two
ears the Alaska Indian has had greater
evenue from his furs than ever before,
ut the Indian IN there is Just as IMPROVE
emit as the Indian In any other part OF
ne United States and so he has nothing
1T with which to'purchase either food or
lothlng- To these conditions to a large
xtent Is due the great amount OF disease
nd death that has prevailed In that dis
rict during the past year. and thus It
In be said that directly to the advance
civilization in Alaska is due the present
'ndition Of the Eskimo and bis threat
led extinction