The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-26
WHY ESKIMAUx ARE STA RVING.
Gen. Funston Says They Slaughtered Herds
or Game with Reckless Productivity.


WARRINGTON, May Misrepresentation
having been made to the War Department
that the native Indians and Eskimaux In
Alaska. particularly in the vicinity OF Nome
and on Pilgrim River in the Seward PENN
sula, were In starving condition, instruc'
tions were sent to Gen. Funston. COM
manding the Department OF the Columbia
to investigate the situation and report
what measures of relief were necessary
He was authorized 10 take immediate steps
to meet the emergency where starvation
confronted the Indians in these districts
reporting his action to the War Department
for approval. The Department has re-
ccived from Gen. Funston preliminary
report in which he says:
As spent at one time two and half years
In Alaska. under such circumstances that l
lived almost entirely among the natives,
both Indians and Esqumau8, ! feel Justl-
fed in making a few observations on these
people in advance of my coming visit to the
territory
Ten years ago, not cou ning the small
mining towns Of the southeast coast and
islands, such as Stka. JuneOu and "a few
others there were not fifty white men in all
Alaska, or less than one to every 10 900 square
miles. To my own certain personal know-
edge in 1894 the moose and caribou in the
ontire lower valley of the Yukon and on the
west coast had been practically exterminated.
The natives had obtained breech-loadinH
rifles from the whalers some twenty years
before and slaughtered the great herds OF
game with the most reckless prodisality'
The animals were given no Tcst at any season,
and were all but eAtermlnated. here are
still, or at least were in 1893 and 1884, great
droyes OF caribou on the PoTcnpi pine RIVER Het
river and the Arctic Ocean, ! have seen
AZ many as 2, 900 in a sing 10 herd and saw
more than 5000 In a single day.
II Is true that the waruS has been practi =
cally eNermnated in Behrng Sea and ad
Joining waters, but that was done, not by
same mp mproyident fashion that they. *
terminated the moose and caribou Of the
lower Yukon: r. fact the E III , owes
gality and disregard for the future The
only part the white men have had IN the
business is that they, have purchased the
To F ,he wsi BY hsFT NATIVES Geo The rnr ' ds
position. of these people and their utter dis
regard for future conditionAis the cause Of
their present distress
most earnestly recommend that an
army officer. or special asent OF one OF
be placed in general control Of the Eskimaux
OF Alaska. his relations to them being i'm
liar to that Of nm Indina agent in this country
reservation. but it should be the duty OF the
agent and his subordinates to insist that
they eaten nsh during the run OF salmon
and punish for vagrancy those who refuse
to work. NJ natives should he allowed to
remain near n mining camp or army post
agent should have magisterial powers and
use them Literally to compel absolute obe-
would he no starving Esklmuax and no need
for charity.
The splendid work now being done under
the direction Of the Commissioner OF Fdu-
cation. in introducing the Siberian rein
deer and instructing the natives In their
care and use. bids fair. in the course OF
few years to eliminate all danger OF distress
among those people