The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1919-08-07
LABRADOR COAST
SWEPT BY DEATH
Smallpox and Spanish Influenza
Play Havoc With
ESkimos.
BODIES DEvOURED BY DOGS
Moravian Missionary Tells Almost un-
beiievable Story Of Sufferinos In
Northern Labrador--Mode Of
Living Is Fatal.

ST. Johns, N. F.-Spanish "fu,"
smallpox and measles wiped out more
than one-third of the Eskimo popuia-
tion of Labrador during the months of
November and December of last year.
The Rev. w. w. Perrett of the Mora
vian mission at Hopedale, where he
has spent 27 years, reached the New
foundland shores few days ago. de
told an almost unbelievable story or
the sufferings Of the Eskimos of north
ern Labrador.
Shortly after the mission ship Har-
mony had left the coast at the begin
ming of November "fiu" broke out at
Hebron and spread rapidly among the
inhabitants. That the disease was
k:mo, who were living In small huts,
and whole families were affected and
died off. Bishop Martin and those at
the mission did what was possible un-
der the circumstances, but they, too,
were stricken, and when the epidemic
had passed its course only eight chill
dren, FIVE women and one man OF the
native population of 100 were living.
Mad Dogs Eat Human Flesh.
At the outbreak the dead .were
buried almost as soon as they passed
away. but when the entire settlement
became Ill, the victims were left where
they died, those who had recovered in
the meantime being too weak to lay
them under the ground. Households
who had succumbed one by one were
left unburIed and the dogs, who were
unable to procure food because the
hunters had been all i'll, became mad
and entered the cabins, consuming the
flesh from the bodies of the dead.
When III became known that the cpl
demic was raging some outside assist
ance arrived. and an effort was made
to give the dead Christian burial. The
dogs, however. after consuming the
human flesh, became wild. and 1t was
impossible TO undertake putting the
corpses In the frozen ground. The
next best thing was to bury the corpses
at sea. Before even this could be at
tempted the few remaining at Hebron
were compelled to shoot the dogs, as
even the living were not safe from
them.
While this horror of death and suf-
| fering was going on at Hebron, like
| epidemic was raging at Okak. The
| Eskimos, as in Hebron, huddled to-
gether In their small huts. quickly be-
came affected. until the whole popula-
tion was either stricken or dead. The
daily death rate was appalling, whole
| families dying wShin few hours. The
mission all the while was unceasing In
Its work for the afflicted, but they also
| fell victims to the disease, which
| meant that the Eskimos were left help
| less. When the new year dawned only
few emaciated Eskimos were found
i to be alive.
Mode Of Living ls Fatal.
Mr. Perrett said that when the Eski
i mos were stricken. their mode OF liv
Ing and environment was against theil
surviving. As soon as the illness fel
upon them they were obliged to TAX,
i shelter In the small. stuffy huts. wher,
there was neither fresh air nor sun
shine, and here they remained unit
they died. They were also withou
seal meat and fats. which are neces
sary for sustenance In cold climes
having been overtaken by the epidemic
just as the hunting season opened
and. their constitutions thus weak
ened, they became easy prey to tn,
scourge Many who had recovered
from their illness died later for wan
of nourishment.