The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-05
LawIessness Was Rife mt Nome ON His
Arrival and Had to BE Sup
pressed by the Military.
MORTALITY AMONG ESQUIMAUX
ENTIRE RACE is THREATENED
WITH DIFFERENTIATION.
Measures of Relief RecOmmended-
Necessity of Telegraph Line
Relief for the White Men.

George NJ. Randall, commanding the De-
partment of Alaska. under date of Sept.
20, at ST. Michael, has submitted his an
nual report. A great deal of the report is
devoted to conditions at Nome, which ne
found upon his arrival at a critical stage.
1t was difficult to obtain convictions by
jury trial in the United states commits
sioners court, which emboldened the law
less Labor organs prevented men from
working for less than 81 an hour, and were
the cause of much restitution and want
and destruction of property.
Fully $1,000 people arrived at Nome in
June. Claim-jumping was the order of the
day Nearly every one seemed to think n,
had divine right to take possession of any
claim or town lot which he found. Many
property owners were disposed to defend
their lights by taking the law in their own
hands. The arrival of troops prevented
bloodshed AMI serious disorder. On the
request of the Chamber of Commerce, the
military took charge. thoroughly examined
into all complaints and where the rights
of property could be determined placed it
in the possession of the lawful owner
Capt. w. A. Bethel, who acted as judge
advocate In these cases. is highly praised
by General Randall.
The sanitary conditions were placed I'M
der the charge of Haj. Charles L. Egbert
surgeon, who mas heretofore reported upon
conditions. The energetic efforts of the
| military improved these conditions during
the summer.
There were about 500 men working on the
beach at Nome with machinery at che
time, and many declined TO give answers
concerning the prospects for gold, while
others admitted they were taking out only
from 81 to S. a day The beach was prac-
tically worked out last year. The tundra
&c hnl hG lHh hut
| large capital TO produce results. There is
| large of country which has not oeen
| prospected. where gold yet be found
but it requires men of experience 10 de-
velop such a country. General Randall
| discusses the various points where mining
| operations have been in progress, most of
| which have come 10 the knowledge of the
| public in reports from Alaska
| He says 1t has been decided to establish q
permanent military post on the island of
! st. Michael lie says the purchase of two
| stern wheel river steamers for operations
| on the Yukon, and that all coal, forage
| and building materia. intended for Alaskan
| ports should be started from Seattle not
| later than June Ii and shipped in sailing
| vessels, in the interest of economy; also
| that a cableobe laid from Seattle, via Ju-
| neau and Skagway, to Valdez, connecting
| with the telegraph line now building over
| the all-American route from Valdez to
Port Egbert. and down the Yukon river TO
| Fort st. Michael When this line is COM
| pleted, General Randall says, the military
| headquarters should be in southern Alaska
| or at Seattle.
| the vicinity Of Nome, as the tales of death
| by drowning on the shores of Boring sea
! are appalling, and there is no knowledge
Of how many lives were lost He also
| recommends that lighthouses with fog
whistles be established in southeast Alaska
| at the following places: Cape Fox, near
| the southern boundary of the territory;
| Cape Comma, entrance from the north into
| Congas narrows; Five Fingers, in Fred
| erick sound, also fog signal at Unimak
| pass. He also recommends q military
| reservation at Dutch Harbor, and a coaling
station, and thinks that the need may
arise at some future times for erecting
| Notifications az this place.
| General Randall devoted considerable
/ space to the natives of Alaska, and says
that the Esquimaux has been unnoticed by
| those he has befriended and has been al
| and food. For years he has extended his
| hospitality TO adventurous white men and
his hut has been the shelter for ship
| wrecked sailors and frostbtten miners
From all points, Cape York, Port Clarence.
| Topek, Collin bay, Yukon river and else
where reports have been received of sick
ness starvation and mortality so great
| that 1t promised to wipe out almost tho
| entire race. Lieutenant L. II. Jarvis, of
| the United States revenue service reported
| these facts to General Randall and tho
tug Meteor was placed at the disposal for
| relief work and about a hundred destitute
| natives cared for at home The revenue
cutter Bear mas been distributing supplies
| to the destitute natives while others IN
| the vicinity of Fort St. Michael have been
| cared for by the commanding officer If
| that post The work of Lieutenant Jarvis
| is highly commended by General Randall.
| In closing mis- particular feature of his
| report, General Randall says: I'm many
| parts of the United States provision has
been made for the Indian. Reservations
| have been set apart for him ana food and
| clothing supplied. In Alaska il was nor
| necessary heretofore to do much, but the
| great rush of white men that followed
| the discoveries of gold has completely
| changed everything. The game and fur
| bearing animals have about disappeared
| and the natives means of sustenance are
| gone. / therefore recommend that the gov
eminent afford some relief to the natives
until such time as they can take care of
themselves.
| General Randall also has the following
| tC. say regarding relief TO white men who
| venture into Alaska: II am of opinion
| that il would be a mistake for the gov
| eminent TO give any general aid in future
| TO the venturesome classes of white men
| who come TO Alaska. About 5000 have
| been sent out on transports and other yes
sells this year and many more will be
| sent before the close of navigation. The
| conditions are now generally known
| throughout the States and the expectation
| of government aid In returning to their
homes in case of failure, has without doubt
been a most hopeful prospect in view To
| a considerable number who have come TO
| the country since 1897. and especially in
the recent rush to Nome.
|
Avn