Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-07

the interpreter announce that he had
crossed Greenland with Nansen. His name
was Samuel Johanssen BALTIC and he won a
decoration from king Oscar. Another, Olaf
Paulsen, also a Norwegian, had won two
prizes from the king for rifle shooting, and
still another, a Finn, had for years carried
the mail on his back to Cape North, Nor
way, five degrees north OF the Arctic cir
Gle, from some point farther south.
AS many people as could get permission
to do so visited the ship to gaze at the
queer people and the reindeer and all who
had never seen reindeer before were amazed
of the reindeer in that consignment reached
much higher than an average Americans
waist, though measuring considerably high
er when compared with the human passen-
gers, who were all understood, IL judged
by western standards.
They looked like a sturdy lot, however
being well knit and healthy; extremely
good natured, and, apparently. not in the
least annoyed by the curious looks of the
visitors and the amazement they showed
Experiment Failure
The reindeer had borne the sea voyage
remarkably well. as. later. they bore the
long railroad journey to Seattle, but thence
to Alaska they Jared very badly.
After a short rest in Jersey City the en-
tire party-men, women and children. dogs
and deer-were loaded upon two trains
for their transcontinental trip There
were forty-seven cars in the trains-twenty-
eight stock cars for the deer, ten box cars
for the sleds. two sleeping cars. two cook
ing cars and five baggage cars The sleep
ing cars were regular Pullmans, slightly
altered, the better to accommodate the fam
lily life of the passengers, and with negro
attendants.
This was one Of the most remarkable i'm
portations ever made on behalf of Uncle
Sam, and 1t failed. Though the reindeer
imported from Siberia have thriven and
multiplied, this particular consignment of
the animals was not q success simply be-
cause of the wretched treatment they re-
ceived in being taken from Seattle north.
Uncle Sam also had bad luck with his
consignment of camels some time In the
forties.
Most folk have forgotten Uncle Sans
camels. It was thought that they would
make excellent beasts of burden for the
deserts of Arizona and New Mexico, but
they were failure. despite the fact that
camels are the only practicable beasts of
burden in the African and Asatic deserts.
Just why. nobody seems to know; though
1t has been said that the sand of our deserts
is sharper than the African sands and made
the camel's feet sore. Perhaps that isn't
the real reason; anyway. camels didn't
prove to be good beasts of burden in this
country. The herd decreased instead of in
creasing In America. and the camels were
finally turned loose. Occasionally one is
seen now, or was few years ago.
Prevent determination.
1t Is believed that the reindeer industry
will some day be worth millions, but Dr.
Jackson's reason for bringing about the
first Importation not primarily to Gre
ate a new industry, at least not for the
benefit of the whites. 1t was to save some
10000 native Alaskans from determination
AS general government agent of educa-
ton in Alaska he had observed that the
whales. walruses. the seals and the carl
bou, or wild reindeer which furnished the
food supplies Of the natives were rapidly
disappearing from the Alaskan waters and
forests. and that unless something was
done the government would have to see
the natives die or feed them.
SO. In 1894 Congress appropriated So 600
as a starter, and since then has spent
SO ESQ a year the scheme-rather more
than a quarter of a million altogether. The
reindeer are getting along so we'll now that
importations are no longer Necessary. and
there is no doubt that If the natives are
allowed the benefits of the animals, as DR..
Jackson planned. their value to them will
be great. The tendency TO let the whites
enjoy reindeer graft to the exclusion of
the EsqpimauX has led to the suggestion
that the care CT the animals be given to
some one else than the federal bureau of
education.
1t is to the credit of the few Esquimaux,