Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1902-03-07
PARRICIDE IS A DUTY.
CANADIAN INDIANS WHO sLAY
THEIR HELPLESS PARENTS.

&
Astounding Episode of Life in the
Gems de Terre River Region Of Can
ada-sons Kill Fathers and Daugh-
tiers XIII Mothers.
After hard days tramp after
ptarmigan near one of the lumber sup
ply farms on the Gems de Terre river
in Canada, the writer and his host
were preparing for bed one night when
a rustling and calling outside attracted
their attention. The door being open
ed, tall. almost frozen Indian. clad
in buckskins staggered in and signif-
cantly drew attention to his hunger
belt. which was drawing in his waist
to waspish proportions.
Before provisions could be set be-
fore him two other fine fellows in SINH
lar plight entered At the risk of los
ing his reputation among Indians for
good manners the host ventured to
ask: Are there any more of your"
After some reflection the nonchal-
ant answer came: only the old man,
and he is likely no good by now"
Further questioning ELECTED the In
formation that the father of the last
Corners, being unable TO follow the
others. had been fastened to one OF
the light strong drawing toboggans
known as traineaux to voyageurs.
Then the traineaux, which was drawn
by an unframed team of hunting dogs,
was abandoned in the woods.
Maybe the dogs will bring him
through, his dutiful sons suggested.
The writer and his host agreed to
slip out while the trio were feeding
and make a search for the old man.
Following the track left by the Indians
the pair on their snowshoes had travel
ed between two and three miles when
they found the little toboggan caught
between trees. two dogs badly mixed
up in their traces, the third strangled
to death.
Near by young grey wolf was sit
ting as a much interested spectator.
To him the dead dog was thrown and
after disentangling and setting free
the others. the trainoaux was dragged
back to the farmhouse, and the old
man carried inside
1t was found that his legs were
frozen from the toes to the knees.
There was no doctor within seventy
miles. nor any surgical instruments at
hand wherewith to attempt 70 furnish
the necessary assistance to the suf-
ferer.
1t was decided between the two
white men TO administer copious doses
of alcohol to him so as to get him
through the night, and to attempt an
amputation when morning should
bring more light than the tallow can
die furnished.
The poor mans groans prevented
sound sleep from visiting the party
for some time. Then the movement
of one of the young men was felt in
the single sleeping room, and a noise
as of a stumble was heard.
Too tired to wonder at the quiet
which followed, all slept until the
morning light awakened them. Then
it was discovered that the old man
was dead, killed by a blow on the
head with an axe
Investigation showed that the eldest
son had done the deed, and that he
considered that he had not exceeded
his fi4ial duty thereby. There was no
chance of recovery for him, he was
suffering pain and causing annoyance
and as he had no preparations to
make for the future why not dispatch
him at once? So the two sons quietly
argued.
And then inquiry and later expert
ence showed that Indian parents of
the remote Montagnais family are
usually helped out of this life in this
way when they become burdensome
in it, Daughters strangle mothers at
night from the back of the tent by
passing a cord around the neck and
pulling at the ends. Sons strike out
the life of fathers with the axe.
Often an old man will give the hint
himself and complain that his teeth
are too old to chew venison or the
less savory contents of an Indian
catch all pot. His feet are too slow
and heavy for the hunt, his eyes are
dim and uncertain his hand trem
bling and weak. And filial respect
acknowledges the truth of all this, and
as a simple matter of duty, though
often with much real grief, helps the
parent along the first stage of his last
journey.-New York Sun.