New-York tribune., 1908-09-14
IN HUDSON BAY WILDS
Aldnson Skinner Made Thousand
Nile Trip IN 18-FO0t Canoe.

After Journey Of thousand miles in 1s
foot canoe, in part through a hitherto unexplored
wilderness exposed to starvation and pestfence,
AIanson Skinner, Of the department of anthro-
poogy of the American Museum of Natural His
tory, has returned from a months trip in the
Hudson Bay district. He brought with him data
of exceptional chronological interest regarding the
Cree Indians. about whom little has heretofore
been known, and hundreds of examples of their
handicraft weapons and utensils. DR.. Hermon 6.
Bumpus. director OF the museum who sent Mr..
Skinner the expedition will place these objects
exhibition at early day. Speaking OF his
trip Mr.. Skinner said yesterday:
Il started on May % for Missanabie. railroad
town the Canadian Pacific. sixty miles north
of Lake Superior. Arriving there, I obtained
guides and an 1S-foot cedar canoe My mead guide
Tom Bain. is considered one Of the best guides
on the rivers. The other, Joe Iserhof, Is famous
OF the guides OF Mrs. Leonidas Hubbard
jr.. when she crossed the peninsula of Labrador
In 1896, years after her husband had perished
from starvation in making a similar attempt
We set out for the southern part Of Hudson
Bay, known James Bay. and after travelling
three hundred and fifty miles through unbroken
forest, shooting game on the way. We reached
Moose Factory the most southern trading post
Of the Hudson Bay Company, James Bay We
expected 10 take small steamer there. but as
ice was in the bay We had To push along by canoe
skrting the ice about half mile from the shore.
We travelled hundred and fifty miles east
Of Moose Factory and frequently when the south
wind blowing the temperature was as high
95 degrees In 4 moment the wind would sud
denly shift north over the ice and It would be
come freezing cold.
After six days travel reached Rupert 2
House one Of the oldest posts Of the Hudson Bay
Company. where the Cree Indians come once a year
their canoes with furs trade for supplies and
indulge in feastiuz and dancing. This has been =
bad wear for the Indians. tho rabbits on which
they largely depend for q livelihood have died in
Har
and some Of the Indians are driven by starvation
10 cann.basm
AT the time Of the last pestience. seven years
ago. Ojibway Indian. named Mobile Carlo,
killed and his Wife and then, in turn. his Two
children Some OF the other Indians started on the
trail Kill him hut desisted through fear learn
ing that ne q coniuror. Mobile Garho. how
ever, hunts alone. l brought home photo
grsph Of him IN his canoe with mis- dogs
Il went in open sailboat 70 East Main. sew
enty miles north. The Indians there had killed q
bear and going through weird ceremonial OF
worship when I tried TO Photograph them. This eK-
cited them almost 10 frenzy until q Hudson Bay
official explained to them that I not making
fun OF what them was sacred thing.
'On returning TO Ruperr's House the wind had
cleared the ice out of the hay. hut the steamer
from Moose Factory had come and gone. OfhCisls
OF French company offered 70 take us out on one
OF their boats bur the Indians were suddenly
seized with an epidemic. and a number OF them.
white well. died from # When the French
boat arrived so many Of the crew were sick OF dead
from the pestnence that one boat had do the
work Of two. and went north instead of back 70
Moose Factory.
We were consequently forced 70 ight our way
back in the canoe to Moose Factory. We lived on
young ducks. caught in the swamps-the best eating
I've had all summer But at Moose Factory We ran
short Of supplies and soon had only HtJle -four and
putrd pork For five days al We could hnd "a eat
was grounding and some minnows, and We nearly
starved Then met a transport party of the
Grand Trunk Pacific. from whom We got supplies