The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-09-16
many INDIANS STARVING.
Government Aid Sought for 400 of
the CrecS.


WINNIPEG Manitoba. Sent. 1s.-Among
! the many strange stories brought here
by Rev. r. G.. Stevens, a Methodist mis-
sionary from the far northern district
which borders the great Barren Grounds
Of the Canadian Northwest. who comes
To solicit Government aid for Loo starry
ing Indians, is that about Chief David.
head Of "a band of 2u0 Cree Indians.
The chief ruled his little band with
an iron hand. Many tales are told Of
/ ms Wild bursts Of passion. when the men
women, and children OF the tribe lied be
i"re him as before a hurricane. When
IN his tantrums the chief was @ verita-
Die Nero Of the North and " as feared
and hated by all. In wild tit Of rage
about year ago ne murdered his father
/ ln-law and threatened to extermfrate
his whole family. Not a member Of the
Tribe dared 20 interfere while he nut his
WIte's father 20 a horrible death. first
tearing out his tongue and cutting of
MS ears, and then sending a tomahawlx
crashing through his skull.
Chief David. after his crime. became
gloomy ana morose, for an avcnginp- ne
mesis seemed 90 be following him. His
wife first became sick. and nothwfth-
standing the treatment Of a famous medf-
cine man from a distant tribe. died in
great agony. cursing her husband with
her last breath Following closely upon
the death OF his Wife came the sickness. of
his four children They, too, died of a
most mysterious ailment
About year ago the members or the
liioe decided that the Great Spirit was
angry with Chief David for his crimes.
and that if he remained among them they.
h4. raEs--
death. 1t was decided to eXpel him from
the tribe. and giving him several blankets
and skins, he was exiIed to a lonely spot
situated about three miles from the In
Dian encampmeut- Here the once power
iul chieftdin led an existence which in
time drove him half crazy. No member
OF the Tribe was permitted 10 speak to
MN. but he was frequently seen wander
ing through the woods in search of game
ABOUT a month and a half ago David
vs. seen 20 take his canoe and start out
l1I q small rocky island in Gods Lake
ap'ul a mile from shore. II was thought
Jhat ne was going 20 gather cuIls' esggs
ana when he did not rcaupear i'm several
DAYS time nothing was thought of If
y. HyH, however. a week passed by and
ll'I L1t' tLlltt was not seen around his ac-
S..Slpiitd ndunts a search for him was in
STUFFED No trace Of the missing man
.I'o-u pe found No one apparently
!, -1--''lN va i'.HHN4ll5 on the rocky ISIer for
hifn until fOTty-five DAYS after M. ais
apPtdr"nce Of the chief. Mr. Clements q
meut. '-'iip
He was told the story. and N once sIr-
BgSJed that visit be made To the island
where ne thought the skeleton If tho oEiaf
HiieAJ ne found a hotlla of canoes UUt
out and IN the rank grass which was the
oulE vegetation on the island Chief Uq-
wa was found In the last stages OF starry
aton- He had been on the little rock i'm
lut view or the enCampmeur for forty
nv nEe days. and during that time had ab5o-
'-tNit Hplllng 70 eat as when he rec0v-
cred he said he had been unable 10 gath
er any sulls eggs and had taken no food
with him.
Reduced To mere skin and bone It took
the late chief a week TO recover He told
ms st9fy 10 Mr. Clements, who had re
NAMED IN the camp. and il was repeated
to Mr. Stevens by members Of The rrib.
several weeks ago. David tired OF his Is0-
laUcn. and reTn0rSeful for his crimes had
decided 10 commit suicide by starving
nlmSef 10 death when he started out in
ms canoe. Upon reaching the little rock
IN the centre Of the lake he turned his
canoe adrift and st0icaIIy laid down to
die lie said b. suffered terribly from
the pdugS OF hunger for the first UWO
weeks and prayed for death but made
no attempt 20 attract the attention Of the
Indians in the camp.
After the first ten days he became semi
conscious and did nothing but take a
drink occasionally and lie in the grass
" hen Mr. Stevens reached the camp of
the Crees several weeks ago Chief David
had been restored To his former position
as leader. He was rat and hearty not
withstandiug his terrible experience.
which. by the way has made him one OF
the best-uatured Indians in the entire dis
triCt