Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-21

southeast s IA
There's smallpox on the Nelson" his
messenger informed williams. land II
has struck the Crees on WoIlaston lake.
God only knows what it Is doing to the
bay indians. but we hear that IT Is wip-
Ing out the Chippewayans between the
Albany and the Churchill" he left
the same day with his winded dogs.
I'm, OF for the Frenchmen to the west
with the compliments Of our company. I"
he explained s>........ ..@.>..e
Three days later word came from
Churchill that all Of the company's
servants and her majesty's subjects
west of the bay should prepare them
selves for the coming Of the Red Terror.
Williams thick face went as white, as
the paper be held as he read the words
Of the Churchill factor. -. IF
1T means dig graves" be, said.
That's the only preparation we can
maker .:.. g.. ....' -. ~ "A
He read the paper aloud to the men
at Lac Balm, and every available man
was detailed to spread the warning
throughout the posts territory. There
was quick Harvesting of dogs, and on
each sledge that went ont was roll Of
red cotton cloth.
Jan went over the Churchill trail
and then swung southwark along the
Hasabala. where the country was
crisscrossed with trap lines Of the
halfbreeds' and the French. First he
struck the cabin of Croisset ana his
wife and left part Of his cloth. Then
he turned westward. while Croisset
harnessed bis dogs and hurried with q
quarter of the roll to the south. Be-
tween the Hasabala and Klokol lake
Jan found three other cabins. and at
each he left a BIT Of the red cotton.
Forty miles to the south. somewhere
on the Porcupine. he found the cabin
of Henry Langlois. the posts greatest
for hunter.
Over It. hanging Imply to sapllng
pole. was the red signal Of horror.
With terrified cry to the dogs. Jan
ran back. and the team turned about
and followed him In tangled mass
Then he stopped. There was no
smoke rising from the clay chimney
on the little cabin. Its one window
was white with frost Again and
again he shouted. but no sign of life
responded to his cries. He fred his
rife twice and waited with his nit
tened hand over his mouth and nos
trils There was no reply. Then.
abandoning hope. he turned back into
the north md gave bis dogs no rest
until he had rearhed lac Rain.
His team came In half dead. Both
cnmmins and Williams rushed ON ia
meet him o. he drove up lSfore TIE
cOnipany1 etore.
.sFhe rcd nag Is over bangles
cahln..' he cried
y iifed MS rifle and shouted TheN
II no life: I.augloiS Is dead.
-t;rpat t;odr grmned Williams
His red face chanSrd to 4 ~it.kIy
t,allar. and ne st0od with his thick
hands ciirhed white cuainnns took
charge OF The doggy aud Jan went into
the store for something to eat
Mnkee and Perez returned to the
post the next day. Young Williams
followed close after them. tiiled With
terror. He had found the plngne
among the Crees of the Waterfonnd.
Each day added to the gloom ut Lac
Rain. Death leaped from cabin TO
eabin In the wilderness to The west
By the middle of the month Lac
Balm was hemmed In by the plague
On all sides but the north.
: The posts trap lines had been short
ened: now they were abandoned en-
iirely. and the great nsht began. Will
Ilams assembled his men and told them
bow that same battle had been fought
nearly two decades before. For sixty
miles about the post every cabin and
wigwam that tioated red Gag must be
visited and burned n the occupants
were dead. In learning whether life
or death existed In these places lay the
peril for those who undertook the task.
1t was dangerous mission. It meant
facing q death from which those who
listened to the old factor shrank with
dread. yet when the call carne they re-
sponded to man.
/, Cnmmins and Ian ate their last sup
per together. With Melissa sitting be
tween them and wondering at their 81
lenre. When II was over the two went
outside.
.Alukee wasn't Mt the store" said
Cuinniins In thick. strained voice.
haiting Jan in the gloom behind the
cabin. civilians thought be was OF |
to the south with his dogs Ru, M
isn't. saw INN drag himself into his
shack like Il sick dog an hour before |
dusk. 1'here.ll be a red fiaa over Lac |
balm In the morning"
Jan stified the sharp cry on his lii,s
sAh, there's light" cried Gum |
tnins. Its n pitch torch burning IN |
front ot his door, s."
He gripped inns arm In Sudden
spasm ut horror The tla. is up
nnCvt,' hts whiStarpd hISsiIy '.f.U