The Cordova daily times., 1919-02-12

"P1ctureSqGe perSOHdutleS oio "' i promptly plucked from the tree or life by the deadly influenza germ when there is no combating agency to destroy it, as relentlessly as 1t strikes down the obscure human be- ing" according to Arthur H. Miller, superintendent of Indian affairs, bu- reau of education, for the Third divl- sion of Alaska, who has just returned to Cordova from visit to the Copper River Indians.
 During the recent epidemic of in- fuenza, among the natives of the Cop per river" continued MT. Miller, two wellknown figures among the Copper River Indians, Doc Billum and Tanana Jack, died before the doctor and nurses arrived.
 "The governments representative in chargey,of the native school was cautioned by the district superinten- 1 dent long before the disease reached there to take every precaution against l it. He was instructed to see that all native homes were provided with plenty of fuel, so necessary in such an emergency, and warn the natives against the danger of visiting each others homes, and use such other pre- cautionary measures as were ppssi- ble. These instructions were followed, but having no streptococcus vaccine with which to load his hypodermic 1 gun to fire at the deadly germ, he could not inoculate the natives until the doctor arrived. /
 During this time two picturesque | characters among the Copper River Indians, Doc Billum and Tanana Jack, aged chieftains of this tribe, were stricken with influenza, and in few hours passed on to the happy hunting grounds, where cannery fishing and the white mans game laws are un- known.
 | Dock An Unusual Character l Doc Billum, the medicine nan ot| the tribe, had been we'll known since the days of '9S throughout all South Central Alaska. His characteristic costume consisted of pair of blue | denim overalls, red flannel shirt worn outside his trousers in Prince Albert fashion, and decollette at the neck. This grotesque effect was ac- centuated by the wearing of high silk plug hat, donated. to Doc by a cheechako '98er, on head covered with shining, straight black hair reach ing to his shoulders.
 He was a kindly Indian of pro- nounced Copper River Indian type, of rather dignified bearing, straightfor- ward and honest. Many who knew him, both whites and natives, sin cerely mourn his death
 A Really Noble Red Man
 Panama Jack, the other victim of influenza, was also typical specimen, his face corrugated by the furrows of time, an ideal study of Indian type for the artists brush His thick, gray hair suggested great age. He was born on the Tanana river, as he himself used to explain, 'Mebby so purt' near one hundred snows ago. He was the father of one of the pres ent Copper River chiefs, Big Jack.
 "Tanana Jack was a sincere Chris tian of the Greek Catholic faith, scrupulously honest and of childlike simplicity. For years during his old age he was mainly supported by the government through the representa- tives of the United States bureau of education. He was respected and af- fectionately regarded by the govern ment representatives, who regret the passing of this type of really noble red man.
 Low Mortality Rate in Epidemic
 The Copper River Indians, more than three hundred in number, are above the average native in health and physique. For years they have led nomadic outdoor life in the pure ozone of the Copper River valley, and this no doubt accounts in part for the low rate of mortality among them dur ing the recent epidemic of influenza. /"The chief reason for this, how ever, Is attributable to the fact that good roads and telegraphic communi- cation through the Copper River re- zion made possible the extension of medical relief at the proper time.
 The death rate was thus reduced far below what 1t has been in isolated sections.
 ! Council Replaces Chief