The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-16
has LABRADOR A GIANT RACE9
TALES THAT ONE EXISTS IN ITS
UNEMPLOYED WILDERNESS.
'EthnoioEists Think II May re tho Remnant
or the Onoe Numerous Beothic Nation
Extcrtninated by white settlers in New
found snd-Degtruoti OF . People.

Exterf,inated by white settlers In New
found and-Degtruoti0n OF . People.
y QUEBEC. Oct. Histories Of race OF
aboriginal giants unknown to white men
and dwelling In the UNEMPLOYED interior OF
Labrador have come from Indian sources
at frequent intervals during the last few
years. Tho late Adirondack Murray had
planned an expedition TO the Far North
for the purpose Of testing the truth OF the
oft repeated rumors, but died before carry
ing his purpose into execution; and Leon-
das Hubbard, Jr., was starved 10 death
In Che inhospitable interior OF the Labrador
peninsula less than year ago while en-
deavorng to make his way 10 the aDooe
of this strange people.
Ethnologists declare that II any such
Indian, tribe is now In existence its num-
beers must he exceedingly small, and its
members represent the only survivors Of
the once famous .Beothics or Red Indians
of Newfoundland. The last living repre-
sentative Of the Beothics seen by white men
died in captivity at st. Johns. Newfound-
land, in ls2e and 1t is q much mooted point
with the historians whether the race be-
came altogether extinct Immediately after
that, or whether, as some suppose, small
remnant of 1t escaped from the island and
Crossed by the Straits Of Belle Isle TO Lab
rador
At all events, the story Of the ruthless
determination Of the Red Indians from
Britain's Oldest colony forms dark chapter
in it's history These poor people were
treated with the most brutal cruelty and
for long period were regarded as vermin
40 be hunted down and destroyed. They
we're driven to deeds of fierce retaliation,
and war to the knife became the rule be-
tween the two races.
The Beothcs were much finer and
handsomer race OF men than the other
North American Indians, and hence, per-
haps. the stories OF a race Of giants In the
interior Of Labrador. They were large In
stature. being some feet 10 inches i,.<&ver.
age height and OF a very active b. I'D.
They had aquiline noses an. ><ery regular
features. Their eyes, WIFI Il Gid not possess
any marked psculiatity 81 form, like those
OF the Esd6imauS, wee black and piercing
and their hair iwaA coarse and allowed to
iall over their fa'ks.
The BeothiCA were the aboriginal In
habitants OF Newfoundland when 1t was
discovere'. 10y Caboc In the closing decade
Of the fifteenth century Their affinity
with ne MALAY Polynesian race Is at least
pre- sable
-, Il is supposed that their remote ancestors
formed part Of a great emigration from
the Indian archipelago consequent upon
the B ddhist invasions Of these islands
prior to the Christian era. Passing from
island to island, they finally landed on the
Pacific coast of America when they were
forced northward by the stronger races
W the south. and formed the first wave
Of an emigration across the continent be-
tween. the EsquimauS on the extreme north
and the powerful races to the south, and
probably in hostility to both
About this seventh century OF the present
era, the entire Algonquin race was driven
into the far east by tribes Of Siberian origin,
who became Aztec Sonora, Paduca, Choc-
Jaw, Iroquois and Daootah Indians. Inc
Micmhcs we're the most northeriy OF the
hostile Algonquin bands and came into
violent collision with the Beothics, prob
ably the oldest and the weakest OF the
eoionists, and at last compelled them 70
GROSS the sea and to take mp their abode
In Newfoundland as refuge from the'r
enemies.
Bad as was the treatment which they
received at the hands Of their Micmac foes'
it was as nothing compared with that when
was melted out to them by the white settlers
of Newfoundland. At their first inter,
course with Europeans they were disposed
relentless hostility. and finally exterminated
as noxous wild beasts.
Not only did Cabot, the discoverer OF the
island. carry away captive with MN u
Eng an three OF the nn,Ies to o. Henry VII
clothed in the skins Of beasts; but WV
vars later Gaspard Cortereal captured
ffty OF the natives and carried them away
with him, intending them all men; woin ,t,
and children, for slaves. Pasqualigo' tine
Venetian Ambassador at Lisbon, VINO saw
the captives, descr ibed them as admirably
adapted for labor and the best slaves ne
had ever seen. and declared that the hhg
of Portugal contemplated deriving great
advantage. from the country in conse.
cIuence. Such was the treatment Una!
these people received aiIost at their hrst
meeting with Christian CT, Utilization.
From hh next voyage to Newtouah! 1 al :.
Cortereal never returned and 70 TINS aay
It is not known whether he suffered snip
wreck ana subsequent death by the eie-
ments, or whether he fell victim to the
revenge Of the surviving members OIL 'he
race. Il.
In 1855 one ,Hore made an unsuccessiu
attempt to kidnap number OF the NAVE nave
Of the island, and In 1874 another conis tbl
occurred between the white men ana tne
Indians In that year some o. tne na sh;p
which had been driven by the ice on tne
coast Of Newfoundland. With one OF then
he sent ashore Ave Of his sailors, wn9I
he never saw again. On this aoo9uhI hi hs
of to England, where he died shortly after
his arrival.
In 1922, Richard Whitbourne, who wa
sent BY the British Admiralty on q missior
to Newfoundland, published an interest.
ing account OF the Beothios, who seen
moi only to have been Of very high order
OF intelligence, but to have enjoyed mag
niicent hunting and fishing In country
which is still paradise OF hum.ef s,o ANY
fishermen. Whitbourne himself speaks
without any apparent sense Of ,h shame eiec 3
Of the natives, though even In his time al
friendly relations had not ceased, Un at'
lenting hostility, however, was soon th'
order Of the day.
The white men accused the Indians o
stealing their goods. The missing OF son aa
triHine article came to be regarded as sum
cient excuse for shooting the first lndial
they might meet, and the aboi1glnes wer
regarded M having no rights which whit
men were bound to respect. :,
The avaricc Of the whites. according u
the Rev DR.. Patterson who has made al
exhaustive study Of these Indians, wa
excited bv the skin dresses or the rich fu
robes in which these poor creatures wfappe'
tbemselyes at night or even In which the