Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1902-04-12

whites had travelled had struck the
ground, and he attempted 10 locate it,
but failed
That was all the Eskimo could tell
and as the man had previously known
nothing of the balloon, as he had been
away from Fort Churchill in the Wild
crncSs. much credence was given to
his story. He was provided with sup
plies and offered many things as a re-
ward if he succeeded in getting fnth-
or information. He lt once started
for the wilderness TO locate the scene
of the tragedy.
He was away two years and return
ed late last fall, having been unsuccess-
ful in locating the hostile tribe but
with the story that they had mig lted
northwest. leaving the white mems
relics among various small tribes.
These included guns. knives and
strange instruments unknown to them
The Eskimo held stoutly to his story
although closely questioned. Aston
said he could not but believe him"
Aston's letters bear date of last
fall, but were delayed in reaching here
coming from the last packet from the
North. So convinced are the company's
officers here of the correctness of the
story of Andree's death. that they
sent voluminous reports to the Swed-
ish Government, with Instructions to
them To keep quiet, us they hoped to
have fuller reports by tho Spring pack
ct, and possibly some of the property
of the explorer.
The Rev. &. y. Chapman, Church of
England, missionary to Fort Church
i'll, in Il private letter received here
from the far North, corroboratcs the
above story.
Mr. G. c. Chipman. who is high
est official in Canada of the Hudson
Bay Company in an interview with II
Journal correspondent, said:
"Alston is thoroughly reliable
have no opinion to pass on the con
tents of his letters. We did not in
tend to make them public until we got
further details by the spring packet
The ESkimos of the far north know
of white men from the vnrieus explor-
crs that have passed through theil
country, and from the Indirect trading
they do with the lower tribes, who
bring IN rurs to the Hudson Bay Com
pays posts. They know what guns
are, and would not have any super
Stitious terror of men coming through
the air, hut would simply regard it az
another of the wonders of which whit,
men are masters. Nothing white maj
- might bc able TO do would surprise
y them.
- AS rule they are perfectly peace
Y able and are not disposed 80 max,
i unproNokcd attacks, not only hecaus
V 1t Is not their habit to do so, hut hc
h cause they dread the penalty that /
t meted out to those who molest whit
men in the outlying regions.
" AZ the same time they would no
: hesitate TO meet with hostility, an,
+ the salute OF whatever IL might hay
l. been that the men who came throug
t. the air fired MS they left their air bal
" loon, would have been regarded as n
y attack, as these people could not con
20 ceire of anybody wasting ammuntio
It by firing without mark, as in In
Ice deserts ammunition is more pre-
n cious than food even, and n single carr
70 ridge represents Il small fortune, II
II probable that Andrec and his two con
H Wlnions' seeing the Eskimos with thcI
nj weapons in their hands. fired a vollc
o in the air to convey to the native
tn that they were armed. and prepared I
m hght If need be, aud that the volle
IN hhd exactly the opposite effect frol
ed what was intended.
old tls'ppers say that had Andree
'S party made no demonstration. the
h would not have been molested, b,
n lh"y could have enlisted the aid of Il
ar. E>klmoS To help them to clvilizatio
ne Il Journey of not more than ordinal
he hardship as the fur trade routes aI