The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-08-29
RETURNED BY GOVERNMENT.
Terrible Ravages of Disease Among
the Starving Children
Linger About the Dead bodies of
Their Parents-Cutter Bear Sent
to the Governments Attention.

| capt. II fel haRune. WHICH arrived IrDtfl
| Boring sea shores yesterday. The Lawton
| had 220 passengers. 1i6 of whom were
wholly destitute or much impoverished
gold-hunters. sent out of the country by
Gen. Randall. commander of the depart
ment of Alaska.
or this number sixty were absolutely
destitute, while eighty had each a little
money. contributing in small way
toward payment of their transportation
back to Seattle
There were about sixty government Of
ficials, army officers and their wives SOL
diers and government employees aboard the
Lawton. Six or eight women. the wives
of miners, returned on the 'Lawton, but
their fares were paid.
In the Lawton contingent were twenty
six Laplanders taken north two years
ago to aid in the government reindeer ex-
pertinent work inaugurated under the aus
pices OF Rev. Sheldon Jackson. DR..
Jackson came with the Lar1and-
ers. and unless the government or
ders TO the contrary he will ac-
company them TO Norway. There are
seven or eight women among the lap
landers Eighty or more Laplanders are
still in the north. but these. DR.. Jackson
stated, did not wish to return, being en-
gagged in mining at Nome and in adjacent
districts.
While the Laplanders pay their own
fares. the government is pledged to give
them safe escort TO their native land.
Terrible suferinRs of Natives.
No more pitiful story of death. disease
and starvation has ever come from the
north than that told by DIR. Jackson Of
the condition of the Arctic and Boring sea
natives. Indeed the Eskimos have been.
and still are, dying by the score Inc
ravages which death and disease have
made in their ranks are incredible. In
desperation born Of disease and starvation.
native fathers have killed their own wives
and children to save them from suffering.
Grippe. measles and pneumonia have been
epidemic this summer in nearly every
northern native settlement. DIR. Jackson
travelled up and down the Boring sea,
Arctic and Siberian coasts for fully 1000
miles. and everywhere found sickness and
hunger.
Out of native population OF 300 on ST.
Lawrence island thirty-six died. Cape
Prince OF Wales. King island. the Do
medes, Sinrock, Nome, GolQvin bay, ST.
Michael-in fact every settlement from
the Aleutian archipelago to Point Barrow
contributed to the death roll. So alarm
ing became the situation that the military
authorities at Nome loaded the revenue
cutter Bear with provisions and medicines
and dispatched the vessel to the relief of
the natives.
or the ravages of disease among the
Northern natives DIR. Jackson last night
said:
DR.. Jackson's story
la grippe combined with measles and
pneumonia. is decimating the Eskimo Of
Alaska. At st. Lawrence island thirty
six died In n month from "A population
OF 300 A large number have died at
Cape Prince of Wales, King island, the
Diomedes, Sinrock. Nome. Golovin bay,
| ST. Michael and all along the coast from
the Aleutian islands to Point Hope, and
| probably Point Barrow, the most north
ern settlement of the continent and along
the Siberian coast from Anadir to Cape
Serdze kamen, and probably hundreds
of miles beyond.
al Indian Point. Siberia. and Port
Clarence, Alaska one-haif the population
has died this season. The ravages Of
disease have been swift and destruc-
1--WE that Q panic seized the people and
they fled from their huts leaving their
dead to be cared for by the missionaries
and government teachers where there
were any. or to go uncared for in their
absence.
In many cases whole families have
disappeared. In others the parents and
some of the children have died, leaving
young children helpless. At Teller rein
deer station a dying Eskimo In his des-
peration shot and killed the shaman, who
was himself sick and would probably
have died II he had not been killed A
sick man at Nome river, on the death Of
his wife. shot himself leaving two small
children. who were taken in sharge by
| the WIFE OF n nelEnbnFlnk army officer.
"A number Of Instances have been re-
| ported of helpless children found by min
| ers. starving In huts beside the dead
| bodies of their parents. and in one in
stance babe was found at its dead
mothers breast
In the neighborhood Of government
and mission stations such relief as is
| possible has been afforded, but this ca
| lamiiy Is so great and widespread that
the authorities have been compelled to
| take IL in hand.
gen. Randairs Action.
"Gan. Randall. commanding the de-
/ partment Of Alaska. has telegraphed the
| secretary u war; Col. Evans, special
| agent and Capt Francis Tu,tle n. G. s.
| eommanding the cutter Bear. have tele-
| graphed the secretary Of the treasury,
| and Gov. Brady the secretary ~ the in
| terror on the situation. Al the above
| communications unite In the recommen-
| dalton that Can't n. n Jarvis be placed
In charge Of administering the relief
AS the eNigencies were too great 70
await tho delay of hearing from wash
ington. Col Evans loaded tho cutter
Hear with -four and other supplies. which
Is being left IN central places on the
| Arctic coast as far north as Point barrow
! Arctic she viii distribute supplies st al
/ tho leading points on Bering sea As far
as possible these supplies VIII be placed
in charge ~ the government teachers
and missionaries 80 Re issued during
the winter under the direction q Lieut.
Jarvis
ing the coming winter 20 prevent fha
starvation 81 those left alive ~ the
Epidemic. as during the nshing season.
the sick were unable 20 lay In their usual
winters supply ~ fish"
cant "A n Clark. u s. a. military In
s,ructor az ihe university % Illinois, re-
turned on ire f.avton-
GOV. Brady's Tour.
Gov Brady vas a passenger IS far ns
Dutch Harhor. whore he took fha gun
boat Wheeling for a trip u Inspection II
the Seal Islands lie expected 60 rrturn
20 sitEa FROM the isiaads The governor
iett the capital about two months ar1.
goinE dCEu The Yukon 20 Meme. lie
STOPPED AZ various poiEis on tee Amsfi-
can Yukon.
The IAwt0n sailed from 81. Michael
August s. ieft Nome August 10 and
Dutch HRrbOr August q. When she SAT-
81 from the latter there were but three
vessels the co!iter Hera. cutter Rush
ard q sailing ship. 10 port.
Purssr Elliot says the voyage was
pleasant except IN Bering sea where
rather rough weather was encountered
between Nome and 81 Michael