The Cordova daily times., 1919-02-07
NATIVES OF ALASKA NOW
 OPERATE WIRELESS PLANTS

far-reaching system of education, the able to send written communications through the mails, but is also being taught the scientific art of cOmmuni- cation by wireless telegraphy.
 During the recent influenza cpl demic a superintendent in the Alaska school service, anxious to learn whether this dread plague had in- vaded the native village on Atka island, three hundred miles west of Unalaska, in the North Pacific ocean, sent wireless message asking for report on health conditions to that remote village from Anchorage, and received a reply on the ethereal waves as follows: No unusual sick ness"
 This message of importance to the service was made possible because tho United States bureau of education established small wireless plant at the Atka island government native school, where the teacher in charge is wireless operator. The wireless apparatus was purchased at neces- sarily small cost, owing to the meager funds available, the resourceful teacher constructing his own aerial out of galvanized pipe, and with this improvised arrangement he has suc- ceeded in transmitting messages a distance of three hundred miles to the Dutch Harbor station, near Una laska.
 Had funds been available to the bureau of education for installing even these small plants at other places where they are greatly needed, and natives taught to use the wire less, less tragic tale of the rav- ages of influenza among natives might be told.
 For instance, Tyonek, native will lage of about one hundred inhabit- ants, is situated but forty miles across Cook inlet from the superintendent's headquarters at Anchorage. Through an unavoidable coincidence the teacher at that village came to An chorage to purchase the winters SUD- plies for the native cooperative store, and having supplies aboard the boat just ready to return, was stricken with influenza He wisely sent the supplies on to the village, but during his sickness and convalescence the inlet filled with ice and navigation closed for the winter, leaving him to return in weakened condition after his illness by trail around the head of the inlet, distance of nearly one hundred and fifty miles. During this journey he lost his way on the Beluga flats in dense fog, freezing both his feet, and when he reached the cabins on the Beluga river was in such a serious condition that he was neces- sarily delayed several days longer.
 While he was absent from the will lage the natives were stricken with influenza. The gruesomeness of such situation will readily be appreciated by those familiar with native life. The chief succumbed to the disease first. leaving them without even their primitive advisor, panic stricken and helpless. Thirty-five in all died in all sorts of places and pastures, there to remain until such time as the others could give them burial.
 The crudest form of wireless mes- sage received at the government wire less station in Anchorage would have brought them relief.
 At Nurvik, Alaska, where the Unit ed States bureau of education has established wireless station in con- nection with the government native school, the natives are also taught to operate the wireless. This is said to be the most northerly wireless sta t1on In the world.
 The Bristol Bay region, where three government native schools and a gov ernment hospital are located, several { hundred natives reside, and many white people, yet there is no wireless service during the winter, and the mail-if it ever does come-comes by