The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-11-24
THE BLOND EsoUIMAuX.

THE BLOND EsoUIMAuX.
When Mr.. Stefansson made his report
that he had found on the northern
shores Of North America n race OF blond
Esquimaux, there were various specula.
tons rs TO the origin of that blond peo.
pie. Stefannson himself, thinking that
he noted some phases Of the Danish
language in the speech Of the people,
and features and characteristics that
belong especially TO the Scan
dinayian peoples, suggested that
these blond Esquimaux might be
descendants OF the old Norwo-
gian settlers ON the west coast OF
Greenland. who had disappeared after a
series of very severe winters and their
fate has always been unknown. Stef-
ansson s report did not draw any sharp
conclusions in regard 20 this, however,
nor does his companion, DR.. Anderson,
who has recently returned and confirms
Stefansson's original story. They
merely give the facts and agree that At
present the origin of those blond Es-
quimaux is uncertain.
In noting the stories and theories,
the New York Tribune, while giving
full credit 90 the facts as reported by
Mr.. Stefansson and DR.. Anderson, is
puzzled TO understand Just how such q
complete transformation of a white peo-
pie could have occurred. even allowing
the full time that the disappearance of
the Norwegian settlers from the west
coast of Greenland would allow. it re-
iects the hypothesis which has been
suggested, that these blond Esquimaux
may be descendants Of Sir John Frank
Inns party intermarried with Esqui-
mauX women, as untenable by reason Of
the short period OF time that has
elapsed, Speaking generally Of the
matter, it notes that none of the tribe
has the fat nose and other Mongolian
features, but all have Caucasian charac.
teristics. Many of the men have light
hair, eyebrows, boards and mustacnes,
and light eyes, Some OF the women
have fair skins and rosy cheeks, but
their hair is dark. All other Esqui-
maux have black hair and eyes, fat
noses and skin so dark. even after the
dirt has been removed, that only in
children is a touch Of red perceptiblc IN
their cheeks. Certainly, then. there is
reason for supposing it probable that
these strangers are at least partly of
Caucasian-Scaudinav or Teutonic-
origin. The suggestion that they may
be descended from survivors Of Sir John
Franklin's party, jntermarried with Es-
quimaux women, would be more tenable
il q longer time had elapsed since that
great tragedy OF the Arctic. But it
was in 1S47 that Franklin perished, and
it is scarcely conceivable that in only
siIty-hve years so complete mental
and moral transformation could occur.
The theory that they arc descendants
Of the early Scandinavian colouists,
who were numerous in Greenland, Lab
rador and the adjacent regions. and the
ultimate disposal of some Of whom has
never yet been satisfactorily deter
mined, is more credible in point Of time.
It was in the tenth century that those
colonies were founded and Eric the Red
made them his point Of departure,
and in the course of the next three cen
turies they became widely distributed.
going as far north as Melville Bay and
penetrating considerable distance
westward.
I'm the course Of five or six centuries
OF complete isolation in the Arctic viii
derneSs all human characteristics might
naturally undergo great changes. Yet
il is difficult TO believe that even in so
long time men could be 30 radically
transformed For we are told that
these blond EsquimauX havo no rec
ords, no history, no legends, no religion,
no marriage ceremony, and apparently
no interest in life save to maintain an
existence Of the lowest order. But the
followers of Eric and Left were con.
spicuously religious, regardful of the
sanctity Of marriage, and, most OF all
TO the present point, given TO the pres
ervation OF history and legends in the
form Of sagas. The complete disap.
pesrance of these characteristics, under
circumstances which might naturally be
supposed 10 make for their maintenance
and cultivation, would be n difficult
matter to explain, and it presents n
serious obstacle TO acceptance Of the
theory of the Morse origin OF this
strange tribe
KNOCKING THE KNOCKERS.
In San Francisco they are making