The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-05-25

Dr. Jackson's reindeer experiment
for Alaska has proved such a success
that it has suggested to DR.. Willard
Grenfell, the celebrated physician and
missionary to Labrador, to try what
the animals can do for the latter coun-
try, Or. GrenfeIl is keenly alive to
the temporal as well as the spiritual
welfare Of his parishioners and his
latest attempt to solve the strenuous
problem Of life for the people Of that
bleak coast is through this introduc-
ton Of reindeer During the last few
months a small herd Of deer from
Norway has been landed at Cremille
harbor, Labrador, which will prove, it
IS hoped, the progenitors of a numer-
GUS native stock.
It was no holiday task to get the ami
mails safely ashore. On account Of ice
foes, the steamer could not reach the
landing Son-s Of the ice on which
they were lowered from the steamers
deck broke under the weight and sew
eral deer unfortunately perished. The
bulk Of the herd, however, was safe
ly driven to terra firma, where. under
the care Of several Lapland families,
especially imported for the purpose,
It is hoped they will speedily become
acclimated
DR.. Grenfell, whose efforts in behalf
Of these far northern peoples has re-
ceived wide recognition, and whose
staunch little yacht, the Strathcona.
every year makes the round trip Of
all the Labrador harbors, has long felt
the need Of such relief as the rein.
deer seem likely to afford.
For one thing they are designed to
take the place Of dogs as a means of
transportation. These dogs are pa
tient, strong, bearers Of burdens, but
they are destructive to an alarming
degree. They fight continually among
themselves, sometimes killing one an
other in their fierce combats and even
fatally iniuring women and children.
Two Of DIR. Grenfelrs native helpers
have lost their lives from attacks by
these terrible brutes. The noise Of
their barking about the hospitals is
detrimental to patients. Goats or cows
they destroy, so that milk. an indis-
pensable article. as Americans are apt
to think, especially in sickness, is prac-
tically unknown in Labrador. More
over, they have ravenous appetites
and need large stores OF food. The
sledges must be heavily weighted with
their supplies on every journey across
the snow. when everything depends
on being as lightly loaded as possible.
Dr. Grenfell, in experimenting with
reindeer, is encouraged by the preoe-
dent OF similar enterprise in Alaska,
the most successful instance OF ami
NAL propagation known Through the
untiring efforts OF Or. Sheldon Jack
son, a Presbyterian missionary, the
reindeer has been made, during the
last Is years. most useful resident
among the Alaskan Eskimo, a people
who, few years ago. seemed doomed
almost to extinction. The story Of
Or. Jackson's work reflects credit both
on his forethought and on his indomit
able perseverance.
On a journey in 1890 he discovered
conditions among the Alaskans which
boded Ill for their very continuance
as a people. The rapacious white
man, with his improved weapons. was
rapidly killing of the seals. walruses
and caribou on which the natives de
pended for both food and clothing
He saw that unless something wai
done at once the United States woult
have to choose between supplyins
these 10000 natives with regular ra
tions or letting them starve to death
DR.. Jackson knew that. acros,
Behring strait. the Siberian peasants
in latitude similar to that Of Alaska
were self-supporting through thef
great herds OK domesticated reindeer
He knew that this animal had tn,
greatest variety of uses. It's flesh wa,
good for food. its hide made excellenI
clothing. It was moreover available a,
a strong and docile pack animal. It,
cost for feed was nothing. as II coul,
live entirely on moss dug from III,
snow
Noting all these good qualities. DR.
Jackson determined to try to intro
duee the reindeer into Alaska II,
first applied to congress for an an
preparation, but was refused The
statesmen at Washington we're unabl.
to see the need, as did this statesman
on the frontier. Private individual,
raised $1,000 and the missionar,
sailed, by special concession, in a gov
ernment ship. to make purchases.
The siberians were suspicious. how
ever, and had no desire to part with
any Of their deer, so highly priced a.
their chief means Of livelihood. In
vain JACKSON called at port after port
and offered his money. For weeks not
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