Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-13
SAVED AN INDIAN TRIBE.
The White Mans Hygiene introduced
In the Arctic Circle.

Seattle, Nov. 1.-THE white mans
hygiene introduced among the In-
dams north of the Arctic Circle by the
Alaska boundary survery party. saved
a tribe of smallpox stricken Indians
at Rampant House last summer. and
started them back on the road to
health. Thomas Riggs, Jr., chief OF
the American party, and his assistant,
NJ. *. Pope, of Baltimore, have just
returned from the i,orthland They are
at the Hotel Savoy.
The requirements of sanitary
science. which included a bath in the
cool waters of the Poreupine River.
were not accepted with enthusiasm By
the hapless savages, but after being
coaxed with chocolate and tea. or
threatened with The white mans law
they accepted treatment. Out of sew
enty-one cases of smallpox at Ram
part House there was only one death.
The Indians were placed in quar-
antine on an island in the Porcupine
river. with DIR. Gilbert T. Smith, one
mounted policeman and trained
nurse in charge. Incidentally every In
dian between the Arctic Circle and
the Arctic Ocean encountered by the
boundary survey party has been vac
einated.
The Alaska boundary party was UNI
usually large this year. There We're 50
Americans and 90 Canadians. Their
outfit included 150 horses and 50 dogs
to pack supplies and instruments. The
boundary line was run from Porcupine
river to a point seven miles from the
Arctic Ocean.
The discovery of the stricken tribe of
Indians was made by Mr.. Riggs. Dr..
Smith and NJ. X, Pope, when the re-
mainder of the party was in the field
OF the 100 Indians in the village more
than one-half We're down with the
scourge. Although the village was CT
Canadian soil, the Americans began
their humanitarian work without hes
itation. DIR. Smith vaccinated the en-
tire population. while Mr.. Riggs and
Mr. Pope enforced the rules of SAM
tation.
There was a general cleaning up OF
the village Healthy Indians We're put
to work scrubhing, and filthy outfits
were burned.
NJ X. Pope. Princeton football play
er and eotillion leader, of Baltimore,
was installed as the master of the
bath at the riverside, and he went
about his duties with an enthusiasm
which the Indians could not resist
Within short time the tribe was
cleaner than it had ever been, which wa
not a painful degree of cleanliness. How
ever, the Indians were as clean as the
river water, soap and brush could get
them under the critical eye of Mr. Pope
j. d. Craig, the engineer in charge ol
the Canadian party, was notified at once
and word was sent to Dawson for vac
cine and ii nurse. Within nine days 8
mounted trooper, wearing the Uniform o.
the Northwest police. came into CAM
with a trained nurse and plenty of med
zeal supplies.
AS soon as the patients got we'll theIl
clothing and outfits were burned ant
they were removed to the quarantine
station on the island. Under the vigor
Gus treatment of the white men th'
stricken Indians thrived wonderfully
and out of total of II only one woman
failed to recover When the BOUNDARY
party finished it's seasons work tn,
Canadian government engaged DIR. Smitl
to remain with the Indians all winter
and arranged to have supplies sent II
him.
One of Mr., Pope's duties was to pre-
vide the surveying party with frest
| meat, Caribou were numerous, and th'
former Princeton tackles broad shou!
ders were put to use In getting his bl
game into camp.