Evening journal., 1919-12-17
FLU" FATAL TO
MANY ALASKANS
Only Four of One Village of
400 Population in Far
North Survive
WlLMlNGTONIAN IN
IN RELIEF PARTY

Bringing with him narrowing stories
OF the ravages Of Spanish innu MA
among the natives OF Alaska and un-
Alaska in May and June OF this year,
Gilbert C. Pyle. former chief yeoman on
the u. 5. Unalga, has returned 10 his
home at No. 1910 West street. For 1--WE
years he was away from home much Of
The time in the u. 5. Navy Mr.. Pyle IS
son Of Mr.. and Mrs. J. Chandler Pyle
and has many friends In this city. who
have listened with interest TO his re-
cital Of experiences In the seryic. from
VIII h'ch he just has retired with an hon
orable discharge
II was In Alaska that he and his ship
mates had their narrowing fght with
The FLU" In most OF the native viii
lages visited for purposes Of lief
from ~ to 30 persons were found dead.
Tn one village only four persons were
found alive. The L. s. relief parties Wis
tied and did work in all the villages
within a radius OF 200 NILS OF Nus
hagak. They were engaged for three
weeks I'm this humane work and II is
due 20 that work that hundreds OF the
natives are alive today.
Mr. pyle was a salesman when the
United States declared war AGAINST Ger
many At that time he was in Oklahoma
Tie enlisted there and was sent 10 Goat
Island. California, and later 10 the Mare
Island navy yard at san Francisco. lie
was assigned 10 the pay-ofllce OF the
DESTROYER service. That work had 10 do
with from 20 to GO d stroyers which
were under construction or In commits
sion.
In the spring Of 1919 Mr.. pyle was
sent on cruise 20 Alaska on the
Unalga That shin touched at many
points on the South Alaskan coast.
One of the places Of special interest
visited was Sifka, where the govern
ment farm is snitiaied Here. too is the
P~eshvier'an Mission College whore be-
tween 300 and 100 Alaskan cbudren at
tend AND a gr at work accomplished by
the church
S'ita ls alsh known because of its
great National nark which covers ma'y
thousands NJ acres Quite prevalent are
N numerous Totem Poles The Booth
fisheries located NJ S'tta and Known the
world Over wo~p visited hv Mr. pyle
Tho Russian Ca'ho''c Chu-ch located at
Sitta is said IN he the oldest IN Amer
lca nr cer'a'rlv 'he oldest N iha north
,veetorn rori ~ Alasta Tho chu~rh Is
'amous fo~ as remarkable n7'n''n@s.
Tho rhu~ch has ma0v beautiful decora-
flows and NAVY crr'osit'ns.
A'tnr visiting S'tta m cruise was
extended ~ t'n-A'psta. After the ship
had cooled ihc~e she proceeded on her
cruise hut was recalled nv Wireless 10
reiii~n 20 Alasta and assist IN the
fghi AGAINST mo I'm" 70 was found IN
one instance that the disease was so
virulent and widespread that out Of a
populatl0n of 500 only four persons
.were able 20 do anything in the way Of
relief work.
Following the completion OF that
work the Unalga. In company with
other government craft proceeded
Woodward along the Alaskan coast.
touchinc at the islands NJ Attn and
Aita They also visited the Pr'hilOff
Islands whore the great fur seal fisher
les are situated only government
craft arc allowed "a land ihere The
islands also have one o. the finest radio
stations owned bv tha United States
Shortly after the comn'ei'On ~ the
c-uise and tho RETURN 10 Mare Island.
NJ pvle ohiained his discharge and ar
rived homo lost Saturday