The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-18
Appalling Conditions Re-
vealed by Principal
of Schools.
FROM ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
Little Ones Become Adult
Servants in Families of
the Wealthy.

Slavery even worse than that which
existed within the United States before
the great strife of 1S61-65 is still car
ried on beneath the flag of American
Independence, in our possessions in the
Far North.
In Unalaska. Alaska. there are a num-
Der OF pitiful. forlorn little Eskimo
girls held in bondage. They are the
slaves of rich families made to labor as
drudges. deprived of association with
free children, and forbidden the first
vestige of education.
Sold as Slaves.
These children are poor orphans,
whose means OF support have been
taken away, and who are sold out 20
families. not for ordinary service like
working girls i'm other parts OF the
country. but as common slaves. They
are permitted to have no playmates nor
to enjoy any OF the privileges or the de-
lights OF childhood
Their lives are the lives Of a drudge
From the slave child they grow into the
slave woman. and no matter what the
finer feelings OF the child may be- she
must put them away and pay for her
orphana@ and her poverty at the cost
OF her health. and all hope Of happiness
Mr. Davis Letter.
This appalling condition of affairs has
been brought to public notice in letter
sent to The Times and another to the
Interior Department. by William A Da-
Wis principal of the United States pub
lie schools. in Unalaska. Alaska Mr..
Davis personal experiences there form
the basis of his communication. The let
ter Is as follows:
While canvassing this village for
scholars few days since, ! found a
number OF families holding Aleut child
rem as slaves. Inquiry develops the
tact that il has been the custom from
time immemoriai to make slaves OF poor
children, especially girls. and that the
custom still prevails. not only here. but
in other portions OF the country
"A German, whose wife is a Russian
creole. has a slave girl nine years old:
Russian creole whose wife is a native,
has slave girl fourteen years old;
a Scotchman, whose wife is a native.
has two little slave girls about seven
and eight years old. respectively; a
Russian priest has a slave girl twelve
or thirteen years old. and others whose
names L did not learn also hold slaves.
Cannot Attend Schools.
Nearly all. il not all. Of these child
ren were secured in the Alta Islands
the westernmost OF the Aleutian chain.
They are made TO do all all the drudgery
and dirty work Of the families. axe
not allowed to attend school or asso-
ciate with free children, are poorly
clothed and fed. and are treated gen.
orally as slaves.
The German referred to. when asked
by United States Commissioner Gray.
OF Unalaska. why he did not send the
little girl 20 school insolently replied
Do you suppose am going to feed
and clothe that girl and send her TO
school? No. sir. / got her TO walt on
my wife and Sarah Chis daughter). and
that's what she's going to do
Don't you know that slavery is pro-
hibited In United States territory? ask
ed Commissioner Gray.
E" I don't care said the German. I
got her for a servant AID nothing else
And continuing asked. What did you
pick me out for? Why didn't you 20 to
some of the others? CReferring TO those
who were holding children)
Il am much distressed over the con
dition Of these silent. uncomplaining
little ones. so helpless. so sad and
hungry looking. and l have been think-
ing that II the facts were known may
he Article XIII OF the Amendments 10
the Constitution OF the United States
conld be made TO reach them and save
them from lives OF shame and degre-
dation
Custom a. Old One
DR.. Sheldon Jackson. general agent o.
education in Alaska. who has visited tn,
country every summer for twenty-five
years, was asked about the complaint
this morning and replied.
Committing 20 perpetual slavery or
phans and waits has been custom
among The Indians and Eskimos oi
Alaska for hundreds OF years. and tn,
custom still exists among those Indianl
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