The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-05-04
MAY TAKE BLANKETS
AWAY FROM FAIR.
Illness of Hydah Indians Threat
ems to Place Alaskan Commits
sion in Strange Predicament.
QUESTION WORRIES GUARDS.
Should Jan Baronovitch Die of
the Measles Exposition Must
Make Reparation Accord
ing to Queer Custom.

Jan Baronovitch. a half-breed totem-p pole
artist IN the Alaskan Colony at the
Worlds Fair. was stricken with the
measles yesterday. and. should he die, the
Exposition Company. according to an old
custom OF the Hydah tribe. will be In i'm
ninent danger OF losing all its blankets
As the only blankets at the Worlds
Fair grounds are those used by the Jeffer-
son Guards. the Worlds Fair peace-prs-
servers are greatly concerned over the
outcome OF Baronovitch's illness.
The Alaskan Commission. too. Is wor-
ried over the sudden illness of one OF its
charges. for. II he should die the COM
mission will find itself In u most peculiar
predicament.
According to the established rule OF the
Hydah tribe. OF which Baronovitch 10 a
member, the Exposition Company Is re-
sponsibie for the well-being Of all Alaskan
Indians at the Fair. In Alaska It IS the
custom that when n member OF one tribe
dies on the reservation of another. the
members Of the latter tribe must make
reparation for the death. even IL It be from
natural causes. by giving blankets. bed
covers and other household goods.
Applying this rule. the Exposition Com.
Baronovitch. should he die. and the repa-
ration must be made in the same way-the
giving up OF all the blankets IL possesses
grieved Indians. but instead they demand
blankets chiefly. because blankets are the
most priced OF all things In the frigtd re-
and other articles OF clothing are always
demanded OF the foreign contingent and.
being rirm believers IN the justice of this
unwritten law, Alaskan tribes never Ques-
IA ~ n nj ~ IN, ha
possession of the goods demanded.
When the ALASKAN Commission secured
workmen from the native tribes to come
to ST. Louis IL was with the distinct under
standing that the Indians would be given
plenty to eat, plenty to wear. a good place
to sleep. and be afforded every protection.
When the question was raised as TO the
possible death Of the members 50 far away
from home. the commission assured the
Indians that there would be no danger.
Measles Is practically unknown in Alaska
and as Baronovitch Is il years old, he
viii find It difiicuit. 1t is thought. TO COM
bat the disease-
He Is one Of the best educated of the
Hydah Indians. having spent three years
father WAS a Russian. who migrated to
Alaska in the early days and married the
daughter OF a Hydah chief. The patient
was removed to a downtown hospital yes
terday afternoon and he IS being given
the best medical care
SEEK REVENGE IN SUICIDE.
Governor Brady OF Alaska says that the
Hydahs and other Indian tribes in his
Territory have some of the most peculiar
customs. Demanding reparation for the
death Of a member who succumbS on q
foreign reservation IL only one They are
peaceful people. and seldom resort to
When q Hycah r. wroneed by a member
of his own tribe, or some other tribe, he
does not seek the life of his enemy. but
believes that his revenge lies In going to
committing suicide. He knows that the
finding OF his lifeless body on the ground
of his enemy will mean that the owner OF
the land must give up his blankets and
other personal property to his reiatfves.
Self-destruction Is freQunty done under
the circumstances. according TO Governor
Brady.