Amador ledger., 1901-05-24
FROM OTHER PLACES
The Smallpox Epidemic In
Alaska.
News From Amador City, Plymouth,
and Shenandoah Valley.-A
Communication. -
HA1NEs, ALASKA, May 8, 1901.

HAINEs, ALASKA, May 3, 1901.
Dear LEDGER:
The experiences of Alaskan life
are varied and interesting enough to
satisfy the most ardent lover of ad
venture. A few days ago smallpox was
reported to be epidemic at Sitka and
also among the Chilcat Indians. was
Bent by the authorities to look after
this region. U. S. Marshal O'Connor
and l left Skagway on the S. S. Cot
tage City at I, Tuesday evening, April
50th. Soon after dark we were: sent
ashore in a small boat 10 miles south of
Haines. In the wind, rain and dark
ness, we were landed, through the
surf, among the rocks, thoroughly
drenched and chilled. Seventy eight
Indians who had come down from
Chilcat Village (Which is on Pyramid
Harbor. mile and half west of
Haines) to fish, were camped in tents
on the beach, under orders from the
Marshal not to leave until their condi-
ton had been investigated. A sick
Indian and his family had come from
Sitka and been driven away, some days
before. AS soon as we arrived they
made us as comfortable as possible in
the best tent, called in the believers,
held meeting, and offered thanks to
God for his goodness in sending US to
them. One said, "That shows what
sort of man Jesus is. Most of these
Indians are religious, dress like the
whites, and many have very decent
homes. They are large, strong and
well built and, unlike any Indians l
ever saw before, are vivacious, have a
keen sense of the ludicrous, and are
anxious to learn. We were given
comfortable bed on the gravel floor of
the tent, which was also the sleeping
apartment of two men, two women and
four children. We remained here from
Tuesday night till Friday morning, en-
joying violent storm of rain, wind and
snow and a diet of fish, hard tack and
black coffee. Fair weather at last ap-
pearing, we started in large canoe
padded by fourteen Indians and steered
by one, to q point on Lynn Canal, eight
miles further south. We found the
ostracised family all well and comfort
able, one giving a history of having
been sick three days, month before,
at Sitka, with some sort of breaking
out, probably chickenpox, as it had
left no pitting We gave them per-
mission to return and padded back,
the Indians singing lively chant and
making the forty feet canee fairly fly
through the water. Arriving at the
camp the tents were struck, every body
and everything put in the canoes, an
old man offered thanks to Jesus and
the fotilla proceeded up Chilcat Inlet
to Pyramid Harbor, and landed at
Chilcat Village, on the east side of the
harbor. Found several new arrivals
from Sitka. Crossed the peninsula to
Haines, which is on the west side of
Haines Harbor, reaching the hotel at
sunset, sat in q chair at the table and
ate white mans meal, which seemed
a royal banquet. That evening
authentic news came from Sitka that
they had more than fifty cases of small
pox SO our rejoicing was turned to
anxiety on account Of the late Indian
arrivals. Have vaccinated two hun
dred and thirty-eight and am not half
through, there being two cannery vii
lagos near here and the Indian village
of Klukuan 25 miles up the Chilcat
river, yet unvisited. Most of the
Indians are anxious for vaccination but
we have had a few cases that were
obstreperous and the Marshal has
twice been obliged to threaten to send
for the black soldiers unless they SUBJ
mitted. This inducement has proved
effective thus far.
The weather is mild and pleasant,
grass and buds are appearing and peo-
pie are making gardens.
Everyone here believes Porcupine to
be one of the richest regions in Alaska.
The hotels are crowded with miners
and prospectors going there, Indians
are ia king passengers up in canoes for
ten dollars each and supplies for five
cents pound. Yours in exile,
c. H. G.