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Lapland  Family  and  their  Tents. 


55th  Congress,  ) 

SENATE. 

(  Document 

3d  Session .  ) 

\  No.  34. 

REPORT 


ON 


MAPS  AND  ILLUSTRATIONS, 


BY 


SHELDON  JACKSON,  LL.  D. 

GENERAL  AGENT  OF  EDUCATION  IN  ALASKA. 


GOVERNMENT  PRINTING  OFFICE. 


V-'M’S 
JR  5  0  (o 


In  the  Senate  of  the  United  States, 

December  6,  1898. 

Resolved,  That  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  be  directed  to  transmit  to  the  Sen 
ate  the  report  of  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  upon  “The  introduction  of  domestic  rein 
deer  into  the  district  of  Alaska’’  for  1898. 

Attest: 


2 


Wm.  R.  Cox,  Secretary. 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL. 


Department  of  the  Interior, 
Washington ,  December  13 ,  1898. 

Sir:  I  am  in  receipt  of  Senate  resolution  of  the  6th  instant — 

That  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  be  directed  to  transmit  to  the  Senate  the 
report  of  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  upon  “The  introduction  of  domestic  reindeer  into 
the  district  of  Alaska  ”  for  1898. 

In  response  thereto,  I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  a  copy 
of  the  report  indicated  in  the  foregoing  resolution. 

Very  respectfully, 

Tiiqs.  Ryan, 

Acting  Secretary. 

The  President  of  the  Senate. 

3 


TABLE  OF  COlSTTElsrTS. 


Page. 

Action  of  the  United  States  Senate _ _ _ _ _ —  —  2 

Letter  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  to  the  President  of  the  Senate _ _  3 

Annual  report  of  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson _ _  9 

Personnel - - 11 

Buildings _ _  _ _  12 

Herd _ _ 12 

Reindeer  statistics _ _ .... _ . _  13 

Purchasing  station  in  Siberia _ 13 

Private  reindeer  enterprises  . .  _ _ _ _ -  -  14 

No  domestic  reindeer  in  Canada. _  15 

How  reindeer  will  supplement  the  steamboat  and  railroad  in  Alaska ....  16 

Suggestions  for  distributing  reindeer  in  Alaska _ _ .  17 

Relief  of  the  whalers  imprisoned  in  the  ice  near  Point  Barrow _  19 

Commission  to  Lapland _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  32 

Naturalization  of  the  Lapps  _ _ _ _ _ _  _ _ _  46 

Trip  to  Siberia _ _ _ ...  _ _ _  47 

APPENDIX. 

Report  of  the  Eaton  Station,  by  A.  N.  Kittilsen,  M.  D _ _ _  51 

Report  of  Teller  Reindeer  Station,  by  T.  L.  Brevig _ ...  58 

Report  of  the  Golovin  Bay  Station,  by  N.  O.  Hultberg.. _ _ _  61 

Log  book  of  Teller  Reindeer  Station,  by  T.  L.  Brevig. _ _ .  62 

Report  of  Point  Barrow  Relief  Expedition  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 

by  Capt.  F.  Tuttle,  R.  C.  S _ _ _ _  _ _  _ _ _  _  83 

Report  of  Point  Barrow  Relief  Expedition  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 

by  Lieut.  D.  H.  Jarvis,  R.  C.  S. .  ... _ ... _ _  92 

Report  of  Lieut.  E.  P.  Bertholf,  R.  C.  S.,  to  Capt.  F.  Tuttle.  R.  C.  S _  100 

Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  directed  to  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War  for  instruc¬ 
tions  _ ... _ _  ...  _  . _ _ _ _  103 

Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  sent  to  Lapland  for  reindeer _  . .  103 

Letter  of  the  Secretary  of  State  to  the  diplomatic  and  consular  officials  of 
the  United  States  in  England,  Denmark,  Sweden  and  Norway,  commend¬ 
ing  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson _ _  _  _ _ _ _ _  _  104 

Letter  of  the  secretary  of  the  Royal  Department  of  the  Interior  of  Norway 
to  the  Norwegian  officials  in  Lapland  introducing  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson. .  104 

Translation  of  same  .  _ _ _  _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _  lu5 

List  of  employees  procured  in  Lapland . . . . . . .  105 

Contract  with  same _  _ _ _ _ _  107 

Letter  of  the  Commissioner  of  Education  to  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  to  take 

charge  of  reindeer  transferred  to  the  Department  of  the  Interior _  109 

Telegrams  connected  with  the  commission  to  Lapland _  109 

5 


6 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 


Page. 

Letter  of  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  appointing  Mr.  H.  E.  Redmeyer  in  charge  of 

overland  expedition  of  reindeer _ _ _  _  119 

Letter  of  Thomas  H.  Barry,  assistant  adjutant-general,  Department  of 
Columbia,  to  army  officers  in  Alaska  commending  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson..  120 

Merchants  authorized  to  assist  Mr.  H.  E.  Redmeyer _ _ _ _  120 

Instructions  to  William  A.  Kjellmann  . . .  121 

Instructions  to  H.  E.  Redmeyer . . . . . . .  122 

Secretary  of  the  Interior  to  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  authorizing  sale  of  reindeer.  123 

Letter  of  H.  E.  Redmeyer,  May  31,  1898 _ _ _ _ _  124 

Letter  of  H.  E.  Redmeyer  to  O.  Paulsen,  May  31,  1898 _ _ _  124 

Relief  supplies  shipped  to  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson . . . .  125 

Clothing  and  subsistence  furnished  the  Lapps  by  the  War  Department _  125 

Permission  granted  to  sell  reindeer  to  the  mail  contractor  _ _  126 

Alaskan  relief  supplies  turned  over  to  the  Department  of  the  Interior  _  126 

Reindeer  to  be  returned  to  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  and  Point  Rodney . .  _  126 

Letter  of  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  to  Dr.  H.  Richmond  Marsh,  Point  Barrow, 

with  reference  to  reindeer _ _ _ _ _ _ _  127 

Letter  of  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  to  Dr.  Briggs,  of  Point  Hope,  with  reference 

to  reindeer _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ . . _  127 

Letter  of  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  to  Mr.  N.  V.  Hendricks  concerning  reindeer.  128 

Supplies  received  by  Dr.  H.  R.  Marsh  from  Capt.  F.  Tuttle _  ...  128 

Siberian  reindeer  issued  to  W.  T.  Lopp,  Cape  Prince  of  Wales. . . .  129 

Dr.  Brandon  made  custodian  of  the  buildings  at  Teller  Reindeer  Station.  129 

A  loan  of  reindeer  offered  to  the  Roman  Catholics  on  the  Yukon  River  .  129 

Acceptance  of  same _ _ _  _  130 

Report  of  H.  E.  Redmeyer,  September  1,  1898  . . . . . . .  131 

Agriculture  in  the  Yukon  Valley _ _ _ _  133 

Notes  with  regard  to  the  St.  Lawrence  Island  Eskimo,  by  Y.  C.  Gambell...  141 
Recommendations  with  regard  to  the  disposition  of  Lapps  and  reindeer _  145* 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Page. 

Lapp  family  and  tents _ _ _  Frontispiece. 

Lapp  family  and  dirt  hut - - - - - - - -  -  -  - -  38 

Milking  reindeer _ _ _ _ _ _  38 

Traveling  with  reindeer _ ...  _  ...  - - - -  12 

Men  employed  by  the  Government  in  connection  with  the  Lapland  Reindeer 

Expedition  ... _  _ _ _ _ _ _ -  36 

Wives  and  children  of  the  same.. - -  -  36 

Lapp  mother  and  her  babe _ _ ...  - -  140 

Herd  of  reindeer  by  the  seaside - -  12 

William  A.  Kjellmann _ _  • _  _ _ _  48 

John  W.  Kelly _  _  48 

Purchasing  station,  St.  Lawrence  Bay,  Siberia _  48 

Cutter  Bear  in  the  ice,  Point  Barrow _ _ _ _ _ _  30 

Lieut.  David  H.  Jarvis,  Point  Barrow _ _  _ _  30 

Wrecked  whalers  drawing  supplies _ _ _ _  _ _  20 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  H.  Richmond  Marsh  ... _ _ _ _ _ _ _  _  _  28 

Presbyterian  Mission  houses,  Point  Barrow,  in  which  were  sheltered  a  por¬ 
tion  of  the  wrecked  whalers _  _ _  _  28 

Midnight  Sun,  Point  Barrow _ ... . . .  . .  20 

Eskimo  children,  Indian  School,  Carlisle,  Pa.,  arrived  October,  1897  _ _ .  .  58 

The  same  children,  October,  1898 _ _  _ _  _ _  58 

Jesse  Lee  Memorial  Home,  Unalaska.  _ _  _  16 

Public  School  No. 2  (native),  Juneau,  Alaska _  _  _  16 

Mission  Home,  Juneau,  Alaska _ _ _ _ _ _  .  . _ _ _ _  16 

Residence  of  the  physician  at  Eaton  Reindeer  Station,  Alaska _ _ _  16 

V.  C.  Gambell  and  family.  While  returning  to  their  school  at  St.  Lawrence 
Island,  Alaska,  they  were  lost  at  sea  by  the  sinking  of  the  schooner  Jane 

Grey,  May  22, 1898 _ _ _  _ _ ...  _  _ _ ...  140 

Ernest  L.  Weber,  wife,  and  child.  While  returning  to  their  school  on  the 
Kuskokwin  River  they  were  lost  at  sea  off  the  coast  of  Nunivak  Island 

between  June  27  and  30,  1898 _ ... _ _ _ _ _  140 

Reindeer  team  en  route  to  Point  Barrow . . . . . . . . .  28 

Map  of  Alaska _  .  _  _  149 

Map  of  Norway _ _ _  _  32 

Map  of  Lapland _ _  33 


EIGHTH  ANNUAL  REPORT 


OF  THE 

INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  AEASKA. 


Department  of  the  Interior, 
Bureau  of  Education,  Alaska  Division, 
Washington ,  D.  C. ,  December  31,  1898. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  to  you  my  eighth  annual  report  on 
“The  introduction  of  domestic  reindeer  into  Alaska.” 

The  year  just  closed  has  been  one  of  more  than  usual  interest.  It 
opened  with  the  Government  relief  expedition,  in  charge  of  Lieut. 
D.  H.  Jarvis,  of  the  United  States  Revenue-Cutter  Service,  to  the 
whalers  in  the  neighborhood  of  Point  Barrow,  Alaska,  and  with  a 
Government  commission  to  Lapland,  Norway,  for  the  procuring  of  a 
colony  of  Laplanders  and  the  purchase  of  a  herd  of  reindeer  trained  to 
harness,  to  be  used  in  transporting  relief  to  the  destitute  people  in  the 
mining  regions  of  Alaska;  also,  the  establishment  of  a  new  reindeer 
station  in  the  neighborhood  of  Unalaklik,  60  miles  north  of  St.  Michael. 
It  being  necessary  to  send  Mr.  William  A.  Kjellmann,  the  superin¬ 
tendent  of  the  reindeer  stations  in  Alaska,  to  Norway  in  charge  of  four 
families  of  Lapps,  whose  term  of  service  had  expired  and  who  accord¬ 
ing  to  contract  were  to  be  returned  to  Lapland,  Dr.  A.  N.  Kittilsen, 
the  physician  and  assistant  superintendent,  was  placed  in  charge  of 
the  herd  at  the  Teller  Reindeer  Station,  with  Mr.  T.  L.  Brevig  as  his 
assistant.  Mr.  Frederik  Larsen  (Lapp)  was  kept  with  the  herd  as 
overseer,  and  Messrs.  John  Tornensis  and  Mikkel  Nakkila  (Lapps) 
were  kept  at  the  station  during  the  fall  of  1897,  repairing  and  making 
sleds  and  harness,  preparatory  to  the  removal  of  a  portion  of  the  herd 
to  the  new  station  near  L^nalaklik. 

On  the  last  of  October  Dr.  Kittilsen  made  a  trip  to  Cape  Nome, 
where  he  received  from  Antisarlook  53  male,  65  female,  and  3  fawn 
reindeer  for  the  Government,  which  had  previously  been  loaned  and 
were  now  being  returned.  He  also  secured  4  females  and  3  fawns 
belonging  to  Tatpan,  of  Golovin  Bay. 

In  the  middle  of  November  a  trip  was  made  to  Cape  Prince  of 
Wales,  returning  November  28  with  3  head  of  deer  belonging  to  the 
Government. 

As  Tautook,  Sekeoglook,  and  Wocksock  (Eskimo)  had  served  their 
apprenticeship  of  five  years,  it  was  proposed  to  establish  them  at  the 


10  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


Teller  Station  with  a  herd  of  their  own  when  the  Government  herd 
should  he  taken  to  the  new  Eaton  Station.  Accordingly,  on  Decem¬ 
ber  3  each  of  the  three  received,  according  to  contract,  20  females,  3 
males,  and  2  sled  deer.  These,  together  with  those  previously  owned 
by  them  and  since  born  in  their  herds,  gave  Tantook  77  head,  Sekeog- 
look  59,  and  Wocksock  50,  making  a  herd  of  186  between  them.  The 
apprentice  Ojello,  being  quite  sick,  was  left  with  his  family  at  the 
Teller  Station. 

On  December  19,  leaving  Mr.  Brevig  in  charge  of  the  Teller  Station, 
Dr.  Kittilsen,  in  charge  of  the  Lapps  and  apprentices  other  than  those 
mentioned  as  having  been  left  at  the  Teller  Station,  started  across  the 
county  for  TJnalaklik  with  450  reindeer  and  40  sleds,  arriving  at  Golo¬ 
vin  Bay  on  the  29th  of  December.  There  were  17  in  the  party,  count¬ 
ing  women  and  children.  The  7  deer  brought  from  Cape  Nome  for 
Tatpan,  an  apprentice  above  mentioned,  were  transferred  to  the  herd 
at  Golovin  Bay,  and  17  deer  belonging  to  Martin,  an  apprentice  at 
Unalaklik,  were  lassoed  and  taken  into  the  Government  herd  to  be 
driven  to  the  Eaton  Station. 

On  January  3  the  journey  was  resumed,  but  two  days  later  a  snow¬ 
storm  of  unusual  severity  was  encountered,  and  the  party  went  into 
camp,  the  deer  being  returned  to  the  neighborhood  of  Golovin  Bay, 
where  the  pasturage  was  more  accessible.  While  in  camp,  January 
10,  Lieutenant  Jarvis  and  Dr.  Call,  of  the  relief  party  for  the  whalers, 
arrived  from  the  south  and  asked  for  reindeer  transportation  to  Port 
Clarence.  Accordingly,  on  January  12  Dr.  Kittilsen,  taking  two  of 
the  apprentices,  drove  back  with  Lieutenant  Jarvis  and  Dr.  Call  to" 
the  Teller  Reindeer  Station,  where  they  arrived  on  the  19th.  Leaving 
Lieutenant  Jarvis  to  push  on  to  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  and  Dr.  Call 
to  Cape  Nome,  Dr.  Kittilsen,  with  the  apprentices,  on  January  26, 
started  on  their  return  to  Golovin  Bay,  reaching  there  February  9. 
During  Dr.  Kittilsen’s  absence  Lieutenant  Bertholf,  also  of  the  Point 
Barrow  relief  expedition,  had  arrived  at  the  reindeer  camp  near  Gol¬ 
ovin  Bay  and  induced  Frederick  Larsen  to  take  five  deer  and  sleds  to 
help  him  across  Kotzebue  Sound  with  provisions  for  the  relief  party, 
claiming  that  it  was  impossible  to  get  the  goods  across  the  country 
with  dog  teams.  After  arriving  at  Kotzebue  Sound,  Lieutenant  Bert¬ 
holf  retained  the  reindeer  teams  for  his  further  trip  to  Point  Hope, 
returning  Frederik  Larsen  to  Golovin  Bay. 

On  the  13th  of  March  camp  was  broken  and  a  start  made  for  Una¬ 
laklik,  which  place  was  reached  on  the  21st.  The  spring  was  util¬ 
ized  in  cutting  and  hauling  several  hundred  logs  for  the  erection  of 
houses  at  the  new  station,  located  near  Unalaklik  and  named  “Eaton,” 
in  honor  of  Gen.  John  Eaton,  ex-Commissioner  of  Education.  After 
the  logs  had  been  hauled  to  their  destination  the  herd  was  moved 
to  the  foot  of  the  mountains  southeast  of  Unalaklik,  where  a  good 
fawning  place  was  found. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  11 


In  April  an  expedition  was  made  to  Golovin  Bay  to  return  some  pro¬ 
visions  which  had  been  borrowed  from  the  Swedish  Mission  Station 
during  the  detention  of  the  herd  in  that  neighborhood  the  previous 
winter. 

PERSONNEL. 

Mr.  William  A.  Kjellmann  was  continued  as  superintendent  of  the 
stations  in  Alaska,  but  being  detailed  for  special  duty  in  returning 
Lapps  to  their  native  country  and  in  procuring  a  new  colony,  he  was 
absent  from  the  field  until  July.  Returning  from  Norway  and  reach¬ 
ing  Eaton  Station,  he  immediately  utilized  the  temporary  presence  of 
the  large  colony  of  Lapps  by  dividing  them  into  three  parties,  one  to 
Lave  charge  of  the  herd,  a  second  party  to  freight  the  supplies  from 
the  landing  place  on  the  coast  to  the  station,  and  the  third  party  to 
erect  the  necessary  buildings.  This  enabled  him  to  make  rapid  prog¬ 
ress  in  getting  the  new  station  in  order  for  winter.  When  the  station 
was  last  heard  from,  arrangements  were  in  progress,  by  which  it  was 
expected  that  a  large  number  of  the  Lapps  would  be  distributed  along 
the  Yukon  River  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  the  United  States  mail, 
and  the  smaller  number  kept  in  the  service  of  the  reindeer  stations. 
During  the  absence  of  Mr.  Kjellmann,  Dr.  A.  N.  Ivittilsen  was  in 
charge  at  the  Teller  Station  until  December,  when  he  went  with  the 
herd  and  took  charge  of  the  new  station  on  the  Unalaklik  River  until 
the  arrival  of  Mr.  Kjellmann.  On  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Kjellmann,  Dr. 
Kittilsen  resigned  and  left  for  the  mines,  his  place  as  physician  being 
I  taken  by  F.  H.  Gambell,  M.  D.,  of  Iowa.  Upon  the  departure  of 
Dr.  Kittilsen  from  the  Teller  Station,  Rev.  T.  L.  Brevig  was  placed 
in  charge. 

With  the  increase  of  stations  and  enlargement  of  the  work,  Mr. 
Hedley  E.  Redmeyer  was  also  made  an  assistant  superintendent. 

Herders. — Messrs.  Tornensis,  Nakkila,  and  Larsen,  the  Lapps  that 
remained  in  Alaska,  continue  in  the  service  of  the  Government. 
During  the  trip  of  myself  and  Mr.  Kjellmann  to  Norway  we  secured 
113  Lapp,  Norwegian,  and  Finn  men,  women,  and  children,  who  were 
removed  to  the  Eaton  Station,  from  which  they  are  to  be  distributed 
to  various  localities  where  most  needed. 

At  the  closing  of  this  report  it  has  not  been  determined  how  many 
of  them  will  remain  in  the  service  of  this  Bureau  and  how  many  will 
go  into  the  postal  service  of  the  country. 

?  Apprentices. — During  the  year  three  of  the  apprentices,  namely, 
Tautook,  Sekeoglook,  and  Wocksock,  of  the  Teller  Reindeer  Station, 
have  gone  into  business  for  themselves,  having  served  as  appren¬ 
tices  for  five  years  (the  full  term),  locating  their  herd  in  the  neigh¬ 
borhood  of  the  Teller  Station.  Electoona  and  Ahlook,  from  Point 
Hope,  and  Ojello,  from  Point  Barrow,  with  their  families,  were  sent 
to  Points  Hope  and  Barrow  to  take  charge  of  the  herd  driven  up  for 


12  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


tlie  relief  of  the  whalers,  or  of  such  portion  as  wTas  not  slaughtered 
for  that  purpose.  To  assist  the  Eskimo  apprentices,  Jacob  Larsen 
Hatta,  wife,  and  two  children,  and  Mr.  Lars  Larsen  Hatta  (Lapps) 
were  also  sent. 

This  herd  was  to  be  divided  into  two  equal  portions,  one  of  which 
was  to  be  loaned  to  the  Presbyterian  Mission  at  Point  Barrow,  and 
the  other  to  the  Episcopal  Mission  at  Point  Hope.  Ten  of  the  former 
Eskimo  apprentices  have  now  herds  of  their  own  and  are  careful  and 
diligent  in  increasing  them.  Their  herds  aggregate  nearly  500  head. 

BUILDINGS. 

The  Rev.  T.  L.  Brevig,  who  arrived  at  the  Teller  Reindeer  Station  in 
1894  as  teacher,  needing  a  year’s  vacation,  returned  to  the  States  last 
fall.  The  care  of  the  public  buildings  thus  vacated  was  given  to  Dr. 
Brandon,  who  in  return  for  the  same  agreed  to  care  for  the  buildings 
and  also  counsel  with  the  Eskimo  herders  in  the  neighborhood. 

At  Eaton  Station  substantial  log  buildings  were  erected  for  the 
superintendent,  physician,  and  herders’  families;  also  for  the  neces¬ 
sary  storehouses. 

THE  HERD. 

The  Government  herd  was  driven  during  the  winter  from  the  Teller 
to  the  Eaton  Station,  a  distance  of  about  300  miles. 

The  120  reindeer  that  had  been  loaned  by  the  Government  to 
Antisarlook  in  January,  1895,  were  returned  by  him  last  winter,  he 
retaining  160,  the  same  being  the  increase  during  the  three  years  that 
the  herd  had  been  in  his  possession.  Seventy-five  deer  were  given  by 
the  Government  to  Tautook,  Sekeoglook,  and  Wocksock,  who  had 
finished  their  term  of  apprenticeship,  and  in  accordance  with  the 
terms  of  their  contract,  to  enable  them  to  commence  an  independent 
herd.  One  hundred  and  sixty  deer  belonging  to  Antisarlook’s  herd 
at  Cape  Nome  and  301  deer  belonging  to  the  missionary  and  Eskimo 
herd  at  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  were  borrowed  by  the  Government, 
making  a  total  of  461  reindeer  for  the  relief  of  the  ice-imprisoned 
whalers  at  Point  Barrow.  Of  these,  260  males^were  slaughtered  for 
food,  the  females  being  kept  as  a  nucleus  of  a  permanent  herd  at 
Point  Barrow.  — * ^ 

At  Golovin  Bay  the  union  herd,  belonging^ointty  to  the^-Swedish 
Evangelical  Union  Mission  and  Episcopalians,  was  increased  during 
the  year  by  99  fawns  born.  It  is  expected  thi$  winter  that  the  herd 
will  be  divided,  and  the  portion  belonging  to  the  Episcopalians  will 
be  driven  across  the  country  to  Weare,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tanana 
River. 

Instructions  were  left  at  the  Eaton  Station  to  loan  100  head  of  rein¬ 
deer  to  the  Roman  Catholic  missions  on  the  Yukon  River,  and  send 
with  the  herd  an  experienced  Lapp  to  take  the  oversight  of  the  herd 
and  instruct  the  native  apprentices  in  its  care  and  management. 


Traveling  with  Reindeer. 


Herd  of  Reindeer  by  the  Seaside. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  13 


Number  and  distribution  of  domestic  reindeer  in  Alaska,  1898. 


Location  of  herds. 

Old  deer. 

Fawns. 

Total. 

Unalaklik: 

446 

177 

623 

7 

4 

11 

16 

10 

26 

4 

11 

Teller  Reindeer  Station: 

„ 

4 

11 

38 

39 

Sekeaglook  (former  apprentice).  Government  herd _ _ _ 

32 

27 

59 

Wocksock  (  former  anprentice),  Government  herd . 

28 

22 

50 

Cape  Prince  of  Wales  : 

Congregational  Mission  Station  _ 

216 

216 

150 

Golovin  Bay: 

Swedish  Missi nn  _ _ .............. _ ... _ _ _ _ 

101 

49 

Episcopal  Mission  _ _ 

100 

15 

50 

150 

Okitkon  (apprentice)  ._ _ _ _ _ 

7 

22 

Tatpan  (apprentice)  _ _ _ _ 

18 

9 

27 

Moses  (apprentice)  _ _ _ _ 

30 

12 

42 

Constantine  (apprentice) _ _ 

2 

4 

Point  Hope  -  _ _ _ - _ ...... _ ..... _ _ 

29 

19 

48 

Point  Barrow : 

Presbyterian  Mission . 

Circle  City : 

Imported  from  Lapland  _ _ _ _ _ _ 

201 

144 

190 

391 

144 

Total . . . . . . . . - . . 

1,437 

625 

2,062 

Increase  from  1892  to  1898. 


1892. 

1893. 

1894. 

1895. 

1896. 

1897. 

1898. 

Total  from  previous  year . 

Fawns  surviving . . . 

Purchased  during  summer . - 

Imported  from  Lapland _ _ _ _ 

171 

143 

79 

124 

323 

145 

120 

492 

276 

123 

743 

357 

1,000 

466 

1,132 

625 

161 

144 

Total,  October  1 . 

Loss . . . . 

171 

28 

346 

23 

588 

96 

891 

148 

1,100 

100 

1,466 
a  334 

2,062 

Carried  forward . . . 

143 

323 

492 

743 

1,000 

1,132 

a  One  hundred  and  eighty  deer  killed  at  Point  Barrow  for  food;  66  lost  or  killed  en  route. 


Of  the  above,  the  following  are  the  property  of  the  Government :  At 
Unalaklik,  623;  at  Teller  Station,  11;  at  Golovin  Bay,  100;  at  Point 
Barrow,  118;  at  Point  Hope,  48;  at  Circle  City,  144,  making  a  total  of 
1,044. 

Expenditure  of  reindeer  fund,  1897-98. 


Amount  appropriated _ _ _ _ _ $12, 500. 00 


Supplies  for  stations . . .  2, 235. 51 

Barter  goods  for  purchase  of  deer _ _ _ _  4, 378. 17 

Salaries  of  purchasing  agents  and  herders _ _ _  2, 970. 32 

Freight  on  supplies  and  barter  goods. .  . .  _ _ _  2, 497. 13 

Reprinting  of  report,  1,000  copies,  at  29.9  cents _  299. 01 

Copies  of  38  electrotype  illustrations,  at  94.8  cents _ _  36. 00 

Traveling  expenses _ _ _ _ _ _ . _  _  75. 00 

Balance . . . .  2. 86 


12, 500.00 

PURCHASING  STATION  IN  SIBERIA. 

From  the  commencement  of  the  introduction  of  reindeer  into  Alaska 
in  1892  it  has  been  my  constant  study  to  devise  some  method  for  pro¬ 
curing  larger  numbers  of  reindeer  during  the  season.  During  the 


14  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


experimental  trip  of  1891  two  months  were  spent  on  the  revenue  cut¬ 
ter  Bear  in  procuring  16  head.  The  following  year  167  were  secured, 
being  the  largest  number  purchased  within  any  one  year  in  Siberia. 
During  1893,  1894,  and  1895  the  very  best  that  we  were  able  to  accom¬ 
plish  in  a  season  was  the  purchase  of  from  120  to  125  head.  In  1896 
a  partial  agreement  was  effected  with  a  private  party  to  procure  and 
bring  over  from  Siberia  to  Alaska  reindeer  at  a  fixed  price  per  head, 
which  resulted  in  a  total  failure,  not  one  being  secured.  In  1897, 
in  continuation  of  the  policy  of  trying  different  methods  for  pro¬ 
curing  the  reindeer,  Mr.  John  W.  Kelly,  Mr.  Conrad  Siem,  and  Mr. 
A.  St.  Leger  were  sent  to  Siberia  to  remain  during  the  winter.  A 
small  cheap  frame  house  was  erected  and  they  were  furnished  with 
necessary  barter  goods  required  for  the  purchase  of  reindeer.  Dur¬ 
ing  the  fall  their  success  was  such  as  to  encourage  the  hope  that  a 
practicable  method  had  been  found  of  procuring  the  reindeer  in 
large  numbers,  several  hundred  of  the  deer  being  purchased  and 
either  delivered  or  placed  in  herds  where  they  could  be  reached  the 
following  summer,  during  the  few  weeks  that  the  ice  allows  the  access 
of  ships  to  the  coast,  when  a  vessel  would  be  sent  to  transport  them 
to  Alaska.  It  appears,  however,  from  the  statements  of  the  pur¬ 
chasing  agents  that  during  the  winter  jealousies  and  feuds  broke  out 
among  the  different  native  villages  which  precluded  any  further  trad¬ 
ing  and  so  endangered  their  lives  that  the  following  July  they  felt 
compelled  to  go  on  board  a  whaler  and  leave  the  station. 

Upon  my  visit  to  the  place  early  in  August  I  was  able  to  trace  and 
secure  but  100  head  of  the  several  hundred  which  had  been  bought. 
After  the  employees  had  abandoned  the  station  the  natives  seemed  to 
have  appropriated  whatever  they  could  lay  their  hands  on,  including 
the  deer  in  the  herd.  Under  the  circumstances  it  was  not  thought 
expedient  to  carry  this  experiment  further,  and  the  station  was  closed. 
It  is  probable  that  the  next  method  will  be  to  try  and  arrange  with 
some  Siberian  firm  of  standing  and  character  to  purchase  deer  for  the 
Government.  Possibly  Russians  will  succeed  better  in  bartering 
with  the  natives  for  deer  than  Americans.  The  161  head  of  reindeer 
which  I  brought  from  Siberia  in  August  were  turned  over  to  Mr.  W.  T. 
Lopp  to  replace  in  part  those  that  the  Government  had  borrowed  for 
the  Point  Barrow  relief  expedition. 

PRIVATE  REINDEER  ENTERPRISES. 

The  sudden  influx  of  large  numbers  of  miners  into  central  Alaska, 
and  the  difficulty  of  procuring  supplies  and  provisions  at  the  mining 
camps,  called  public  attention  to  the  necessity  of  introducing  the 
reindeer  as  a  factor  in  freighting  and  transportation.  During  the 
years  when  the  natives  had  occasion  to  travel  from  village  to  village 
their  journeys  were  comparatively  short  and  time  was  no  object,  con¬ 
sequently  it  made  no  difference  whether  they  were  a  week  or  a  month 
on  the  road,  and  dog  teams  served  a  useful  purpose.  So  during  the 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  15 


days  of  the  fur  trade  the  few  fur  traders  in  the  country  with  their 
homes  on  the  river,  supplied  with  provisions  by  an  annual  trip  of  a 
steamer,  could  manage  to  get  along  comfortably  with  dog  transporta¬ 
tion.  But  in  the  increased  and  more  rapid  development  of  the  coun¬ 
try  the  need  of  better  transportation  facilities  was  recognized.  The 
experiments  of  the  Government  had  already  demonstrated  the  value 
of  the  reindeer,  and  three  or  four  private  enterprises  were  at  once 
started,  the  details  of  which  have  been  difficult  to  obtain.  From 
newspaper  reports  I  glean  that  a  Mr.  G.  Lewis,  of  Montreal,  acting  in 
the  interest  of  the  Reindeer  Transportation  Company  of  Vancouver, 
shipped  42  reindeer  from  Norway  on  the  steamship  Hecla ,  reaching 
New  York  February  1,  1898.  They  were  consigned  to  a  Mr.  J.  G. 
Scroggs.  Seven  died  on  the  trip  across  the  ocean,  and  29  in  crossing 
the  continent.  But  6  lived  to  reach  Skagway,  and  of  those  but  2 
reached  Dawson. 

At  Skagway  I  was  informed  that  in  November  last  Mr.  David  O’Neil, 
an  Arizona  miner,  before  going  into  the  Yukon,  visited  Norway  to 
procure  a  herd  of  reindeer  for  use  at  the  mines.  Not  finding  in  east¬ 
ern  Lapland  as  large  deer  as  he  wanted,  he  continued  up  the  coast  to 
Tromsoe,  then  traveled  into  the  interior  across  Norway  and  Sweden 
to  Archangel,  Russia,  on  the  White  Sea;  from  thence  480  miles  north¬ 
east  to  Petchora  Bay,  Arctic  Russia,  where  he  is  said  to  have  found 
reindeer  weighing  from  500  to  600  pounds,  trained  both  to  hauling 
and  packing.  He  purchased  a  herd  of  2,000  head,  costing  about  $12 
apiece.  With  34  selected  deer  he  started  for  Hamburg,  Germany,  a 
journey  of  1,800  miles  across  the  country.  Twenty- three  days  were 
consumed  in  crossing  the  Atlantic,  during  which  time  a  number  of 
them  died;  others  died  in  crossing  the  continent,  so  that  when  Skag¬ 
way  was  reached  only  1  deer  out  of  the  34  was  left,  and  that  one  died 
before  he  could  be  gotten  off  the  wharf. 

The  poor  success  in  transporting  the  34  deer  so  discouraged  him 
that  he  telegraphed  to  Russia  to  sell  the  remainder  of  the  2,000  that 
he  had  purchased.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  these  enterprises  were 
not  more  successful,  as  the  deer  are  so  greatly  needed  in  Alaska. 
The  failure,  however,  was  not  due  to  any  insuperable  difficulties  in 
the  way  of  transporting  them  from  Lapland  or  to  any  inability  of  the 
reindeer  to  endure  long  voyages,  as  was  proven  when,  a  month  later 
than  Mr.  O’Neil’s  expedition,  the  United  States  commission  to  Lap- 
land  transported  539  reindeer  from  Lapland,  twenty-six  days  at  sea 
and  across  the  continent  to  Seattle,  with  the  loss  of  but  one. 

I  have  been  informed  that  in  the  above  private  expeditions  sufficient^- 
moss  was  not  brought  with  the  deer,  but  an  attempt  was  made  to 
accustom  them  to  live  on  hay  and  grain  while  en  route. 

NO  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  IN  CANADA. 

Last  winter,  while  the  Government  and  private  parties  were  looking 
to  Lapland  for  reindeer,  a  report  was  started  and  found  credence  in 


16  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


some  quarters  that  it  was  unnecessary  to  go  to  Lapland  as  the  rein¬ 
deer  could  he  purchased  better  in  Canada.  Not  having  heard  that 
there  were  any  domestic  reindeer  in  Canada,  a  letter  was  addressed 
to  the  Hon.  George  M.  Dawson,  LL  D.,  director  of  the  geological 
survey  of  Canada,  which  elicited  the  following  reply: 


Geological  Survey  of  Canada, 

Ottawa ,  May  21,  1898. 

My  Dear  Sir:  I  have  your  note  of  May  17,  asking  about  supposed  settlement  j 
of  Lapps  and  domesticated  reindeer  in  the  vicinity  of  Hudson  Bay.  The  report  1 
which  has  reached  you  is,  however,  quite  erroneous,  as  nothing  of  the  kind  exists- 
either  there  or  on  the  Labrador  coast,  not  even  in  connection  with  the  Moravian  : 
missions  of  the  last-named  locality. 

I  am  much  obliged  for  the  copy  of  your  interesting  report  on  the  reindeer,  duly 
received. 


Yours,  truly, 


George  M.  Dawson. 


Rev.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

Alaskan  Division,  Bureau  of  Education, 

Washington,  D.  C.,  U.  S.  A. 


HOW  REINDEER  WILL  SUPPLEMENT  THE  STEAMBOAT  AND  RAILROAD 

IN  ALASKA. 

The  following  quotation,  which  is  a  clear  and  concise  statement  of 
the  value  and  extent  of  reindeer  transportation,  is  from  a  circular  j 
prepared  by  Hon.  W.  T.  Harris,  Commissioner  of  Education.  Dr.  • 
Harris  writes : 

Whatever  may  be  the  development  of  transportation  by  river  or  by  railroad  \ 
in  Alaska,  the  reindeer  will  prove  a  useful  auxiliary  by  rendering  possible  a  ready 
distribution,  even  for  long  distances  from  the  terminus.  For  instance,  the  steamers  1 
that  visit  the  upper  Yukon  unload  their  goods  at  the  terminal  points.  From  these  \ 
terminal  points  in  the  winter  the  reindeer  can  convey  provisions  and  other  sup-  j 
plies  to  the  miners  20,  40,  or  100  miles  or  more,  as  the  case  may  be.  If  a  railroad  ; 
should  be  made  from  Skagway,  or  from  Prince  William  Sound,  or  any  other  point,  I 
into  the  interior,  at  its  terminal  point  various  reindeer  expresses  make  possible  , 
the  distribution  of  the  freight  from  the  railroad  to  distant  points  in  various  direc-  ' 
tions  from  the  terminus.  They  would  likewise  collect  freight  for  the  terminus. 
Meanwhile  the  reindeer  can  not  be  used  as  a  substitute  for  the  river  or  the  rail-  ; 
road  in  the  carrying  of  freight,  any  more  than  horses  or  oxen  can  be  used  for  that 
purpose,  because,  while  the  amount  of  freight  carried  by  the  reindeer  in  the  winter  ■ 
time  is  considerable,  it  would  take  10,000  reindeer  to  carry  1,000  tons,  while  one  i 
freight  train  or  one  large  steamboat  might  carry  the  entire  amount.  It  is  in  the 
distribution  from  terminal  points  and  the  collection  for  terminal  points  that  the 
reindeer  will  be  useful. 

Another  point  of  great  usefulness  is  the  light  work  of  carrying  the  mail.  Great  f 
speed  for  small  loads  is  the  favorable  condition.  With  relays  of  25  miles  each  the  , 
possible  speed  in  winter  time  of  reindeer  expresses,  carrying  a  light  load  of  mail, 
is  200  miles  a  day.  If  a  route  can  be  found,  such  as  the  Dalton  trail  is  said  to  be,  , 
from  Haines  to  Fort  Selkirk  or  Circle  City,  the  relays  of  reindeer  could  carry  the 
mail  in  three  days  to  Dawson  City  and  in  four  days  to  Circle  City.  Return  mail  i 
should  be  brought  back  in  the  same  period.  Supposing  a  railroad  should  be  built  i 
to  Dawson  City  or  Circle  City,  the  reindeer  would  not  be  useful  in  traversing  the 
country  over  which  the  railroad  passed,  but  he  would  be  very  useful  in  connect¬ 
ing  the  terminus  of  the  railroad  in  the  winter  time  with  places  down  the  Yukon  j 
River.  Even  the  military  camp  at  Weare,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Tanana,  could  , 


- 


Presbyterian  Mission  Home,  Juneau,  Alaska. 
Photograph  by  V.  C.  Gambell. 


Public  School  No.  2  (Native),  Juneau,  Alaska. 
Photograph  by  V.  C.  Gambell. 


Residence  of  the  Physician  at  Eaton  Reindeer  Station,  Alaska. 
Photograph  by  F.  H.  Gambell.  M.  D.  (See  page  12.) 


Methodist  Mission  Home,  Unalaska,  Alaska. 
Photograph  by  S.  J  Call,  M.  D. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  17 


be  brought  into  communication  with  the  War  Department  by  reindeer  express  to 
Circle  City,  taking  two  days  for  round  trip,  and  from  the  military  camp  near  the 
mouth  of  the  Tanana  once  a  month  to  Point  Barrow,  requiring  four  days  out  and 
four  days  back,  would  keep  the  whole  country  in  possession  of  the  news  regarding 
the  fate  of  sailors  caught  in  the  Arctic  seas  and  the  missionaries  who  live  in  that 
remote  region.  A  similar  four-days  express  twice  a  month  would  bring  the  same 
news  from  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  and  the  missionary  stations  north  and  east  of 
that  point,  and  also  those  on  the  lines  south  and  west  and  those  on  the  Yukon. 
Another  one  three  days  out  from  the  new  military  post  at  Weare  would  give  the 
same  information  regarding  St.  Michael  and  numerous  missionary  posts  south  and 
southeast  of  that  point.  During  the  summer  time  the  boats  on  the  Yukon  will 
bring  the  great  bulk  of  freight  up  to  the  different  distributing  points. 

ESTIMATES  AND  SUGGESTIONS  FOR  DISTRIBUTING  REINDEER  IN  ALASKA, 

AND  INDUCEMENT  FOR  LAPLANDERS  TO  BECOME  SETTLERS  AND 

HERD  OWNERS. 

The  Lapps  brought  over  from  Lapland  as  teachers  for  the  Eskimo 
apprentices,  and  also  as  the  basis  of  the  reindeer  development  in 
Alaska,  are  inquiring  in  what  way  they,  as  well  as  the  Eskimo,  can 
secure  herds  of  their  own.  From  the  commencement  of  the  instruc¬ 
tion  of  the  native  men  in  the  .management  of  reindeer,  the  Bureau  of 
Education  has  recognized  the  importance  of  securing  the  cooperation 
of  the  various  missionary  societies  at  work  in  Arctic  and  sub- Arctic 
Alaska. 

Again  I  quote  the  Commissioner  of  Education : 

It  is  evident  that  the  missionary  stations  furnish  the  only  safe  centers  for  the 
location  of  herds  and  the  establishment  of  schools  of  instruction  in  the  rearing  of 
the  reindeer  and  in  the  training  of  them  to  harness. 

As  already  mentioned,  the  missions  ascertain  the  capable  and  teachable  youth 
among  the  natives.  They  are  able  at  any  time  to  furnish  a  list  of  the  natives  in 
their  vicinities  noted  for  good  character.  At  each  of  these  stations  20  or  30  youth, 

|  selected  from  a  village  population  of  300  or  more,  can  be  put  in  training  as  herds¬ 
men  and  teamsters.  No  matter  how  large  the  Government  appropriation  should 
be,  therefore,  it  would  be  necessary  to  connect  the  reindeer  instruction  and  the 
establishment  of  permanent  herds  in  northwest  Alaska  with  these  missionary 
stations. 

Let  small  herds  be  loaned  to  each  missionary  station  as  a  Government  aid  in  the 
nature  of  an  outfit  of  industrial  apparatus.  The  report  of  the  Indian  Bureau 
I  shows  that  the  United  States  Government  furnished  10,000  head  of  stock  for  the 
period  of  1890-96  for  one  Indian  agency  (the  Blackfeet),  and  that  seeds,  imple- 
l  ments.  stock,  wagons,  harness,  in  large  amounts,  have  been  furnished  to  other 
agencies.  These  donations  are  certainly  more  justifiable  than  donations  made  to 
prevent  the  savage  peoples  from  starving,  for  they  are  given,  in  the  form  of  appa¬ 
ratus,  for  the  instruction  of  these  peoples  in  the  industrial  arts  and  in  the  practice 
of  thrift.  All  these  things  prevent  starvation.  Just  as  in  the  agricultural  col¬ 
leges  of  the  several  States  the  Government  money  is  used  to  pay  for  the  stock  of 
the  model  farm,  which  is  used  as  the  apparatus  for  the  instruction  of  the  pupils, 
so  the  reindeer  herd  is  used  as  apparatus  loaned  to  the  missionary  stations  for  the 
purpose  of  instruction  of  the  natives.  But  an  average  of  five  years'  apprenticeship 
is  needed  for  the  full  training  of  apprentices  in  the  management  of  reindeer. 

Persons  who  have  been  brought  up  to  the  care  of  neat  cattle  and  horses  or  sheep 
only  have  not  thereby  acquired  the  art  of  managing  reindeer,  for  this  requires 

S.  Doc.  34 - 2 


18  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


special  apprenticeship.  With  the  first  herd  (that  of  1892)  Siberian  herdsmen  were 
procured  to  give  instruction  in  these  arts;  but  the  degree  of  success  was  so  small 
that  in  1894  five  families  of  Laplanders  were  obtained  to  take  their  place.  The  Lap¬ 
landers,  being  a  civilized  people  and  devoid  of  the  superstitions  which  embarrass 
the  Siberian  natives,  have  attained  a  higher  degree  of  skill  in  the  management  of 
this  animal,  and  also  show  greater  ability  in  teaching  others  what  they  know. 
Next  after  the  obtaining  of  the  reindeer  the  most  important  point,  therefore,  is  the 
procurement  of  skilled  herdsmen  and  teamsters  from  Norway  and  Sweden.  It  is 
of  little  use  to  give  a  herd  of  reindeer  to  a  missionary  station  unless  a  skilled 
teacher  goes  with  it. 

The  furnishing  of  the  properly  trained  Laplander  is  one  of  the  chief  items  of 
expense  in  the  introduction  of  reindeer  into  northwestern  Alaska.  A  salary  of 
$500  a  year  is  necessary  for  each,  and  the  distribution  of  the  herd  at  the  different 
points  on  the  seacoast  and  in  the  interior  is  possible  only  in  so  far  as  the  Govern¬ 
ment  is  able  to  send  these  experienced  herdsmen  and  teamsters.  In  the  course  of 
eight  or  ten  years  there  will  grow  up  a  supply  of  thoroughly  educated  natives, 
who  will  render  it  unnecessary  to  depend  any  longer  upon  Lapland  and  Finland 
for  teachefs.  But  it  is  hoped  in  the  meanwhile  that  there  will  be  some  migration 
from  Scandinavia  of  families  of  herdsmen  and  teamsters. 

To  Lest  accomplish  the  above,  I  would  respectfully  recommend  the 
following  general  plan,  which  embodies  the  suggestions  made  by  Mr. 
William  A.  Kjellmann  from  his  own  personal  experience  in  the  work, 
both  in  Alaska  and  Lapland,  in  the  latter  of  which  he  was  born  and 
brought  up. 

Loan  each  mission  association  100  deer  for  five  years  on  condition 
(1)  that  two  Lapp  families  are  kept  in  charge  of  the  herd,  the  mission 
furnishing  food,  clothing,  etc. ,  and  the  Government  paying  the  salaries  i 
for  the  Laplanders;  (2)  that  at  least  four  native  men  are  kept  and  I 
trained  to  the  work;  (3)  that  the  mission  receive  80  per  cent  of  the  4 
net  increase  of  the  herd  and  the  two  Laplanders  in  charge  20  per  cent, 
this  20  per  cent  to  be  held  back  by  the  Government  in  case  the  Lap-  I 
landers  should  not  become  herders  or  teamsters;  (4)  that  one  of  the  • 
Laplanders  at  each  station  occupied  be  appointed  manager,  so  far  as  j 
herding  and  breaking  in  and  the  movement  of  the  herd  is  concerned, 
the  Lapp  manager  to  report  yearly  to  the  Government  inspector  on 
his  visit  about  the  increase  and  general  condition,  etc.,  the  mission 
station  also  reporting  to  the  inspector. 

Estimate  of  increase  from  100  deer  in  five  years. 


Males. 

Females. 

Total. 

Original  number . . . . , . . . . 

20 

80 

100 

First  year’s  increase . . . . . 

36 

36 

72 

Second  year’s  increase. . . . . . . . 

40 

40 

80 

Third  year’s  increase . . . . 

60 

56 

116 

Fourth  year’s  increase . . . . . 

80 

72 

152 

Fifth  year’s  increase . . . . . 

104 

104 

208 

Total  .  .  .  . . 

340 

388 

728 

Losses  during  the  period . . .  . . 

50 

Total  left . . . . _■ . . 

678 

Property  of  the  Government . .  . . . . . . . 

100 

Net  increase  left . . . . . . . . 

578 

Eighty  per  cent  goes  to  mission. . . . . 

462 

Twenty  per  cent  to  Government  or  Lapps 

116 

578 

INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  19 


RELIEF  OF  THE  WHALERS  IMPRISONED  IN  THE  ICE  NEAR  POINT 

BARROW. 

While  the  relief  of  the  whalers  imprisoned  in  the  ice  at  Point  Bar- 
row  last  winter  was  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  Treasury 
Department,  yet  as  the  principal  means  of  relief  were  the  reindeer 
herds  taken  from  Prince  of  Wales  and  Cape  Nome  and  driven  over 
to  Point  Barrow,  and  as  those  herds  were  a  part  of  the  fruit  of  the 
work  of  the  Interior  Department  in  introducing  domestic  reindeer  into 
Alaska,  it  seems  proper  that  some  account  of  that  expedition  should 
have  a  place  in  this  report. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  and  Capt. 
C.  F.  Shoemaker,  chief  of  division  of  Revenue-Cutter  Service,  I  have 
received  copies  of  the  original  reports  of  the  officers  in  command  of  the 
relief  expedition.  From  these  reports  and  from  other  reliable  sources 
1  have  secured  the  following  account  of  the  situation  of  the  whalers  and 
their  relief  by  the  Government  expedition  in  charge  of  Lieut.  David  II. 
Jarvis,  of  the  Revenue-Cutter  Service. 

On  the  8th  of  September,  1897,  the  steam  whalers  Orca ,  Capt.  A.  C. 
Sherman;  Jesse  H.  Freeman,  Captain  Humphreys;  Belvedere ,  Capt. 
M.  B.  V.  Millard,  and  the  schooner  Rosario ,  Capt.  Edwin  Coffin,  were 
caught  in  the  slush  ice  to  the  eastward  of  Point  Barrow,  the  northern¬ 
most  point  of  the  North  American  Continent. 

Earl}r  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  the  danger  was  so  great  that  the 
captains  of  the  four  ships  had  a  consultation  as  to  the  best  method  of 
working  their  vessels  out  of  the  ice.  The  young  ice  was  forming  fast 
and  a  heavy  ridge  of  old  ice  remained  along  the  coast.  The  only 
method  of  escape  seemed  to  be  by  blasting  a  canal  through  the  ice 
ridge,  a  distance  of  about  a  mile  and  a  half.  A  portion  of  the  crew 
was  at  once  set  at  work  making  cartridges,  weighing  5  pounds  each,  of 
blasting  powder,  gunpowder,  and  tonite  powder,  the  latter  of  which  was 
taken  from  the  darting  and  shoulder  bombs.  These  cartridges  were 
placed  on  the  ends  of  long  poles,  shoved  under  the  ice,  and  exploded. 
A  thousand  pounds  of  powder  were  used  and  three  days  and  nights 
consumed  in  making  the  canal.  The  remaining  men  of  the  crews  were 
employed  in  sawing  and  poling  the  ice  out  of  the  canal.  The  fresh 
ice,  however,  formed  so  rapidly  that  the  steamer  Orca,  in  forcing  its 
way  through  the  canal,  broke  its  rudder,  and,  becoming  unmanageable, 

I  was  taken  in  tow  by  the  steamer  Freeman.  The  captain  of  the  schooner 
Rosario  was  afraid  to  attempt  the  passage  through  the  canal,  and 
hoped  that  the  ice  might  open  and  afford  the  vessel  a  safe  refuge  in  a 
lagoon  near  by.  This  hope,  however,  was  not  realized. 

After  getting  through  the  canal  the  three  steamers  lay  to  until  the 
Orca  had  repaired  its  rudder,  and  then  steamed  south  45  miles  through 
increasingly  heavy  ice  to  the  neighborhood  of  Sea  Horse  Islands,  which 
were  reached  September  22.  On  that  date  the  steamer  Orca ,  which 
was  in  the  lead  during  the  breaking  and  forcing  of  the  ice,  was  caught 


20  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


between  two  immense  ice  floes,  which  wrenched  the  sternpost  and 
steering’  gear  completely  ont  of  place  and  hurled  the  wheel  through 
the  idiot  house,  the  officers  and  crew  taking  to  the  ice  for  safety. 
Many  of  the  officers  and  crew  passed  over  the  ice  to  the  steamer  Free¬ 
man.  Shortly  after  the  Freeman  herself  was  caught  in  the  ice  jam 
and  all  on  board  took  refuge  on  the  ice.  The  steamer  Belvedere ,  which 
had  reached  open  water,  immediately  steamed  back  into  the  ice  and 
rescued  the  officers  and  crew  of  both  vessels.  The  wind  blowing  a 
gale  from  the  westward  forced  both  the  young  and  old  ice  landward, 
and  nothing  was  left  for  the  Belvedere  but  to  move  with  it,  doing  which 
the  ship  succeeded  in  getting  into  Pearl  Bay,  the  heavy  ice  grounding 
outside  and  making  a  refuge  behind  it. 

The  Belvedere  now  had  its  own  crew  of  45  men,  the  43  men  from  the 
Orca,  and  the  49  from  the  Freeman.  Abandoning  all  hope  of  getting 
out  of  the  ice,  on  the  23d  of  September  the  sailors  commenced  sled¬ 
ding  provisions  from  the  ship  over  the  ice  to  the  Sea  Horse  Islands,  a 
distance  of  3  miles.  The  water  was  pumped  out  of  the  casks  to  lighten 
the  ship,  and  the  bulkheads  were  torn  down  for  the  purpose  of  making 
houses  on  shore.  The  blacksmith  commenced  making  cooking  stoves 
from  the  coal-oil  drums,  and  others  were  set  to  work  cutting  a  canal 
through  the  ice  to  enable  the  ship  to  get  in  behind  the  islands  for 
greater  safety,  all  the  arrangements  being  made  to  winter  at  that 
spot.  While  these  arrangements  for  camping  on  shore  were  going  on, 
Mr.  Charles  H.  Walker,  fifth  mate  of  the  steam  whaler  Orca ,  volun¬ 
teered,  with  a  couple  of  natives,  to  go  across  the  ice  to  the  steamer 
Orca  and  save  all  the  provisions  they  could,  agreeing  to  make  a  signal 
upon  his  safe  arrival  at  the  vessel.  The  Orca  was  lying  12  miles  away,  | 
with  the  ice  between  the  two  ships  full  of  holes  and  the  pressure  of 
the  heavy  ice  constantly  making  large  cracks  in  the  new  ice. 

On  the  29th  of  September,  failing  to  see  any  signals  from  the  Orca , 
Mr.  George  F.  Tilton,  with  four  natives,  wsCs  sent  to  learn  the  fate  of 
Mr.  Walker  and  his  companions.  After  six  hours  hard  work  the  ship 
was  reached  and  Mr.  Walker  and  his  men  were  found  well  and  busy 
saving  provisions.  The  ship  was  nearly  full  of  water,  and  the  pro¬ 
visions  had  to  be  fished  out  with  long-handled  bow  hooks.  In  the 
meantime  both  ship  and  ice  were  drifting  all  the  time.  While 
engaged  in  securing  the  provisions  a  peculiar  tremor  was  felt,  the 
ship  careened  slowly  over  on  its  side  and  gradually  slid  under  the  ice 
floe  and  was  soon  completely  hidden  from  sight.  The  men,  having 
escaped  to  the  ice,  at  once  commenced  sledding  the  provisions  they 
had  saved  to  the  south  sand  spit  of  the  Sea  Horse  Islands,  which  were 
about  3  miles  to  the  westward.  The  moving  of  the  provisions  con¬ 
sumed  two  days.  Some  Eskimo  were  secured  in  the  neighborhood 
with  two  teams  of  dogs,  and  on  the  sixth  day  all  the  food  saved  from 
the  Orca  was  safely  put  on  the  steamer  Belvedere.  While  the  work 
of  saving  provisions  from  the  steamer  Orca  was  going  on,  some  Eskimos 
boarded  the  steamer  Freeman  to  help  themselves  to  the  provisions 


Midnight  Sun,  Point  Barrow,  Alaska. 

Photograph  by  Assistant  Engineer  H.  N.  Wood. 


Wrecked  Whalers  drawing  Supplies  on  the  Ice,  Point  Barrow. 
Photograph  by  Assistant  Engineer  H.  N.  Wood.  (See  page  20. ) 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  21 


which  had  been  left  in  that  vessel  when  the  sailors  took  to  the  ice. 
While  engaged  in  looting  the  ship  they  accidentally  dropped  a  lighted 
lamp,  which  set  fire  to  the  vessel,  and  it  burned  to  the  water’s  edge. 

On  the  3d  of  October  Captains  Millard,  Porter,  and  Sherman  after 
consultation  determined  to  send  to  Point  Barrow  for  help.  Stephen 
Cottle,  second  mate  of  the  Belvedere ,  and  the  four  or  five  men  of  the 
steamer  Freeman  volunteered  to  go.  It  was  a  trip  of  65  miles  on 
foot,  and  it  took  three  nights  and  two  days  to  make  it. 

Mr.  Charles  D.  Brower,  superintendent  of  the  Liebes  Whaling  Sta¬ 
tion,  at  once  dispatched  his  assistant,  Alfred  Hopson,  with  six  dog 
teams  to  the  rescue  of  the  whalers,  arriving  at  the  steamer  Belvedere 
on  October  7.  Forty  men  with  provisions  were  immediately  sent  to 
Point  Barrow,  some  of  the  men  being  so  sick  and  feeble  that  they  had 
to  ride  the  entire  distance.  The  trip  was  made  in  four  days. 

Returning  to  the  Belvedere  on  October  13,  Mr.  Hopson  made  the 
trip  in  twenty-two  hours.  On  the  second  trip  he  took  64  men  and 
some  provisions  to  Point  Barrow.  On  the  15th  of  October  the  cap¬ 
tains  reached  Point  Barrow  for  a  consultation. 

Inventories  of  all  the  provisions  on  the  Belvedere ,  at  Point  Barrow, 
and  on  the  four  whalers  which  were  in  the  ice  to  the  eastward  of 
Point  Barrow  were  made  and  placed  before  them.  These  were  care¬ 
fully  gone  over,  and  it  was  decided  that  by  allowing  each  man  two 
scant  meals  a  day  the  provisions  could  be  made  to  hold  out  until  the 
1st  of  July  following.  At  Point  Barrow  the  officers  of  the  first-named 
vessels  learned  that  the  steamers  Fearless ,  Capt.  James  McKenna, 
and  Newport ,  Capt.  G.  B.  Leabett,  were  in  heavy  ice,  5  miles  off 
shore,  and  about  60  miles  to  the  eastward  of  the  point.  The  steam 
tender  Jeanie ,  Capt.  P.  II.  Mason,  was  about  75  miles  east  of  the 
point,  and  the  bark  Wanderer  was  about  360  miles  east  of  the  point, 
being  within  90  miles  of  Ilerschel  Island. 

During  the  conference  at  Point  Barrow  it  was  decided  to  make  an 
effort  to  send  word  to  San  Francisco,  and  volunteers  were  called  for. 
Mr.  George  F.  Tilton,  third  mate  of  the  steam  whaler  Belvedere ,  and 
Mr.  Charles  F.  Walker,  fifth  mate  of  the  steam  whaler  Orca ,  were 
accepted  for  the  trip.  After  every  provision  was  made  for  their  com¬ 
fort,  at  noon  on  October  22,  both  expeditions  left  for  the  States,  Mr. 
Tilton  following  the  coast  south  of  St.  Michael  and  Shelikoff  Straits, 
and  Mr.  Walker  by  the  way  of  Herschel  Island  and  up  the  Mackenzie 
River  by  way  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Fur  Company’s  posts  to  Edmonton, 
on  the  Canadian  Pacific  Railway,  from  whence  he  reached  civilization. 

Mr.  Tilton  was  accompanied  by  two  Eskimo  runners,  who  had  agreed 
to  accompany  him  as  far  as  Point  Hope,  which  place  they  expected  to 
reach  in  about  fifteen  days.  It  was  on  the  3d  of  January,  when 
between  Unalaklik  and  St.  Michael,  on  Norton  Sound,  that  Mr.  Tilton 
met  Lieutenant  Jarvis  and  party  on  their  waj7  north  to  relieve  the 
whalers,  the  news  of  the  disaster  to  the  fleet  having  been  previously 


22  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

communicated  to  them.  St.  Michael  was  reached  on  January  6.  Leav¬ 
ing  St.  Michael  on  the  16tli,  a  trip  of  320  miles,  crossing  mountain 
ranges,  through  a  storm  that  destroyed  some  of  their  dogs,  brought 
the  party  to  Andreafski  on  the  Yukon  River.  In  the  winter  of  1897 
William  A.  Kjellinann,  superintendent  of  the  Government  reindeer 
stations,  made  the  same  trip  over  the  same  mountains  in  the  same 
kind  of  a  storm  with  reindeer  without  any  loss. 

Securing  fresh  dogs  at  Andreafski,  the  journey  was  continued  180 
miles  across  the  portage  to  the  Kuskokwim  River.  At  that  point, 
needing  a  fresh  team  of  dogs,  the  traders  at  the  place  asked  Mr.  Til¬ 
ton  $1,000  for  them.  This  would  have  prevented  any  further  prog¬ 
ress  of  the  expedition  had  not  the  Rev.  John  H.  Kilbuck,  Moravian 
missionary  at  that  place,  loaned  Mr.  Tilton  13  dogs,  provided  provi¬ 
sions,  and  accompanied  him  as  guide  for  350  miles  on  his  way  to  the 
next  Moravian  station,  which  was  at  Carmel,  on  the  Nushagak  River, 
arriving  there  on  the  22d  of  February.  At  this  point  Rev.  John 
Sclioechert,  missionary,  supplied  a  fresh  team  of  dogs  and  accompa¬ 
nied  him  as  guide  to  Katmai,  on  Shelikoff  Strait,  a  distance  of  400 
miles.  These  unpaid  services  of  the  missionaries  are  instances  of 
the  ready  help  extended  to  people  in  similar  extremity  everywhere 
by  the  missionaries.  At  Katmai  an  old  dory  was  secured  and  mended 
up,  in  which  a  passage  was  made  across  the  dangerous  Shelikoff 
Straits  to  Kadiak  Island.  From  Kadiak  Island  passage  was  secured 
on  the  steamer  Albion ,  reaching  Portland,  Oreg. ,  April  8. 

While  these  events  were  transpiring  in  the  far  North  it  began  to  be 
noised  abroad  that  a  portion  of  the  whale  fleet  had  been  caught  and 
imprisoned  in  the  arctic  ice. 

On  the  3d  of  November  Captain  Tilton,  of  the  steam  whaler  Alex¬ 
ander,  reached  San  Francisco  and  reported  that  eight  whalers  were 
fast  in  the  ice  east  and  west  of  Point  Barrow,  and  not  being  provi¬ 
sioned  for  so  long  a  stay,  the  crews  were  in  danger  of  starvation.  This 
news  was  confirmed  on  November  5  by  the  arrival  of  the  whaling  ves¬ 
sels  Jeannette ,  Karluk ,  Gayliead ,  and  Alice  Knowles.  The  attention 
of  the  President  was  called  to  the  danger  of  the  whalers,  and  at  a 
Cabinet  meeting  held  on  the  8th  of  November  it  was  decided  to  send 
a  relief  party  at  once,  and  the  revenue  cutter  Bear ,  that  had  just 
returned  from  its  usual  summer  arctic  cruise,  was  ordered  to  make 
the  necessary  preparations  and  proceed  as  soon  as  possible  to  Bering 
Sea.  It  was  the  purpose  that  the  Bear  should  proceed  north  until  it 
reached  the  ice  and  then  land  a  party  that  should  go  to  Point  Barrow 
and  take  control  of  the  whalers.  As  no  practical  plan  could  be 
devised  to  enable  the  relief  party  to  take  provisions  with  them,  it  was 
determined  to  borrow  a  herd  of  reindeer  owned  by  the  Eskimo  at  Cape 
Nome  and  a  second  herd  owned  by  the  American  Missionary  Associa¬ 
tion  at  Bering  Straits.  These  reindeer  were  to  be  taken  by  the  relief 
expedition  to  Point  Barrow  and,  so  far  as  needed,  slaughtered  for 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  23 


food.  The  trip  being  one  of  great  hardship  and  danger,  the  Depart¬ 
ment  called  for  volunteers  to  man  the  ship,  and  finally  selected  the 
following  officers:  Capt.  Francis  Tuttle,  in  command  of  the  Bear ; 
First  Lieuts.  D.  H.  Jarvis  and  J.  H.  Brown;  Second  Lieuts.  E.  P. 
Bertholf,  C.  S.  Cochrane,  J.  G.  Berry,  B.  H.  Camden,  and  II.  G.  Ham¬ 
let;  Chief  Engineer  H.  AY.  Spear;  First  Asst.  Engineer  II.  N.  Wood; 
Second  Asst.  Engineers  H.  R.  Spencer  and  J.  I.  Bryan,  and  Surgs. 
S.  J.  Call  and  E.  II.  Woodruff.  Lieutenants  larvis  and  Bertholf  and 
Dr.  Call  were  designated  for  the  overland  trip.  Lieutenant  Jarvis, 
who  had  made  eight  trips  into  the  Arctic  Ocean  and  was  acquainted 
with  the  native  population  along  the  whole  coast,  was  placed  in 
command. 

On  the  29th  of  November  the  Bear ,  bidding  adieu  to  civilization, 
steamed  out  of  the  harbor  of  Port  Townsend  in  a  blinding  snowstorm 
on  its  perilous  voyage.  After  a  rough  passage  Unalaska  was  reached, 
in  a  thick  snowstorm,  December  9.  The  extra  supplies  for  the 
whalers  that  would  not  be  needed  until  the  following  summer  were 
sent  ashore.  Taking  on  coal  and  water  at  Dutch  Harbor  at  1.35  a.  m. 
December  11,  the  Bear  headed  north  into  Bering  Sea,  in  a  storm  of 
hail,  rain,  and  snow,  its  objective  point  being  Sledge  Island,  where 
it  was  hoped  the  overland  party  could  be  put  ashore.  On  the  morn¬ 
ing  of  the  13th  St.  Lawrence  Island  was  passed,  but  soon  after  the 
ship  entered  mush  ice  and  a  little  later  the  floe  ice,  which  was  so 
rapidly  solidifying  under  the  influence  of  the  severe  cold  that  at 
5  p.  m.,  when  within  75  miles  of  Sledge  Island,  fearing  the  vessel 
would  become  permanently  fast  in  the  ice,  the  effort  to  reach  Sledge 
Island  was  given  up  and  the  vessel  headed  toward  Nunivak  Island, 
with  a  hope  of  being  able  to  reach  Cape  Vancouver.  This  would 
increase  the  length  of  the  overland  journey  800  miles,  but  it  seemed 
to  be  the  only  point  where  a  landing  could  be  made.  Cape  Van¬ 
couver  came  in  sight  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  but  was  surrounded 
with  young  ice  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see  from  the  crow’s-nest  of  the 
ship.  After  working  slowly  through  the  ice  until  the  middle  of  the 
afternoon,  it  was  found  that  the  village  shown  on  the  chart  did  not 
exist.  It  was  rapidly  growing  dark,  and  just  as  the  attempt  was 
about  to  be  given  up  for  the  day  a  village  was  dimly  made  out  farther 
up  the  bay.  On  the  morning  of  the  16tli  the  ship  got  under  way  and 
made  an  anchorage  near  the  village  of  Tununok.  The  local  trader, 
Alexis  Kalenin,  and  a  party  off  natives  were  soon  on  board.  They 
informed  Lieutenant  Jarvis  that  they  expected  to  start  soon  them¬ 
selves  for  St.  Michael  and  would  pilot  his  party.  Accordingly 
arrangements  were  immediately  made  for  landing  the  expedition  and 
their  supplies.  This  was  accomplished  with  great  difficulty,  as  the 
ice  was  running  heavily  between  the  ship  and  shore.  Having  landed 
the  party,  the  Bear  returned  to  Dutch  Harbor,  Unalaska,  for  the 
winter. 


24  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


The  expedition  consisted  of  Lieutenants  Jarvis  and  Bertholf,  Dr. 
Call,  and  Mr.  F.  Koltchoff.  The  latter  was  engaged  as  a  guide  and 
to  drive  the  dog  teams.  Upon  reaching  the  house  of  the  trader  it 
was  decided  not  to  start  for  St.  Michael  until  the  18th,  the  inter¬ 
vening  time  being  employed  in  getting  everything  ready.  The  start 
was  made  early  on  Saturdaj^  morning,  the  18th,  with  four  teams  and 
Alexis  for  guide. 

On  the  evening  of  the  20th  they  arrived  at  Kiyiligamute.  At  that 
point,  two  of  the  dog  teams  having  given  out,  the  party  was  divided, 
Lieutenant  Jarvis  and  Dr.  Call  pressing  ahead,  while  Lieutenant  Bert¬ 
holf  and  Alexis  and  Koltchoff  were  to  wait  until  they  could  get  fresh 
teams.  Lieutenant  Jarvis  reached  Andreafski  on  the  24th  and  St. 
Michael  on  the  30th.  The  second  party  left  on  the  22d,  and  reached  St. 
Michael  on  New  Years’  Day,  two  hours  after  Lieutenant  Jarvis  had  left 
for  the  north.  Before  leaving  Lieutenant  Jarvis  left  instructions  for 
Lieutenant  Bertholf  to  proceed  to  the  head  of  Norton  Sound  and  trans¬ 
port  the  provisions  across  to  Kotzebue  Sound,  while  he  and  Dr.  Call 
went  to  Cape  Nome  and  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  to  procure  the  herds 
of  reindeer  at  those  places.  At  St.  Michael  Mr.  Koltchoff  was  dis¬ 
charged,  and  soon  after  engaged  as  guide  for  Mate  Tilton  on  his 
return  to  the  States.  Great  difficulty  wTas  met  in  procuring  a  suffi¬ 
cient  number  of  sled  dogs  to  enable  the  party  to  reach  the  reindeer. 
After  many  hardships,  on  January  10  Lieutenant  Jarvis  reached  the 
Government  herd  en  route  between  Port  Clarence  and  Unalaklik.  The 
next  morning  arrangements  were  completed  and  the  party  started 
with  reindeer  teams  from  the  Government  herd  for  Tsuynok,  where 
Antisarlook  and  his  friends  had  a  herd  of  domestic  deer.  After 
refreshments  and  rest  Lieutenant  Jarvis  commenced  negotiating  for 
the  herd  of  reindeer  at  that  point.  The  herd  represented  to  the 
Eskimo  the  living  of  a  whole  village,  and  if  the  herd  departed  it  might 
mean  starvation  to  themselves  before  spring,  so  that  there  was  much 
point  as  well  as  pathos  in  the  answer  of  Antisarlook’s  wife  when  she 
said:  “Tell  Mr.  Jarvis  we  are  sorry  for  the  people  at  Point  Barrow 
and  we  want  to  help  them,  but  we  hate  to  see  our  deer  go,  because  we 
are  poor  and  our  people  in  the  village  are  poor,  and  in  the  winter 
when  we  can  not  get  seals  we  kill  a  deer,  and  this  helps  us  through 
the  hard  times.  If  we  let  our  deer  go,  what  are  we  to  do?  Antisar¬ 
look  and  I  have  not  enough  without  them  to  live  upon.” 

It  seemed  like  reducing  these  people  to  starvation  in  order  to  save 
others,  and  in  giving  up  their  herd  of  deer  for  the  sake  of  others  it 
was  like  giving  up  their  own  lives;  yet,  after  consultation  among 
themselves,  it  was  finally  agreed  to,  and  Antisarlook  was  employed 
to  go  with  his  herd.  At  this  place  were  138  deer,  22  belonging  to  the 
herders.  In  making  the  arrangements,  as  there  were  100  cows,  Anti¬ 
sarlook  was  allowed  an  increase  of  85,  so  that  it  would  require  220 
deer  to  be  delivered  to  him  next  year  to  make  good  the  promise  of 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  25 


the  United  States  Government  to  return  him  a  herd  of  equal  size, 
three  having  been  killed  for  food  for  Antisarlook’s  family. 

Having  given  Antisarlook’s  wife  an  order  on  neighboring  stores  for 
food  supplies,  and  leaving  Dr.  Call  to  take  charge  of  Antisarlook’s 
herd  and  drive  them  up  to  the  Teller  Reindeer  Station,  Lieutenant 
Jarvis  pushed  forward  to  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  to  get  the  second 
herd.  While  Dr.  Call  and  his  party  were  on  their  way  to  the  Teller 
Station  they  encountered  a  blizzard  so  severe  that  the  deer,  blinded 
by  the  flying  snow,  turned  and  trampled  over  the  drivers — however, 
without  serious  damage.  They  were  compelled  to  retreat  for  three 
hours,  when  they  found  an  old  fishing  hut  and  climbed  in  at  the  win¬ 
dow.  There  they  were  held  by  the  storm  for  three  days,  with  only 
food  sufficient  for  two  days  and  a  long  trip  still  before  them. 

On  the  25th  they  made  another  start,  and  reached  the  station  on  the 
27th,  just  as  a  fresh  blizzard  was  commencing.  Lieutenant  Jarvis 
reached  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  on  the  24th  of  January.  On  deliver¬ 
ing  to  Mr.  Lopp  his  mail,  and  explaining  to  him  the  necessity  and 
object  of  the  expedition,  he  had  no  difficulty  in  securing  the  herd  of 
301  deer  at  that  place,  with  the  agreement  that  432  deer  should  be 
returned  to  them  by  the  Government  the  following  season.  It  was 
also  agreed  that  Mr.  Lopp  and  his  herders  should  accompany  the 
expedition,  in  charge  of  the  reindeer.  Arrangements  had  been  made, 
and  it  was  proposed  that  Mrs.  Lopp  and  the  children  should  go  to  the 
Teller  Reindeer  Station,  from  60  to  75  miles  distant,  to  remain  with 
the  Rev.  and  Mrs.  Brevig;  but  the  discomforts  of  the  trip  were  so 
great,  and  she  had  such  entire  confidence  in  the  affection  of  the 
Eskimos,  that  she  concluded  to  remain  at  home,  being  with  her  chil¬ 
dren  the  only  English-speaking  persons  in  a  community  of  500 
Eskimos. 

On  the  29th  of  January  Dr.  Call  and  party  left  the  Teller  Station  and 
crossed  the  mountains,  where  they  expected  to  form  a  junction  with 
Lieutenant  Jarvis  and  the  reindeer  herd  from  Cape  Prince  of  Wales. 
The  weather  was  thick  and  unpleasant,  the  barometer  sinking  rapidly, 
but,  being  in  need  of  haste,  the  party  pressed  on  through  the  storm  and 
the  mountains  as  best  they  could.  Passing  over  the  mountain  range 
they  were  met  by  a  storm  so  severe  that  they  had  to  go  into  camp, 
and  no  sooner  was  the  tent  erected  and  covered  with  sleds  to  hold 
down  the  canvas,  than  it  was  drifted  over  with  snow  so  deep  that  the 
following  day  it  took  them  two  hours  to  dig  their  way  out.  In  the 
meantime  the  deer  were  scattered  by  the  storm,  and  it  was  noon  of 
February  1  before  they  were  able  to  gather  the  herd  together  again. 
In  the  afternoon  of  February  2  a  junction  was  made  with  Lieutenant 
Jarvis  and  the  herd.  The  following  day  a  start  was  made  with  435 
reindeer,  of  which  18  were  broken  to  harness  and  reserved  for  trans¬ 
portation  purposes. 

On  February  6  Lieutenant  Jarvis  and  Dr.  Call  pushed  on  ahead  for 


2 G  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

Sineraget,  a  village  on  the  coast,  en  route  for  Point  Hope,  leaving 
instructions  for  Mr.  Lopp  to  follow  with  the  herd  and  meet  him  at 
Pitmegea,  just  north  of  Cape  Lisbon.  The  route  lay  along  the  north¬ 
ern  part  of  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  peninsula,  about  15  miles  from  the 
coast,  where  deer  moss  was  plentiful,  to  Cape  Espenburg. 

On  the  12th  of  February  Lieutenant  Jarvis  and  Dr.  Call  reached 
Cape  Espenburg,  and  although  the  ice  on  Kotzebue  Sound  was  broken 
and  piled  up  in  a  manner  to  deter  am  effort  to  cross  it,  they  con¬ 
cluded  to  make  the  attempt,  and  succeeded  in  crossing  the  sound 
to  Cape  Blossom,  50  miles  away.  Near  Cape  Blossom  was  the  mis¬ 
sionary  station  of  the  Friends,  occupied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert 
Samms  and  Miss  Hunnicutt.  Here  Lieutenant  Jarvis  met  Lieutenant 
Bertholf,  who  had  crossed  from  Norton  Sound  with  1,000  pounds  of 
provisions,  reaching  the  mission  station  on  the  10th  of  February. 
After  resting  a  few  days  Lieutenant  Jarvis  and  Dr.  Call  left  on  the 
15th  for  Point  Hope,  leaving  Lieutenant  Bertholf  to  await  the  arrival 
of  Mr.  Lopp  and  the  herd  and  then  to  follow  northward. 

On  February  16  Mr.  Lopp,  with  the  deer,  reached  Cape  Espenburg 
and  held  a  consultation  with  reference  to  the  possibility  of  driving  the 
deer  and  taking  the  sleds  across  the  broken  ice  covering  an  arm  of  the 
Arctic  Ocean  from  Cape  Espenburg  40  miles  to  Cape  Krusenstern. 
After  much  hesitation  it  was  decided  to  make  the  attempt.  During 
the  first  day  the  reindeer  made  30  miles ;  in  many  places  the  attendants 
had  to  cut  a  road  over  hummocks  of  broken  ice.  The  second  day  food 
gave  out  for  the  drivers,  and  of  course  there  was  no  moss  for  the  deer 
on  the  ice.  The  reindeer,  remembering  that  they  had  left  fields  of 
moss  behind  them,  continually  broke  loose  to  return  over  the  ice.  This 
made  it  very  difficult  driving,  and  they  were  out  the  second  day  and 
all  the  second  night  without  food  before  reaching  land  again  at  Cape 
Krusenstern.  There,  receiving  a  letter  from  Lieutenant  Jarvis,  inform¬ 
ing  him  that  Lieutenant  Bertholf  with  supplies  was  at  Cape  Blossom, 
Mr.  Lopp,  leaving  the  herd,  went  to  meet  Lieutenant  Bertholf. 

Loading  the  supplies  on  reindeer  and  dog  teams,  a  start  was  made 
for  the  herd  at  Aneyok  village,  which  was  reached  on  the  19th.  The 
deer  having  rested,  a  start  was  made  on  the  21st,  following  along  the 
coast  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  the  Kevuleek  River,  where  Mr.  Lopp  with 
the  deer  was  to  proceed  inland,  leaving  Point  Hope  to  the  westward. 
Lieutenant  Bertholf,  taking  a  team,  proceeded  direct  to  Point  Hope, 
reaching  there  on  March  2.  Finding  a  considerable  store  of  provisions 
at  Point  Hope,  Lieutenant  Jarvis  instructed  Lieutenant  Bertholf  to 
remain  there  and  take  charge  of  any  whalers  that  might  be  sent  down 
during  the  winter.  Lieutenant  Jarvis  and  Dr.  Call,  having  made  all 
necessary  arrangements  at  Point  Hope,  left  on  March  4  for  Point  Bar- 
row.  Lieutenant  Jarvis  had  instructed  Mr.  Lopp  to  meet  him  at  Pet- 
megia,  just  north  of  Cape  Lisbon.  When  Lieutenant  Jarvis  reached 
the  place  of  meeting  all  that  was  visible  above  the  snow  was  a  wooden 


INTRODUCTION  OP  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  27 


cross  with  this  inscription:  “Letter  between  boards;  arrived  here 
March  7th;  look  out  for  the  train.”  Just  below  the  board,  stuck  in 
the  snow,  was  a  second  board,  on  which  was  written :  ‘  ‘  Deer  meat  here.  ” 

On  the  13th  of  March  they  reached  the  camp  vacated  by  the  herd 
I  that  morning,  and  on  another  cross  found  a  note  reading:  “Will  try 
to  find  better  moss  on  the  inside  of  the  lagoon.  Leave  here  March 
13.”  During  the  14th  a  storm  of  unusual  severity  raged,  thermometer 
registering  40  degrees  below  zero.  The  same  storm  continued  through 
the  15th  and  was  worse  on  the  lGtli.  To  add  to  the  distress  and  dan¬ 
ger  of  Lieutenant  Jarvis,  his  dog  teams  had  nothing  to  eat.  About 
noon  on  the  17th  a  party  of  natives  were  discovered,  who  brought  a 
note  from  Mr.  Lopp  stating  that  he  had  left  there  that  morning,  and 
soon  after  the  herd  was  seen  on  the  horizon,  moving  over  the  rolling 
white  hills.  Lieutenant  Jarvis  pushed  his  team  ahead  to  overtake  the 
deer  10  miles  away.  Arrangements  were  made  to  meet  Mr.  Lopp  at  Icy 
Cape.  Arriving  there  on  the  22d  in  a  fearful  storm  nothing  was  seen 
of  the  herd,  which  during  the  storm  had  passed  within  a  mile  of  the 
camp.  On  the  next  day  a  board  was  found  with  the  message :  “Arrived 
I  here  1  p.  m.  Tuesday,  March  22.  Think  we  are  passing  Icy  Cape. 
Find  meat  in  the  mouth  of  the  cache.  Think  sledge  deer  will  hold 
out.  Find  better  moss  on  the  inside  of  the  lagoon.”  This  was  wel¬ 
come  news  to  Lieutenant  Jarvis,  for  it  meant  that  he  could  save  his 
dog  teams  from  starvation. 

At  noon  on  March  26  Lieutenant  Jarvis,  looking  over  the  ice, 
exclaimed:  “There  is  the  first  of  the  imprisoned  fleet!  ”  as  he  caught 
sight  of  the  tall  mast  of  the  Belvedere ,  12  miles  away. 

Point  Barrow  was  reached  by  Lieutenant  Jarvis  on  March  29,  and 
the  herd  of  reindeer  arrived  on  the  30tli,  safe  and  sound. 

Thus  successfully  ended  a  trip  of  2,000  miles  through  the  desola¬ 
tions  of  an  arctic  wilderness  in  midwinter,  over  an  unknown  region, 
and  among  many  wild  tribes.  The  narrative  of  the  trip  is  a  story  of 
bravery,  good  generalship,  heroic  endurance,  and  interpositions  of 
Divine  Providence — a  trip  only  equaled  by  that  of  Mates  Tilton  and 
Walker,  who  went  out  with  the  news,  and  the  “return  trip  of  Mr.  Lopp 
to  his  home  at  Bering  Straits. 

Turning  over  the  herd  to  Lieutenant  Jarvis  at  Point  Barrow,  Mr. 
W.  T.  Lopp,  taking  a  dog  team,  started  on  his  return  trip  to  his  own 
home  at  Cape  Prince  of  W ales.  As  provisions  had  been  left  for  himself 
and  the  dogs  in  caches  along  the  way,  he  was  able  to  travel  light.  On 
his  return  trip  he  reached  Point  Hope  April  19,  left  on  the  23d,  and 
reached  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  on  May  5,  thus  having,  together  with 
his  herders,  driven  a  herd  of  reindeer  over  the  bad  roads  of  snow  and 
ice,  through  a  country  but  little  known,  in  the  middle  of  winter,  drag¬ 
ging  all  his  provisions  with  him,  a  distance  of  700  miles,  and  return¬ 
ing  to  his  home  the  same  distance,  in  the  remarkably  short  time  of 
three  months  and  two  days. 


28  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


It  has  frequently  been  said  during  the  efforts  to  introduce  domestic 
reindeer  into  Alaska  that  the  Eskimos  could  not  be  taught  their  care 
and  management,  and  that  they  would  never  take  to  herding  reindeer 
but  on  this  remarkable  trip  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  herders 
and  drivers  were  all  Eskimos  who  had  learned  their  business  as  appren 
tices  at  the  Government  training  station  for  reindeer,  and  that  with¬ 
out  this  herd  of  reindeer  food  could  not  have  been  taken  to  the 
whalers,  and  without  the  trained  Eskimo  the  reindeer  could  not  have 
been  driven  across  the  country.  This  striking  object  lesson  should 
forever  set  at  rest  the  false  assertion  that  the  Eskimos  will  not  take  tc 
the  raising  of  reindeer  if  a  chance  is  given  them. 

From  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  to  Point  Barrow  the  expedition  found 
abundant  pasturage  for  the  reindeer.  It  passed  through  numerous 
villages  of  natives,  who  were  greatly  interested  in  the  herd  of  reindeer, 
not  only  as  a  matter  of  curiosity,  but  because  they  appreciated  the 
benefit  that  a  herd  of  domestic  reindeer  would  be  to  them  and  their 
people.  Wherever  they  went  the  natives  questioned  Lieutenant  Jarvis 
with  regard  to  the  possibility  of  their  securing  some  reindeer  for  them¬ 
selves  and  their  children.  If  the  deer  were  to  be  had  in  sufficient 
numbers,  hundreds  of  the  Eskimo  men  would  gladly  serve  an  appren¬ 
ticeship  of  five  years  in  order  to  get  a  start  in  reindeer  raising. 

In  this  connection  it  is  appropriate  to  call  public  attention  to  the 
influence  of  the  mission  schools  in  making  arctic  Alaska  safe  for  the 
transit  of  white  men.  In  1890,  when  the  Congregational  Mission  was 
established  at  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  no  whaler  had  dared  drop 
anchor  in  the  neighborhood  of  that  village  for  ten  years;  and  the 
placing  of  missionaries  there  was  considered  by  the  captains  of  the  , 
whalers  as  a  foolhardy  undertaking.  The  missionaries  were  placed  i 
there,  and  now  ships  can  anchor  and  their  crews  go  on  shore  with  j 
safety. 

When,  in  1881-1883,  Lieutenant  Rny,  United  States  Army,  was 
placed  in  charge  of  the  international  polar  expedition  at  Point  Bar- 
row,  a  turret  was  built  at  one  corner  of  his  house  and  armed  with 
cannon  to  protect  his  party  from  the  natives.  Now  the  Presbyterian 
Mission  has  so  civilized  the  natives  that  no  fortified  habitation  is 
necessary.  Under  the  influence  of  the  Presbyterian  missionary  the 
natives  not  only  provided  the  shipwrecked  sailors  with  food  from  their 
own  scanty  supply,  but  also  with  necessary  fur  clothing.  The  influence 
of  the  missions  made  possible  Lieutenant  Jarvis’s  heroic  trip  unarmed. 

After  the  departure  of  Mr.  George  F.  Tilton,  October  22,  to  carry 
the  news  to  the  States,  Ur.  H.  R.  Marsh,  Presbyterian  missionary  at 
Point  Barrow;  Mr.  Charles  U.  Brower,  agent  of  the  Liebes  Whaling  | 
Company,  and  Mr.  Mcllhenny,  a  scientist  making  an  arctic  collection,  | 
the  three  leading  white  residents  of  the  point,  immediately  set  them-  II 
selves  to  provide  for  the  welfare  of  the  shipwrecked  whalers  that  had  : 
been  thrown  upon  their  hands.  Mr.  Brower  at  once  arranged  to  issue  Jl 


* 


1 


Reindeer  Teams  for  Point  Barrow  Expedition. 
Photograph  by  S.  .T.  Call,  M.  D.  (See  page  25.) 


T^Vi  t  cr  r»  q  Vi 


G  T  noil  1YT  n 


Doctor  and  Mrs.  H.  Richmond  Marsh,  Point  Barrow. 
Photograph  by  S.  J.  Call,  M.  D. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  29 


rations  from  his  stores  to  the  men;  the  Eskimos  were  sent  into  the 
surrounding  county  to  get  wild  game,  both  for  themselves  and  the 
suffering  whalers;  Dr.  Marsh  gave  his  time  and  medical  services  to 
saving  the  men  from  scurvy  and  other  diseases  that  would  otherwise 
have  caused  the  loss  of  many  lives;  all  the  houses  in  the  place  were 
put  at  the  disposal  of  the  wrecked  men,  each  one  taking  into  his  own 
home  all  that  could  be  accommodated. 

During  the  latter  part  of  November,  when  it  seemed  that  starvation 
awaited  them,  small  herds  of  wild  deer  were  seen  on  the  rolling  hills 
to  the  south  of  the  village,  a  thing  that  had  not  been  known  for  many 
years  so  that  the  natives  were  able  to  procure  for  the  use  of  the  com¬ 
munity  12,604  pounds  of  deer  meat,  8,692  pounds  of  fish,  and  2,506 
pounds  of  wild  fowl,  with  some  2,500  to  3,000  pounds  or  more  of  meat 
in  the  country,  which  was  afterwards  brought  in  by  the  deer  men 
and  sledges,  under  the  direction  of  Lieutenant  Jarvis.  Some  of  this 
meat  was  hauled  a  distance  of  230  miles.  This  unusual  and  provi¬ 
dential  supply  of  deer  meat  doubtless  kept  the  party  alive  until  the 
arrival  of  Lieutenant  Jarvis  with  his  herd  of  domestic  reindeer. 
During  the  remainder  of  the  winter  180  deer  were  killed  from  the 
domestic  herd. 

On  the  29th  of  July,  1897,  the  steam  whaler  Navarcli  was  caught 
in  the  ice  about  2  miles  west  of  Point  Barrow  and  carried  by  the  ice 
pack  to  the  northwestward.  On  August  3  the  ship  was  abandoned, 
the  crew  taking  to  three  boats,  which  were  dragged  for  three  days 
over  the  ice  and  then  abandoned,  each  man  taking  such  bread  as  he 
could  carry.  After  going  a  little  farther  they  met  with  open  water, 
and  were  finally  compelled  to  return  to  the  ship,  18  miles  distant. 

On  the  11th  of  August  29  of  the  crew  deserted  the  vessel  for  the 
shore.  On  the  evening  of  the  eighth  day  from  the  ship  coming  to  the 
pack  they  got  upon  a  small  cake  of  ice,  which  drifted  them  inshore 
for  three  days,  and  on  the  22d  of  August  they  were  seen  and  picked 
up  by  the  steamer  Thrasher ,  having  had  nothing  to  eat  for  eight 
days  but  ice  and  boot  soles,  only  16  of  the  29  living  to  be  rescued. 

On  the  14th  of  August  Captain  Whitesides  and  his  wife  and  six  of 
the  crew  left  the  vessel,  dragging  a  small  canvas  canoe  with  them. 
After  many  dangers  and  great  hardships  they  succeeded  in  reaching 
the  shore,  and  three  days  later  were  discovered  and  picked  up  by  the 
revenue  cutter  Bear.  Nine  of  the  vessel’s  crew  refused  to  leave  the 
whaler,  deeming  it  safer  to  remain  on  board  than  to  risk  the  journey 
over  the  ice;  seven  of  these,  however,  later  made  the  attempt  to  reach 
the  shore  and  were  saved.  Two  of  the  sailors  refused  to  leave  the 
vessel  and  have  never  been  heard  from.  Very  strangely,  however, 
the  Navarcli ,  which  had  been  caught  in  the  ice  in  July  and  aban¬ 
doned,  after  making  a  trip  by  itself  into  the  far  north  drifted  back 
into  the  neighborhood  of  Point  Barrow  four  different  times,  the  last 
time  to  within  2|  miles  of  the  shore  and  was  caught  and  held  firmly  by 


30  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


the  ice.  Each  time  that  she  approached  the  village,  wrecking  parties 
were  sent  across  the  ice  to  secure  the  coal  and  pro' visions  which  had 
been  left  on  the  steamer  when  she  was  abandoned  six  months  previ¬ 
ously.  This  coal  was  of  the  utmost  service  during  the  winter,  as  the 
driftwood  along  the  shore  had  been  used  up  and  the  coal  supply  was 
very  short.  After  all  the  provisions  and  nearly  all  the  coal  had  been 
removed,  about  4  o’clock  on  the  evening  of  September  3,  the  vessel 
was  seen  to  be  in  flames  and  burned  to  the  water’s  edge,  the  fire  hav-  1 
ing  been  started  by  two  of  the  sailors,  who  received  their  imnishment 
later,  when  during  the  winter  there  was  not  fuel  enough  to  keep  them  , 
comfortable. 

Upon  his  arrival  Lieutenant  Jarvis  made  a  tour  of  inspection  and 
found  that  there  were  100  men  quartered  at  the  village,  70  of  whom 
were  crowded  in  the  old  building  formerly  occupied  by  the  Pacific 
Steam  Whaling  Company.  At  the  request  of  Lieutenant  Jarvis,  Dr. 
Marsh,  Professor  Mcllhenny,  and  Mr.  Brower  consented  to  an  increase 
of  the  number  already  quartered  upon  them;  in  the  meantime  a  store-  I 
room  had  been  sufficiently  emptied  of  provisions  so  that  a  number  of 
them  could  be  placed  in  that.  This  made  them  more  comfortable,  j 
There  being  much  suffering  on  account  of  scanty  and  insnffViVT't. 
clothing,  Lieutenant  Jarvis  secured  a  large  amount  of  f 
from  the  Eskimos,  which  was  freely  contributed  from  their  J js  for 
the  use  of  the  men.  Lieutenant  Jarvis  took  command  of  the  station, 
issued  rations,  communicated  with  the  various  ships,  sent  out  parties  ]| 
of  native  hunters,  which  brought  in  supplies  of  wild  meat,  and  so 
controlled  matters  that  when  the  Bear  was  finally  able  to  reach  the  1 
place  and  take  off  the  men  they  were  found  in  much  more  comfortable  j 
circumstances  and  healthier  condition  than  could  have  been  expected.  : 

The  schooner  Rosario ,  after  wintering  safely,  was  crushed  in  the 
ice  Jifly  2.  Captain  Neuth,  of  the  Jeannette ,  who  Avas  sick,  was 
brought  down  on  the  Bear.  A  petty  officer  of  the  Orca  had  com¬ 
mitted  suicide  by  drowning  early  in  the  spring.  In  J une  Phil  Mann,  ■ 
of  the  AA'haler  Jesse  Freeman ,  had  dropped  dead  of  heart  failure,  j 
Grajq  of  the  steamer  Jeanie ,  had  died  of  the  dropsy.  A  Siberian 
and  Japanese  attached  to  the  fleet  had  also  died. 

There  being  indications  that  the  ice  was  breaking  up  in  Bering 
Sea,  the  cutter  Bear  left  its  winter  quarters  at  Unalaska  and  Dutch 
Harbor  on  the  14th  of  June,  and  sailed  north  for  Point  Barrow. 

On  the  19th,  to  the  north  of  St.  Lawrence  Island,  heavy  ice  was 
encountered,  slowly  working  its  way  through  which  the  ship  reached 
St.  Lawrence  Bay,  Siberia,  on  the  22d,  and  the  following  day  reached 
Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  where  an  interview  was  had  with  the  mission¬ 
ary,  W.  T.  Lopp,  who  gave  the  captain  a  full  account  of  the  condition 
at  Point  Barrow  while  he  wras  there.  Learning  that  there  was  a 
scarcity  of  clothing  among  the  whalers,  Captain  Tuttle  turned  back 
and  steamed  over  to  St.  Michael,  where  a  supply  was  laid  in.  Return- 


•  *  I iKhv> Ixa  i  J 


JT 


:  =1-10)8 


Cutter  “Bear”  fast  in  the  Ice,  Point  Barrow,  Alaska,  August  3—17,  1898. 

Photograph  by  Assistant  Engineer  H.  N.  Wood,  R.  C.  S.  (See  Page  31.) 


Lieutenant  D.  H.  Jarvis,  R.  C.  S'.,  at  Relief  Station,  Point  Barrow,  Alaska. 
Photograph  by  S.  J.  Call,  M.  D.  (See  page  27.) 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  31 


ing  to  Bering  Straits  and  passing  into  the  Arctic  Ocean,  Point  Hope 
was  reached  July  15  and  Point  Lay  on  the  evening  of  the  18th.  Off 
Icy  Cape  the  heavy  drift  ice  prevented  further  progress  northward 
and  compelled  the  Bear  to  anchor  off  Point  Lay.  Another  fruitless 
effort  was  made  on  the  22d,  and  also  on  the  23d,  to  force  the  vessel 
through  the  ice.  On  the  25th,  the  ice  opening  a  little,  an  effort  was 
made  to  reach  Wainwright  Inlet,  but  before  doing  so  the  fog  shut 
down  so  thick  as  to  compel  the  ship  to  anchor. 

On  the  27th  another  start  was  made,  and  by  pushing  through  the 
heavy  drift  out  to  sea  they  were  able  to  reach  the  station  at  Cape 
Smyth  on  the  morning  of  the  28th.  On  the  29th  93  officers  and  sailors 
were  taken  on  board. 

While  waiting  for  the  crew  of  the  Rosario ,  which  was  8  miles  away, 
the  Bear  was  subjected  to  a  terrible  ice  jam  and  nearly  crushed. 
There  was  a  high  ridge  of  shore  ice  between  the  cutter  and  the  shore, 
behind  which,  in  open  waters,  the  three  whaling  A  essels — Fearless , 
Newport ,  and  Jeanie — were  safely  at  anchor,  but  all  access  to  which 
‘was  closed  by  the  ice,  so  that  the  Bear  could  not  get  in.  A  strong 
southwester  had  set  in,  drifting  the  ice  floes  with  great  force  against 
the  Bear ,  which  was  caught  between  them  and  the  ridge  of  shore  ice, 
and  the  staunch  vessel  came  near  being  cut  to  pieces.  A  sharp  ledge 
of  ice  under  water  abreast  the  engine  room  pushed  in  the  sides  of  the 
vessel  until  the  floor  of  the  engine  room  was  bent  up  fully  6  inches. 
In  this  jam  the  cutter  was  kept  for  two  weeks,  until  August  17,  when 
it  got  out  by  blasting  through  two  ship’s  lengths  of  ice. 

Getting  afloat,  sufficient  coal  and  provisions  were  given  the  whalers 
to  enable  them  to  reach  other  supplies,  and  the  Bear  started  on  its 
return  to  civilization.  A  stop  was  made  at  Point  Hope  on  the  20th, 
where  it  was  found  that  the  schooner  Louise  J.  Kenney  had  been 
forced  on  the  beacli  by  the  ice  on  the  previous  da}A  Her  officers  and 
crew  were  taken  on  board. 

After  making  several  stops  the  Bear  arrived  at  St.  Michael  on  the 
’  25th  of  August,  and  reached  Seattle  on  the  13th  of  September,  where 
a  congratulatory  telegram  was  received  from  the  Secretary  of  the 
Treasury  extending  thanks  to  the  officers  and  crew  for  the  successful 
issue  of  the  work  of  the  overland  expedition  for  the  relief  of  the  ice¬ 
bound  whalers. 

It  remains  for  a  grateful  country,  that  rewarded  the  heroes  of  Manila 
and  Santiago  with  promotions,  to  see  that  Lieutenant  Jarvis  be  not 
forgotten.  Had  not  the  events  of  the  Cuban  war  distracted  the  atten¬ 
tion  of  the  nation,  this  wonderful  trip  of  2,000  miles  overland,  north 
of  the  arctic  circle  in  midwinter,  would  have  filled  the  columns  of 
the  newspapers  on  this  continent  and  in  Europe.  Because  occurring 
at  a  time  when  other  events  claimed  the  attention  of  the  public,  it  is 
no  less  deserving  of  its  reward. 


32  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


COMMISSION  TO  LAPLAND. 

On  the  23cl  of  December,  1897,  I  was  directed  b}^  the  Secretary  of 
the  Interior  to  report  to  the  Secretary  of  War  for  temporal  duty  in 
connection  with  the  duties  enjoined  by  the  act  of  Congress  approved 
the  18tli  of  December,  entitled  “An  act  authorizing  the  Secretary  of 
War,  in  his  discretion,  to  purchase  subsistence  stores,  supplies,  and 
materials  for  the  relief  of  people  who  are  in  the  Yukon  River  country, 
to  provide  means  for  their  transportation  and  distribution,  and  mak¬ 
ing  an  appropriation  therefor;”  and  on  the  same  date  (December  23) 

I  received  written  instructions  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to  proceed  | 
at  once  to  Norway  and  Sweden  and  purchase  500  reindeer,  broken  to 
harness,  with  sleds,  harness,  and  drivers  for  hauling  supplies  into  the 
Yukon  Valley  and  transport  the  same  to  the  United  States. 

Lieut.  D.  B.  Devore,  U.  S.  A.,  was  appointed  to  accompany  me  as 
disbursing  officer. 

On  the  evening  of  the  same  day  I  left  for  New  York,  and  on  the 
following  day  held  conferences  with  the  managers  of  the  several  trans- 
Atlantic  steamship  companies  centering  in  that  city  with  reference  to 
the  transportation  of  the  reindeer  and  Lapps  to  the  United  States. 

In  the  spring  of  1894,  acting  for  the  Bureau  of  Education,  I  had 
brought  to  the  United  States  seven  Lapp  families  to  take  charge  of  the 
domestic  reindeer  that  the  Government  had  commenced  introducing  ‘ 
into  Alaska  from  Siberia  and  to  teach  the  natives  the  management  of 
the  same.  These  families  came  under  a  three  years’  contract,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  they  were  to  be  returned  to  Lapland,  if  they  so 
desired.  The  limit  having  been  reached  last  fall,  four  families  asked 
to  be  returned  to  their  homes,  which  was  done,  and  Mr.  William  A.  Kjell¬ 
mann,  superintendent  of  the  reindeer  stations  in  Alaska,  was  sent  in 
charge  of  them,  with  the  double  purpose  of  not  only  conveying  them 
safely  to  their  native  country,  but  also  to  procure  a  number  of  Lapps 
who  would  come  to  the  United  States  with  the  expectation  of  mak¬ 
ing  it  their  permanent  home  and  engage  in  the  raising  and  training  of  ' 
reindeer  in  Alaska.  Consequently,  when  this  unexpected  demand  of  j 
the  Government  for  reindeer  and  Lapps  arose,  in  accordance  with  the 
directions  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  I  telegraphed  Mr.  Kjellmann  from 
New  York  of  the  changed  conditions,  and  instructed  him  to  engage  i 
and  send  out  all  the  assistants  he  could  use  to  expedite  the  purchase  ; 
of  reindeer  and  the  securing  of  Lapp  colonists. 

On  the  evening  of  December  24  Lieutenant  Devore  and  myself  took 
passage  on  the  steamship  Lucania,  of  the  Cunard  Line,  and  early  f 
Christmas  morning  were  on  our  way  to  Liverpool,  which  we  reached  j 
at  noon  December  31.  Upon  the  arrival  of  the  steamer  we  were  met 
by  representatives  of  the  White  Star  Line,  who  wished  to  bid  for  the 
transportation  of  the  reindeer.  After  a  conference  with  them  we  i 
took  the  train  to  London.  On  New  Year’s  morning  I  received  a  tele-  J 
gram  from  Mr.  William  A.  Kjellmann,  agent  of  the  Department  of  j: 


Xongitude 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  33 


the  Interior,  who  had  reached  Norway,  asking  for  funds.  This  was 
in  answer  to  the  telegrams  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to  proceed  at 
once  to  purchase  reindeer. 

The  Lapps,  who  alone  have  the  reindeer  for  sale,  area  semicivilized 
people,  unaccustomed  to  commercial  methods.  They  have  no  confi¬ 
dence  in  a  “promise  to  pay.”  A  would-be  buyer  must  show  his 
money,  and  at  least  make  a  partial  payment  at  the  time  of  purchase. 
Hence  Mr.  Kjellmann  could  accomplish  but  little  until  he  had  funds 
in  hand. 

Although  it  was  New  Year’s  Day,  we  found  that  the  banks  would 
be  open  during  the  forenoon,  and  Lieutenant  Devore  and  myself  pro¬ 
ceeded  to  visit  the  leading  bankers  and  telegraph  companies  of  Lon¬ 
don,  but,  strangely,  no  one  could  suggest  any  method  of  getting  money 
to  Mr.  Kjellmann  sooner  than  by  sending  a  check  by  mail.  As  there 
was  a  prospect  of  considerable  delay  in  chartering  a  steamship,  we‘ 
decided  in  the  afternoon  that  Lieutenant  Devore  should  remain  in 
London  and  secure  a  steamer  and  that  I  should  push  on  to  Lapland 
with  money  for  Mr.  Kjellmann. 

January  3  I  learned  at  the  office  of  the  Atlantic  Transport  Steam¬ 
ship  Company  that  the  department  of  agriculture  of  the  English  Gov¬ 
ernment,  to  protect  English  cattle  from  the  foot-rot  which  had  broken 
out  in  southern  Sweden  among  some  of  the  cattle,  had  recently  issued 
a  circular  forbidding  the  introduction  into  England  of  any  stock 
from  Norway  and  Sweden.  Not  only  was  stock  of  all  kinds  for¬ 
bidden  to  land  in  England,  but  ships  carrying  such  stock  to  other 
countries  were  to  be  quarantined  twenty-one  days  before  being  allowed 
to  load  other  cattle  to  return  to  England.  As  this  threatened  to 
greatly  increase  the  expense  and  the  difficulty  of  chartering  a  ship,  I 
proceeded  to  the  American  embassy,  where  it  was  suggested  that  I 
visit  the  British  department  of  agriculture  and  talk  over  the  matter 
unofficially  with  the  officer  in  charge  and  find  out  if  any  official  action 
would  be  necessary.  I  found  that  the  officer  wanted  was  the  first 
assistant  secretary  of  agriculture.  He  took  much  interest  in  the  pro¬ 
posal  to  procure  reindeer  to  relieve  the  destitute  miners  in  the  Yukon, 
and  suggested  that  we  secure  a  steamer  not  engaged  in  the  cattle 
trade  and  take  the  reindeer  direct  from  Lapland  to  America,  which 
suggestion  was  afterwards  carried  out. 

Leaving  London  on  the  evening  of  January  3,  I  reached  Christiania, 
Norway,  on  the  morning  of  the  6th. 

At  10  a.  m.  I  presented  the  American  consul,  Mr.  Henry  Rordewich, 
of  Minnesota,  a  letter  from  Secretary  Sherman  to  American  officials 
in  Sweden,  Norway,  and  Denmark,  to  render  all  possible  aid  in  secur¬ 
ing  reindeer.  In  company  with  the  consul,  a  call  was  made  upon  the 
secretary  of  the  interior  of  the  Norwegian  Government,  who  gave  me 
a  circular  letter  to  the  Norwegian  officials  in  Lapland  requesting 
them  to  extend  all  assistance  in  the  enterprise. 

S.  Doc.  34 - 3 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  33 


Hie  Interior,  who  had  reached  Norway,  asking  for  funds.  This  was 
in  answer  to  the  telegrams  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to  proceed  at 
once  to  purchase  reindeer. 

The  Lapps,  who  alone  have  the  reindeer  for  sale,  area  semicivilized 
people,  unaccustomed  to  commercial  methods.  They  have  no  confi- 
fence  in  a  “promise  to  pay.”  A  would-be  buyer  must  show  his 
money,  and  at  least  make  a  partial  payment  at  the  time  of  purchase. 
Hence  Mr.  Kjellmann  could  accomplish  but  little  until  he  had  funds 
n  hand. 

Although  it  was  New  Year’s  Day,  we  found  that  the  banks  would 
be  open  during  the  forenoon,  and  Lieutenant  Devore  and  myself  pro¬ 
ceeded  to  visit  the  leading  bankers  and  telegraph  companies  of  Lon¬ 
don,  but,  strangely,  no  one  could  suggest  any  method  of  getting  money 
to  Mr.  Kjellmann  sooner  than  b}^  sending  a  check  by  mail.  As  there 
was  a  prospect  of  considerable  delay  in  chartering  a  steamship,  we* 
lecided  in  the  afternoon  that  Lieutenant  Devore  should  remain  in 
London  and  secure  a  steamer  and  that  I  should  push  on  to  Lapland 
with  money  for  Mr.  Kjellmann. 

January  3  I  learned  at  the  office  of  the  Atlantic  Transport  Steam¬ 
ship  Company  that  the  department  of  agriculture  of  the  English  Gov- 
)rnment,  to  protect  English  cattle  from  the  foot-rot  which  had  broken 
>ut  in  southern  Sweden  among  some  of  the  cattle,  had  recently  issued 
i  circular  forbidding  the  introduction  into  England  of  any  stock 
Tom  Norway  and  Sweden.  Not  only  was  stock  of  all  kinds  for- 
Didden  to  land  in  England,  but  ships  carrying  such  stock  to  other 
countries  were  to  be  quarantined  twenty-one  daj^s  before  being  allowed 
to  load  other  cattle  to  return  to  England.  As  this  threatened  to 
greatly  increase  the  expense  and  the  difficulty  of  chartering  a  ship,  I 
proceeded  to  the  American  embassy,  where  it  was  suggested  that  I 
visit  the  British  department  of  agriculture  and  talk  over  the  matter 
unofficially  with  the  officer  in  charge  and  find  out  if  any  official  action 
would  be  necessary.  I  found  that  the  officer  wanted  was  the  first 
assistant  secretary  of  agriculture.  He  took  much  interest  in  the  pro¬ 
posal  to  procure  reindeer  to  relieve  the  destitute  miners  in  the  Yukon, 
and  suggested  that  we  secure  a  steamer  not  engaged  in  the  cattle 
trade  and  take  the  reindeer  direct  from  Lapland  to  America,  which 
suggestion  was  afterwards  carried  out. 

Leaving  London  on  the  evening  of  January  3,  I  reached  Christiania, 
Norway,  on  the  morning  of  the  6th. 

At  10  a.  m.  I  presented  the  American  consul,  Mr.  Henry  Bordewich, 
of  Minnesota,  a  letter  from  Secretary  Sherman  to  American  officials 
n  Sweden,  Norway,  and  Denmark,  to  render  all  possible  aid  in  secur- 
ng  reindeer.  In  company  with  the  consul,  a  call  was  made  upon  the 
secretary  of  the  interior  of  the  Norwegian  Government,  who  gave  me 
a  circular  letter  to  the  Norwegian  officials  in  Lapland  requesting 
them  to  extend  all  assistance  in  the  enterprise. 

S.  Doc.  34 - 3 


34  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

On  the  morning  of  January  7  I  took  the  train  for  Trondhjem. 
After  leaving  Hamar  the  train  crosses  over  from  the  vicinity  of  Lake 
Mjosen  to  the  valley  of  the  celebrated  River  Glommen,  along  whose 
winding  banks  it  gradually  ascends  until  the  high  mountain  levels 
are  reached  in  the  neighborhood  of  Roros,  on  a  dreary  and  inclement 
plateau,  2,060  feet  above  the  water.  This  is  a  famous  region  for  rein¬ 
deer  moss. 

At  midnight  I  reached  Trondhjem,  and  taking  an  omnibus  was 
soon  settled  at  the  Grand  Hotel.  On  January  8,  as  soon  as  the  banks 
were  opened,  I  made  a  deposit  of  $1,000  for  Mr.  Kjellmann,  which 
was  telegraphed  to  Alten,  Lapland,  to  his  credit. 

Owing  to  its  nearness  and  accessibility  by  rail  with  the  mountain 
plateaus,  Trondhjem  is  one  of  the  best  markets  in  Norway  for  procur¬ 
ing  reindeer  moss.  A  few  weeks  previous  Mr.  Kjellmann,  while  en 
route  to  Lapland,  visited  the  traders  and  farmers  in  the  neighborhood 
and  arranged  for  several  hundred  tons  of  moss  to  be  delivered  at 
Trondhjem.  I  now  completed  that  purchase  of  moss,  and  arranged 
with  Mr.  E.  A.  Tonseth’s  commission  house  for  its  reception  and  ship¬ 
ment  upon  the  steamer  that  was  to  be  chartered  to  carry  the  reindeer 
and  which  would  call  at  that  harbor  for  the  moss. 

At  midnight,  upon  the  arrival  of  the  train  and  mail  from  Christiania, 
the  steamer  Vesteraalen  sailed  for  Tromsoe. 

At  5  a.  m.  January  11  I  reached  Tromsoe,  and,  transferring  from  the 
steamer  Vesteraalen  to  that  of  the  Sigurd  Jarl,  at  7  a.  m.  the  steamer 
was  on  its  way  to  Hammerfest,  which  place  we  expected  to  reach  the 
same  evening,  but  the  sea  was  so  rough  and  the  snow  squalls  so  blind¬ 
ing  that  we  did  not  get  there  until  2  o’clock  the  following  day. 

About  2  o’clock  in  the  afternoon  of  January  12  we  dropped  anchor 
in  the  harbor  of  Hammerfest,  the  most  northern  city  in  the  world. 
At  this  season  of  the  year  the  sun  is  not  visible  from  November  18  to 
January  23.  The  city  is  lighted  with  electric  lights.  It  carries  on  a 
busy  trade  with  Russia  and  also  with  Spitzbergen. 

As  soon  as  the  ship  dropped  anchor  I  was  transferred  by  rowboat 
directly  to  the  steamer  Nor.  This  was  one  of  the  small  steamers 
which  makes  side  trips  up  the  fiords,  the  special  route  of  the  Nor 
being  the  Alten  Fiord,  at  the  head  of  which  lies  the  village  of  Bose- 
kop,  which  was  my  destination. 

Soon  after  my  arrival  I  was  handed  a  number  of  telegrams  with 
reference  to  the  work  in  hand. 

On  Sunday  morning,  January  16,  Mr.  Kjellmann  arrived  from  the 
interior,  having  been  delayed  two  days  on  the  mountains,  where  he 
was  lost  in  a  blizzard,  riding  nearly  all  Friday  and  Saturday  nights 
and  the  intervening  day  without  sleep.  He  reported  the  welcome 
information  that  the  500  trained  reindeer  that  had  been  ordered, 
together  with  sleds,  harness,  and  50  drivers,  had  been  secured.  He 
had  sailed  from  New  York  December  1,  1897,  and  reached  Bosekop, 
Lapland,  on  the  23d. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  35 


While  passing  through  Washington,  November  30,  he  had  a  con- 

Iference  with  the  Commissioner  of  Education  and  the  general  agent  of 
education  for  Alaska,  at  which  time  he  was  informed  that  possibly 

I  Congress  would  make  an  appropriation  for  the  relief  of  the  miners  in 
the  Yukon  Valley,  and  if  so  he  might  be  called  upon  to  purchase 
reindeer  and  procure  drivers  for  the  same;  in  view  of  which  he  was 

I  directed  while  en  route  to  make  such  inquiries  that  if  telegraphed  to 
procure  deer  he  could  do  so  with  but  little  delay.  Therefore,  on  his 

1  arrival,  December  12,  at  Aalesund,  the  first  port  reached  in  Nor¬ 
way,  he  telegraphed  to  various  centers  where  it  was  thought  rein- 

I1  deer  moss  could  be  had  in  quantity,  the  replies  to  be  sent  to  him 
at  Trondhjem,  which  place  he  reached  the  next  day.  Arriving  at 
I  Trondhjem,  he  found  that  the  only  place  where  the  moss  could  be  had 

I  in  abundance  was  at  Roros.  Accordingly,  on  the  11th  he  took  the 
train  to  Roros,  and  on  the  15tli  went  around  among  the  farmers 
investigating  the  supply.  Finding  that  a  sufficient  quantity  of  moss 
could  be  had,  he  arranged  with  Mr.  A.  Skjerdingstad.  a  local  mer- 
I  chant,  to  procure  and  ship  250  tons,  if  it  should  be  wanted.  On  the 
j  16th  he  returned  to  Trondhjem,  and  on  the  18tli  took  the  mail  steamer 
Vesteracilen  for  Tromsoe,  where  he  arrived  on  the  21st.  Transferring 
to  the  connecting  steamer,  Hammerfest  was  reached  on  the  22d.  At 
Hammerfest  he  received  a  cablegram  of  December  22,  from  the  Seere- 
•  tary  of  War,  asking  if  600  reindeer  could  be  purchased.  Leaving 
Hammerfest  on  the  morning  of  the  23d  of  December,  that  evening 
brought  him  to  Bosekop,  at  the  head  of  Alten  Fiord,  which  was  to  be 
his  headquarters. 

Upon  arriving  at  Bosekop  he  received  the  cablegram  of  December 
23  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  directing  him  to  purchase  500  reindeer, 
etc.  On  the  morning  of  December  25,  before  leaving  New  York, 
according  to  instructions  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  I  cabled  him  to 
hire  all  the  help  he  needed  to  expedite  matters  and  to  send  out  in 
!  different  directions.  Consequently,  borrowing  1,000  kroners,  on  De- 
j  cember  29  he  hired  Mr.  Per  Rist  and  sent  him  to  Kautokeino,  112  miles 
|  over  the  mountains,  and  on  the  31st  Mr.  Samuel  Kemi  (both  Lapps, 
returned  from  Alaska),  who  was  sent  to  Enare,  Finland,  265  miles  dis- 
i  tant,  and  Mr.  Carl  Suhr  to  Sjus  Javre,  101  miles,  to  bargain  for  trained 
reindeer,  sleds,  and  harness.  The  same  day  he  wrote  Mr.  A.  Paulsen, 
a  merchant  at  Karasjok,  and  arranged  with  Mr.  O.  Kjeldsberg,  another 
merchant,  to  advance  money  for  the  purchase  of  moss.  Having  set 
j  matters  in  motion,  he  was  compelled  to  wait  at  Bosekop  for  funds, 
j  While  thus  waiting  he  closed  by  telegraph  a  contract  with  Mr.  A.  Sk  jer- 
I  dingstad  to  deliver  900  horse  loads  of  reindeer  moss  at  the  Roros 
,  depot — 500  loads  at  7  kroner  per  load  and  400  loads  at.  8  kroner  per 
:  load — to  be  delivered  to  me  or  to  my  order. 

i  Upon  arriving  at  Trondhjem,  January  8,  1  arranged  that  the  moss 
should  be  shipped  to  Mr.  E.  A.  Tonsetli,  commission  merchant,  at 


36  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA 


Trondhjem.  I  have  already  referred  to  the  unsuccessful  efforts  made 
in  London  to  forward  money  to  Mr.  Kjellmann,  and  that  it  was  not 
until  I  reached  Trondhjem,  January  8,  that  I  succeeded.  Receiving 
this  money  on  the  morning  of  January  9,  Mr.  Kjellmann  left  the  same 
forenoon  with  reindeer  team  for  Kautokeino  to  meet  and  receive  the 
reports  of  the  several  men  that  had  been  sent  in  advance  to  make 
contracts.  Reaching  Kautokeino  on  the  11th,  he  found  his  lieutenants 
waiting  for  him  with  the  welcome  news  that  the  whole  number  of  j 
reindeer,  sleds,  and  harness  were  secured.  On  the  12th  Mr.  Kjell¬ 
mann  signed  contracts  with  23  Laplanders  as  drivers  and  on  the  13th 
started  on  his  return  to  Bosekop  to  report  progress  to  me  and  secure 
additional  funds  for  further  payments.  Encountering  a  blizzard  in 
crossing  the  mountains  and  losing  his  way,  he  did  not  reach  Bosekop 
until  the  16th.  Securing  from  me  additional  funds,  on  the  18th  Mr. 

M.  Ivjeldsberg  and  Mr.  Per  Rist  were  sent  to  Maci  and  Kautokeino 
to  complete  payments  and  bring  the  reindeer,  sleds,  and  harness, 
with  the  drivers  and  their  families,  to  Bosekop  for  shipment.  On 
the  19th  Mr.  Kjellmann  left  for  Sjus  Javre  to  do  the  same  thing  for 
that  section.  On  the  21st  Mr.  Carl  Suhr  was  dispatched  from  Sjus 
Javre  to  Bautajok,  162  miles,  and  Mr.  Samuel  Kemi  to  Enare,  to 
assemble  and  move  to  Bosekop  the  reindeer,  drivers,  etc. ,  procured  at 
those  places. 

Having  started  his  lieutenants,  Mr.  Kjellmann  himself  left  Sjus , 
Javre  on  the  21st  for  Karasjok,  where,  on  the  24th,  he  contracted 
with  the  drivers  and  paid  for  the  reindeer  which  had  been  secured  by 
Mr.  A.  Paulsen. 

Final  settlements  having  been  completed,  Mr.  Kjellmann  started 
on  the  25th  to  return  to  the  coast,  reaching  Bosekop  on  the  28th,  in  the 
midst  of  a  furious  storm,  the  most  severe  of  the  winter.  That  storm, 
which  had  been  raging  almost  without  cessation  for  three  weeks,  piling 
the  snow  in  great  banks  along  the  fences,  filling  lanes  full  above  the  | 
fence  tops,  and  obliterating  all  evidences  of  roads  or  tracks  in  the  open 
country,  had  been  gradually  increasing  in  severity  until  on  the  26th, 
27th,  and  28th  of  January  it  had  turned  into  a  blizzard,  culminating 
on  the  28th  in  the  worst  day  of  the  season.  The  hotel  at  Bosekop,  a 
strong  log  building  with  a  substantial  stone  foundation,  in  a  sheltered 
spot,  trembled  under  the  furious  blasts  of  wind  and  snow.  At  mid-  * 
day  houses  a  block  away  could  not  be  seen  through  the  driving  snow. 
All  traffic  was  suspended  in  the  street;  and  yet  on  the  mountains, 
where  the  cold  was  much  greater  and  the  wind  swept  with  the  force  | 
of  a  hurricane,  were  four  herds  of  reindeer,  and  between  one  and  two 
hundred  men,  women,  and  children  in  open  sleds,  facing  the  blizzard  , 
as,  on  different  roads  and  widely  separated  sections,  they  were  center¬ 
ing  into  Bosekop.  While  anxious  lest  they  should  be  detained  by 
the  storm  and  perhaps  some  of  the  children  perish,  I  received  a  call 
from  the  mayor  (landsman)  of  the  village.  Inquiring  what  were  the 


Men  employed  by  the  Government  in  Connection  with  the  Lapland  Reindeer  Expedition. 
Photograph  by  La  Roche.  (See  pages  39,  105,  and  106.) 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  37 


prospects  of  the  Lapps  getting  through,  he  shook  his  head,  saying 
that  nothing  could  face  that  storm  for  any  length  of  time  and  live. 
And  I  doubt  whether  any  other  race  than  the  Lapp,  that  was  cradled 
in  the  snow  and  inured  from  childhood  to  hardship,  could  have  done 
so,  or  any  other  animal  than  the  reindeer  have  brought  them  safely 
over  the  storm-swept  and  trackless  mountains. 

About  noon,  going  to  a  window  and  with  a  knife  scraping  off  the 
frost  in  order  to  get  sight  of  a  thermometer  hanging  outside,  I  saw 
faintly  through  the  whirling  snow  a  solitary  reindeer  coming  up  the 
street,  and  soon  after  could  make  out  a  sled  with  a  man  incased  in 
ice  and  snow.  It  was  Mr.  Kjellmann,  his  great  fur  coat  covered  with 
snow  and  his  face  and  whiskers  incased  in  a  mask  of  ice. 

Toward  evening  a  Lapp  arrived,  announcing  that  Mr.  Mathis  Rira, 
with  a  band  of  90  deer,  had  arrived  from  Maci,  and  gone  into  camp 
in  the  mountains  back  of  the  village.  And  on  the  afternoon  of  Janu¬ 
ary  31  we  were  cheered  by  the  safe  arrival  of  the  other  three  bands. 
Driving  out  with  reindeer  teams  7  miles  to  the  crossing  of  Alten 
River,  we  met  Mr.  Carl  Suhr  and  Mr.  Samuel  Kemi,  with  4  men  and 
114  head  of  deer,  from  Bautajok,  165  miles  distant.  They  were  sent 
into  camp  on  the  east  side  of  Alten  River.  Returning  to  Bosekop, 
we  were  met  by  a  messenger  announcing  that  Mr.  M.  Kjeldsberg  and 
Mr.  Per  Rist,  from  Kautokeino,  with  44  Lapps  and  252  head  of  deer, 
had  arrived  and  gone  into  camp. 

While  we  were  rejoicing  in  their  safe  arrival  another  messenger 
came  with  the  news  that  Mr.  A.  Paulsen,  with  29  Lapps  and  90  deer, 
from  Karasjok,  had  also  arrived  and  gone  into  camp  outside  of  the 
village.  The  three  parties,  starting  from  places  a  hundred  miles 
apart  and  journeying  by  different  routes,  had  reached  the  rendezvous 
within  a  few  hours  of  one  another. 

On  February  1  the  little  village  of  Bosekop  awoke  from  its  Arctic 
night  to  unusual  stir  and  activity  as  the  Lapps  and  deer  came  pouring 
in  long  lines  over  the  hill  into  the  village,  filling  up  Market  Square. 
The  hundreds  of  Lapps,  in  their  bright-colored,  picturesque  national 
dress,  those  that  were  going  away  and  those  that  had  come  to  see 
them  off,  greeting  old  friends  and  meeting  new  ones,  the  unpacking 
of  sleds  and  preparations  for  embarkation,  all  made  a  picture  never  to 
be  forgotten.  All  was  bustle  and  excitement.  By  night  everything 
was  ready  for  the  arrival  of  the  steamship,  and  the  first  part  of  the 
expedition — the  purchase  of  reindeer,  sleds,  and  harness,  together 
with  the  securing  of  competent  drivers — was  an  accomplished  success. 
The  greatness  and  extent  of  this  success  is  heightened  by  the  environ¬ 
ment. 

First.  If  we  had  not  needed  deer  trained  to  harness  we  could  have 
bought  a  whole  herd,  and  thus  secured  over  500  head  in  one  trans¬ 
action;  but  needing  only  trained  ones,  they  had  to  be  picked  up  in 
small  lots  of  three  and  four  out  of  a  herd — perhaps  four  from  the  first 


38  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


herd  visited,  then  five  or  six  out  of  the  second  herd,  15  or  20  miles 
away,  and  then  two  or  three  from  a  third  herd  located  on  an  almost 
inaccessible  mountain  off  the  usual  line  of  travel.  The  seven  men  that 
have  been  out  buying  have  ranged  from  the  ocean  eastward  across 
northern  Norway  to  the  edge  of  Russian  Finland.  This  has  aggre¬ 
gated  3,000  miles  of  reindeer  travel. 

Second.  This  3,000  miles  of  reindeer  sledding  had  been  made  in  a 
region  from  3  to  4  degrees  of  latitude  north  of  the  arctic  circle  and 
during  the  arctic  night,  when  the  sun  does  not  appear  above  the  hori¬ 
zon  from  November  18  to  January  23;  3,000  miles  of  sledding  through 
long  reaches  of  unsettled  forests,  over  storm-swept  mountains,  and 
along  the  edge  of  dizzy  precipices  in  the  darkness  of  night. 

Third.  This  3,000  miles  of  travel  had  been  made  in  the  middle  of  the 
arctic  winter,  when  fearful  storms  are  of  frequent  occurrence.  The 
mountain  passes  crossed  and  recrossed  during  January  are  as  difficult 
and  dangerous  as  the  Ohilcat  Pass  of  Alaska. 

Fourth.  The  hindrance  arising  from  heredity  and  the  custom  of 
centuries.  If  we  had  gone  into  wide-awake  and  intelligent  New 
England  and  proposed  to  a  laboring  man  to  break  up  his  home,  settle 
his  affairs,  and  start  in  two  weeks  with  his  family  to  travel  in  midwinter, 
in  an  open  sled,  from  100  to  200  miles  to  take  a  railroad  to  Alaska,  he 
would  have  said  to  us  “the  time  is  too  short.  ”  Much  more,  then,  is  the 
time  considered  too  short  when  we  come  to  the  nonprogressive  Lapps, 
whose  ancestors  have  occupied  the  same  country  from  the  beginning 
of  their  history,  whose  young  people  have  never  been  found  among 
the  emigrants  flocking  from  all  nations  to  America,  who  beyond  all 
other  nationalities  have  clung  to  their  ancestral  homes,  and  ask  them 
to  break  up  their  homes,  dispose  of  their  property,  settle  their  affairs, 
visit  parents  or  other  near  relatives  perhaps  for  the  last  time  on  earth, 
and  be  ready  in  two  weeks  to  start  for  the  end  of  the  earth.  And  all 
this  has  been  accomplished  within  a  month  from  the  time  the  appro¬ 
priation  was  made  by  Congress. 

In  the  meantime  Lieut.  D.  B.  Devore  had  chartered  the  transport 
steamer  Manitoban ,  of  the  Allan  Line,  Glasgow.  Sailing  from  Green¬ 
ock,  Scotland,  January  16,  she  arrived  at  Trondhjem  January  23  for 
the  purpose  of  loading  up  the  moss  which  had  been  gathered  there 
for  the  use  of  the  reindeer  herd.  A  severe  storm  detained  the  vessel 
at  Trondhjem  until  the  29th,  when  she  sailed,  reaching  Bosekop  on 
February  2.  Learning  that  the  steamship  had  arrived,  I  went  on 
board  and  arrangements  were  quickly  consummated  for  loading  the 
Lapland  reindeer.  A  large  barge  was  taken  over  to  the  ship,  upon 
which  was  built  a  platform,  from  which  a  gangway  was  erected  to  the 
ship.  The  reindeer  were  brought  over  from  the  shore  to  the  barge  in 
rowboats,  and  from  the  rowboats  led  up  the  gang  plank  directly  into 
the  ship.  That  the  deer  might  be  loaded  more  compactly  and  to  pre¬ 
vent  their  being  injured  during  the  trip,  their  horns  were  sawed  off 


Milking  a  Reindeer. 


A  Laplander  Family  living  in  a  Dirt  Hut. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  39 


within  an  inch  of  the  flesh.  During  the  first  day  300  deer,  200  sleds, 
and  considerable  baled  moss  were  loaded  on  the  steamer.  The  work 
was  pushed  vigorously  all  day  until  7  p.  m.,  when  the  tired  men 
refused  to  work  longer,  even  for  extra  pay. 

On  the  morning  of  February  3  work  was  resumed  at  6.30  o’clock. 
The  day  was  bitter  cold,  with  a  light  wind  blowing  from  the  moun¬ 
tains.  By  10  o’clock  all  the  deer  that  were  in  the  place  had  been  sent 
off  to  the  ship,  but  there  was  still  a  herd  of  140  that  had  not  come  in 
from  the  mountains,  where  it  was  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  ship. 
Extra  men  were  sent  to  assist  in  lassoing  them,  and  as  fast  as  they 
were  brought  to  the  barge  their  horns  were  sawed  off  and  they  were 
rushed  aboard  the  ship.  By  6  p.  m.  the  deer  were  all  on  board,  the 
balance  of  the  sleds  were  sent  aboard,  and  also  the  harness  packed  in 
large  casks.  The  drivers  and  their  families  went  on  board  during  the 
evening.  About  midnight  I  removed  from  the  hotel  to  the  ship,  and 
at  4  a.  m.  on  Friday,  February  4,  the  anchor  was  hoisted  and  we  were 
off  for  New  York. 

The  officers  of  the  steamship  Manitoban  were  Capt.  Andrew  E.  Braes, 
Chief  Officer  James  Buchanan,  Second  Officer  Charles  S.  Cheeper, 
Third  Officer  Robert  M.  McMaster,  Fourth  Officer  I).  O.  Hagan,  Chief 
Engineer  John  Stett,  Second  Engineer  Mr.  Day,  Surgeon  Wolf.  We 
had  on  board  539  reindeer  that  cost  on  an  average  $10  each,  418 
sleds  at  $3.60  each,  511  sets  of  harness  at  $2.50  each.  There  were 
also  on  board  43  men,  16  women,  and  19  children,  Lapps;  15  men,  3 
women,  and  7  children,  Norwegians;  and  10  men,  Fins;  making  78 
Lapps,  25  Norwegians,  and  10  Finns,  or  113  emigrants.  Of  the  women, 
16  were  married,  6  of  them  recentty.  Among  the  Lapp  men  was  a 
Mr.  Samuel  Johannesen  Balto,  who  accompanied  Nansen  in  his  famous 
trip  across  Greenland,  for  which  he  received  a  silver  medal  from 
Oscar  II,  King  of  Sweden  and  Norway.  There  was  also  in  the  com¬ 
pany  Johan  Petter  Stalogargo,  a  Finn,  who  has  the  distinction  of 
being  the  northernmost  mail  carrier  in  the  world,  having  for  eight 
years  carried  the  mail  on  his  back  to  North  Cape,  Norway,  traveling 
on  skees  (Norwegian  snowshoes).  Among  the  68  men  were  13  who 
had  had  experience  in  carrying  the  mail  with  reindeer  teams  across 
the  mountains  and  canyons  and  plains  of  arctic  Lapland.  (For  a 
detailed  list  of  colonists  see  Appendix,  pp.  105,  106.) 

Mr.  Kjellmann  and  myself  were  the  only  cabin  passengers.  Lieu¬ 
tenant  Devore  returned  to  the  United  States  by  way  of  Trondhjem 
and  London.  The  first  two  days  out  we  had  a  fair  wind  and  smooth 
sea,  but  on  February  8,  when  off  the  coast  of  Ireland,  we  encountered 
a  heavy  head  wind,  which  lasted  for  nine  days,  increasing  in  violence 
from  day  to  day  until  on  February  15  it  had  reached  the  proportions 
of  a  gale.  On  the  14th  one  of  the  lifeboats  was  wrenched  from  the 
davits  and  so  badly  stove  in  on  deck  that  it  had  to  be  broken  up. 
Some  of  the  2-incli  plank  bolted  together  around  the  cattle  pens  on 


40  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

the  hurricane  deck  were  wrenched  apart  and  broken  in  pieces,  and 
the  130  reindeer  in  pens  on  that  deck  were  drenched  with  the  seas 
that  broke  over  them,  and  for  nine  days  and  nights  they  were  not  dry 
once. 

On  the  15th  the  ship’s  figurehead  was  torn  from  the  iron  prow  and 
swept  out  to  sea,  and  heavy  iron  stanchions  broken  off,  while  sea 
after  sea  swept  the  deck.  The  danger  of  being  washed  overboard 
was  so  great  that  the  men  were  not  allowed  on  deck,  and  the  rein¬ 
deer  were  of  necessity  left  without  food.  Toward  evening,  there 
being  a  lull  in  the  storm,  the  deer  were  fed.  Captain  Braes,  who  has 
been  at  sea  for  forty-two  years,  and  his  first  officer,  twenty-four 
years,  testify  that  in  all  their  experience  they  never  encountered  any¬ 
thing  worse.  The  deer  proved  to  be  good  sea  travelers,  learning  to 
balance  themselves  with  the  rolling  of  the  ship,  and  to  rest  by  lying 
down  the  same  as  if  they  had  been  on  their  native  pasture.  The 
loss  of  one  deer  by  death  out  of  539  was  a  very  small  thing;  that 
death,  however,  was  not  due  to  the  sea  voyage,  but  to  injuries 
received  in  fighting.  The  same  might  have  occurred  if  they  had  been 
running  at  large  on  land.  Whenever  during  the  journey  we  encoun¬ 
tered  a  snowstorm,  the  snow  was  carefully  gathered  from  the  deck 
by  the  Lapps  in  pails  and  carried  to  the  pens  for  the  use  of  the  rein¬ 
deer,  and  they  ate  it  with  avidity.  The  men  were  organized  into 
gangs,  with  overseers,  for  the  feeding  and  care  of  the  deer  upon  the 
trip. 

On  February  27  our  eyes  were  gladdened  with  the  welcome  sight  of 
land  off  New  England,  and  that  evening  we  dropped  anchor  inside 
of  Sandy  Hook. 

February  28,  after  the  visit  of  the  quarantine  officers,  the  ship 
slowly  steamed  up  to  the  cattle  yards  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
in  Jersey  City,  where  the  deer  were  immediately  unloaded  from  the 
ship,  and  the  following  day  loaded  into  cars  that  were  waiting  for  them, 
and  on  the  afternoon  of  March  1,  in  two  sections,  were  started  acro:^ 
the  continent  by  way  of  the  Pennsylvania,  Wisconsin  Central,  and 
Great  Northern  railways  to  Seattle.  At  New  York  they  were  placed 
in  charge  of  Lieutenant  Devore,  U.  S.  A.,  who  accompanied  them 
to  Seattle,  while  I  returned  to  Washington,  D.  C. 

On  the  10th  of  March  I  was  detailed  by  the  Commissioner  of  Educa¬ 
tion,  under  instructions  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  to  proceed 
to  the  Pacific  coast  and  resume  charge  of  the  Lapps  and  the  reindeer, 
which  would  be  turned  over  to  me  by  the  officers  of  the  Army  in 
charge. 

Leaving  Washington  on  March  11,  I  overtook  the  reindeer  herd  at 
Seattle,  Wash.,  on  the  16th  of  March,  where’  they  were  being  loaded 
under  direction  of  Maj.  W.  R.  Abercrombie,  IT.  S.  A.,  on  the  bark 
Seminole.  They  had  been  in  Seattle  nine  days  while  awaiting  trans¬ 
portation  to  Alaska.  To  save  the  moss  brought  over  from  Lapland 
for  the  sea  voyage  from  Seattle  to  Alaska  the  deer  were  taken  to  one 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  41 


of  the  city  parks  of  Seattle  and  placed  on  grass.  As  the  result  of 
the  change  of  diet  four  died  while  there  and  eight  others  after  leaving 
Seattle. 

In  accordance  with  a  telegram  from  the  Secretary  of  War  to 
Brigadier-General  Merriam  of  March  16, 1898,  40  of  the  Lapps,  mainly 
women  and  children,  were  left  at  the  Fort  Townsend  Barracks,  to  be 
sent  later  by  sea  to  Alaska  via  the  Aleutian  Islands  and  St.  Michael. 
Mr.  Regnor  Dahl,  a  Norwegian,  acquainted  with  the  Lapp  language, 
was  placed  in  charge  of  this  colony,  subject  to  the  authority  of  Capt. 
William  W.  Robinson,  jr. ,  U.  S.  A.  Mrs.  Dahl  was  made  matron  and 
Dr.  F.  II.  Gambell  physician.  The  remaining  57  men,  in  charge  of 
Mr.  William  A.  Ivjellmann,  superintendent  of  the  Government  rein¬ 
deer  stations  in  Alaska,  were  sent  on  the  Semdnole  with  the  reindeer, 
to  drive  the  portion  of  the  herd  turned  over  by  the  Secretary  of  War 
to  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior  overland  from  Haines  Mission  into 
the  Yukon  Valley.  As  sickness  in  his  family  would  prevent  Mr. 
Kjellmann  from  accompanying  the  party  longer  than  to  see  them 
started  from  Haines  Mission  inland,  Mr.  Iledley  E.  Redmeyer  was 
appointed  superintendent  of  the  overland  party.  As  some  of  the 
Lapps  were  sick  with  measles,  Dr.  Hermon  F.  Titus,  a  physician  of 
Seattle,  was  employed  to  accompany  the  party  as  far  as  Haines, 
Alaska,  at  an  expense  of  $300. 

The  Seminole  left  Seattle  at  midnight,  March  10,  in  tow  of  the  steam 
tug  Sea  Lion ,  and  reached  Haines  Mission  on  the  afternoon  of  the 
27th.  There  w^ere  no  barges  at  that  place,  and  Captain  Brainard,  U. 
S.  A.,  went  to  Dyea  and  returned  with  a  barge,  upon  which  the  rein¬ 
deer,  sleds,  and  moss  were  landed  on  the  beach  during  the  28th. 
Brigadier- General  Merriam,  commanding  the  Department  of  the 
Columbia,  had  sent  instructions  to  the  commanding  officer  at  Dyea 
for  tents  and  camping  outfit,  to  be  in  readiness  for  the  Lapp  drivers 
who  were  expected  to  proceed  from  Haines,  on  the  coast,  to  Circle  City, 
on  the  Yukon,  a  distance  of  over  1,000  miles,  the  longer  portion  of  the 
way  through  an  unknown  region.  Owing  to  the  irregularity  and 
unreliability  of  the  mails  in  that  section,  the  instructions,  which  were 
mailed  at  Skagway,  did  not  reach  the  officer  at  Dyea,  6  miles  distant, 
for  nearly  a  week  after  they  were  due.  This  compelled  the  holding 
of  the  reindeer  at  Haines  Mission  for  a  week,  and  as  there  was  no 
moss  at  that  point  they  were  fed  on  dried  alfalfa  (the  only  forage  to 
be  had),  which  weakened  them. 

On  March  29,  two  days  after  the  arrival  of  the  herd  at  Haines,  an 
unusually  early  thaw  set  in,  taking  the  ice  out  of  the  Chilkat  River, 
rendering  the  trail  to  the  moss  fields  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Thle- 
heena  (a  tributary  of  the  Chilkat  River),  where  it  was  proposed  to 
pasture  the  reindeer  preparatory  to  driving  them  across  the  country 
to  the  Yukon  Valley,  for  the  time  being  impracticable.  If  transpor¬ 
tation  had  been  ready  at  Seattle  as  expected,  thus  saving  the  nine 
days’  time  lost  at  that  point,  and  the  necessary  provisions  for  the  Lapp 


42  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

drivers  liad  been  waiting  their  arrival  at  Haines,  the  reindeer  herd 
could  have  been  driven  without  any  great  loss  either  to  Dawson  or 
Circle  City.  But  the  above  delays  were  disastrous.  With  unsuitable 
food,  the  deer  grew  weaker  and  weaker,  until,  on  March  31,  three  days 
after  the  arrival,  they  commenced  dying.  On  March  31,  two  died; 
April  1,  four;  April  2,  three;  and  April  4,  three. 

On  the  3d  of  April  the  Lapp  attendants  found  some  moss  above 
timber  line  on  a  mountain  on  the  peninsula  12  miles  south  of  Haines, 
and  on  April  15  the  whole  herd  was  driven  to  pasturage,  reaching  it 
on  the  6tli,  ten  days  after  their  arrival  at  Haines.  Eight  died  on  the 
road,  being  five  on  the  5th  and  three  on  the  6th. 

On  the  4th  of  April,  in  accordance  with  instructions  from  the  Secre- 
tary  of  War  to  the  commanding  general  of  the  Department  of  the 
Columbia,  Capt.  B.  Eldridge,  U.  S.  A.,  divided  the  herd,  reserving 
200  head  for  the  War  Department,  and  turning  over  326  head  to  the 
Interior  Department.  The  herd,  however,  was  by  this  time  in  such 
a  weakened  condition  that  it  was  not  separated,  and  later  on  so  many 
died  that  the  140  head  that  survived  were  left  in  charge  of  the  Interior 
Department. 

After  driving  the  herd  to  temporary  pasturage  on  the  mountain  the 
Lapps  returned  to  Haines  and  proceeded  to  make  up  their  rations 
and  supplies — which  had  at  length  been  received — into  bundles  of  the 
proper  size  for  packing,  it  being  the  plan  to  remove  the  camp  from 
the  beach  50  miles  inland  to  the  commencement  of  the  moss  pastures 
of  the  interior. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  with  a  portion  of  the  supplies  loaded  into 
native  canoes  and  the  balance  strapped  to  the  backs  of  the  Lapps, 
they  started  up  the  Chilkat  Hiver,  reaching  Klukwan  village  at  11 
o’clock  Saturday  night,  where  they  remained  in  camp  over  Easter 
Sunday.  On  Monday  morning,  the  11th,  they  took  up  their  march  for 
the  mouth  of  the  Thleheena  River,  where  the  supplies  were  left  in  a 
temporary  camp. 

As  many  of  the  reindeer  had  died  and  more  were  dying  from  the 
effects  of  the  starvation  at  Haines,  it  was  concluded  to  be  unneces¬ 
sary  to  send  as  many  men  as  was  originally  intended  to  Circle  City. 
Accordingly  15  were  detailed  for  the  overland  trip  and  left  with  their 
supplies  at  the  camp  on  the  Thleheena.  The  remainder  returned 
with  Mr.  Kjellmann  down  the  Chilkat  River  to  Haines,  arriving  at 
noon  on  the  12th.  They  were  immediately  sent  to  round-up  the  herd 
and  start  them  for  the  Chilkat  Valley  to  the  moss  pasturage  at  the 
head  of  Thleheena  River. 

While  on  pasture  1  deer  died  on  the  7th  of  April,  6  each  on  the  8th 
and  9th,  and  5  on  the  10th.  As  the  small  pasture  that  had  been 
found  soon  gave  out,  the  death  rate  increased  to  10  on  the  11th. 

On  the  12th  the  herd  was  gathered  together  and  an  effort  made  to 
drive  them  slowly  north  up  the  Chilkat  Valley  toward  the  abundant 
and  permanent  moss  fields  at  the  head  of  the  river.  They  were  so 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  43 


weak,  however,  that  many  lagged  behind,  and  the  herd  became  scat¬ 
tered  along  the  12  miles  between  the  camp  and  Haines. 

On  the  13th  the  strongest  deer  reached  camp  opposite  Haines,  and 
Mr.  Kjellmann  received  instructions  from  Captain  Eldridge  and  Cap¬ 
tain  Abercrombie  to  keep  the  whole  herd  there  until  it  should  be 
determined  whether  any  portion  of  the  herd  was  in  condition  to  accom¬ 
pany  the  military  expeditions.  Accordingly  they  were  detained  at 
that  point  until  the  15th,  during  which  days  14  died  on  the  12th,  22 
on  the  13th,  26  on  the  14th,  28  on  the  15th,  and  34  on  the  16th.  On 
the  night  of  the  15th  the  military  expeditions  sailed  from  Haines  for 
Prince  William  Sound  without  waiting  further  on  the  reindeer. 

Permission  being  granted,  on  the  16th  of  April  the  Lapps  com¬ 
menced  collecting  the  herd  and  driving  them  northward.  During 
the  day  a  second  band  of  deer  overtook  the  first.  Uniting  the  bands, 
the  Lapps,  with  the  second  band,  were  returned  to  gather  up  more 
of  the  straggling  deer. 

On  the  morning  of  the  18th,  while  en  route,  a  little  moss  was  found 
on  a  steep  mountain  side.  Camp  was  immediately  made  and  all 
hands  sent  to  pack  the  moss  down  in  sacks  to  the  deer. 

On  the  19th  Mr.  Kjellmann  returned  to  the  peninsula  south  of 
Haines,  where  the  balance  of  the  herd  left  on  the  15th  had  remained. 
Finding  that  they  were  still  too  weak  to  be  moved,  he  took  a  few  of 
the  stronger  ones  and  on  the  20tli  he  overtook  the  first  party  on  the 
Chilkat  River.  Joining  the  twTo  parts  of  the  herd  into  one,  he  sent 
back  to  the  peninsula  five  men  to  care  for  the  weak  animals  that  had 
been  left  there  and  to  try  to  move  them  slowly  to  the  top  of  the 
mountain.  The  balance  of  the  men  were  employed  in  cutting  trees, 
gathering  moss  from  the  trees  and  rocks  and  carrying  it  to  the  main 
herd  on  the  Chilkat  River. 

On  the  24th,  taking  an  Indian  guide  and  30  of  the  men,  each  pulling 
a  sled  loaded  with  rations,  Mr.  Kjellmann  proceeded  up  the  Tlileheena 
Valley.  He  found  the  snow  soft  and  deep  and  the  weather  rainy,  so 
that  very  slow  progress  was  made. 

On  the  27th  he  reached  the  moss  fields  on  the  north  summit  of  the 
Chilkat  or  Thleheena  Pass,  about  50  miles  from  Haines.  The  moss 
was  in  great  abundance  and  of  the  best  quality.  The  rations  were 
soon  unloaded,  the  sleds  reloaded  with  moss,  and  a  start  was  made 
to  return  to  the  herd.  When  about  10  miles  from  the  summit  the 
moss  was  unloaded  and  a  man  sent  down  the  valley  to  start  the  herd 
at  once  to  the  moss,  the  sleds  returning  to  the  summit  for  a  second 
load.  The  men  were  now  divided  into  two  gangs,  one  drawing  moss 
for  the  herd  and  the  other  pulling  the  sleds  loaded  with  the  rations 
for  the  men  that  were  to  make  the  overland  journey. 

On  the  6th  of  May  the  185  reindeer  reached  the  north  summit  and 
were  turned  loose  in  the  moss  field  to  recover  their  strength.  Fortj^- 
three  deer  were  still  left  in  the  Chilkat  Peninsula,  making  228  alive 
at  that  date,  out  of  526  that  were  loaded  at  Haines. 


44  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


The  death  roll  from  starvation  was  as  follows : 


Date. 

Number. 

Date. 

Number. 

Date. 

Number. 

Date. 

Number. 

Mar  31 

o 

Apr.  10 . 

5 

Apr.  20 . 

8 

Apr.  30 . 

2 

Apr  1 

4 

11. . 

10 

21 . 

9 

May  l _ 

1 

3 

12. . 

14 

22 . 

11 

2 . 

2 

3  . 

0 

13... 

22 

23 . 

9 

3 . 

1 

4 

3 

14 . 

26 

24 . 

5 

4. . 

1 

15  - . 

28 

25 . 

3 

5 . 

0 

0 

3 

16 . 

34 

26 . 

6 . 

0 

7 

1 

17 

25 

27 

3 

8 

6 

18  .. 

28 

28... 

1 

Total .. 

296 

9 

6 

19 . 

10 

29 . 

3 

As  the  herd  would  need  to  remain  for  some  time  at  that  point,  and 
the  care  of  the  same  was  assumed  by  Mr.  Redmeyer,  Mr.  Kjellmann, 
taking  43  of  the  men,  returned  to  Haines,  where  he  securely  stored 
the  sleds,  and  on  the  15th  of  May  embarked  for  Port  Townsend,  reach¬ 
ing  that  point  on  the  evening  of  the  18th.  Telegraphing  to  Van¬ 
couver  Barracks  for  orders,  he  received  instructions  from  Assistant 
Adjutant-General  Davis  to  take  his  party  to  Fort  Townsend,  which 
he  did,  and  left  them  in  charge  of  Mr.  Regnor  Dahl. 

After  the  departure  of  the  men  on  the  8th  of  April  for  the  Chilkat 
Pass,  there  being  nothing  further  that  I  could  do  at  that  end  of  the 
line,  I  took  boat  on  April  10  at  Skagway,  Alaska,  reaching  Seattle  on 
the  15th,  and  Washington,  D.  C.,  on  the  23d  of  April. 

After  the  departure  of  Mr.  Kjellmann  from  Mountain  Camp,  May 
6,  Mr,  Redmeyer  attempted  to  move  the  herd,  but  upon  going  3  miles 
found  they  were  too  weak  to  travel  any  farther,  when  he  again  went 
into  camp,  which  he  named  “Camp  Pleasant,”  and  where  he  remained 
until  May  22.  He  then  had  164  reindeer,  which  were  all  that  had 
survived  of  the  185  that  had  reached  Mountain  Camp  May  6;  and  of 
these  a  number  were  so  weak  that  they  could  not  digest  the  food, 
which  was  abundant  around  them.  This  still  further  reduced  the 
number,  until  on  September  1  there  were  144  left,  all  of  which,  except 
three,  had  recovered  their  strength  and  health  and  were  in  good 
condition. 

On  May  22,  Camp  Pleasant,  53  miles  from  Haines,  was  left  for  the 
north.  The  snow  was  melting  and  was  very  soft,  so  that  they  could 
only  travel  at  night  when  there  was  a  crust.  This  necessitated  so 
many  delays  that  Mr.  Redmeyer  was  forced  to  the  conclusion  that 
he  would  be  unable  to  reach  Circle  City  until  late  in  the  fall,  and  that 
the  rations  which  he  had  with  him  would  not  suffice  for  the  whole 
party  for  so  long  a  time.  He  therefore  again  divided  his  men,  sending 
8  of  them  in  charge  of  Mr.  O.  Paulsen  south  to  Seattle  to  join  the 
others  at  Fort  Townsend  and  be  sent  by  steamer  around  by  sea  to  St. 
Michael.  He  retained  6  with  himself.  The  overland  party  then 
consisted  of  Iledley  E.  Redmeyer,  Per  Johannessen  Hatta,  Per  Kilsen 
Siri,  Klemet  Persen  Boini,  Anders  Aslaksen  Bahr,  Hans  Andersen 
Siri,  Emil  Kjeldberg. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  45 

On  September  27  the  herd  had  reached  the  neighborhood  of 
Hutchie  Valley,  at  which  time  there  was  probably  sufficient  snow 
to  enable  them  to  again  use  sleds,  after  which  Mr.  Redineyer  expected 
to  make  more  rapid  progress  on  their  way  to  Circle  City.  At  Circle 
City  Mr.  P.  C.  Richardson,  the  contractor  for  .Carrying  the  United 
States  mails  up  and  down  the  Yukon  Valley,  expected  to  purchase 
the  deer  and  employ  them  for  carrying  the  mail. 

On  May  17  I  left  Washington  on  my  return  to  the  Pacific  coast  to 
look  after  the  transportation  of  the  Lapps  from  Fort  Townsend  to  the 
reindeer  headquarters  near  Unalaklik,  Alaska,  reaching  Seattle, 
Wash.,  June  3. 

On  the  26th  of  May,  1898,  the  Secretaiy  of  War  advised  the  com¬ 
manding  general  of  subsistence,  at  Vancouver  Barracks,  Wash.,  that, 
under  instructions  from  the  Secretary  of  the  Interior,  I  would  take 
charge  of  the  reindeer  recently  bought  in  Lapland  and  turned  over 
to  the  Department  of  the  Interior  by  the  War  Department,  conduct 
them  to  Alaska,  and  receipt  for  transportation  and  supplies  for  the 
herders,  and  supervise  the  payment  of  the  salaries  of  the  latter  from 
the  relief  fund  through  the  War  Department.  Accordingly,  upon 
my  arrival  in  Seattle,  my  first  attention  was  given  to  securing  trans¬ 
portation  for  the  Lapps  and  their  supplies.  There  was  so  great  a 
demand  for  vessels  to  carry  the  large  number  of  miners  wishing  to  go 
to  Alaska,  together  with  the  unusual  quantities  of  freight,  necessi¬ 
tated  by  the  large  emigration,  that  much  difficulty  was  encountered 
in  securing  transportation. 

However,  on  the  7th  of  June,  after  receiving  bids  as  low  as  $9.75 
per  ton  for  freight  on  sailing  vessels,  an  agreement  was  made  with 
Mr.  T.  F.  Townsley  by  which  the  rations  for  the  Lapps  were  to  be 
taken  from  Seattle  to  Unalaklik,  Alaska,  on  the  steamship  Del  Norte , 
at  the  rate  of  $16  per  ton,  ship  measurement,  the  usual  rate  for  the 
same  on  well-established  lines  being  from  $50  to  $60  per  ton.  Previous 
to  signing  the  agreement  I  ascertained  from  the  marine  insurance 
agencies  that  the  steamer  was  seaworthy.  The  steamer  was  to  have 
sailed  June  17,  but,  owing  to  various  complications  in  which  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  was  not  interested,  did  not  finally  get  away  until  June  28. 
It  being  necessary  to  take  a  few  of  the  Lapps  to  a  part  of  the  coast 
of  Alaska  only  reached  by  the  Del  Norte ,  12  of  them,  including  the  8 
which  had  arrived  from  Haines  Mission,  were  taken  on  board  the 
steamer  with  a  passage  rate  to  Alaska  of  $40  each. 

On  June  8  I  received  word  from  Mr.  Dahl,  in  charge  of  the  Lapps 
at  Fort  Townsend,  accompanied  by  the  certificate  of  the  visiting 
physician,  that  the  two  children  of  Johan  Olesen  Pulk,  who  were 
among  those  who  had  been  sick  with  the  measles  while  crossing 
the  Atlantic,  had  developed  a  scrofulous  affection  that  would 
very  soon  necessitate  their  being  kept  separate  from  the  rest  of  the 
party,  thereby  destroying  the  service  that  their  parents  might  other¬ 
wise  render  the  Government.  Under  the  circumstances  it  seemed 


46  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

best  to  return  them  to  Lapland,  and  arrangements  were  made  by 
which  they  started  on  the  10th  of  June  on  their  return  trip. 

On  the  12th  of  June,  in  compliance  with  telegraphic  instructions  from 
Major-General  Merriam,  dated  June  5,  1898,  Lieut.  Henry  C.  Cabell, 
First  Lieutenant,  Fourteenth  United  States  Infantry,  shipped  to  me 
from  I)yea,  Alaska,  per  steamship  Utopia ,  all  the  relief  supplies  remain¬ 
ing  unsold.  The  larger  portion  of  these  supplies  was  used  by  Major- 
General  Merriam  in  rationing  the  Lapps  to  the  31st  of  January,  1899, 
and  the  excess  of  butter  and  bacon  from  the  relief  supplies  over  and 
above  the  amount  required  for  the  rations  was  subsequently  (July  8) 
by  direction  of  the  War  Department  turned  over  to  the  Interior 
Department  for  the  use  of  the  Lapps.  The  Dalton  sleds  belonging 
to  the  relief  expedition  not  being  needed  were  not  received  by  me, 
but  were  retained  by  General  Merriam. 

Arrangements  were  made  with  the  Seattle  Hardware  Company  for 
shipping  the  remainder  of  the  Lapps  on  the  schooner  Louise  J. 
Kenney ,  at  the  rate  of  $30  each  for  second-cabin  passage,  the  Lapps 
furnishing  their  own  provisions. 

On  the  21st  of  June  the  Laplanders  were  loaded  on  the  schooner, 
when  it  was  found  that,  unknown  to  myself,  tjie  purser  had  taken  on 
board  35  miners,  which  overcrowded  the  vessel  and  rendered  it  liable 
to  seizure  by  the  United  States  authorities  for  disregard  of  the  emi¬ 
gration  laws. 

Going  over  to  Port  Townsend  from  Seattle,  I  removed  from  the  ves¬ 
sel  30  Lapps  with  6  children,  and  brought  them  to  Seattle,  where  I 
secured  a  $30  rate  (the  same  as  paid  on  the  Kenney )  for  them  on  the 
steamship  Navarro,  leaving  27  Lapps  and  8  children  on  board  of  the 
schooner  Kenney,  which  sailed  on  the  evening  of  June  22  for  Alaska. 

On  the  Navarro  Dr.  C.  P.  Dolan  was  engaged  as  physician  for  the 
Lapps  for  the  trip  at  a  cost  of  $43,  and  on  the  steamer  Del  Norte  Dr. 
William  J.  Toussant  was  employed  as  physician  for  the  Lapps  during 
the  trip  at  an  expense  of  $5.  On  the  schooner  Louise  J.  Kenney 
medical  attention  was  given  the  Lapps  by  Dr.  F.  II.  Gambell,  their 
regular  physician. 

The  steamship  Navarro  reached  St.  Michael  on  July  27.  A  day  or 
two  afterwards  the  same  place  was  reached  by  the  steamer  Del  Norte. 
The  Lapps  on  the  Navarro  were  transferred  to  the  Del  Norte,  and  on 
July  30  were  landed  at  Unalaklik  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the 
reindeer  station,  the  schooner  Louise  J.  Kenney,  with  the  first  party 
of  Lapps,  having  arrived  on  the  29th.  Arrangements  are  in  progress 
with  the  United  States  mail  contractor  for  the  Yukon  Valley  by  which 
it  is  hoped  the  larger  number  of  the  Lapps  will  be  distributed  along 
the  Yukon  V alley  as  they  shall  be  needed,  for  the  purpose  of  canying 
the  United  States  mail. 

NATURALIZATION  OF  THE  LAPPS. 

As  an  evidence  of  the  purpose  of  the  Norwegians  and  Lapps  recently 
brought  over  from  Lapland  to  become  permanent  citizens,  the  follow- 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  47 


ing  persons  have  taken  out  their  first  naturalization  papers:  Magnnsi 
Kjeldsberg,  Johan  Eira,  Wilhelm  Basi,  Lauritz  Stepliansen,  Johan 
Hilmar  Hansen,  Karl  Johan  Sacariasen,  Ole  M.  Rapp,  Alfred  Her- 
mansen,  Ole  Olsen  Bar,  Jeremias  Abraliamsen,  Tsak  Johannesen  Hatta, 
Isak  Salamonsen  Nakkila,  Per  Andersen,  Samuel  Johannesen  Balto, 
Nils  Persen  Sara,  Nils  Klemetsen,  Lauritz  Larsen,  Otto  M.  Leinan, 
Hans  Samuelsen,  Ole  G.  Berg,  Thoralf  Kjeldberg,  Peder  Berg,  Ole 
Johansen  Stenfjeld,  Karl  Ove  Suhr,  Japeth  Lindeberg,  Ole  Krogh, 
and  Johan  Petter  Stalogargo. 

The  Lapps  are  well  satisfied  with  their  new  home,  and  promise  to 
make  a  very  valuable  and  important  addition  to  the  population  of 
Alaska  and  the  development  of  its  resources. 

In  my  estimation,  next  to  the  discovery  of  gold,  the  most  important 
event,  commercially,  in  the  history  of  Alaska  during  this  year  is  the 
importation  of  this  colony  of  Lapps.  Experience  is  rapidly  demon¬ 
strating  that  the  only  possible  efficient  transportation  service  in  Alaska 
must  be  through  the  use  of  reindeer,  and  this  necessitates  the  trained 
and  expert  drivers  of  reindeer  found  among  the  civilized  Lapps  and 
Finns.  The  68  men  that  were  brought  over  by  this  expedition 
are  all  picked  men  and  expect  to  be  permanent  settlers  of  Alaska. 
They  hope  ultimately  to  have  herds  of  their  own  and  raise  and  train 
reindeer  to  sell  to  the  transportation  companies.  Their  success  will 
naturally  attract  others  of  their  people  and  render  permanent  the 
establishment  of  the  reindeer  industry  in  Alaska. 

In  this  connection  I  make  acknowledgments  of  the  assistance  ren¬ 
dered  in  the  movement  of  the  Lapps  and  reindeer  by  Brig.  Gen. 
Henry  C.  Merriam,  U.  S.  A.,  commanding  the  Department  of  the  Colum¬ 
bia;  also  to  Capt.  W.  W.  Robinson,  jr.,  II.  S.  A.,  at  Seattle;  Capt.  B. 
Eldridge,  U.  S.  A. ;  Capt.  D.  L.  Brainard,  IT.  S.  A. ;  Capt.  William  R. 
Abercrombie,  U.  S.  A.;  Lieut.  W.  S.  Graves,  U.  S.  A.,  and  especially 
to  my  associate,  Capt.  D.  B.  Devore,  II.  S.  A.,  who  shared  with  me  in 
the  perplexities,  difficulties,  and  hardships  encountered  in  Lapland. 

TRIP  TO  SIBERIA. 

Having  landed  the  Laplanders  with  their  rations  on  the  beach  a 
mile  and  a  half  below  the  village  of  Unalaklik,  the  steamer  Del  Norte 
raised  anchor  and  sailed  for  Golovin  Bay  on  the  evening  of  August  1. 
Entering  the  bay  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  about  8  o’clock,  the  steamer 
went  aground.  Here  we  remained  for  twenty-four  hours.  Taking  a 
small  boat,  a  visit  was  made  to  the  village  and  Swede  Mission  Station, 
and  arrangements  were  made  for  landing  the  supplies  for  the  mission 
and  reindeer  stations,  which  was  successfully  accomplished  that  after¬ 
noon. 

Getting  afloat  about  midday  on  the  3d,  a  start  was  made  for  the 
Teller  Reindeer  Station,  which  was  reached  on  the  morning  of  the  4th. 
The  station  was  visited  and  inspected  and  we  pushed  on  to  St.  Law¬ 
rence  Bay,  Siberia,  which  was  reached  on  the  morning  of  the  6th. 


48  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

Going  ashore,  I  found  that  the  station  had  been  abandoned  by  the 
party  in  charge  on  the  3d  of  July.  A  conference  was  had  with  the 
natives  and  notice  was  sent  to  the  owners  of  reindeer  herds  to  drive 
their  animals  to  the  coast  convenient  for  the  ship.  Then  taking  up 
anchor,  we  sailed  out  of  St.  Lawrence  Bay  around  to  the  south  side  of 
South  Cape.  On  Sunday,  the  floating  ice  coming  in  so  thickly  as  to 
endanger  the  safety  of  the  vessel,  the  captain  shifted  his  anchorage 
inside  of  the  bay.  The  following  days  were  consumed  in  securing  100 
reindeer  which  had  been  previously  purchased  by  the  party  in  charge, 
and  61  which  were  purchased  on  the  spot. 

Having  secured  all  the  deer  that  was  possible  at  the  time,  and  taken 
on  board  the  furniture  from  the  station,  and  placed  the  houses  in  charge 
of  one  of  the  natives,  the  ship  sailed  for  Cape  Prince  of  Wales, 
reaching  there  on  the  night  of  the  10th  of  August.  The  surf  being 
too  rough  for  landing  the  deer,  the  vessel  continued  on  her  course 
into  Port  Clarence,  where  they  were  landed  on  the  11th  at  Teller 
Reindeer  Station  and  placed  in  charge  of  Frederik  Larsen,  a  Lapp 
herder,  who  was  directed  to  drive  them  across  the  country  and  turn 
them  over  to  Mr.  W.  T.  Lopp,  in  charge  of  the  American  Missionary 
Association  Station  at  Cape  Prince  of  Wales.  These  deer  were  for 
the  purpose  of  returning,  in  part,  those  which  had  been  previously 
borrowed  from  that  station  by  the  Government  and  sent  overland  to 
Point  Barrow  to  be  slaughtered  for  food  for  the  whalers  that  were 
imprisoned  in  the  ice  and  out  of  provisions.  The  Rev.  T.  L.  Brevig, 
who  was  in  -charge  of  the  buildings,  being  desirous  of  spending  the 
winter  in  the  States,  the  custody  of  the  buildings  was  given  to  Dr. 
Brandon,  a  physician  and  miner  who  intended  wintering  at  that  place. 
Mr.  Brevig  and  family  coming  on  board  of  the  steamer,  we  sailed  on 
the  night  of  the  12th  for  St.  Lawrence  Island,  reaching  there  on  the 
night  of  the  13th.  The  fog  was  so  dense,  however,  that  we  were 
unable  to  find  the  village  until  the  following  morning. 

On  the  14th  Mr.  W.  F.  Doty,  who  had  agreed  to  take  for  one  year 
the  school  previously  taught  by  Mr.  Y.  C.  Gambell  (who  was  lost  at 
sea  while  returning  to  his  station  in  May),  together  with  his  annual 
supplies,  was  landed  on  the  beach,  and  in  the  evening  the  steamer 
sailed  for  ITnalaklik,  which  was  reached  on  the  16th.  Two  days  were 
spent  in  unloading  supplies  and  arranging  the  affairs  of  the  Eaton 
Reindeer  Station.  On  the  night  of  the  18th  the  Del  Norte  sailed  for 
St.  Michael,  reaching  there  early  in  the  morning  of  the  19th.  On  the 
21st  I  was  able  to  go  on  board  the  steamer  Roanoke  and  start  for 
Seattle,  reaching  there  August  30.  Leaving  next  day  on  the  railway, 
Washington  was  reached  on  the  6th  of  September,  1898,  thus  closing 
a  trip  of  31,801  miles  since  the  23d  of  December,  1897. 

Very  respectfully,  yours, 

Sheldon  Jackson, 

United  States  General  Agent  of  Education  in  Alaska . 

The  Commissioner  of  Education. 


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APPENDIX. 


S.  Doc.  34 - 4 


49 


ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  EATON  REINDEER  STATION 

FOR  1898. 


By  A.  N.  Kittilsen,  M.  D. 


Unalaklik,  Alaska,  June  30 ,  1898. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  for  your  consideration  the  annual 
report  of  the  United  States  reindeer  stations  in  Alaska. 

As  usual-,  there  was  a  large  number  of  whaling  and  trading  vessels 
at  Port  Clarence  during  the  month  of  July. 

Captain  Tuttle,  of  the  United  States  revenue  cutter  Bear ,  brought 
the  first  news  of  the  great  gold  finds  in  the  Klondike  district.  Had 
the  Klondike  been  nearer,  I  am  afraid  the  excitement  would  have 
carried  me  to  the  diggings.  Two  ignorant  sailors  on  being  informed 
by  a  companion  that  it  was  only  35  miles  to  the  gold  fields  deserted 
their  vessel  and  started  on  foot  to  the  new  Eldorado.  They  were  two 
sorry  looking  specimens  of  humanity  when  they  returned  about  ten 
days  later. 

The  schooner  Volant ,  our  provision  vessel,  arrived  at  Port  Clarence 
August  5.  Such  provisions  as  were  needed  at  the  Teller  Station  were 
discharged,  while  such  goods  on  land  as  were  not  needed  here  were 
sent  aboard  to  be  taken  to  Unalaklik. 

Having  decided  to  go  with  the  vessel  to  Unalaklik,  I  was  taken  on 
board  August  8.  The  Volant  anchored  outside  of  Golovin  Bay 
August  12,  and  Rev.  P.  H.  Anderson,  a  teacher  for  the  Swedish  Mis¬ 
sion  School,  was  taken  ashore.  August  13  the  anchor  was  dropped 
about  5  miles  southwest  of  Unalaklik.  A  storm  was  raging,  which 
made  it  impossible  for  me  to  land.  On  August  16,  although  the  storm 
was  still  quite  severe,  we  sighted  a  boat  coming  toward  us  from  the 
village.  Rev.  A.  E.  Karlson  and  some  natives  were  in  the  boat.  I 
went  on  shore  with  them  and  made  preparation  for  the  landing  of  our 
goods.  The  next  day  we  had  fine  weather  and  the  work  of  discharging 
began.  I  employed  all  the  natives  in  the  village;  still  it  took  three 
daj^s  to  get  the  goods  on  shore.  It  is  a  very  bad  harbor.  A  vessel 
can  not  come  nearer  the  shore  than  3  miles  on  account  of  shallow 
water.  The  same  number  of  hands  that  were  employed  here  would 
have  discharged  the  same  amount  of  goods  at  Teller  Station  in  half 
a  day.  If  the  reindeer  station  is  to  be  permanently  located  here,  it 

51 


52  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

will  be  absolutely  necessary  to  purchase  a  steam  launch  and  two  1 
barges. 

After  housing  the  goods,  I  went  with  the  Volant  to  St.  Michael, 
where  I  awaited  your  arrival  from  the  Klondike. 

September  15  I  went  aboard  the  revenue  cutter  Bear  and  was  taken 
back  to  Port  Clarence. 

During  the  summer  of  1897  the  deer  herd  was  kept  on  the  south  j 
side  of  Port  Clarence,  in  the  vicinity  of  Point  Riley.  The  herd  was 
moved  quite  frequently,  as  that  is  the  only  preventive  we  know  of  for 
that  dread  disease  “hoof  rot,”  as  some  call  it.  For  my  part,  I  believe 
it  to  be  anthrax.  I  know  of  no  medicament  that  is  of  any  benefit. 
Prophylaxis  in  the  shape  of  frequent  moves  during  the  summer  months 
helps  materially.  The  number  that  have  succumbed  to  the  disease 
this  last  year  is  small  compared  to  previous  years. 

In  my  opinion,  the  very  best  place  to  keep  the  deer  during  the  sum¬ 
mer  months  is  a  region  where  they  could  roam  about  over  a  large 
area.  There  is  such  a  point  about  35  miles  north  of  Unalaklik,  and 
we  intend,  if  possible,  to  keep  the  deer  there  during  the  coming 
summer. 

Frederick  Larsen  was  kept  at  the  herd  as  overseer  and  John  Tor- 
nensis  and  Mikkel  Nakkila  were  kept  at  the  station  repairing  and 
making  sleds  and  harness.  We  were  severely  handicapped  on 
account  of  lack  of  suitable  sled  material. 

October  4  I  started  for  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  in  a  whaleboat,  and 
arrived  there  the  next  day.  Mr.  Lopp  and  the  herders  were  not  will¬ 
ing  to  sell  their  surplus  male  deer  at  $15  per  head,  and  as  that  was 
the  highest  price  you  authorized  me  to  pay,  I  could  not  get  them. 

October  25  two  Lapps,  an  Eskimo,  and  myself  started  for  the  Cape 
Nome  herd  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  back  with  me  the  deer  in  that 
herd  belonging  to  the  Government.  We  arrived  at  Charley’s  place  i 
October  27,  and  after  a  good  deal  of  work  succeeded  in  getting  the  j 
deer  we  wanted.  W e  picked  out  52  males,  65  females,  and  3  fawns  ! 
for  the  Government,  and  4  females  and  3  fawns  for  Tatpan,  of  Golovin 
Bay.  Returned  to  Port  Clarence  November  1. 

One  Lapp  and  myself  went  out  to  the  herd  November  8  and  drove 
it  across  Grantly  Harbor  and  placed  it  about  4  miles  southeast  of  j 
Teller  Station,  where  the  herders  were  ordered  to  build  a  pen. 

November  17  two  Lapps,  an  Eskimo,  and  myself  started  for  Cape 
Prince  of  Wales  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  back  with  me  3  deer 
belonging  to  the  Government,  and  also  some  of  their  surplus  sled 
deer  that  I  was  to  dispose  of  when  a  market  was  found.  We  returned 
to  Port  Clarence  November  28,  bringing  with  us  the  3  deer  belonging 
to  the  Government  and  49  deer  belonging  to  the  Cape  Prince  of  Wales 
herd. 

November  23  some  dogs,  presumably  from  Nook,  attacked  the  herd 
and  killed  one  deer.  This  happened  at  night  when  no  one  was  with 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  53 


the  herd.  When  the  ground  is  covered  with  snow  no  night  watchers 
are  kept,  as  the  deer  do  not  roam  about  much  then,  and  if  any  have 
strayed  they  are  easily  tracked.  By  making  a  circuit  in  the  morning 
around  the  place  where  the  deer  have  been  during  the  night  it  is 
easily  ascertained  whether  any  have  strayed  or  not. 

December  3rd;  deer  were  marked  and  given  to  Tautook,  Sekeog- 
look,  and  Wocksock.  Tautook  received  20  females,  3  bulls,  and  2  sled 
deer,  besides  the  12  females,  10  fawns,  and  4  sled  deer  previously 
belonging  to  him.  Sekeoglook  received  20  females,  3  bulls,  and  2  sled 
deer,  besides  the  6  females,  4  fawns,  1  sled  deer,  and  1  bull  pre¬ 
viously  belonging  to  him.  Wocksock  received  20  females,  2  bulls, 
and  3  sled  deer,  besides  the  3  females,  2  fawns,  and  1  sled  deer  pre¬ 
viously  belonging  to  him.  Nine  lame  females  belonging  to  the  Gov¬ 
ernment  herd  were  also  left. 

Packing  up  was  now  the  order  of  the  day.  Mr.  W.  T.  Lopp  asked 
permission  to  send  one  of  his  herders  with  me,  which  was  granted,  and 
as  a  consequence  Keok  arrived  a  few  days  before  we  started.  Rev. 
T.  L.  Brevig  will  turn  over  to  you  the  accounts  of  Teller  Station. 

December  16  we  bade  good-bye  to  the  good  people  of  Port  Clarence 
and  turned  our  faces  toward  ITnalaklik.  We  went  to  the  deer  camp, 
which  was  then  situated  about  G  miles  southeast  of  Teller  Station. 
The  following  day  the  herders  lassoed  the  sled  deer  we  were  to  use. 
Mr.  Brevig  came  out  to  the  camp  during  the  day.  Ojello  was  quite 
sick;  consequently  we  decided  that  it  was  better  to  leave  him  at  Port 
Clarence. 

December  19  we  broke  camp.  There  were  17  of  us,  counting  women 
and  children.  We  had  40  sleds.  The  party  was  divided  into  two 
sections.  One  part  had  the  herd  to  look  after  and  the  other  part  had 
the  caravan  to  take  care  of.  We  went  along  very  nicely  where  travel¬ 
ing  was  easy,  but  had  more  or  less  trouble  when  deep  snow  or  woods 
were  encountered.  The  herd  was  always  kept  ahead  of  the  caravan. 
At  night  we  simply  tied  an  extra  piece  of  rope  to  the  halter  of  the  sled 
deer  and  let  them  run  loose  in  the  herd.  They  were  very  easily  caught 
in  the  morning.  We  had  fair  traveling  as  far  as  Golovin  Bay,  where 
we  arrived  December  29.  I  had  a  pleasant  visit  at  Golovin  Bay.  I 
then  first  heard  of  the  detachment  of  soldiers  at  St.  Michael,  and  that 
the  surrounding  country  had  been  declared  a  military  reservation. 

Tatpan  wanted  to  go  with  us  to  Unalaklik,  but  I  could  not  take 
him,  as  Mr.  Ilultberg  and  Ohitlson  were  away  at  the  time.  We  then 
transferred  the  7  deer  taken  from  Charley  for  Tatpan  to  the  Golovin 
herd.  The  deer  belonging  to  Martin  Jacobson  were  lassoed  and  taken 
into  the  Government  herd. 

January  3, 1898,  we  left  Golovin  Bay,  and  on  January  5  encountered 
snow  so  deep  and  soft  that  we  were  unable  to  get  any  farther.  The 
moss  was  so  thickly  covered  with  snow  that  the  deer  could  not  get  at 
it.  We  talked  the  situation  over  and  decided  to  send  the  deer  back 


54  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

toward  Golovin  Bay,  where  grazing  ground  could  be  found.  Three 
herders,  with  one  tent,  were  sent  back  with  the  deer,  while  the  rest  of 
the  party  pitched  tents  and  remained  where  the  deep  snow  was 
encountered.  Two  herders  were  sent  forward  on  skees  to  ascertain 
the  condition  of  the  snow  and  the  prospects  for  deer  food.  They 
returned  two  days  later,  reporting  deep  and  soft  snow  as  far  as  they 
had  been,  and  also  that  deer  food  was  not  to  be  found  north  of  Norton 
Bay.  I  did  not  like  the  delay,  but  it  could  not  be  helped.  We 
thought  that  a  storm,  accompanied  with  cold  weather,  would  improve 
the  traveling  so  that  we  would  be  able  to  proceed. 

January  10  Lieutenant  Jarvis  and  Dr.  Call,  of  the  United  States 
Revenue-Cutter  Service,  arrived  at  our  camp  and  told  us  about  the 
distress  at  Point  Barrow.  We  had  suspected  something  of  the  kind, 
as  very  few  vessels  had  been  seen  going  down  through  the  Straits 
in  the  fall.  Lieutenant  Jarvis  made  me  acquainted  with  his  mission 
and  handed  me  an  order  from  the  commanding  officer  at  Fort  St. 
Michael  requesting  me  to  give  them  (Jarvis  and  Call)  such  deer  as 
they  might  need  on  their  trip  to  Point  Barrow. 

I  asked  if  he  had  any  instructions  for  me  from  Washington.  He 
thought  so,  but  was  unable  to  find  any.  After  considering  the  mat¬ 
ter  I  told  them  that  it  was  useless  to  give  them  deer,  because  they 
would  be  unable  to  do  anything  with  them,  but  that  we  would  take 
them  to  Port  Clarence.  As  our  provisions  were  getting  low,  I  decided 
to  send  Ahlook,  Nuclak,  Sandlock,  and  Kakiernak  to  Unalaklik  with 
the  dog  sleds  that  had  brought  the  Point  Barrow  party.  I  then  made 
arrangements  with  the  Swedish  Mission  to  furnish  me  such  goods  as 
we  might  need,  and  I  promised  to  replace  the  same  in  the  spring. 

December  12  Mikkil,  Lieutenant  Jarvis,  Dr.  Call,  Keok,  and  myself 
started  for  Port  Clarence,  where  we  arrived  a  week  later.  After 
another  week’s  rest  we  started  back  toward  Golovin  Bay,  where  we 
arrived  February  9.  There  I  was  told  that  Lieutenant  Bertholf,  of 
the  Point  Barrow  relief  expedition,  had  come  a  few  days  before  my 
return  and  induced  Fredrik  Larsen  to  take  five  deer  and  sleds  to  help 
him  across  to  Kotzebue  Sound  with  some  provisions.  The  route  was 
such,  he  had  claimed,  that  it  was  impossible  to  get  the  goods  across 
with  dog  teams. 

The  road  was  now  easy,  but  two  of  the  herders  were  quite  sick, 
consequently  we  had  to  wait  for  them  to  get  well.  A  few  days  later 
soft  weather  set  in  again  and  traveling  was  as  bad  as  before  I  went  to 
Port  Clarence. 

February  16  a  copy  of  a  telegram  from  Hon.  W.  T.  Harris  to  W.  A. 
Kjellmann  was  brought  to  me  by  a  native  coming  from  St.  Michael. 
This  telegram  asked  Kjellmann  to  get  together  all  the  sled  deer  in 
Alaska,  together  with  sled  harness  and  drivers,  and  report  to  the 
commanding  officer  at  Fort  St.  Michael.  Besides  this,  there  was  an 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  55 


order  from  Colonel  Randall  requesting  me  to  report  with  sleds  and 
deer,  also  drivers,  at  Fort  St.  Michael  with  the  least  possible  delay. 

I  then  made  an  attempt  to  go  ahead,  but  turned  back,  as  it  was  plain 
that  a  large  number  if  not  all  of  the  deer  would  perish  before  food 
could  be  reached. 

March  6  Lieut.  E.  S.  Walker  arrived  from  Fort  St.  Michael  with 
orders  to  proceed  without  delay.  I  informed  him  how  matters  were, 
and  advised  him  to  wait  for  cold  weather  to  go  on,  but  that  all  risks 
would  have  to  be  taken  by  him.  He  decided  to  wait  for  a  change  of 
weather. 

March  13  cold  weather  at  last  set  in,  and  we  started  for  ITnalaklik, 
where  we  arrived  March  21. 

Fredrik  Larsen  returned  from  Kotzebue  Sound  a  few  days  before 
we  left  Golovin  Bay.  The  Point  Barrow  party  took  his  deer,  conse¬ 


quently  he  was  compelled  to  walk  back. 

Lieutenant  Walker  had  orders  to  go  up  the  Yukon  River.  I  turned 
over  to  him  deer,  sleds,  and  two  drivers.  They  soon  encountered 
deep  and  soft  snow,  consequently  were  compelled  to  return.  A  good 
place  for  the  herd  was  found  about  4  miles  up  the  ITnalaklik  River, 
and  the  hauling  of  lumber,  etc.,  up  to  the  building  place  was  com¬ 
menced.  March  28  Lieutenant  Walker,  one  Lapp,  and  myself  started 
for  St.  Michael,  where  we  arrived  in  due  time.  We  were  given  a  kind 
reception  and  thoroughly  enjoyed  being  in  the  civilized  world  again. 
Colonel  Randall  had  asked  for  25  deer  and  25  sleds,  with  drivers,  to 
come  and  stay  at  St.  Michael,  in  case  there  should  be  any  use  for  them. 
When  I  returned  to  Unalaklik  I  started  the  deer,  sleds,  and  drivers 
asked  for  toward  St.  Michael,  but  received  a  message  in  the  evening 
of  the  day  the  deer  were  sent  stating  that  the  deer  were  not  wanted; 
so  I  sent  the  mess.enger  after  them. 

When  all  the  building  material  had  been  hauled  up  the  river  the 
herd  was  moved  to  the  foot  of  the  mountains  southeast  of  Unalaklik, 
where  a  good  fawning  place  was  found. 

On  account  of  the  lateness  of  the  season  and  the  amount  of  extra 
labor  we  had  been  called  upon  to  perform  I  made  arrangements  with 
Stephen  Ivanlioff  to  bring  300  logs  to  the  building  place. 

April  12  we  went  back  to  Golovin  Bay  with  provisions  to  replace 
those  we  had  received  during  the  winter,  and  returned  to  Unalaklik 


May  5. 

Three  prairie  fires  raged  in  this  vicinity  last  summer.  These  fires 
completely  destroy  the  moss.  It  is  a  punishable  offense  in  Lapland 
to  set  fire  to  moss,  whether  on  purpose  or  through  negligence.  I 
thought  something  could  also  be  done  here,  consequently  I  started  for 
St.  Michael  to  consult  Colonel  Randall.  He  immediately  saw  the 
need  of  action  in* the  matter,  and  sent  Lieutenant  Walker  back  with 
me  to  inform  the  natives  that  setting  fire  to  moss  is  a  crime.  Lieu- 


56  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

tenant  Walker  having  orders  to  go  through  to  Golovin  Bay,  I  sent 
Johan  Tornensis  with  him  as  driver. 

About  the  middle  of  May  the  deer  were  moved  down  to  the  Una- 
laklik  River  just  opposite  the  proposed  building  site,  where  they 
stayed  about  one  month.  The  mosquitoes  drove  the  deer  and  people 
toward  the  seashore,  about  2  miles  south  of  Unalaklik,  where  they  are 
at  present  located. 

We  have  this  spring  ear-marked  all  the  deer  and  fawns.  A  record 
of  number  is  on  file  at  the  station. 

the  fawning  season  passed  off  successfully.  Out  of  213  fawns  born 
18  were  lost.  Stillborn  fawns  have  been  included  in  the  18  lost. 
Nine  deer  have  been  butchered  during  the  year,  6  have  come  to  their 
death  through  accidental  injuries,  1  was  killed  by  dogs,  and  17  suc¬ 
cumbed  to  the  hoof  disease.  Taking  it  all  in  all,  I  think  that  is  com¬ 
paratively  a  favorable  showing.  Nine  lame  females  belonging  to  the 
Government  were  left  at  Port  Clarence  and  9  sled  deer  were  left  at 
Golovin  Bay.  Five  sled  deer  were  taken  by  Lieutenant  Jarvis  of  the 
Point  Barrow  relief  expedition. 

The  apprentices  have  all  been  obedient  and  contented  during  the 
whole  year.  The  Lapps  have  also  acquitted  themselves  favorably. 

I  was  very  glad  to  hear  that  the  deer  taken  to  Point  Barrow  were 
not  needed  for  food.  Being  composed  mostly  of  females,  that  whole 
coast  will  soon  be  supplied  with  deer. 

There  are  some  recommendations  I  would  have  offered,  but  as  I  am 
not  to  be  connected  with  the  Government  any  longer,  I  will  not  intro¬ 
duce  them. 

I  wish  to  thank  Rev.  T.  L.  Brevig  and  Rev.  A.  C.  Karlsen  for  assist¬ 
ance  given  me  during  the  year. 

Hoping  that  the  reindeer  enterprise  will  continue  to  prosper,  which 
I  am  positive  it  will,  if  properly  handled,  I  am, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

A.  N.  Kittilsen,  M.  D., 

Acting  Superintendent. 

Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

General  Agent  of  Education  for  Alaska. 


Table  showing  ownership  of  deer  in  herd  to-day. 


Eaton  Station  ... 

Elektoona . 

Martin  Jacobson 
Ahlook . 


Total 


Grown  deer. 

Fawns. 

Total. 

Male. 

Female. 

Male. 

Female. 

211 

235 

94 

83 

623 

2 

5 

4 

11 

3 

13 

4 

6 

26 

3 

4 

3 

1 

11 

0*1 

INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


Account  of  deer  lost  during  the  year  1897-98. 


Date. 

Males. 

Females. 

How  lost. 

Date. 

Males. 

Females. 

How  lost. 

1897. 

1897. 

July  14 

1 

Internal  disease. 

Dec.  8 

...... 

1 

Internal  disease. 

15 

1 

Accidental  injury. 

9 

Butchered. 

22 

i 

Foot  disease. 

10 

1 

Killed  fighting. 

23 

...... 

1 

Internal  disease. 

13 

1 

Butchered. 

24 

Accidental  injury. 

14 

1 

Internal  disease. 

Aug.  17 

1 

Internal  disease. 

26 

1 

Do. 

1898. 

Sept.  13 

1 

Foot  disease. 

Jan.  1 

1 

Butchered. 

19 

1 

Butchered. 

11 

1 

Do. 

25 

2 

Internal  disease. 

Feb.  26 

1 

Accidental  injury. 

Oct.  1 

1 

Foot  disease. 

Mar.  10 

1 

Internal  disease. 

12 

1 

Accidental  injury. 

18 

1 

Butchered. 

18 

1 

Internal  disease. 

Apr.  6 

2 

Do. 

20 

1 

Do. 

J  une  25 

1 

Internal  disease. 

27 

1 

Do. 

1 

Accidental  injury. 

Nov  2 

2 

Butchered. 

23 

1 

Killed  by  dogs. 

Total. 

21 

12 

List  of  Eskimos  at  station. 


Wocksock,  wife,  and  three  children. 
Sekeoglook  and  wife. 

Tautook,  wife,  and  one  child. 

Ojello,  wife,  and  two  children. 


Ahlook,  wife,  and  child. 
Dunnak,  wife,  and  one  child. 
Elektoona. 

Martin  Jacobson. 


List  of  Laplanders  at  the  station. 


Mikkel  J.  Nakkila. 
Beret  Anne  Nakkila. 
Johan  S.  Tornensis. 
Margrette  Tornensis. 


57 


Beret  Tornensis. 

Inger  Anne  Tornensis. 
Fredrik  Larsen  and  wife. 


ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  TELLER  REINDEER  STATION  FOR  1898. 


By  Rev.  T.  L.  Brevig. 


Teller  Reindeer  Station, 

Port  Clarence ,  June  SO ,  1898. 

Honored  Sir:  In  accordance  with  your  instructions,  I  acted  as 
Hr.  Ivittilsen’s  assistant  until  December  16,  1897,  when  he  left  for 
Eaton  Station  with  the  herd  and  employees  of  the  station,  and  I 
assumed  control  of  Teller  Reindeer  Station.  The  school  was  kept 
open  as  much  as  possible,  but  at  times  other  duties  made  it  necessary 
to  close  for  a  whole  day  or  part  of  a  day ;  however,  at  least  two  hours 
were  generally  spent  in  the  schoolhouse.  As  fuel  was  scarce  and  the 
schoolhouse  cold,  after  Christmas  school  was  kept  in  the  room  formerly 
used  by  the  Kjellmanns  as  a  kitchen.  The  three  Eskimo  families 
left  here  have  been  with  the  herd  all  winter,  during  the  coldest 
months  at  winter  quarters  on  the  Ahgeeopuk,  and  during  fawning 
season,  on  the  north  side  of  the  big  lake,  as  the  deep  snow  on  the 
south  side  made  it  difficult  to  get  at  the  moss.  At  present  they  are 
encamped  near  Nook. 

Wocksock’s  oldest  boy  attended  school  during  the  winter.  Tautook 
left  here  January  to  go  with  the  United  States  relief  expedition  to 
Point  Barrow.  He  took  two  of  his  own  sled  deer  along,  which  he  dis¬ 
posed  of  to  the  expedition.  He  returned  to  the  station  May  7,  hav¬ 
ing,  with  Mr.  W.  T.  Lopp,  made  the  return  trip  in  thirty  daj^s,  of 
which  twenty  were  actual  traveling  days  with  a  dog  team. 

When  the  herd  left  here,  eight  sick  females  were  left,  and  about 
January  10  a  female  deer  strayed  into  the  herd  and  Avas,  t)y  Wock- 
sock  and  Sekeoglook,  recognized  as  belonging  to  the  Government. 
Four  have  had  fawns  that  are  living,  making  the  total  number 
belonging  to  the  Government  in  this  herd  11. 

The  apprentices  have  lost  the  following  deer: 

Tautook:  One  female,  internal  disease;  2  males,  1  disabled  by 
being  bitten  by  natives’  dogs  in  January  and  killed  in  May  because 
wounds  would  not  heal;  1  deer  in  May  from  internal  disease.  Total, 
3  grown  deer;  also  3  fawns  died. 

Sekeoglook:  One  male  deer;  2  fawns. 

58 


Coogidlore.  Tumasock.  Lablok.  Anneebuck.  Kokleluk. 

Esanetuck. 

Eskimo  Children  from  Bering  Straits.  Brought  to  Carlisle  Indian  School  by  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson,  October,  1897. 


The  same  Children.  October  IftQR 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  59 


Wocksock:  One  male,  scared  by  dogs  and  broke  away  from  the 
driver,  got  entangled  in  some  brush  and  strangled;  1  fawn. 

Total  belonging  to  apprentices:  Males,  4;  females,  1;  fawns,  6. 
Belonging  to  the  Government,  males,  2;  females,  2;  total  in  herd,  15. 

From  the  reports  brought  in,  80  fawns  have  been  born.  I  have 
not  been  able  to  ascertain  how  many  belong  to  each  apprentice,  but, 
as  each  knows  his  own  deer,  they  have  an  understanding  among 
themselves. 

On  January  21, 1898  (the  coldest  day  we  had,  — 38°),  Lieut.  D.  Jarvis 
arrived  on  his  trip  to  Point  Barrow,  in  company  with  Dr.  A.  N.  Kit- 
tilsen  and  Mikkel  Nakkila,  with  deer  from  Golovin  Bay,  and  left  for 
Cape  Prince  of  Wales  with  a  dog  team  on  the  23d  of  January.  Dr. 
Call  arrived  with  Charley’s  herd  on  the  27th  of  January  and  left  at 
noon  the  29th  of  January.  Dr.  Kittilsen  and  Mikkel  Nakkila  visited 
us  from  January  21  to  January  29,  1898.  Mr.  John  Dexter  made  a 
trading  visit  from  March  22  to  March  25,  1898.  Mr.  D.  Libby  visited 
his  old  friends  from  May  5  to  7,  1898,  and  renewed  acquaintances 
made  in  the  years  I860  and  1867,  when  he  was  here  in  the  service  of 
the  Ainerican-Russian  Telegraph  Company  (Western  Union).  Mr. 
N.  O.  Hultberg,  from  Golovin  Bay,  accompanied  him. 

Mr.  T.  Kjellmann,  W.  A.  Kjellmann’s  father,  who  has  been  con¬ 
fined  to  his  bed  for  a  year  by  rheumatism,  died  May  27, 1898,  and  was 
buried  May  29. 

Ojello  complained  of  not  being  well  when  the  herd  was,  removed, 
and,  as  he  was  just  recovering  from  an  attack  of  pneumonia,  it  was 
on  consultation  deemed  best  to  let  him  remain  at  this  station,  as  if 
he  should  have  a  relapse  on  the  trip  he  would  retard  the  movements 
of  the  whole  party  and  have  small  chance  of  recovery.  With  his  wife 
and  daughter  he  has  occupied  the  rooms  vacated  by  Johan  Tornensis. 

The  summer  catch  of  salmon  was  small,  owing  to  the  attraction  of 
the  ships  during  the  best  fishing  season ;  contrary  weather  also  inter¬ 
fered  to  a  small  degree.  As  the  tomcod,  an  important  source  of  win¬ 
ter  food  for  the  natives,  failed  entirely  to  appear  here  after  cold  weather 
set  in  and  has  not  come  yet,  scarcity  of  food  has  been  prevailing.  Seal 
have  been  caught  by  those  that  took  the  trouble  to  go  far  enough  out 
to  get  them,  and  two  families  that  diligently  fished  during  the  summer 
have  had  fish  all  winter.  About  January  1  the  staple  food  fish  was 
consumed,  and  if  this  station  had  not  been  here  many  would  have 
suffered  and  probably  starved.  AVork  was  given  to  those  needing 
assistance  and  willing  to  work;  those  able  to  work  but  not  willing  to 
do  so  received  no  help.  Onty  in  two  instances  did  I  find  it  necessary 
to  render  considerable  assistance  without  any  return  in  work.  Occa¬ 
sional  help  was  given  to  many.  All  assistance  was  rendered  from  my 
private  supplies.  The  demands  of  the  United  States  Relief  Expedi¬ 
tion  and  the  need  of  xthe  natives  exhausted  the  supplies  of  wheat  flour, 
rye  flour,  corn  meal,  and  shorts  early  in  April,  leaving  only  beans  and 


60  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


navy  bread.  When  the  supply  of  navy  bread  was  very  small  only 
beans  were  traded.  To  my  knowledge  no  actual  suffering  existed  in 
this  country,  but  many  were  hard  pinched.  One  family  complained 
of  having  eaten  only  seal  thong  for  two  days,  although  I  had  in  that 
time  given  them  over  100  biscuits  in  pay  for  work.  Where  there  was 
no  station  where  white  man’s  food  could  be  procured  the  natives  suf¬ 
fered.  Grouse  were  abundant  in  the  Eaton  River  region  during  the 
winter  and  to  some  extent  relieved  the  want. 

The  health  of  the  employees  has  been  good,  and  the  number  has 
been  increased  in  Sekeoglook’s  family  by  a  little  girl. 

Respectfully, 


T.  L.  Brevig. 


Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

General  Agent  of  Education  for  Alaska. 


Reindeer  report  from  December  6,  1897,  to  Jidy  1,  1898. 


a  Strayed  into  herd. 


ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  GOLOVIN  BAY  REINDEER  STATION 

FOR  1898. 


By  N.  O.  Hultberg. 


Golovin  Bay,  July  /,  1898. 

Sir:  I  lmve  the  honor  to  report  our  herd  to  be  in  the  very  best  con¬ 
dition.  It  lias  yielded  an  increase  of  132  fawns,  of  which  1  was  still¬ 
born  and  3  died  after  being  born,  leaving  at  present  date  128  alive. 
We  have  been  practicing  every  branch  belonging  to  reindeer  indus¬ 
try,  such  as  driving,  breaking,  milking,  moving  the  herd,  making 
harness,  sleds,  and  pulks;  all  with  the  best  success.  Our  herders  are 
the  same  as  were  here  last  year,  and  are  all  worthy  of  the  best  com¬ 
mendation  in  every  respect.  We  have  experienced  no  difficulty  or 
trouble  whatever  with  the  herd  this  year. 

AVe  have  done  as  much  traveling  as  circumstances  permitted.  Two 
sled  deer  were  used  in  the  relief  expedition,  which  deer  were  not 
returned.  The  present  number  of  deer  in  the  herd  is  seen  by  the  fol¬ 
lowing  table. 


Respectfully, 


N.  O.  Hultberg. 


Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson. 


Reindeer  account . 


Date 


Males. 


Females. 


Fawns.  Total. 


1897. 

June  30 
Dec.  — 


Total  in  herd . . . . . 

Brought  by  Government  for  Tatpan . 


Total . 

Taken  by  Government  for  Martin . 


Remainder  . .. 

Died  during  the  half  year 


Remainder 


June  30  Number  of  old  deer . 

Born  this  year . 


Total... . . 

Fawns  died  during  calving  season. 

Total _ _ _ 


Belong  to  each  individual: 

Fort  Adams  and  Golovin  Bay. 

Okitkon . . . . . . 

Tatpan . . . 

Moses . . . 

Constantine . 


Total 


125 

4 


129 

9 


120 

1 


107 

107 

107 

80 

7 

13 


160 

161 

160 


122 

8 

11 

17 


160 


106 

3 


109 

5 


104 

9 


300 

17 


283 

It 


95 


269 


267 

132 


132 


399 

4 


118  I 

98 

9 


128 


395 


300 


395 


61 


TELLER  REINDEER  STATION  LOG  BOOK,  1897-98. 


By  T.  L.  Brevig. 


July  1, 1897 :  Clear,  with  a  very  strong  northeast  wind.  The  Jeanette 
and  Karluk  came  over  from  the  anchorage.  Captain  McGregor  and 
wife  and  Captain  Newth  visited  on  shore.  The  fish  party  returned  at 
6  p.  m.  with  18  salmon,  having  spent  the  night  at  the  deer  camp.  Dr. 
Kittilsen  visited  on  board  the  Karluk  in  the  evening.  Provisions 
were  issued  to  the  Lapps. 

July  2:  Clear  and  calm.  Mrs.  McGregor  spent  the  day  on  shore. 
The  captains  called  in  the  afternoon.  Dr.  Kittilsen  and  the  Brevigs 
had  supper  and  spent  the  evening  on  board  the  Karluk. 

July  3:  Mrs.  and  Captain  McGregor  and  Newth  spent  the  forenoon 
on  shore.  The  Karluk  and  Alexander  left  for  the  anchorage  shortly 
after  noon.  The  Jeanette  tried  to  beat  out  with  sails,  but  failed  to 
make  it,  and  anchored  off  toward  Cape  Riley.  Ojello,  Sekeoglook, 
and  Wocksock  came  in  after  provisions,  but  could  not  leave  again,  as 
the  high  surf  made  it  impossible  to  launch  the  boat.  Very  strong 
south- southwest  wind  in  the  afternoon. 

July  4:  Cloudy,  with  strong  south-soutliwest  wind.  The  flag  was 
hoisted  early  in  the  morning  and  salutes  fired  in  the  evening. 

July  5:  Cloudy,  with  a  little  rain.  Strong  south-southwest  wind. 
Preparations  were  made  for  a  fishing  trip  up  Eaton  River. 

July  6:  Cloudy,  with  a  little  rain.  Strong  south-southwest  Avind. 

July  7:  Cloudy  and  rainy.  Strong  south-southwest  wind.  At  6 
p.  m.  Johan,  Mikkel  and  wife  left  for  the  fishing  ground,  taking 
Wocksock’s  mother  and  son  and  some  of  the  provisions  with  them. 
Ojello,  with  the  rest  of  the  provisions,  will  follow  when  the  wind 
abates.  The  Bear  came  in  at  11  p.  m. 

July  8:  Cloudy,  rainy,  and  stormy. 

July  9:  Cloudy,  with  the  south-southwest  “perpetuum  molilis”  in 
full  force.  Early  in  the  morning  the  Bear  took  on  board  all  the  arms 
and  ammunition  left  at  the  station  last  year.  Capt.  F.  Tuttle  also 
landed  a  sheep,  to  be  kept  in  the  herd  till  in  the  fall,  and  left  for  the 
anchorage  at  7  a.  m. 

July  10:  Partly  overcast  and  calm.  Fredrik  and  Ahlook  had  come 
in  from  the  herd  during  the  night  and  reported  2  deer  and  1  fawn 
62 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  63 


dead.  They  left  again  in  the  afternoon  and  took  Ojello  and  his  pro¬ 
visions  along.  Two  vessels  left  the  anchorage. 

July  11:  Clear,  with  a  medium  strong  north  wind.  The  Narwhal 
and  Beluga  came  in  and  anchored  outside  the  station.  Several  ves¬ 
sels  left  the  anchorage.  The  fishing  party  returned  with  3j  barrels 
of  salmon. 

July  12:  In  the  morning  Mr.  Bruce  came  in,  and  with  Mrs.  Bruce 
visited  on  shore.  Captain  Larson  took  supper  on  shore. 

July  13:  Partly  overcast,  with  strong  northwest  wind.  Dr.  Kittilsen 
and  Brevig  called  on  Captain  Tilton  in  the  evening.  Aslak  and  Ahlook 
came  in  from  the  herd. 

July  14:  Overcast,  with  strong  northwest  wind.  Captain  Larson 
took  dinner  on  shore,  and  in  the  evening  Dr.  Kittilsen  called  on  board 
Bruce’s  vessel.  Ahlook  went  out  to  the  herd  in  the  evening.  The 
Thrasher  anchored  outside  Point  Jackson  in  the  morning. 

July  15:  Clear,  with  strong  northwest  to  north  wind.  Captain 
Bodfish  was  on  shore  in  the  morning.  The  H.  D.  Peters  had  arrived 
during  the  night.  The  doctor  went  over  to  see  if  there  was  any  mail. 
The  Bear  anchored  at  the  spit  at  5  p.  m. 

J uly  16 :  Light  clouds,  with  strong  soutli-southwest  wind.  The  Bear 
came  over  to  the  station  early  in  the  morning.  Dr.  Kittilsen  came  over 
with  them.  After  landing  the  Doctor,  the  Bear  proceeded  to  the  water¬ 
ing  place  beyond  Cape  Riley.  Rumor  states  that  two  deserters  are  at 
the  deer  camp. 

J  uly  17 :  Light  southwest  wind ;  overcast,  with  a  little  rain.  The  Bear 
came  m  about  noon  and  after  a  short  stop  went  over  to  the  anchorage. 
Dunnak  went  over  in  the  Bear  to  see  his  father. 

July  18:  Partly  overcast,  with  light  west  wind  in  the  afternoon. 
Sunday  service.  Charley  came  over  from  the  spit  in  the  evening ;  also 
Dunnak  and  his  father  and  family. 

July  19:  Partly  overcast.  At  12.30  p.  m.  Brevig,  Johan,  Per,  and 
Dunnak  went  over  to  the  spit  in  the  whaleboat. 

July  20:  Clear,  with  light  north  wind.  In  the  afternoon  the  Bear 
anchored  outside  the  station  and  Brevig  and  party  landed.  Dr.  Call 
and  Lieutenant  Cochran  called  on  shore  during  the  afternoon.  Dr. 
Kittilsen  spent  the  evening  on  board  the  Bear.  Mikkel  and  Fredrik 
returned  from  the  fishing  ground  and  Aslak  came  in  from  the  herd 
late  in  the  evening. 

J  uly  21 :  Cloudy,  with  medium  strong  south  wind.  The  Bear  left  at 
11  a.  m.  for  the  anchorage.  A  three-masted  schooner  anchored  at  the 
spit  at  6  p.  m.  Many  Kings  Islanders  and  Diomedes  are  encamped 
on  the  beach. 

July  22 :  Partly  overcast,  with  a  strong  northwest  wind.  The  Volant 
came  in  after  dinner,  landed  Brevig’s  provisions,  and  proceeded  to  the 
sand  spit  again.  The  Narwhal  and  Thrasher  anchored  outside  the 
station. 


64  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


July  23:  Cloudy,  witli  very  strong  northwest  wind.  The  Thrasher 
went  over  to  the  anchorage.  Captain  Tilton  visited  on  shore  in  the 
afternoon.  Mathis  had  a  fainting  spell  in  the  evening,  but  soon  recov¬ 
ered.  The  first  snow  appeared  on  the  mountains  in  the  morning. 

July  24:  Strong  northwest  wind  and  cloudy  in  the  forenoon.  Clear¬ 
ing,  with  lighter  wind  in  the  afternoon.  At  4  a.  m.  the  Narwhal 
steamed  over  to  the  anchorage.  Dr.  Kittilsen  went  along  to  see  if  the 
Jeanie,  which  had  arrived,  had  brought  any  mail.  Aslak  and  Per 
went  out  to  the  herd  early  in  the  morning.  Fredrik  and  the  Doctor 
returned  after  dinner,  having  received  one  letter  each.  The  Bear , 
Balena,  and  Volant  left  the  anchorage. 

July  25:  Clear,  with  light  west  wind  until  evening,  when  a  strong 
southwest  wind  set  in.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Marsh,  the  missionaries  for 
Point  Barrow,  called  at  the  station  in  the  afternoon.  Fredrik  went 
to  the  herd. 

July  26 :  Cloudy,  with  strong  southwest  wind.  The  goods  to  be  sent 
to  Unalaklik  were  packed  and  marked. 

July  27 :  Clear,  with  light  east  wind  in  the  forenoon  and  west  wind 
in  the  afternoon.  Continued  packing  and  marking  of  goods  for  Una¬ 
laklik.  The  herd  was  moved  beyond  Cape  Riley. 

July  28:  Overcast,  with  some  rain.  Strong  south-southwest  wind 
all  day. 

July  29:  Overcast  and  raining  all  day,  with  strong  south-southwest 
wind.  Brevig  issued  rations  to  the  Lapps. 

July  30:  Clear,  with  light,  variable  winds.  Per,  Aslak,  Tautookand 
wife,  Ojello  and  wife,  and  Electoona  came  in  for  the  monthly  rations. 
Johan  and  Dunnak  brought  grass  for  shoe  filling.  Letters  were 
received  from  Mr.  Lopp. 

July  31:  Clear  in  the  forenoon,  overcast  in  the  afternoon.  Aslak 
reported  3  fawns  and  2  deer  dead  from  internal  disease  and  hurts 
received  in  lassoing.  The  herders  left  with  their  provisions  at 
10  a.  m. 

August  1:  Overcast,  with  light  southwest  wind.  Services  in  the 
afternoon. 

August  2:  Cloudy,  with  misty  rain.  Strong  southwest  wind.  Bre¬ 
vig  and  Dunnak  cleaned  the  store.  Johan  and  Mikkel  boxed  up  some 
seal  oil  to  take  to  Unalaklik. 

August  3:  Overcast,  with  light,  variable  winds.  Fredrik  and 
Ahlook  came  in  from  the  herd,  reporting  all  well.  Some  of  the  goods 
to  be  shipped  to  Unalaklik  were  brought  down  to  the  beach. 

August  4:  Cloudy  and  raining  all  the  afternoon;  strong  northeast 
wind  during  the  night.  During  the  afternoon  two  famished  strangers 
arrived  and  were  fed  and  housed.  A  door  was  put  into  the  main 
entrance. 

August  5:  Cloudy,  with  rain  during  the  forenoon.  At  6.30  p.  m.  the 
Volant  anchored  outside  the  station,  and  Captain  Hanson,  Rev.  and 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  65 


Mrs.  Hanna,  Mr.  Woods,  and  Miss  Alice  came  on  shore.  Rev.  Hanna 
and  wife  are  returning  to  the  States.  At  8  p.  m.  the  Volant  began  dis¬ 
charging  cargo  for  the  station  and  receiving  cargo  for  Unalaklik.  At 
2  a.  m.  she  was  through.  All  the  goods  were  pushed  up  to  the  sta¬ 
tion.  Per,  Electoona,  and  Sekeoglook  came  in  from  the  herd  to  help. 

August  6:  Cloudy  and  raining,  with  a  strong  south-southwest  wind. 
The  surf  was  too  high  to  launch  a  boat.  Dr.  Kittilsen  and  Brevig 
worked  checking  olf  goods  until  4.30  a.  m.,  rested  till  G.30  a.  m.,  and 
finished  the  work  during  the  forenoon. 

August  7 :  Cloudy  and  rain  all  day  and  night,  with  a  strong  south- 
southwest  wind. 

August  8:  Medium  strong  south-soutliwest  wind,  with  rain  all  day 
and  night.  In  the  morning  the  Doctor  and  Brevig  boarded  the  Volant 
and  settled  the  freight  matter.  Dr.  Kittilsen  left  for  Unalaklik.  The 
two  strangers  were  also  on  board  when  she  left. 

August  9:  Clear  and  calm.  The  Volant  was  seen  moving  about 
around  the  spit  ail  day,  disappearing  at  7  p.  m.  Two  boat  crews  were 
paid  off.  Johan,  Mikkel,  Mathis,  and  Aslak  went  after  wood  in  the 
whaleboat. 

August  10:  Clear,  with  a  light  northeast  wind.  Per,  Electoona,  and 
Sekeoglook  went  to  the  herd.  Johan  and  Mikkel  went  after  the  canoe 
to  bring  it  home.  Some  trading  was  done  and  cleaning  up  around 
the  station. 

August  11:  Clear,  with  very  light  northeast  wind.  Johan,  Mikkel, 
and  Mathis  returned  with  the  canoe  at  6  p.  m.,  and  report  fish  scarce 
on  the  fishing  ground.  Fixing  up  accounts  has  been  the  order  of  the 
day. 

August  12:  Cloudy,  with  some  rain.  Medium  strong  south  wind. 
Some  fish  and  oil  were  bought. 

August  13 :  Overcast,  with  heavy  rain  all  night  and  forenoon.  Strong 
south-southwest  wind,  abating  toward  evening. 

August  14:  Strong  southwest  wind,  with  rain  all  night  and  day. 

August  15:  Ditto.  The  last  of  the  hull  of  the  Meyer  went  on  the 
beach  during  the  storm. 

August  16:  Clear,  with  strong  northwest  wind.  Wood  was  brought 
by  natives. 

August  17 :  Clear,  with  medium  strong  south-southeast  to  southwest 
wind.  Fredrik  and  Sandlock  came  in  from  the  herd  in  the  evening, 
reporting  1  fawn  dead  from  internal  disease  and  3  deer  slightly 
troubled  with  the  hoof  disease. 

August  18:  Clear,  Avith  light,  variable  winds.  Window  lights  were 
put  in  A\diere  broken  and  the  kitchen  pipe  fixed  in  T.  Kjellmann’s 
room. 

August  19:  Fair,  with  light  southeast  to  Avest  wind.  Fredrik  and 
Sandlock  left  for  the  herd  in  the  morning.  Johan  and  Mikkel  took 
S.  Doc.  34 - 5 


66  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


away  the  small  building  added  to  the  lean-to.  Brevig  painted  the  door 
to  the  main  entrance.  All  the  Lapps  went  hunting  in  the  afternoon. 

August  20 :  Overcast,  with  strong  west  wind.  A  leak  in  the  roof  was 
fixed  and  the  extra  pipe  holes  on  the  wing  were  blocked  up. 

August  21 :  Cloudy,  with  strong  southwest  wind.  The  pipe  in  Bre- 
vig’s  kitchen  was  fixed  and  the  old  store  fixed  up  and  cleaned  out. 

August  22 :  Cloudy,  with  a  very  strong  northwest  wind.  Services  in 
the  forenoon. 

August  23:  Partly  overcast,  with  very  strong  north-northeast  wind. 
The  roof  on  the  lean-to  was  fixed  and  some  painting  done  around  the 
eaves. 

August  24:  Fair,  with  a  gale  from  north-northeast.  Wood  was 
brought  in  the  whaleboat.  Two  canoes  arrived  from  the  cape  bringing 
letters  from  Mr.  Lopp.  Considerable  fish  was  traded. 

August  25:  Fair,  with  light  west  wind  in  the  afternoon.  Four  cape 
canoes  arrived,  and  at  6  p.  m.  Miner  Bruce’s  vessel  anchored  outside 
the  station  and  took  on  board  some  of  the  lumber  leffc  on  the  beach. 
Captain  Larson  was  on  shore  in  the  evening. 

August  26 :  Light  southwest  wind.  Bruce  transacted  some  business, 
with  the  natives  during  the  day.  Mr.  Bryan  visited  at  the  station. 
After  supper  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brevig  called  on  board.  Per,  Fredrik, 
Elektoona,  and  Ojello  came  in  from  the  herd,  reporting  1  fawn  dead 
and  3  deer  sick. 

August  27 :  Clear,  with  light  northeast  wind.  Mr.  Bruce  left  in  the 
morning;  Elektoona  and  Ojello  left  for  the  herd  with  provisions  at 
noon.  The  Lapps  were  out  hunting.  In  the  evening  two  trading 
canoes  came  in,  and  a  brisk  trade  followed  in  deer  legs. 

August  28:  A  fair  day,  with  strong  north-northwest  wind  in  the 
afternoon.  Johan,  Mikkel,  and  Fredrik  brought  home  the  whaleboat 
from  the  herd.  Considerable  trading  was  done  in  the  morning. 

August  29 :  A  clear,  very  nice  day.  Services  in  the  forenoon.  Sam¬ 
uel  Kemi’s  infant  daughter  was  baptized  ‘  ‘  Inger  Maria.  ”  Light  north¬ 
east  wind.  The  visiting  canoes  left  for  the  fishing  ground  in  the 
forenoon. 

August  30:  Clear,  nice  day,  with  very  light  east  wind.  Dagny 
Brevig  is  a  little  sick.  Preparations  for  leaving  for  Lapland  are 
indulged  in. 

August  31:  Overcast;  in  the  afternoon  calm.  Johan,  Mikkel,  and 
Fredrik  went  out  hunting.  Continued  packing. 

September  1 :  Overcast,  with  light  southeast  to  east  wind  and  light 
rain  in  the  afternoon.  Continued  packing. 

September  2:  Overcast  and  calm,  with  light  rain.  The  .Bear  looked 
for  in  vain. 

September  3:  Clear,  with  variable  winds.  At  10  a.  m.  Brevig  left 
for  the  herd  in  the  whaleboat,  with  Mikkel  as  master,  Johan,  Per,  and 
Mathis  as  crew,  and  Mrs.  Brevig  and  daughter,  Mrs.  Nakkila,  and 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  67 

Brevig’s  native  girl  as  cabin  passengers.  At  the  herd  all  was  well. 
Six  deer  were  sick,  but  could  follow  the  herd.  The  party  returned 
via  Nook  at  9  p.  m.  a  little  cold.  Mrs.  Nakkila  suffered  some  from 
seasickness. 

September  4:  Clear  and  calm.  Letters  arrived  from  Mr.  Lopp.  A 
brisk  trade  with  Kings  Island  and  Diomedes  people  for  deer  legs, 
deerskins,  etc.  Tautook  and  wife  and  Alilook  came  in  from  the  herd. 

September  5:  Partly  overcast.  Sunday  school  in  the  afternoon.  A 
light  frost  during  the  night. 

September  6:  Fredrik,  Alilook,  and  Tautook  and  wife  went  to  the 
herd  at  noon.  Overcast  and  stormy  from  northeast  to  east.  Consider¬ 
able  fish  traded. 

September  7 :  Cloudy  and  raining;  a  strong  gale  from  northeast 
during  the  night,  abating  at  noon  arid  changing  to  southwest. 

September  8:  Partly  overcast,  with  variable  wind. 

September  9:  Overcast,  with  a  gale  from  the  north  all  night  and 
day.  The  coal  was  carried  in. 

September  10:  Overcast,  with  a  strong  north  to  northwest  wind  and 
snow  flurries. 

September  11:  Overcast,  with  a  northwest  gale.  During  the  night 
Fredrik,  Wocksock,  Sekeoglook  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Ojello  had  come 
in  walking.  Natives  had  ferried  them  across  at  Nook.  Fredrik 
reports  2  deer  very  sick.  Rations  were  issued  to  the  herders. 

September  12:  Overcast,  with  light  northwest  wind.  Snow  covered 
the  ground  in  the  morning.  Mikkel,  Johan,  Mathis,  and  Ounnakleft 
for  the  camp  with  the  herders  and  their  provisions. 

September  13:  Overcast,  with  light  east  wind.  In  the  afternoon 
the  whaleboat  returned.  The  skin  of  a  male  deer  that  had  died  lately 
was  brought  in;  one  more  is  very  sick.  Considerable  fish  was  traded. 

September  14:  Clear,  with  medium  strong  east  wind,  growing 
stronger. 

September  15:  Clear,  with  a  strong  northeast  wind.  Very  quiet. 
The  Bear's  nonarrival  is  filling  many  breasts  with  visions  of  another 
winter  in  Alaska. 

September  16 :  Cloudy,  with  strong  north  wind.  Johan  and  Fredrik 
went  out  hunting.  Samuel,  Mathis,  Aslak,  and  Dunnak  brought  wood. 

September  17:  Cloudy,  with  medium  strong  north  wind.  Johan, 
Mikkel,  Per,  and  Fredrik  brought  wood.  Dunnak  built  a  fish  rack. 
Aslak  and  Mathis  gathered  “shoe  grass.” 

September  18:  Partly  overcast,  calm.  Samuel,  Mathis,  Aslak,  and 
Dunnak  brought  wood,  and  Johan,  Fredrik,  Per,  and  Mikkel  gath¬ 
ered  “shoe  grass.”  Late  in  the  evening  the  Bear  anchored  out  in  the 
bay  and  W.  A.  Kjellmann  and  Dr.  Kittilsen  came  on  shore. 

September  19:  Overcast  and  calm.  Dr.  Jackson  spent  the  day  on 
shore  settling  accounts.  During  the  afternoon  Capt.  F.  Tuttle  and 


68  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


several  of  tlie  officers  of  the  Bear  called  at  the  station.  A  deer  was 
killed  by  order  of  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  to  procure  a  specimen  for  the 
Omaha  Exposition. 

September  20:  Partly  overcast,  with  light  northwest  wind.  Dr.  S. 
Jackson  came  on  shore  in  the  morning,  and  about  noon  Mr.  W.  A. 
Ivjellmann,  Aslak,  Somby  and  family,  Samuel  J.  Kemi  and  family, 
Mathis  Eira  and  family,  and  Per  Rist  boarded  the  Bear  to  go  back  to 
Lapland.  Dr.  Jackson  also  took  five  girls  and  one  boy  with  him  to 
the  Carlisle  School.  The  Bear  left  shortly  after  dinner. 

September  21:  Overcast,  with  medium  strong  northwest  wind. 
Some  trading  done. 

September  22:  Clear,  with  light  northeast  wind.  Letters  arrived 
from  Mr.  Lopp.  In  the  afternoon  Johan,  Mikkel,  and  Dr.  Kittilsen 
went  up  into  the  lakes. 

September  23 :  Clear,  with  occasional  snow  flurries,  light,  variable 
winds.  Many  canoes  left  in  the  morning.  One  canoe  arrived  from 
the  cape  with  letters  from  Mr.  Lopp  with  requisitions  for  supplies  for 
his  herders.  Dunnak  repaired  the  storehouse. 

September  24:  Partly  overcast  and  calm.  Dunnak  commenced 
repairing  sleds.  Some  trading  done. 

September  25:  Overcast  and  calm,  snowing  and  thawing  all  day. 
At  noon  Wocksock,  Tautook  and  wife,  and  Sandlock  came  in  from 
the  herd  for  their  provisions  and  reported  2  male  deer  dead  from 
internal  diseases.  Moss  is  laid  up. 

September  26:  Partly  overcast,  thawing  a  little.  The  herders  left 
in  the  afternoon.  At  4  p.  m.  Charley  arrived. 

September  27 :  Partly  ^overcast.  Dunnak  repaired  sleds.  Two 
boat  loads  of  wood  w~ere  brought  in. 

September  28 :  Overcast,  with  strong  northeast  wind.  In  the  after¬ 
noon  Charley  sold  12  deer  to  the  station.  The  doctor  and  party 
returned  in  the  evening. 

September  29:  Clear,  with  very  strong  northeast  wind,  and  cold. 
Johan  and  Mikkel  started  making  sleds. 

September  30 :  Clear  and  nice,  with  light  northeast  wind.  Charley 
left  in  the  morning.  Several  fishing  canoes  came  in.  T.  Kjellmann 
moved  into  Kummuk’s  house. 

October  1 :  Clear,  with  a  medium  east  strong  wind.  Fredrik  and 
Elektoona  came  in  from  the  herd  late  last  night,  reporting  1  old  female 
deer  dead  from  the  foot  disease.  Elektoona  is  sick  from  diarrhea. 
Th.  Kjellmann  was  moved  into  Kummuk’s  old  cabin  in  the  evening. 

October  2:  Clear,  with  a  medium  strong  east  wind.  Fredrik  and 
Elektoona  left  for  the  camp  at  noon.  All  hands  are  busy  making  and 
fixing  sleds  and  preparing  the  house  for  winter. 

October  3:  Clear,  with  northeast  to  east  wind.  Th.  Kjellmann 
received  the  sacrament  in  the  afternoon. 

October  4:  Clear,  with  strong  northeast  to  north  wind.  At  8  a.  m. 
Dr.  Kittilsen,  Mrs.  Brevig,  Mikkel,  Dunnak,  and  Tautook  left  for 
Cape  Prince  of  Wales  in  the  whaleboat.  Some  wood  was  bought. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  69 


October  5:  Clear,  with  strong  north-northeast  wind. 

October  6:  Clear,  with  strong  northeast  wind.  Double  windows 
were  put  in.  Johan  is  making  sleds. 

October  7 :  Partly  overcast,  with  very  strong  nortli-northeast  wind. 
Sled  making. 

October  8:  Overcast,  with  light  east  to  northeast  wind.  Some  snow 
had  fallen  during  the  night;  raining  in  the  evening. 

October  9:  Overcast,  with  very  light  east  wind.  Raining  hard  all 
day. 

October  10:  Overcast,  with  light  north  wind.  At  6  p  m.  the  Doctor 
and  party  arrived  from  the  cape,  having  left  there  yesterday  at  noon. 

October  11:  Overcast,  with  a  medium  strong  north  wind.  Dunnak 
and  Tautook  left  for  the  herd  in  the  whaleboat. 

October  12:  Overcast,  with  light  rain  in  the  afternoon.  At  noon 
Fredrik,  Dunnak,  Ahlook,  Elektoona,  Nootalik,  and  Ahgelena  came 
in  from  the  herd.  In  the  evening  Fredrik  and  Ahgelena,  and  Ahlook 
and  Nootahk  were  married,  and  a  “spread”  given  them  in  the  super¬ 
intendent’s  office.  One  fawn  was  reported  dead  from  the  loss  of  a 
hoof  some  time  ago. 

October  13:  Overcast  and  raining  nearly  all  day.  A  light  north 
wind  in  the  evening.  At  noon  Fredrik  and  wife,  Ahlook  and  wife, 
and  Elektoona  left  for  the  herd  with  part  of  the  month’s  rations. 

October  14 :  Sleet  and  snow,  with  a  strong  north  wind  in  the  evening. 

October  15:  Snow  flurries,  with  strong  northwest  wind.  At  4.30 
p.  m.  Wocksock,  Tautook,  Sekeoglook  and  wife  came  in  from  the 
herd  with  both  boats,  having  started  yesterday. 

October  1G:  Overcast,  with  medium  strong  northwest  wind.  In  the 
morning  Dr.  Ivittilsen,  Johan,  Mikkel,  and  Dunnak  left  for  Point 
Spencer  to  get  sled  material.  At  noon  Wocksock,  Tautook,  and 
Sekeoglook  left  for  the  herd  with  their  food. 

October  17:  Clear,  with  light  southeast  wind  in  the  afternoon. 

October  18:  Overcast,  with  strong  north  wind.  The  Doctor  and 
party  returned  at  11  a.  m. 

October  19:  Overcast,  with  strong  north  wind  and  snow  flurries. 
Sled  making  all  over.  The  Doctor  started  in  making  a  sled. 

October  20:  Overcast,  with  strong  north  wind  and  snow  flurries. 

October  21:  Overcast;  calm,  with  a  little  snow.  A  thin  layer  of  ice 
had  formed  on  the  bay,  but  was  broken  up  by  a  light  north  wind  in 
the  evening.  Fredrik  and  Ahlook  came  in  from  the  herd  with  deer, 
having  crossed  Grantley  Harbor  on  the  ice. 

October  22:  Overcast  and  snowing  all  day,  with  a  brisk  north  wind. 
Fredrik  and  Ahlook  left  for  the  herd  in  the  morning.  The  Doctor 
finished  his  sled  in  the  afternoon. 

October  23:  Clear,  with  a  light  east  wind. 

October  24:  Overcast,  with  light  east  to  north  wind. 

October  25 :  Overcast,  witli  light  northeast  wind  and  snow  flurries. 
Late  last  night  Ahlook,  Sekeoglook,  and  Elektoona  came  in  with  5 


70  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


deer,  and  this  morning  at  10  a.  m.  the  Doctor,  Mikkel,  and  Johan  left 
for  the  herd  on  the  way  to  Charley’s  place  to  get  the  deer  in  his  herd 
that  belong  to  the  Government.  Tantook  will  go  with  them  from  the 
herd.  The  three  herders  went  back  with  them. 

October  26 :  Overcast,  with  medium  strong  east  wind. 

October  27 :  Clear,  with  strong  east  wind  during  the  night,  medium 
during  the  day.  Early  in  the  morning  the  mother  of  the  twins  now 
with  Bruce  died. 

October  28:  Clear,  with  strong  north-northeast  wind,  very  strong 
in  the  evening.  At  7  p.  m.  Fredrik  and  Sandlock  came  in  with  the 
carcass  of  a  male  deer  that  was  hurt  in  training  and  killed  the  27th. 
They  also  brought  the  skin  of  a  bull  that  had  died  from  the  foot  disease. 

October  29:  Clear,  with  a  gale  from  north-northeast  all  night  and 
day.  Rations  were  issued  to  the  Lapps. 

October  30:  Overcast,  with  medium  strong  north  wind.  Fredrik 
and  Sandlock  left  for  the  herd  at  10  a.  m.  A  young  man  who  had 
sometimes  attended  school  died  in  the  farther  village  during  the  night. 

October  31:  Overcast,  with  medium  strong  northwest  wind.  Some 
sickness  prevails  among  the  natives. 

November  1:  Overcast,  with  light  east  wind.  Three  sleds  came 
down  from  the  lakes  with  whitefish  to  trade. 

November  2 :  Clear,  with  light  east  to  northeast  wind.  In  the  after¬ 
noon  the  Doctor  and  party  returned  with  Ahlook  and  Wocksock  to 
take  the  deer  back.  The  herd  from  Charley’s  is  now  with  the  main 
herd. 

November  3:  Cloudy,  with  very  strong  north-northeast  to  north 
wind;  cold  and  blustering. 

November  4:  Cloudy,  with  strong  northeast  wind  during  the  night 
and  forenoon;  calm  in  the  afternoon.  Snowing  all  day. 

November  5:  Cloudy,  with  light  southeast  to  southwest  wind;  a 
gale  during  the  night.  The  sick  people  in  the  village  are  getting 
better. 

November  6:  Cloudy,  with  light  southeast  to  southwest  wind; 
strong  gale  during  the  night.  Dunnak’s  wife  is  sick. 

November  7 :  Partly  overcast,  with  light  variable  winds.  Dunnak’s 
wife  is  very  sick.  Late  in  the  evening  Ahlook  came  in  from  the  herd 
to  get  the  Doctor,  as  Ojello  and  Wocksock’s  wife  were  sick. 

November  8:  Partly  overcast  ;  very  light  northeast  wind.  At  noon 
Dunnak’s  wife  died.  Dunnak’s  father  arrived  at  dark.  At  6  p.  m. 
the  Doctor  arrived,  having  moved  the  herd  across  the  ice  to  the  north 
side  of  Grantley  Harbor.  Sekeoglook  came  in. 

November  9:  Partly  overcast,  with  light  northeast  wind.  A  coffin 
was  made  and  the  body  put  in  it  to-day.  A  picket  fence  is  being  made 
to  put  around  the  grave.  Elektoona  came  in  from  the  herd  reporting 
all  well.  The  bay  was  frozen  over  this  morning. 

November  10:  Strong  northeast  wind.  Clear.  Dunnak’s  wife  was 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  71 


buried  in  the  morning.  The  coffin  was  placed  about  a  foot  above 
ground  with  a  fence  around  it.  The  Doctor  is  finishing  a  new  sled. 

November  11 :  Overcast.  Johan  and  Brevig  left  for  the  winter  camp 
at  10  a.  m.,  and  arrived  there  at  9  p.  m.  through  a  heavy  snowstorm. 
The  next  day  was  so  bad,  raining  and  snowing,  that  they  did  not 
venture  to  return,  but  spent  the  day  in  camp. 

November  13:  Clear  and  calm.  Johan  and  Brevig  arrived  at  3.30 
p.  m.,  having  left  the  camp  at  7.30  a.  m.  Dr.  Kittilsen  issued  rations 
to  the  native  herders.  Ojello  and  Sekeoglook  are  at  the  station  under 
the  Doctor’s  care.  The  herders’  wives  are  making  tents  for  the 
winter’s  trip  with  the  herd  to  Unalaklik.  The  storm  yesterday  had 
broken  up  the  ice  on  the  bay. 

November  14:  Cloudy,  with  strong  southeast  to  southwest  wind; 
mild. 

November  15:  Cloudy,  calm,  mild.  Tent  making  the  order  of  the 
day. 

November  10:  Overcast,  with  slush  and  mist;  coughing  is  the  rule. 

November  17 :  Cloud}7,  with  snow  flurries.  In  the  evening  the  Doc¬ 
tor,  Johan,  Mikkel,  Tautook,  and  Ahlook  left  for  Cape  Prince  of 
Wales  with  a  herd  of  deer  to  get  the  deer  from  the  mission  herd  that 
belonged  to  Charley  and  Kummuk  and  had  been  bought  by  the  sta¬ 
tion.  Charley  arrived  just  after  the  Doctor  had  left.  Fredrik  went 
back  to  the  herd. 

November  18:  Clear,  with  a  very  light  northeast  wind.  Ahlook 
came  back  at  noon,  claiming  to  be  too  sick  to  go  to  the  cape.  The 
tents  are  about  ready. 

November  19:  Overcast  and  snowing.  Elektoona  came  in  from 
the  herd  sick.  Ahlook  went  out  to  the  herd. 

November  20:  Cloudy,  with  a  strong  southeast  wind;  rain  and 
sleet.  Some  fish  were  traded.  The  sick  are  the  same. 

November  21:  Strong  southeast  wind,  with  rain  all  night  and  day. 
The  bay  is  nearly  clear  of  ice.  Sekeoglook  and  Tautook’s  wife  and 
Wooksock’s  mother  left  for  the  herd  in  the  morning. 

November  22:  Overcast,  with  rain  and  sleet  all  day.  The  sick  are 
the  same.  It  seems  that  a  relative  of  la  grippe  is  making  a  profes¬ 
sional  call. 

November  23:  Clear,  with  a  medium  strong  east-northeast  wind. 
The  ice  is  loose  from  the  shore.  Charley  left  in  the  morning,  having 
sold  2  deer. 

November  24:  Fair,  with  strong  east  to  northeast  wind.  The  bay 
is  about  cleared  of  ice.  Fredrik  and  Wocksock  came  in  from  the 
herd,  reporting  1  sled  deer  killed  by  stray  dogs  Monday  night. 
Elektoona  had  left  the  station  last  night,  and  is  now  stopping  in  an 
Eskimo  house.  Samuel’s  dog  was  shot,  as  he  was  seen  among  the 
pack  that  killed  the  deer. 

November  25:  Overcast,  with  a  gale  from  east-nortlieast  all  night 


72  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


and  day.  The  sick  are  getting  better.  The  day  was  observed  by 
hoisting  the  flag  and  eating  a  good  dinner. 

November  26:  Cloudy  and  mild,  with  strong  east  wind.  The  Lapps 
received  their  rations  and  some  fish  was  traded. 

November  27:  Clear  and  calm.  Two  sleds  arrived  from  the  lakes. 

November  28:  Clear  and  calm  until  in  the  afternoon,  when  a  strong 
north-northeast  wind  cleared  the  bay  from  ice.  Some  natives  brought 
in  the  small  boat  from  Cape  Riley. 

November  29:  Clear,  with  a  strong  north-northeast  gale  all  night 
and  daj^.  The  Doctor  and  party  returned  with  the  deer  at  6.30  p.  m. 
Bad  weather  had  made  the  outward  trip  last  one  week.  The  return 
trip  was  made  in  two  days. 

November  30:  Clear,  with  light  northeast  to  east  wind.  Tautook 
went  out  to  the  herd  and  came  back  in  the  evening.  Fredrik  was  in 
after  fish. 

December  1 :  Clear,  with  a  light  east  wind.  At  dusk  the  Doctor, 
Johan,  Mikkel,  Dunnak,  Mrs.  Wocksock,  and  two  sons  went  out  to 
the  herd  to  divide  the  herd  to  be  given  to  Wocksock,  Tautook,  and 
Sekeoglook  from  the  main  herd.  Four  sleds  arrived  from  the  cape. 

December  2 :  Clear,  with  a  northeast  gale  all  night  and  day.  Tau¬ 
took  was  in  and  got  clothing  to  go  to  Ahgeeopuk.  Some  deerskins 
were  traded. 

December  3:  Partly  overcast,  with  strong  north-northeast  wind. 
Early  in  the  morning  Brevig  went  out  to  the  herd  to  help  tally  the  deer 
divided  off.  Each  apprentice  was  loaned  25  deer,  making,  with  the 
deer  earned  as  herders,  for  Wocksock  31,  Sekeoglook  37,  and  Tau¬ 
took  51,  a  total  of  119  deer;  8  disabled  female  deer  that  were  unable 
to  make  the  long  trip  with  the  main  herd  were  left.  Brevig,  the 
Doctor,  Johan,  and  Mikkel  returned  to  the  station  at  4  p.  m. 

December  4:  Calm,  partly  overcast.  Johan  and  Mikkel  went  up 
toward  the  mountains  after  harness  wood. 

December  5:  Partly  overcast,  with  strong  northeast  wind.  A  deer 
was  reported  dead  some  days  ago.  The  Lapps  had  supper  with 
Brevig. 

December  6:  Clear,  with  strong  northwest  wind. 

December  7 :  Overcast,  with  strong  north  wind  and  light  snow  all 
day.  Charley’s  brother  came  in  late  last  night. 

December  8 :  Cloudy,  with  a  strong  north  wind ;  snowing  and  drift¬ 
ing.  Tautook  came  in  from  the  winter  camp,  reporting  1  of  the 
station  deer  dead  from  internal  disease. 

December  9:  Clear  and  calm.  Fredrik  received  six  weeks’  rations. 
Dunnak  cut  his  hand,  so  he  can  not  work  to-day.  All  hands  are  busy 
making  harnesses.  Three  of  Mr.  Lopp’s  herders  arrived  at  dusk  with 
5  deer.  Keok  is  going  to  Eaton  Station  with  the  herd  to  practice 
driving.  Fredrik  left  for  the  herd. 

December  10:  Overcast  and  mild.  Fredrik  came  in  with  the  car- 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDENR  INTO  ALASKA.  73 


cass  of  a  deer  that  had  broken  its  leg  running  and  been  butchered. 
Th.  Kjellmann  bought  the  carcass.  One  fawn  had  died. 

December  11:  Clear,  with  light  northeast  wind.  Two  months’ 
rations  were  issued  to  the  natives,  and  a  general  bustle  of  prepara¬ 
tion  is  going  on. 

December  12:  Overcast,  with  an  east-northeast  gale  and  blizzard. 

December  13:  Overcast,  with  southeast  wind;  heavy  snow  during 
the  night.  Ojello  and  family  were  sent  to  the  herd  ready  for  the  trip. 
All  hands  are  busy  preparing  for  the  journey  to  Unalaklik.  Open 
spaces  between  the  floes  of  ice  on  the  bay. 

December  14:  Overcast  and  mild,  with  light  south-southeast  to 
south  wind.  In  the  morning  Mr.  Lopp’s  two  herders  left  for  home. 
Continued  packing  of  sleds  and  preparing  for  the  start. 

December  15:  Fredrik  and  Ahlook  came  in  with  deer  and  took 
loaded  sleds  out  to  the  camp.  Dunnak,  Elektoona,  and  Keok  left  for 
the  camp  with  their  belongings. 

December  16:  Overcast,  with  gusts  of  wind  from  northeast.  At  3 
p.  m.  the  emigrants  left  for  the  camp,  intending  to  leave  there  on 
Friday  for  the  new  station  at  Unalaklik,  and  solitude  reigns  where 
“  Sami  Gela”  (Lapp  language)  held  court  before. 

December  17 :  Overcast,  with  southeast  to  east  wind.  Brevig  went 
out  to  the  herd  with  some  papers  needed;  also  to  see  if  anything  was 
needed  out  there.  On  consultation  it  was  found  best  to  leave  Ojello, 
wife,  and  child  at  the  station,  as  he  had  complained  of  being  sick  and 
unable  to  do  any  walking.  It  was  feared  that  he  would  get  worse  and 
be  an  incumbrance  on  the  rest.  Two  deer  died  recently  from  injuries 
received  in  the  herd. 

December  18:  Overcast,  with  strong  east  to  southwest  wind  all  day 
and  night.  Some  snow  falling.  Ahlook  brought  in  Ojello,  wife,  and 
child,  who  were  put  in  the  house  vacated  by  Johan.  Th.  Kjellmann’s 
servant  left  him ;  scarcity  of  food  was  given  as  the  cause.  The  bay 
still  open  in  spots. 

December  19:  Calm  and  foggy;  very  mild.  A  long,  lonesome  day. 

December  20:  Clear  in  the  afternoon,  with  medium  strong  north 
wind  and  some  drifting.  Colder;  — 5°  at  dark. 

December  21:  Clear,  calm,  cold;  — 8°  to  — 10°. 

December  22 :  Ditto. 

December  23:  Ditto.  Food  is  becoming  scarce,  as  the  tomcod  fish¬ 
ing  is  a  failure. 

December  24:  Ditto.  Some  nuts,  fruit,  and  knicknacks  were  given 
to  the  children  in  the  schoolhouse. 

December  25:  Strong  north  wind;  clear  and  cold.  Drifting  some. 
Very  quiet. 

December  26:  Cloudy,  calm,  cold. 

December  27 :  Clear,  with  strong  north  wind  and  drifting. 

December  28:  Clear,  calm,  cold;  — 20°  to — 23°. 


74  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


December  29:  Overcast,  with  light  east  wind;  — 20°  to  — 25°. 

December  30:  Overcast  and  mild ;  snow  during  the  night. 

December  31 :  Cloudy,  calm,  mild;  +  10°  to  +  22°.  Good-bye  1897! 

January  1,  1898:  Cloudy,  calm,  and  mild.  Rumor  of  the  theft  of  a 
saw,  an  ax,  and  sleeping  bag  from  the  camp  of  the  moving  party  is 
freel}7  circulated,  giving  the  names  of  three  parties  as  the  culprits. 

A  man  and  wife  were  in,  telling  about  something  they  had  seen  sail¬ 
ing  toward  the  sky  with  two  men  in  it,  describing  the  balloon. 

January  2:  Overcast  and  calm.  Snowing  during  the  night. 

January  3:  Partly  overcast  and  calm;  growing  colder. 

January  4:  Overcast,  with  a  little  snow,  and  light  southeast  wind. 

At  4  \).  m.  Tautook  and  Sekeoglook  came  in  with  ten  loads  of  moss. 
They  reported  a  Government  female  deer  dead  from  internal  disease  j 
and  swollen  feet. 

January  5:  Partly  overcast  and  mild. 

January  6:  North-northeast  gale  during  the  night  and  forenoon. 
Overcast,  with  a  little  snow;  calm  in  the  afternoon.  Tautook  and 
Sekeoglook  left  for  the  herd  in  the  evening  with  their  provisions. 

January  7:  Clear  in  the  afternoon;  strong  northeast  wind  with 
some  drifting. 

January  8:  A  northeast  gale  during  the  night  and  day.  Several 
natives  have  left  for  the  sealing  ground. 

January  9.  Partly  overcast  with  a  heavy  northeast  gale  all  night 
and  day. 

January  10:  Partly  overcast,  with  strong  northwest  wind  with  some 
snow.  Natives  complain  of  heavy  snow  to  travel  in.  Letters  arrived 
from  Mr.  Lopp  in  the  morning. 

January  11:  Clear  and  cold.  Medium  strong  northeast  wind.  A 
few  seals  are  reported  shot. 

January  12:  Clear;  light  northeast  wind.  Wocksock  and  eldest 
son,  Sekeoglook  and  wife  came  in  at  8  p.  m.  Wocksock  reports  one 
female  belonging  to  the  Government  strayed  into  the  herd  a  few  days 
ago,  probably  a  deserter  from  the  main  herd. 

January  13:  Clear,  with  a  medium  strong  northeast  wind.  The 
herders  left  in  the  morning. 

January  14:  Clear  and  cold,  with  medium  strong  northeast 
wind;  — 24°. 

January  15:  Clear  and  cold;  — 25°.  The  first  seal  was  brought  in 
to-day.  Medium  strong  northeast  wind. 

January  16:  Ditto;  another  seal. 

January  17:  Partly  overcast,  with  strong  northwest  wind ;  — 25°  all  . 
day.  Letters  arrived  from  Dr.  Kittilsen,  dated  December  21,  1897.  ' 

A  native  said  he  had  seen  a  male  deer  with  a  bell  on  up  near  the  upper  ( 
village  on  the  Ko  vee  rock,  but  had  not  traced  it.  , 

January  18:  Partly  overcast,  with  a  gale  from  the  north;  — 26°  to 
—  30°.  Two  sleds  left  for  up  the  lakes. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


January  19:  Overcast,  with  very  light  north  wind;  — 15°  to — 25°. 

January  20:  Calm,  clear,  cold;  — 25°  to  — 31°. 

January  21:  Clear,  calm,  cold;  —35°  to  — 38°.  At  11.30  a.  m.  Lieut. 
D.  H.  Jarvis,  Dr.  Kittilsen,  and  Mikkel  arrived.  Lieutenant  Jarvis 
is  on  the  way  to  Point  Barrow  to  relieve  the  wrecked  seamen  at  that 
place.  The  Cape  Nome  herd  is  following,  in  charge  of  Dr.  Call,  and 
he  will  take  the  cape  herd  also.  He  will  proceed  from  here  with  dogs 
to  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  to  make  arrangements  with  Mr.  Lopp. 

January  22:  Strong  east  to  southeast  wind;  cold,  hut  growing 
milder.  Lieut.  Jarvis  had  made  all  preparations  for  an  early  start, 
bub  the  natives  would  not  go  in  the  storm. 

January  23:  Variable  winds;  — 20°  to— 7°.  Lieutenant  Jarvis  left 
at  8  a.  m.  with  1  sled  and  12  dogs  with  2  natives. 

January  24:  Clear,  with  strong  north  wind  and  drifting;  — 26° 
to  — 18°.  Mikkel  is  making  a  stove  for  the  return  trip. 

January  25:  Clear,  calm,  cold;  — 22°  to  — 26°.  Tautook  came  in 
from  the  herd  with  3  deer  and  2  sleds  to  take  out  2  deer  that  the  doc¬ 
tor  will  leave  in  this  herd.  Tautook  reports  one  of  the  Government 
females  very  sick. 

January  26:  Clear,  cold,  calm.  Kummak  arrived  with  letters  from 
Lieutenant  Jarvis. 

January  27:  Lieutenant  Jarvis  having  requested  to  take  Tautook 
with  him  to  Point  Barrow,  Tautook  left  for  the  herd  to  bring  his 
family  into  the  station;  — 31°  to  — 15°;  clouding  over  in  the  evening. 
At  4  p.  m.  Dr.  Call  arrived  with  Charley’s  herd.  A  storm  had  scat¬ 
tered  the  deer,  and  he  had  had  a  severe  trip. 

January  28:  Overcast,  with  gale  from  the  northeast.  Dr.  Call  made 
preparations  to  leave  with  the  herd  in  the  morning. 

January  29:  Cloudy  and  calm;  mild.  Dr.  Call  and  partj^  left  with 
the  herd  shortly  after  noon,  and  Dr.  Kittilsen  and  Mikkel  left  for 
Golovin  Bay  at  3  p.  m. 

January  30:  Cloudy  with  southeast  wind.  Tautook  and  wife  and 
Sekeoglook  arrived  at  noon.  Tautook  left  for  the  cape  at  2  p.  m., 
but  returned  at  dusk,  as  he  had  forgot  his  extra-heavy  artega.  Three 
sleds  arrived  from  the  cape  with  orders  for  barter  goods  from  Lieut. 
D.  Jarvis. 

January  31:  Overcast,  with  a  gale  from  the  south;  snow  and  slush. 
Tautook  left  early  in  the  morning.  All  day  was  occupied  in  filling 
orders  from  Lieutenant  Jarvis,  brought  by  Cape  Prince  of  Wales 
natives.  Some  seals  were  bought. 

February  1 :  Calm;  foggy  in  the  morning,  snowing  in  the  afternoon. 
Sekeoglook  left  for  the  herd  with  6  deer  in  the  morning.  Several 
orders  were  received  from  Lieutenant  Jarvis. 

February  2:  Overcast  with  a  strong  north-northeast  wind  and 
drifting. 

February  3:  Calm,  cloudy,  with  some  snow.  Rumors  of  distilling 
liquor  by  the  Eskimos  were  in  circulation  late  last  night. 


76  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

February  4:  Cloudy,  calm,  mild;  +28°. 

February  5 :  Clear,  calm  all  day. 

February  6:  Overcast,  with  strong  north  wind,  and  drifting. 
Charley’s  brother,  Kummuk,  and  the  dog  team  from  here  that  went 
up  with  the  herd  had  arrived  during  the  night  with  letters  from  Lieu¬ 
tenant  Jarvis,  telling  that  the  herd  would  start  from  the  deer  camp 
February  3.  Reports  of  distilling  and  of  several  parties  being  drunk 
in  the  village  is  circulating. 

February  7 :  Overcast,  with  strong  northwest  wind,  and  drifting  all 
day  and  night.  Goods  on  Lieutenant  Jarvis’s  order  were  delivered  to 
Kummak,  Akla,  and  Charley’s  brother.  W ocksock  and  wife  came  in 
very  hungry  and  cold,  having  been  storm  bound  two  days  on  the  way 
with  nothing  to  eat. 

February  8:  Overcast  and  storming  from  northwest;  very  cold. 

February  9:  Clear,  calm,  very  cold;  — 26°  to  — 30°.  Charley’s 
brother  left  for  home  with  a  load  of  flour.  Several  sleds  arrived 
from  the  cape  with  orders  and  to  trade. 

February  10:  Clear,  cold,  and  calm,  and  swarming  with  cape 
natives  with  orders  from  Lieutenant  Jarvis;  — 26°  to  — 30°. 

February  11:  Clear  and  cold ;  — 24°  to — 28°.  Light  north  to  north- 
northeast  wind;  only  one  sled  from  the  cape. 

February  12:  Clear,  calm,  cold;  — 17°  to  — 27°. 

February  13:  Ditto;  everything. 

February  14:  Medium  strong  north  to  northwest  wind,  partly  over¬ 
cast;  —  14°  to— 21.° 

February  15:  Overcast,  clearing  in  the  evening.  Light  north  wind; 
_ 21°. 

February  16:  Clear,  with  medium  northeast  wind;  — 21°  to  — 31°. 

February  17 :  Clear,  calm,  cold;  — 24°  to  — 33°. 

February  18:  Clear,  calm,  and  cold;  — 26°  to  — 34.°  Four  sleds 
arrived  from  Kotzebue  Sound  with  orders  and  letters  from  Lieuten¬ 
ant  Jarvis,  dated  up  to  February  11.  Some  trading  was  done  with 
them. 

February  20:  Clear,  with  light  east  wind.  Akla,  one  of  the  most 
promising  schoolboys,  died  in  the  morning.  He  was  buried  in  a  cof¬ 
fin  with  his  Bible. 

February  21 :  Clear,  with  light  northeast  wind.  An  old  woman  died 
in  the  village  in  the  morning.  Mary  had  arrived  for  her  goods  and 
prepared  to  leave  in  the  morning. 

February  22:  Overcast,  with  strong  east  wind  and  snowing  all  day. 

February  23:  Overcast,  mild  and  calm  in  the  forenoon;  clearing 
up,  with  a  north  wind  and  colder  in  the  evening.  Mary  left  in  the 
morning. 

February  24:  Overcast,  with  strong  north  to  northeast  wind;  cold, 
-18°  to  —20°. 

February  25:  Overcast,  with  strong  southeast  wind;  —18°  to  —24°. 

February  26:  Cloudy,  with  light  east  wind  and  snowing;  milder. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  77 


February  27 :  Clearing  in  the  forenoon;  —15°.  Three  sleds  arrived 
from  the  cape  with  letters  from  Mrs.  Lopp  and  news  from  the  expe¬ 
dition. 

February  28:  Overcast,  with  strong  southeast  wind  and  drifting; 
mild. 

March  1:  Overcast,  with  a  gale  from  south-southeast  all  night  and 
day. 

March  2 :  Clear  and  calm  until  evening,  when  a  heavy  gust  of  wind 
from  southeast,  lasting  two  hours,  enlivened  things. 

March  3:  Calm  and  nearly  clear;  very  fine  day. 

March  4:  Calm,  cloudy,  mild;  +27°  to  +  36°. 

March  5:  Overcast,  with  light  north  wind;  a  little  snow. 

March  6:  Overcast,  with  a  gale  from  north-northeast ;  drifting;  cold. 

March  7 :  Cloudy,  with  a  very  strong  gale  from  north-northeast  dur¬ 
ing  the  night;  drifting. 

March  8:  Cloudy,  with  a  very  strong  north-northeast  wind  t  wenty- 
four  hours. 

March  9:  Cloudy  and  snowing ;  a  gale  from  the  north.  Blizzard. 

March  10:  Clearing  in  the  evening,  with  a  strong  north  wind. 

March  11:  Clear,  with  a  gale  from  the  northeast  night  and  day; 
drifting  badly.  Wocksock  came  in  from  the  herd,  reporting  all  well. 
Letters  arrived  from  Mrs.  Lopp. 

March  12:  Clear  in  the  morning;  clouding  over,  with  a  northeast 
gale  in  the  evening.  Wocksock  and  son  left  for  the  herd. 

March  13 :  Clear,  with  a  light  northwest  wind  in  the  forenoon ;  a  gale 
in  the  afternoon. 

March  14:  Overcast,  with  strong  northeast  wind.  A  trader  from 
Mr.  J.  Dexter  visits  in  the  village. 

March  15:  Snowing,  with  strong  north  to  north-nortlieast  wind. 

March  16:  Snowing,  with  a  medium  strong  south  wind  all  day. 

March  17 :  Calm  and  snowing. 

March  18:  Overcast;  light  westerly  winds. 

March  19:  Overcast,  with  strong  east  wind.  Sekeoglook  came  in 
for  seal.  Tautook’s  wife  and  brother  went  out  to  the  herd  to  stay 
during  fawning  season. 

March  20:  Cloudy,  snowing,  mild,  calm. 

March  21:  Partly  overcast,  mild,  calm. 

March  22:  Cloudy,  calm,  mild.  At  6  p.  m.  Dexter,  with  two  men 
and  two  sleds,  arrived  on  a  trading  expedition. 

March  23:  Overcast,  with  a  strong  southeast  wind  in  the  afternoon 
and  night;  drifting  badly.  Letters  arrived  from  Mrs.  Lopp. 

March  24:  Overcast  in  the  forenoon;  clear  in  the  afternoon,  calm 
and  mild. 

March  25:  Partly  overcast,  calm  and  mild.  Netaxite  left  for  the 
cape  in  the  morning,  and  Dexter  left  about  10  a.  m. 

March  26:  Overcast  and  mild,  with  a  very  strong  southeast  wind. 

March  27 :  Overcast,  with  strong  southeast  wind  in  the  night ;  abating. 


78  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


March  28:  Overcast,  calm,  mild. 

March  29:  Overcast,  snowing  and  blowing  from  the  north  in  the 
afternoon. 

March  30:  Overcast,  strong  northwest  wind;  drifting  badly. 

March  31:  Clear  and  calm  in  the  forenoon;  strong  north  wind  in 
the  afternoon.  Letters  arrived  from  Mrs.  Lopp. 

April  1 :  Clear  and  cold,  with  a  medium  strong  north  wind. 

April  2 :  Clear,  with  a  strong  north  wind  all  night  and  day. 

April  3 :  Partly  overcast,  strong  north  wind ;  drifting. 

April  4:  Fair  and  calm,  with  a  light  snow  during  the  night. 

April  5:  Partly  overcast,  with  strong  north  wind.  Sekeoglook  and 
wife  and  Tautook  and  wife  came  in  from  the  camp  for  provisions, 
reporting  all  well. 

April  6 :  Clear,  with  strong  north  wind,  and  drifting.  Sekeoglook 
and  party  left  for  the  camp  at  noon.  Two  male  deer  were  reported 
dead — one  of  Tautook’s  and  one  of  Sekeoglook’s.  Internal  disease 
was  the  cause. 

April  7:  Clear  and  nearly  calm.  The  flour  supply  is  just  enough 
for  the  herders.  The  scarcity  of  food  makes  the  demand  for  flour 
and  biscuits  great. 

April  8 :  Clear,  with  light  east  wind. 

April  9 :  Clear  and  calm ;  several  sleds  arrived  from  the  cape,  and 
letters  from  Mrs.  Lopp. 

April  10:  Clear  and  calm. 

April  11 :  Clear,  with  a  light  southeast  wind  in  the  afternoon. 

April  12 :  Clear,  with  a  strong  north-northeast  wind  at  sunset. 

April  13:  Clear,  with  very  strong  northeast  wind  all  night  and  day; 
drifting  badly.  Soqueena  arrived  from  the  cape  for  supplies  at  4.30 
p.  m.,  making  the  trip  after  7  a.  m.  News  of  the  expedition  was 
listened  to. 

April  14:  Overcast  in  the  afternoon,  with  a  strong  northeast  wind 
in  the  forenoon.  In  the  evening  southeast  wind  and  clear.  Soqueena 
left  at  5  a.  m. 

April  15 :  Clear,  fine  day,  with  a  strong  northeast  wind  in  the  after¬ 
noon.  At  noon  Wocksock  arrived  Avith  4  deer  for  oil  and  seal.  He 
had  left  with  5  deer,  but  had  been  attacked  by  dogs,  and  1  was  chased 
away,  caught  in  the  halter,  and  strangled.  The  deer  was  his  own.  Two 
fawns  born. 

April  16 :  Overcast,  with  a  light  snow  in  the  afternoon. 

April  17 :  Overcast  and  calm,  with  a  trace  of  snow. 

April  18:  Ditto. 

April  19 :  Overcast  and  snowing  in  the  afternoon ;  light  east  to  south¬ 
east  wind.  A  sled  arrived  from  Golovin  Bay. 

April  20:  Partly  overcast,  with  strong  variable  winds. 

April  21:  Clear  in  the  forenoon;  overcast  in  the  afternoon;  calm. 
Some  sleds  came  in  from  the  lakes. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  79 


April  22:  Clear,  with  medium  strong  northwest  wind. 

April  23:  Clear  and  calm.  A  sled  arrived  from  up  the  coast.  A 
young  man  died  in  Nook. 

April  24:  Snowing  all  day.  The  toothache  pre vails. 

April  25:  Overcast  and  calm. 

April  26:  Light  clouds.  Light  north-northeast  wind.  Cold.  The 
kitchen  pipe  was  bandaged. 

April  27 :  Partly  overcast,  with  a  very  strong  north-northeast  wind 
in  the  afternoon ;  drifting  badly. 

April  28 :  Clear,  with  strong  northeast  wind  in  the  afternoon ;  drift¬ 
ing  badly.  Sekeoglook  came  in  late  last  night  and  left  this  morning. 
He  reports  many  fawns  born  and  2  dead. 

April  29:  Clear,  with  a  strong  northeast  wind;  cold. 

April  30:  Clear;  strong  north-northeast  wind  during  the  night  and 
forenoon;  calm  in  the  afternoon;  — 5°. 

May  1:  Bright  and  calm,  but  cold;  — 12°  to  +15°. 

May  2:  Overcast,  calm,  cold;  — 8°  to  +20°. 

May  3:  Clear,  with  a  brisk  east  wind  in  the  afternoon.  Wocksock 
came  in  in  the  morning,  reporting  71  fawns  born  and  3  dead.  At  noon 
he  left  for  the  camp.  Brevig  also  went  out  to  the  herd. 

May  4:  Arrived  at  the  camp  in  the  morning,  and  the  day  was  spent 
looking  over  the  herd.  The  deer  were  all  well.  Three  more  fawns 
were  born  while  there. 

May  5:  Calm  and  clear.  About  midnight  Mr.  N.  O.  Hultberg  and 
L>.  Libby  came  into  the  camp  from  a  prospecting  trip.  Gold  had  been 
discovered  and  claims  staked  out.  In  the  morning  they  and  Brevig 
with  Sekeoglook  proceeded  to  the  station,  where  they  arrived  at  8  p.  m. 

May  6:  Clear  and  calm.  The  day  was  spent  in  trading  and  prepar¬ 
ing  for  a  trip  to  Golovin  Bay. 

May  7 :  Clear  and  calm.  Tautook  arrived  here  at  4  p.  m.  from  his 
Point  Barrow  trip  and  reports  all  well  and  that  the  deer  will  not  be 
killed.  He  left  for  the  camp  at  7  p.  m.,  Netaxite  going  with  him. 
Mr.  Libb}7,  N.  O.  Hultberg,  and  Brevig  also  left  for  the  herd  at  the 
same  time,  Brevig  taking  the  mail  from  the  north  to  be  forwarded  to 
Golovin  Bay,  as  there  were  stringent  instructions  that  it  must  reach 
St.  Michael  before  June  22.  Netaxite  brought  the  news  of  Kummuk’s 
drowning. 

May  8:  Clear,  with  a  light  northeast  wind. 

May  9:  Overcast,  with  a  strong  northeast  wind;  drifting  all  day. 

May  10:  Snowstorm,  with  very  strong  northeast  wind. 

May  11 :  The  same  storm,  but  milder.  Mr.  Hultberg’ s  deer  was  found 
dead  in  the  morning.  It  was  brought  into  the  station  and  skinned. 

May  12 :  Storm  continues.  Everything  is  weighed  down  with  snow. 

May  13:  Clear,  with  a  strong  northeast  wind.  Ojello  is  fixing  his 
umiak. 

May  14:  Partly  overcast,  with  a  strong  north  wind;  thawing. 


80  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


May  15:  Clear,  with  a  strong  north  wind.  Antisarlook  returned 
from  Golovin  Bay,  and  a  sled  arrived  from  Mary  for  provisions. 

May  16 :  Clear  and  mild ;  thawing  a  little  in  the  sun.  The  snow  was 
shoveled  from  the  roof.  Th.  Kjellmann  is  sinking  fast. 

May  17:  Overcast  and  mild. 

May  18 :  Overcast,  snowing  and  blowing.  Some- snow  shoveling  was 
done.  Nearly  all  the  natives  have  abandoned  their  winter  houses  and 
are  moving  toward  the  sand  spit. 

May  19 :  Overcast,  with  a  cold  northeast  wind. 

May  20 :  Clear  and  calm ;  a  feint  at  thawing. 

May  21:  Partly  clear;  calm. 

May  22:  Partly  overcast,  with  a  strong  northeast  wind.  Brevig 
and  Sekeoglook  returned  at  10.30  a.  m.,  having  made  the  trip  from  j 
Golovin  Bay  with  dogs  in  five  and  one-half  days,  stopping  eighteen 
hours  at  Charley’s  place. 

May  23:  Clear,  with  a  light  north  wind;  a  faint  endeavor  at  thaw¬ 
ing.  Sekeoglook  and  Ojello  went  out  to  the  herd  in  the  morning. 
Charley’s  sled  also  left  for  home.  A  little  trading  was  done. 

May  24:  Partly  overcast;  thawing  a  little.  Mr.  Lopp’s  dog  team 
and  one  herder  came  down  in  the  morning  and  left  in  the  evening. 
Ojello  also  returned  toward  evening. 

May  25 :  Partly  overcast  and  thawing. 

May  26:  Clear  and  calm;  thawing.  Th.  Kjellmann  seems  to  be 
drawing  near  his  end,  being  unconscious  all  day  and  unable  to  speak. 

May  27:  Overcast,  with  a  strong  northeast  wind  during  the  night.  | 
At  5  p.  m.  Th.  Kjellmann  died,  and  was  washed  and  dressed.  The 
last  days  he  had  taken  no  food,  and  the  last  two  days  he  had  not 
been  able  to  speak. 

May  28:  Clear  and  calm  and  very  warm.  The  water  is  commencing 
to  flow  in  the  rivers.  Tautook  and  Awklahrahook  came  in  early  in 
the  morning.  Tautook  was  kept  at  the  station  to  help  bury  the  old 
man.  Ojello  made  a  coffin.  Three  fawns  were  reported  born  since  I 
visited  the  herd,  making  77  in  all.  No  fish  caught  yet. 

May  29:  Overcast  and  calm;  a  light  rain  in  the  evening. 

May  30:  Calm;  at  times  overcast.  Th.  Kjellmann  was  buried  in 
the  afternoon.  Tautook  left  for  the  herd  late  in  the  evening  with  a 
month’s  provisions. 

May  31:  Overcast  and  calm;  rain  during  the  night. 

June  1:  Overcast  and  calm,  with  a  light  frost.  Ojello  has  fixed  up  | 
his  umiak  in  good  shape.  Only  some  old  women,  young  children,  and 
an  old  man  are  encamped  on  the  beach. 

June  2:  Overcast  and  calm.  Brevig  and  Ojello  went  out  hunting  | 
in  the  evening  and  returned  at  10.30  p.  m.  with  14  birds. 

June  3:  Cloudy,  with  strong  south-southwest  wind  all  night  and 
day;  snowing  in  the  evening. 

June  4:  Cloudy,  with  south-southeast  wind  all  night  and  day. 


i 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  81 


June  5:  Light  clouds;  calm. 

June  6:  Clear,  calm,  nice  day. 

June  7 :  Clear  and  calm.  Brevig  and  Ojello  went  out  hunting  in  the 
morning,  but  Brevig  had  to  return  in  the  afternoon  as  Wocksock’s 
youngest  son  was  sick  and  sent  for  medicines.  The  herd  is  now 
encamped  near  Nook,  on  the  south  side  of  Grantle}7  Harbor. 

June  8:  Clear  and  calm;  a  heavy  fog  in  the  evening  and  night. 
Ojello  and  Neelank  returned  in  the  evening. 

June  9:  Clear,  calm,  warm. 

June  10:  Partly  overcast,  with  light  south  wind,  changing  to  strong 
northeast  in  the  afternoon,  with  a  light  rain.  Packing  all  day. 

June  11:  Light  clouds,  with  light  northeast  winds.  Continued 
packing. 

June  12:  Clear  and  calm;  +87°  in  the  sun. 

June  13:  Clear,  with  light  west  wind.  Sekeoglook  had  come  in 
from  the  herd  during  the  night  and  reports  3  fawns  dead  and  3  born, 
1  of  his  own  a  stillborn  and  2  of  Tautook’s.  Ojello  went  out  hunting. 

June  14 :  Clear,  with  a  gale  from  the  north-northeast  in  the  evening; 
calm  in  the  forenoon;  packing  and  cleaning. 

June  15:  Clear  and  calm;  packing  and  cleaning  up.  Wocksockwas 
in  from  the  herd  and  reports  all  well.  The  ice  is  loose  from  the  shore. 

June  16:  Partly  overcast,  with  fog  at  times.  Cleaning,  clearing, 
packing,  etc.  The  ice  is  moving  around  with  the  tide. 

June  17:  Clear  and  calm.  Nets  were  overhauled;  but  little  ice  in 
sight. 

June  18:  Clear  and  calm;  but  little  snow  left  before  the  house. 
The  ice  is  moving  in  the  bay. 

June  19:  Clear  and  calm. 

June  20:  Clear,  with  a  strong  north -northeast  wind  during  the  day. 
Wocksock,  wife,  son,  and  daughter  came  in  from  the  herd  at  noon 
and  report  all  well.  A  general  clearing  up.  The  ice  has  gone  to  sea; 
only  a  small  floe  is  seen  hugging  the  south  shore. 

June  21:  Partly  overcast;  light  west  wind.  The  ice  has  almost 
vanished. 

June  22:  Partly  overcast,  with  a  very  strong  northeast  wind  in  the 
afternoon.  The  herring  net  was  set  in  the  evening. 

June  23:  Parti}7  overcast,  with  a  very  strong  northeast  wind.  No 
ice  in  sight.  Clearing. 

J  une  24 :  Clear  and  calm.  A  two-masted  schooner  anchored  outside 
the  spit. 

June  25:  Clear,  with  a  light  west  wind.  A  small  sloop,  with  three 
miners  on  board,  came  in  in  the  forenoon  bringing  tidings  from 
Klondike  and  of  the  war  with  Spain. 

June  26:  Clear,  with  light  west  wind.  The  miners  left  at  10  a.  m. 
A  two-masted  steamer  and  a  three-masted  sailing  vessel  anchored  at 
the  anchorage. 

S.  Doc.  34 - 6 


82  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

June  27 :  Clear  and  calm  .  Sekeoglook  came  in  from  the  herd,  report¬ 
ing  all  well  at  the  herd  and  requested  nets.  Wocksock  and  family 
went  out  with  him  in  the  whaleboat.  A  two-masted  steamer  and  a 
brig  anchored  at  the  spit — 5  vessels  in  all. 

June  28 :  Clear  and  calm.  Several  boats  came  in  from  the  anchorage 
with  miners,  some  landing  their  provisions  and  all  going  prospecting. 
Some  news  was  gathered. 

June  29:  Partly  overcast,  with  calms  and  gusts  of  wind.  A  steam 
launch  and  several  boats  went  into  the  lake  region  to  prospect.  The 
TV.  Bciyliss  anchored  at  the  spit.  Many  of  the  miners  booked  for 
Kotzebue  Sound  seem  to  have  settled  on  this  region  to  prospect  in. 

June  30:  Partly  overcast;  calms  and  variable  winds.  Some  50  to  60 
miners  went  into  the  lake  region  to  prospect.  Mrs.  Captain  McGregor 
came  in  from  the  spit  in  a  native  canoe  to  visit  Mrs.  Brevig. 


POINT  BARROW  RELIEF  EXPEDITION. 


REPORT  OF  CAPTAIN  TUTTLE,  REVENUE-CUTTER  SERVICE,  TO  THE 
SECRETARY  OF  THE  TREASURY. 

United  States  Steamer  Bear, 

Seattle ,  Wash.,  September  15,  1898 . 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  arrival  of  the  U.  S.  S.  Bear  at 
Seattle,  Wash.,  at  11  a.  m.  September  13,  1898,  from  Point  Barrow, 
Alaska,  with  the  members  of  the  overland  relief  expedition  and  the 
officers  and  seamen  from  the  wrecked  whalers  Orca,  Jesse  H.  Free¬ 
man,  Rosario ,'  Navarch,  and  schooner  L.  J.  Kenney,  of  Seattle, 
wrecked  at  Point  Hope,  Alaska,  August  19,  1898,  and  I  respectfully 
submit  the  following  report  of  the  movements  of  the  Bear  since  my 
letter  of  June  23,  dated  at  St.  Michael. 

Such  articles  as  Lieutenant  Jarvis  had  mentioned  as  being  indis¬ 
pensable  were,  so  far  as  obtainable,  procured  at  St.  Michael,  and  Rev. 
Father  Barnum,  of  the  Catholic  Mission,  came  on  board  at  that  place 
for  passage  as  my  guest.  Having  information  that  the  mail  was  to  be 
delayed  at  Unalaska  for  an  indefinite  time,  I  concluded  to  start  for 
the  north,  and  left  St.  Michael  at  4.50  p.  m.  July  7. 

On  the  8th  a  short  stop  was  made  at  Kings  Island,  where  the  natives 
were  found  in  good  condition.  From  Kings  Island  proceeded  to  Port 
Clarence,  which  was  reached  at  5.50  a.  m.  July  9.  Four  vessels  of 
the  whaling  fleet  and  three  for  Kotzebue  Sound  that  were  found  at 
anchor  here  were  boarded  and  examined. 

On  the  10th,  while  on  the  way  to  the  watering  place,  a  stop  was 
made  at  the  reindeer  station.  Rev.  Mr.  Brevig  had  given  out  so  much 
of  his  provisions  on  orders  of  the  overland  expedition  that  he  was  now 
short  himself.  I  gave  him  500  pounds  of  flour  and  5  pounds  of  tea, 
credit  for  which  will  be  given  to  his  bill  against  the  overland  expedi¬ 
tion.  From  the  reindeer  station  proceeded  to  the  watering  place  to 
the  south  of  Cape  Riley,  reaching  there  at  11.30  a.  m.  The  boiler  was 
blown  down  and  watering  ship  commenced.  Boiler  was  refilled  and 
fresh-water  tanks  full  on  the  morning  of  the  12th.  Steam  was  raised, 
and  at  2.05  p.  m.  got  under  way  for  Point  Spencer,  anchoring  there  at 
4.25  p.  m. 

During  our  absence  at  the  watering  place  the  steamer  Thrasher, 
from  San  Francisco,  with  supplies  for  the  whalers  in  the  north,  and, 
schooner  Bonanza,  with  supplies  for  H.  Liebes’s  trading  stations  in 

83 


84  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


the  north,  had  arrived.  Mr.  Koltchoff,  who  was  landed  with  the  over¬ 
land  expedition  at  Cape  Vancouver,  came  up  on  the  Thrasher  and 
came  on  board  the  Bear  to  report.  I  had  heard  incidentally  while  at 
St.  Michael  that  Lieutenant  Bertholf,  in  obedience  to  orders  from 
Lieutenant  Jarvis,  had  discharged  Koltchoff  at  St.  Michael  January  1. 
Instead  of  reporting  at  the  reindeer  station  at  Unalaklik,  as  ordered, 
he  had  gone  overland  with  Mr.  Tilton,  who  came  down  from  the 
wrecked  whalers. 

Koltchoff  said  Lieutenant  Bertholf  had  given  him  a  paper — he 
claimed  to  be  ignorant  of  its  contents — which  he  had  given  to  Lieu¬ 
tenant-Colonel  Randall,  IJ.  S.  A.,  commanding  at  Fort  St.  Michael, 
and  that  Lieutenant-Colonel  Randall,  with  Mr.  Shepherd,  agent  of  the 
North  American  Trading  and  Transportation  Company  at  Fort  Get 
There,  had  sent  him  to  assist  Mr.  Tilton  to  carry  out  the  mail.  I 
told  Mr.  Koltchoff  that  he  had  better  go  to  the  Port  Clarence  Reindeer 
Station  and  await  the  arrival  of  Dr.  Jackson,  who  was  daily  expected. 

On  the  Bonanza  were  the  two  natives  of  Point  Hope  who  had  ac¬ 
companied  Mr.  Tilton  from  Point  Hope  to  San  Francisco.  H.  Liebes 
&  Co.  had  provided  for  them  after  their  arrival  at  San  Francisco  and 
sent  them  back  on  the  schooner  Bonanza.  As  the  ice  might  prevent 
the  Bonanza  from  getting  to  Point  Hope  for  some  time,  transporta¬ 
tion  was  given  them  on  the  Bear. 

At  11.30  p.  m.,  July  12,  got  under  way  and  stood  for  Cape  Prince  of 
Wales.  Anchor  was  let  go  off  the  cape  at  5.15  a.  m.,  July  13.  Rev. 

Mr.  Lopp  and  natives  came  on  board.  Delivered  to  them  such  arti¬ 
cles  as  we  had  been  able  to  procure  at  St.  Michael.  An  account  of 
all  articles  purchased  or  delivered  from  the  ship’s  stores,  also  of  what 
is  now  due  to  people  in  the  north  on  account  of  services  rendered  the 
overland  expedition,  is  being  prepared  by  Lieutenant  Jarvis.  It  can 
not  be  finished  until  Lieutenant  Jarvis  confers  with  II.  Liebes  &  Co. 
at  San  Francisco  in  regard  to  prices.  The  Liebes  &  Co.  agent  at 
Point  Barrow  had  instructions  not  to  set  any  prices.  That  would  be 
done  at  San  Francisco  when  his  account  of  expenditures  to  the  ship¬ 
wrecked  men  reached  the  office. 

At  9.10  a.  in.,  July  13,  got  underway  and  stood  into  Bering  Straits. 

At  noon  stood  to  the  eastward  for  Kotzebue  Sound,  which  place  was 
reached  and  an  anchorage  made  off  Cape  Blossom  at  2.20  p.  m.  Three 
barks  at  the  anchorage  were  boarded  and  examined.  They  were 
loaded  with  prospectors  and  their  supplies  bound  for  the  rivers  flow-  j 
ing  into  Hotham  Inlet.  A  native  presented  an  order  from  Lieutenant 
Jarvis,  which  was  filled.  I  could  not  learn  that  there  were  any  more 
natives  on  board  who  had  orders,  but  heard  some  ashore  had  them. 

As  it  was  about  10  miles  to  the  village,  I  could  not  wait  for  them  to 
come  off.  At  6.20  p.  m.  got  under  way  and  stood  for  Point  Hope.  At 
6.20  p.  m.,  July  15,  anchored  off  Nelson’s  trading  station,  between 
Cape  Thompson  and  Point  Hope.  Lieutenant  Bertholf  reported  on 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  85 


board.  He  had  made  Nelson’s  house  his  headquarters  since  his 
arrival  at  the  station.  The  two  natives  brought  from  Port  Clarence 
were  also  landed  here.  Lieutenant  Bertholf  had  carried  out  his 
instructions  in  a  manner  which  met  my  entire  approbation.  In  addi¬ 
tion  to  caring  for  the  strayed  deer,  he  had  destroyed  the  stills  used 
by  the  natives  in  manufacturing  liquor,  and  his  presence  prevented 
any  of  the  white  residents  from  entering  into  the  manufacture  of  it. 

At  9.05  a.  m.,  July  16,  got  under  way  and  steamed  for  Point  Hope, 
and  at  11.05  a.  m.  anchored  off  the  village.  Communicated  with  Rev. 
Dr.  Briggs,  in  charge  of  Episcopal  mission.  No  whales  having  been 
taken  during  the  spring  whaling,  the  natives  would  be  very  short  of 
food  during  the  coming  winter,  and  nearly  all  of  them  had  gone  down 
the  coast  to  endeavor  to  catch  a  supply  of  salmon  for  winter  use.  At 
4.25  p.  m.  steamed  to  the  Liebes  station  and  anchored  for  the  night. 

At  9.45  a.  m.,  July  17,  steamed  to  Nelson’s  station.  Took  on  board 
a  native  who  asked  to  be  taken  to  Point  Barrow.  At  1.35  p.  m. 
steamed  to  northward  around  Point  Hope.  At  11.16  p.  m.  passed 
Cape  Lisburne  and  sighted  the  first  drift  ice  seen  in  the  Arctic.  Laid 
course  to  make  the  land  between  Point  Lay  and  Cape  Beaufort  in 
order  to  meet  any  boats  Lieutenant  Jarvis  might  have  sent  from 
Point  Barrow.  At  2  p.  in.,  July  18,  made  land  to  southward  of  Point 
Lay.  Steamed  along  the  land  in  sight  of  the  beach,  keeping  a  good 
lookout  for  signals  or  boat.  At  4.20  p.  m.  anchored  off  a  native  vil¬ 
lage  to  southward  of  Point  Lay.  Natives  came  onboard  and  reported 
no  white  men  had  passed  by. 

At  2.15  a.  m.,  July  19,  under  way  to  northward.  At  6  a.  m.  sighted 
a  native  boat  coming  off  the  ice.  It  came  alongside  at  6.30.  It  con¬ 
tained  a  party  from  Point  Barrow,  sent  by  Lieutenant  Jarvis,  in 
charge  of  Capt.  A.  C.  Sherman  of  the  wrecked  steamer  Orca.  The 
party  was  taken  on  board  with  their  boat  and  the  vessel  proceeded  to 
within  5  miles  of  Icy  Cape  where  we  come  to  anchor  at  2.35  p.  m.  on 
account  of  heavy  ice  ahead. 

Lieutenant  Jarvis  informed  me  that  the  schooner  Rosario  had  been 
crushed  by  the  ice  on  July  2;  crew  all  saved.  His  last  information 
from  the  vessels  to  the  eastward  of  Point  Barrow  was  on  June  19.  At 
that  time  they  were  all  right.  The  Belvedere  was  all  right  on  July 
10,  but  short  of  provisions,  and  Lieutenant  Jarvis  hoped  I  could  get 
some  to  her  where  she  lay,  at  the  Sea  Horse  Islands,  some  80  miles 
from  Icy  Cape.  The  men  at  Point  Barrow  were  all  right  with  provi¬ 
sions  to  last  until  August  15.  If  the  Bear  did  not  arrive  by  August  1, 
he  thought  it  best  to  start  some  of  them  down  the  coast  to  meet  the 
vessel. 

At  4.35  a.  m.  July  20,  made  an  attempt  to  get  through  the  ice  to  the 
northwestward.  Worked  until  2.20  p.  m.,  when  the  attempt  was 
given  up.  Stood  to  the  southward  until  10  p.  m.  before  getting  clear 
of  the  ice.  At  11.40  p.  m.  anchored  to  the  southward  of  Point  Lay. 


86  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

On  the  21st  fresli  northerly  winds  and  drift  ice  outside  of  ns  kept  us 
at  anchor  throughout  the  day.  At  8.30  a.  m.,  July  22,  worked  through 
drift  ice  to  Icy  Cape,  anchoring  there  at  12.55  p.  m.  Ice  still  heavy 
to  northward  and  westward.  On  July  23  there  appearing  to  he  little 
or  no  change  in  the  ice,  concluded  to  send  Lieutenant  Hamlet  in  the 
native  boat  to  carry  provisions  to  the  Belvedere  and  then  to  proceed 
to  Point  Barrow  and  communicate  with  Lieutenant  Jarvis.  At  9.55 
a.  in.  Lieutenant  Hamlet  started  with  400  pounds  flour,  96  pounds 
corned  beef,  85  pounds  beans  for  the  Belvedere  and  some  small  stores 
for  Lieutenant  Jarvis. 

Remained  at  anchor  off  Icy  Cape  until  July  26,  the  ice  frequently 
compelling  us  to  shift  anchorage  to  keep  clear.  At  4.25  a.  m.,  July 
26,  the  ice  appearing  to  have  opened,  stood  around  Blossom  Shoals 
and  at  noon  laid  course  for  Point  Belcher.  At  6.20  p.  m.  a  dense  fog 
setting  in  and  the  water  shoaling,  came  to  anchor.  At  11  p.  m.,  the 
fog  lifting,  found  we  were  off  Wainwright  Inlet.  Got  under  way  and 
stood  along  the  coast,  blowing  at  intervals.  At  2.55  a.  m . ,  July  27, 
off  Point  Belcher,  went  behind  the  ground  ice  and  anchored  to  await 
the  drifting  by  of  the  floe  ice.  At  6.40  p.  m.,  the  ice  looking  more 
favorable,  stood  for  Point  Barrow,  outside  of  the  ground  ice.  We 
passed  through  fields  of  heavy  ice  until  11  p.  m.,  then  found  compar¬ 
atively  open  water.  Saw  the  Belvedere  in  Pearl  Bay.  The  ice  would 
not  allow  us  to  approach  nearer  than  about  10  miles  of  her,  therefore 
did  not  stop.  At  5  a.  m.,  July  28,  sighted  relief  station  at  Point  Bar- 
row.  Heavy  ground  ice,  with  open  water  inside,  extended  from  Point 
Shedden  to  Point  Barrow.  There  being  no  opening  through  it,  at  8 
a.  m.  made  fast  on  the  outside  at  a  point  about  a  mile  to  the  south¬ 
ward  of  the  station,  the  Bear  being  the  first  vessel  to  arrive  this 
season. 

Lieutenant  Jarvis  and  a  large  party  came  across  the  ice  to  the  ves¬ 
sel.  He  had  issued  rations  to  the  wrecked  men  until  July  30.  As 
we  were  not  entirety  prepared  to  receive  such  a  large  party,  I  directed 
most  of  them  to  remain  where  they  were  ashore  until  the  rations  were 
consumed.  Twenty-six  could  be  immediately  provided  for,  and  they 
came  on  board. 

On  the  29th  the  steam  whaler  Jeannette  arrived  and  made  fast  to 
the  ice  to  the  •southward  of  us.  The  steamers  Fearless  and  Newport 
appeared  to  the  eastward  of  Point  Barrow,  but  could  not  get  around 
the  point  on  account  of  the  ice.  Received  news  from  the  Newport  that 
she  was  leaking  badly  and  needed  oakum,  spikes,  and  nails  to  make 
repairs.  These  articles  were  furnished  immediately.  Nothing  was 
heard  of  the  Jeanie ,  still  to  the  eastward.  If  it  had  been  known  she 
was  out  of  danger,  the  wrecked  men  could  have  been  taken  on  board 
and  the  Bear  could  have  started  on  the  return  trip  at  once.  As  it 
was,  I  thought  it  would  not  be  prudent  to  leave  until  I  was  assured  of 
her  safety.  On  July  30,  66  more  of  the  shipwrecked  men  came  on 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  87 


board,  increasing  tlie  number  to  97.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  30th 
there  were  large  pieces  of  ice  drifting  along  with  the  current.  Fear¬ 
ing  they  might  strike  the  vessel  and  part  the  mooring  lines,  got  under 
way  and  steamed  into  an  indentation  in  the  ground  ice,  where  the 
steamer  Jeannette  was  made  fast.  A  suitable  place  was  found  and 
the  vessel  moored  to  ground  ice.  On  the  30th  Lieutenant  Hamlet 
arrived.  He  had  delivered  the  supplies  to  the  Belvedere  and  reported 
that  as  soon  as  a  southwest  wind  came  to  clear  away  the  ice  she 
would  start  for  Port  Clarence  for  coal.  The  vessel  was  in  good 
condition. 

On  the  1st  and  2d  loose  ice  kept  drifting  in  and  packed  around  the 
vessel  where  she  lay  in  the  indentation  in  the  ice.  As  there  was 
only  a  trifling  pressure,  no  danger  was  anticipated. 

At  2  p.  m.,  August  3,  came  a  sudden  pressure  of  the  ice;  the  four 
forward  fasts  were  carried  away  and  the  vessel  was  forced  astern 
about  5  feet.  The  pressure  then  coming  against  the  starboard  side, 
forced  the  port  side  against  the  grounded  ice.  A  point  of  ice  under 
water  abreast  the  engine  room,  the  weakest  place  in  the  vessel,  as 
there  are  no  athwartsliip  timbers  there,  forced  the  port  side  in  suffi¬ 
ciently  to  buckle  the  engine  room  floor  plates.  Men  were  immedi¬ 
ately  sent  with  ice  chisels  and  the  ice  cut  away.  As  soon  as  the  ice 
was  removed  the  pressure  at  that  point  ceased  and  the  floor  plates 
dropped  back  into  place.  The  after  section  of  the  rudder  was  sprung 
about  an  eighth  of  an  inch.  The  ice  was  cut  from  around  the  rudder 
and  the  pressure  on  that  removed.  So  far  as  can  be  seen  (while  the 
vessel  is  in  the  water)  no  material  damage  was  done  by  the  nip.  A 
vessel  less  strongly  constructed  would  have  been  crushed  at  once. 
When  the  Weather  cleared  up,  it  could  be  seen  that  the  pack  had 
swung  in  upon  the  ground  ice.  Being  in  the  indentation  was  the  only 
thing  that  saved  the  Jeannette  and  Bear.  Knowing  that  if  a  south¬ 
west  gale  sprung  up  the  pack  would  again  move  and  nothing  could 
save  the  vessel,  I  had  a  large  quantity  of  provisions  brought  on  deck 
-and  placed  so  they  could  readily  be  passed  to  the  ground  ice  in  the 
event  of  another  nip.  The  ship’s  papers  and  books  were  also  packed 
ready  for  removal.  From  the  3d  until  the  14tli  of  August  we  remained 
in  suspense.  On  the  morning  of  the  3d  the  Jeanie  came  in  sight  to 
the  eastward  of  Point  Barrow.  During  the  forenoon  the  Jeanie , 
Fearless ,  and  Newport  got  around  Point  Barrow  and  came  down  inside 
the  ground  ice  to  abreast  where  we  were.  These  vessels  were  all  short 
of  provisions— the  Newport  and  Fearless  short  of  coal.  They  were 
supplied  with  such  quantities  of  these  as  could  be  spared  from  the 
Bear.  Bills  for  the  same  have  already  been  sent  to  their  owmers. 
Several  days  were  spent  dragging  the  articles  over  very  rough  ice  on 
sleds. 

On  the  5th,  391  reindeer  were  transferred  to  Dr.  Marsh,  Government 
school-teacher,  who  also  represented  the  Presbyterian  Mission.  As 


88  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

lie  was  without  provisions  to  maintain  the  herders,  and  the  camp 
equipage  being  worn  out,  no  provision  having  been  made  for  their 
support  by  the  mission,  the  following  articles  were  given  from  the 
ship’s  stores:  1,000  primers,  100  cartridges  (.45-  70),  12^  pounds  pow¬ 
der,  2  brooms,  50  pounds  soap,  2  axes,  1  shovel,  a  box  copper  rivets, 
1  tent,  1  camp  stove,  200  pounds  pork,  36  pounds  coffee,  176  pounds 
beans,  and  140  pounds  sugar. 

On  the  7tli  an  attempt  was  made  to  blast  a  channel  through  the 
ground  ice  to  the  clear  water  inside.  After  expending  150  pounds  of 
powder  (100  pounds  borrowed  from  the  Newport ),  the  attempt  was 
given  up.  The  effect  upon  the  ice,  which  averaged  30  feet  in  thickness, 
was  so  slight  that  sufficient  powder  could  not  be  procured  to  blast  out 
a  channel.  While  the  blasting  was  going  on,  Captain  McKenna,  of 
the  Fearless ,  got  his  vessel  under  way  and  endeavored  to  help  by  ram¬ 
ming  the  ice.  Ilis  efforts  were,  however,  useless. 

On  the  14th  the  ice  off  shore  commenced  to  move  rapidly  to  the 
northward.  On  the  morning  of  the  15th  commenced  using  small 
blasts  of  powder  to  remove  spur  pieces  0f  ice  near  the  ship.  During 
the  morning  a  lead  broke  through  the  ground  ice  to  the  south  of  us. 
In  the  afternoon  the  ice  off  shore  commenced  to  disappear,  and  the 
pressure  on  the  vessel  diminished  considerably.  There  was  still  sev¬ 
eral  hundred  yards  of  heavily  packed  ice  between  us  and  clear  water. 
A  strong  northeast  wind  coming  up,  all  sail  was  made  and  thrown 
aback  to  help  press  the  vessel  off.  At  6.15  p.  m.  the  Fearless  and 
Newport  got  under  way,  steamed  out  through  the  lead,  and  came  down 
abreast  of  us  with  the  intention  of  pulling  out  the  pieces  of  ice  until 
we  got  free.  Just  as  they  were  commencing  a  dense  fog  came  up  and 
large  quantities  of  heavy  drift  ice  commenced  to  come  in,  obliging 
them  to  stop  and  seek  shelter  from,  the  ice. 

The  morning  of  the  16th  the  fog  lifted,  showing  clear  water  about 
250  yards  distant,  and  blasting  was  commenced  to  clear  away  the  ice. 
Lieutenant  Jarvis  and  Dr.  Call  came  on  board  with  the  part  of  the 
Belvedere’s  crew  that  had  been  at  the  station.  At  7.25  the  Jeannette 
was  clear  of  the  ice  and  steamed  to  the  south.  I  was  surprised  to  see 
her  leave  without  offering  to  assist  us.  I  afterwards  learned  from 
Captain  Newth  that  he  was  ill  in  his  bunk  at  the  time.  When 
informed  that  the  Jeannette  was  clear,  he  had  asked  the  mate  about 
the  Bear  and  had  been  told  by  him  that  she  would  be  clear  in  fifteen 
minutes.  Under  these  circumstances  he  told  the  mate  to  take  the 
Jeannette  to  a  safe  place. 

The  Newport  was  at  anchor  off  Wallapi,  8  miles  distant.  When  at 
10  o’clock  Captain  Leavit  saw  that  the  Bear  had  not  moved,  he  got  his 
vessel  under  way  to  come  to  our  assistance.  He  arrived  in  time  to 
make  fast  to  one  piece  of  ice,  and  when  that  was  out  of  the  way  the 
Bear  was  free,  and  steamed  to  an  anchorage  off  Refuge  Inlet,  which 
was  reached  at  1.55  p.  m.  Here  the  Fearless  came  alongside  and  was 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


89 


given  15  tons  of  coal.  Captain  Newth,  of  the  Jeannette ,  being  too  ill 
to  continue  with  his  vessel,  was  taken  on  board  for  passage  home. 
Mr.  C.  D.  Brower,  Liebes’s  agent  at  Point  Barrow,  desiring  to  accom¬ 
pany  Lieutenant  Jarvis  to  San  Francisco  to  satisfactorily  adjust  the 
claims  on  account  of  the  shipwrecked  men,  was  also  given  passage. 
The  deer  herders  who  accompanied  Mr.  Lopp  were  also  given  passage 
to  their  homes.  The  Fearless  having  been  north  several  years,  some 
of  her  crew  desired  to  exchange  with  the  shipwrecked  men  who  were 
willing  to  remain.  This  they  were  allowed  to  do. 

At  9.25  a.  m.  August  17  got  under  way  and  stood  toward  Sea  Horse 
Islands.  Fog  set  in  and  much  drift  ice  was  met.  At  4  p.  in.  stood  to 
south  to  make  the  land.  At  7  the  fog  lifted  and  at  7.06  sighted  the 
whaling  fleet  at  anchor  to  the  eastward  of  Sea  Horse  Islands.  At 
8.55  anchored  near  the  fleet,  consisting  of  the  Alexander ,  Belvedere , 
Bowhead ,  Karluk ,  William  Bayliss ,  Fearless ,  and  Newport.  The  men 
of  the  crew  of  the  Belvedere  brought  by  us  from  Point  Barrow  were  put 
on  board  their  vessel.  Six  of  the  shipwrecked  men  left  to  join  whal¬ 
ing  vessels.  The  Bear  remained  to  give  the  people  on  the  ships  an 
opportunity  to  prepare  mail.  On  the  morning  of  the  18th  two  sick 
seamen  were  received  from  the  Belvedere  for  transportation  to  a  hos¬ 
pital.  At  12.10  p.  m.  got  under  way  and  stood  to  westward.  At 
12.40  anchored  near  schooner  Bonanza ,  supply  vessel  for  Mr.  C.  D. 
Brower’s  station.  Finding  there  was  an  ample  supply  of  potatoes  on 
the  schooner,  and  the  supply  on  the  Bear  being  exhausted,  I  pur¬ 
chased  25  boxes  for  the  crew  and  shipwrecked  men.  They  will  be 
included  in  H.  Liebes’s  bill.  At  1.55  got  under  way  and  stood  for 
Blossom  Shoals.  At  7  a.  m.,  being  around  the  shoals,  laid  course  for 
Point  Hope,  which  was  reached  at  8.30  a.  m.  the  20th.  Communicated 
with  the  shore  and  learned  that  on  the  previous  day  the  schooner 
Louise  J.  Kenney ,  of  Seattle,  was  in  a  dangerous  position  in  the 
breakers  near  Cooper’s  Station,  8  miles  east  of  Point  Hope.  Started 
immediately  for  the  place.  Upon  arrival  there  found  the  vessel 
broadside  on  the  beach  and  in  a  position  where  the  Bear  could  be  of 
no  assistance  on  account  of  shoal  water.  The  master  of  the  vessel 
came  on  board  and  said  the  vessel  was  full  of  water  and  the  cargo 
ruined.  He  requested  passage  for  himself  and  crew  to  Seattle.  Boats 
were  lowered  and  sent  ashore  for  them  and  their  effects.  A  nasty 
surf  was  running  and  it  was  with  considerable  difficulty  that  they  were 
taken  off.  Two  natives  came  on  board  with  a  communication  from 
Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson,  addressed  to  whoever  had  charge  of  the  reindeer 
at  or  near  Point  Hope,  directing  that  the  deer  be  turned  over  to  the 
two  natives,  who  were  Government  herders.  Got  under  way  and 
steamed  to  Nelson’s  Whaling  Station.  Lieutenant  Bertholf  went 
ashore  and  directed  that  the  deer  be  delivered  according  to  Dr.  Jack¬ 
son’s  request.  The  three  herders  who  had  been  in  charge  of  the  deer 
were  taken  on  board  for  transportation  to  their  homes. 


DO  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

The  master  of  the  wrecked  schooner  informed  me  that  the  year’s 
supplies  for  the  three  missionaries  at  Cape  Blossom,  Kotzebue  Sound, 
were  lost  with  the  rest  of  the  cargo  of  the  vessel.  As  they  could  not 
live  through  the  winter  without  supplies,  I  deemed  it  my  duty  to  call 
at  Cape  Blossom  to  inform  them  of  their  loss  and  offer  them  a  passage 
to  St.  Michael  or  elsewhere.  Accordingly,  the  vessel  was  headed  for 
Cape  Blossom,  which  place  was  reached  at  12.20  p.  m.  of  the  21st. 
Lieutenant  Bertholf,  knowing  where  the  mission  was  situated,  was 
sent  ashore  to  proffer  aid  to  them.  The  barks  Haydn  Brown  and 
Northern  Light  were  at  anchor  off  the  cape.  Captain  Whitesides,  of 
the  Northern  Light ,  informed  me  that  he  was  waiting  for  passengers, 
and  had  nearly  the  full  number  engaged.  That  the  Kotzebue  Sound 
gold  rush  was  a  failure.  He  had  been  in  the  sound  a  couple  of  months 
and  had  not  heard  of  any  gold  strikes.  He  estimated  that  at  least 
three-quarters  of  the  2,000  people  who  were  there,  many  of  them  with 
two  years’  provisions,  would  return.  There  were  five  barks  at  the 
southern  end  of  Kotzebue  Sound,  taking  in  ballast  preparatory  to 
taking  passengers  from  Cape  Blossom.  In  that  case  there  will  be  no 
lack  of  transportation  for  those  who  desire  to  return. 

The  schooner  Etna ,  of  San  Francisco,  having  lost  her  anchor,  was 
loaned  a  500-pound  kedge,  the  owners  at  San  Francisco  to  replace  it 
on  board  the  Bear  upon  her  arrival.  At  11.45  p.  m.  Lieutenant  Bert¬ 
holf  returned  on  board.  The  missionaries,  having  obtained  supplies 
from  returning  miners,  were  going  to  remain  at  their  station  during 
the  winter.  Some  articles  needed  by  Lieutenant  Jarvis  to  pay  off 
natives  at  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  for  services  in  the  overland  expedi¬ 
tion  were  purchased  from  Captain  Whitesides,  of  the  bark  Northern 
Light.  Lieutenant  Bertholf  reported  that  he  had  met  a  number  of 
men  ashore  who  claimed  to  be  stranded  miners,  and  who  wished  a 
passage  on  the  Bear.  As  the  vessel  was  already  overcrowded  and 
there  were  other  means  of  transportation  at  hand,  their  request  could 
not  be  granted. 

At  1.20  a.  m.,  22d,  under  way  for  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  which  was 
reached  at  10  p.  m.  same  day.  Rev.  W.  T.  Lopp  came  on  board  to 
settle  accounts  of  the  reindeer  portion  of  the  overland  expedition. 
Mr.  Lopp  said  that  by  the  terms  of  the  agreement  with  Lieutenant 
Jarvis  the  Treasury  Department  was  responsible  for  the  return  of  the 
reindeer  he  drove  to  Point  Barrow.  If  Lieutenant  Jarvis  had  not 
made  the  agreement  he  would  not  have  given  up  the  deer  or  gone  with 
them.  Without  the  reindeer  and  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Lopp  the  relief 
expedition  would  have  gone  no  farther;  so  Lieutenant  Jarvis  was 
obliged  to  accept  the  terms. 

As  but  156  deer  had  been  returned  to  him  by  the  Interior  Depart¬ 
ment  agent,  and  there  was  no  prospect  of  receiving  any  more  from 
that  source,  he  requested  that  the  deer  remaining  at  Point  Barrow 
and  Point  Hope  be  returned  to  him  and  Charlie  Antisarlook — 220 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  91 

head — being  due  Charlie.  The  captain  of  a  whaling  steamer  that  was 
to  leave  in  a  few  days  for  Point  Barrow  had  agreed  to  carry  Mr.  Lopp’s 
herders  to  Point  Barrow.  I  accordingly  sent  directions  to  Dr.  Marsh 
to  turn  over  the  herd  to  Mr.  Lopp’s  herders,  who  will  start  them  south 
as  soon  as  the  weather  is  favorable.  Mr.  Lopp  expects  to  be  reim¬ 
bursed  for  the  expense  of  driving  the  deer  back  to  his  mission.  The 
herders  at  Point  Hope  were  sent  orders  similar  to  those  sent  to  Dr. 
Marsh. 

At  6.45  a.  m. ,  23d,  got  under  way  for  Port  Clarence,  which  was  reached 
at  1  p.  m.  Found  steamers  Jeanie,  Newport ,  and  Thrasher  and  bark 
J.  D.  Peters  anchored  in  the  bay.  Captain  Sherman,  of  the  wrecked 
whaler  Orca,  came  on  board  from  the  Newport  for  passage  down ;  also 
Antone  Roderick,  from  the  Newport.  At  9.25  got  under  way  for  St. 
Michael.  On  the  way  a  call  was  made  at  Kings  Island  and  at  Point 
Rodney  to  land  Charlie  Antisarlook.  St.  Michael  was  reached  at 
3.45  a.  m.  on  the  25th.  The  vessels  in  port  were  boarded  and  exam¬ 
ined.  Lieutenant  Jarvis  and  Lieutenant  Bertliolf  went  ashore  to 
arrange  the  bills  owed  by  the  overland  expedition  to  the  North  Ameri¬ 
can  Trading  and  Transportation  Company  and  the  Alaska  Commercial 
Company.  Eight  of  the  shipwrecked  whalers,  having  obtained  employ¬ 
ment  ashore,  left  the  vessel.  The  business  ashore  being  finished  at 
11.15  p.  m.  August  26,  got  under  way  for  Unalaska,  which  was  reached 
after  a  rather  rough  passage  at  1.05  p.  m.  August  31.  II.  M.  S.  Pheas¬ 
ant  was  found  in  port,  and  on  the  2d  of  September  II.  M.  SS.  Amphion 
and  Icarus  arrived.  The  usual  courtesies  were  exchanged  with  each. 

The  boiler  was  blown  down  and  preparations  were  made  for  coaling 
and  watering  ship.  At  1.15  p.  m.  September  3,  having  finished  coal¬ 
ing  and  watering,  and  all  preparations  completed,  cast  off  from  the 
wharf  and  steamed  out  of  the  harbor.  At  4.55  p.  m.,  being  through 
Unalga  Pass,  set  course  for  Cape  Flattery.  Rough  weather  was 
experienced  the  first  four  days  out;  after  that,  moderate  and  foggy. 
Waddah  Island  was  sighted  at  2.15  p.  m.  September  12,  and  a  stop 
made  to  communicate  with  the  Department  by  telegraph.  Port 
Townsend  was  reached  at  2  a.  m.  13th.  A  dense  fog  and  thick  smoke 
compelled  us  to  anchor  until  6  a.  m.  Then,  the  fog  partly  lifting,  got 
under  way  for  Seattle,  which  was  reached  at  11  a.  m.  September  13, 
after  an  absence  of  nine  months  and  sixteen  days,  most  of  the  time 
spent  in  a  dreary  country  and  very  inclement  weather.  The  officers 
and  crew  bore  the  monotonous  isolation  with  the  greatest  patience, 
complaints  being  almost  unheard  of. 

The  courage,  fortitude,  and  perseverance  shown  by  the  members  of 
the  Overland  Relief  Expedition  is  deserving  of  the  highest  commen¬ 
dation.  Starting  over  a  route  never  before  traveled  even  by  dog 
sleds,  with  a  herd  of  over  400  reindeer  to  drive  and  care  for,  they 
pushed  their  way  through  what  at  times  seemed  impassable  obstacles, 
across  frozen  seas  and  over  snow-clad  mountains,  with  tireless  energy, 


92  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


until  Point  Barrow  was  reached  and  the  object  of  the  expedition 
successfully  accomplished. 

I  respectfully  recommend  that  the  heroic  services  of  First  Lieut. 

D.  H.  Jarvis,  Second  Lieut.  E.  P.  Bertholf,  and  Surg.  S.  J.  Call  should 
meet  with  such  recognition  as  the  Department  sees  fit  to  bestow. 

As  mentioned  in  my  letter  of  June  23,  1898,  Mr.  W.  T.  Lopp  and 
Charlie  Antisarlook,  who  gave  up  their  herds  of  reindeer,  left  their 
families,  and  accompanied  the  expedition  to  Point  Barrow,  are 
deserving  of  substantial  reward  for  the  sacrifices  they  made  and  the 
hardships  they  endured. 

Respectfully,  yours,  F.  Tuttle, 

Captain,  Revenue-  Cutter  Service , 

Commanding  U.  S.  S.  Bear.  I 

The  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 

Washington ,  I).  C. 

— 

' 

REPORT  OF  LIEUT.  D.  H.  JARVIS,  REVENUE-CUTTER  SERVICE,  TO 
SECRETARY  OF  THE  TREASURY. 

Overland  Relief  Expedition, 

Fort  St.  Michael ,  Alaska ,  December  81,  1897. 

Sir:  I  respectfully  report  the  arrival  of  Surgeon  Call  and  myself  at 
this  place  last  evening,  after  six  days  travel  from  Andreafski,  on  the  , 
Yukon  River.  The  teams  that  have  brought  us  this  far  I  will  drop 
here,  and  I  have  engaged  Mr.  Edwin  Engelstadt,  a  trader  at  Unalak-  > 
lik,  to  furnish  such  transportation  as  will  be  required  as  far  as  Golo-  ! 
vin  Bay.  We'  are  compelled  to  remain  over  to-day  to  make  such  : 
preparations  as  are  necessary  for  the  journey  to  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  I 
and  will  leave  for  that  place  to-morrow  morning. 

Upon  consideration  I  have  decided  to  send  two  or  three  sled-loads 
of  provisions  from  this  place  through  to  Kotzebue  Sound,  direct  across  \ 
the  portage  from  Norton  Bay  to  the  Buckland  River,  to  meet  the 
party  when  we  arrive  at  Cape  Blossom  with  the  herd  of  reindeer  on 
the  way  to  Point  Barrow.  I  will  do  this  because  I  feel  certain  there 
are  not  enough  provisions  at  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  to  fit  out  such  a 
party  as  will  be  required  to  drive  the  herd  of  reindeer.  In  going  from  > 
Cape  Prince  of  Wales  to  Point  Barrow  the  deer  will  necessarily  have  & 
to  be  driven  some  little  distance  back  from  the  coast,  and  the  party 
will  not  be  able  to  communicate  with  villages  along  the  coast.  They 
will  have  to  depend  upon  their  own  resources  to  carry  them  through 
to  the  end  of  the  trip,  which  possibly  may  take  two  or  three  months. 
But  with  such  supplies  as  I  will  send  to  Kotzebue  Sound  to  meet  me  ( 
at  Cape  Blossom  the  party  will  be  independent  of  any  intermediate 


! 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  93 


places  and  be  able  to  select  its  own  route  to  Point  Barrow,  or  the  one 
best  adapted  for  the  deer. 

The  reindeer  herd  from  Port  Clarence  has  not  yet  arrived  at  Una- 
laklik,  but  I  think  it  possible  I  may  meet  them  on  the  road.  In  that 
case  Lieutenant-Colonel  Randall,  U.  S.  A.,  has  placed  at  my  disposal 
such  number  of  teams  as  I  may  need  to  transport  my  party  to  Cape 
Prince  of  Wales;  otherwise  I  will  have  to  depend  wholly  upon  dog 
teams,  and  I  fear  the  journey  will  be  rather  long  for  them,  as  the  ice 
in  the  sound  is  as  yet  much  broken  up  and  moving. 

Second  Lieutenant  Bertholf  and  his  party  have  not  yet  arrived,  but 
I  will  leave  such  orders  and  arrangements  to  further  his  progress  as 
it  is  possible  for  me  to  make. 

The  services  of  F.  Koltclioff  will  be  no  longer  required  with  the 
expedition,  and  I  will  leave  orders  directing  him  to  report  to  Lieuten¬ 
ant-Colonel  Randall,  U.  S.  A.,  for  duty  at  the  reindeer  station,  as 
directed  in  Department  orders. 

I  am  much  indebted  to  Lieutenant-Colonel  Randall,  U.  S.  A.,  com¬ 
manding  Fort  St.  Michael,  and  to  the  North  American  Transportation 
and  Trading  Company  and  the  Alaska  Commercial  Company,  for  kind¬ 
ness  and  assistance  in  providing  for  the  trip  northward  from  here. 

The  health  of  the  party  is  excellent,  and  there  have  been  no  acci¬ 
dents  or  mishaps  of  any  kind. 

Very  respectfully,  D.  H.  Jarvis, 

First  Lieutenant,  Revenue- Cutter  Service, 
Commanding  Overland  Relief  Expedition. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 

Washington,  D.  C. 


Overland  Relief  Expedition, 
Norton  Sound,  Alaska,  January  3,  1898. 

Sir:  To-day  on  the  ice  1  met  Mr.  G.  F.  Tilton,  third  mate  of  whal¬ 
ing  steamer  Belvedere,  one  of  the  vessels  at  Point  Barrow,  bound  out 
by  way  of  St.  Michael  and  Katmai  with  mail  and  news  of  the  position 
and  condition  of  the  vessels  north  for  which  the  relief  expedition  was 
sent.  On  account  of  the  situation,  I  opened  such  mail  as  I  supposed 
would  give  me  any  information  that  might  assist  me  in  the  purpose 
of  the  expedition.  From  all  I  could  learn,  the  following  is  the  condi¬ 
tion  there:  The  steamer  Orca  was  wrecked  trying  to  get  out,  Septem¬ 
ber  22,  1897,  a  total  loss,  near  Sea  Horse  Islands,  and  the  same  day, 
about  four  hours  later,  the  steamer  Jessie  H.  Freeman  was  wrecked 
also  about  the  same  place.  The  Belvedere  was  nearly  out,  but  turned 
back  to  save  the  crews  of  the  wrecked  vessels  and  was  caught  by  the 
ice.  There  is  a  probability  of  her  coming  out  all  right.  The  schooner 
Rosario  is  just  around  Point  Barrow  to  the  west,  and  there  seems  a 


(J4  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


small  chance  for  her  safety.  The  steamer  Newport  and  Norwegian 
steamer  Fearless  are  about  55  miles  east  of  Point  Barrow;  the  steamer 
Jeanie ,  about  85  miles  east  of  Point  Barrow.  The  bark  Wanderer 
was  last  seen  about  60  miles  west  of  llersehel  Island,  and  had  not 
been  heard  of  at  Point  Barrow  when  Mr.  Tilton  left,  October  17,  1897. 
It  seems  probable  that  all  the  vessels  east  of  Point  Barrow  will  be 
crushed  by  the  ice. 

The  steamer  Mary  D.  Hume  is  wintering  at  Herschel  Island,  and 
it  is  probable  the  crew  of  the  Wanderer  will  make  for  her  and  be 
cared  for.  The  crews  of  the  other  vessels  are  safe  at  Point  Barrow, 
except  a  few  who  are  camping  on  the  shore  near  the  ships  to  look  out 
for  them.  The  supply  of  provisions  has  been  taken  in  charge  and 
apportioned  out  to  last  until  July  next.  It  is  not  large,  but  will  be 
sufficient  to  last,  with  the  reindeer  I  will  drive  there;  but  there  will 
be  needed  there  as  many  provisions  as  can  be  taken  when  the  ice 
opens.  All  the  natives  have  been  sent  off  into  the  interior  to  hunt, 
and,  I  think,  can  care  for  themselves.  I  hope  to  get  the  deer  there 
by  April,  sooner  if  possible,  but  I  think  they  will  be  there  by  that 
time,  when  the  worst  shortage  will  be.  The  steamer  Navarch ,  caught 
in  the  ice  last  summer,  drifted  in  to  the  east  of  Point  Barrow  in  Sep¬ 
tember  and  seven  men  were  taken  from  her,  two  others  refusing  to 
leave.  There  are  in  all  about  304  men  on  the  ships,  including  those 
from  the  Navarch  and  those  on  the  Wanderer ,  and  I  should  say  that 
transportation  will  be  needed  for  about  250  when  the  ice  opens.  The 
part  of  the  road  the  expedition  is  traveling  over  now  is  probably  the 
worst  to  be  encountered  on  the  trip,  but  we  are  taking  advantage  of 
every  opportunity  and  going  ahead  all  the  time,  even  if  progress  is 
not  as  rapid  as  we  would  like.  I  see  no  reason  to  change  the  general 
plans  of  the  Department,  and  will  do  my  utmost  to  carry  them  out  to 
a  successful  end. 

Mr.  Tilton  has  been  over  the  road  from  the  north,  and  agrees  with 
me  thoroughly  in  the  utter  impossibility  of  carrying  anything  there 
by  sledges,  and  that  the  only  possible  way  is  to  drive  the  reindeer. 
Dogs  are  scarce  and  require  food.  Men  have  not  been  sent  to  Point 
Hope,  where  there  are  provisions,  because  of  the  lack  of  means  of 
transportation. 

W e  are  in  good  health  and  have  had  no  mishaps  so  far,  and  no  time 
will  be  lost  that  can  be  taken  advantage  of. 

Very  respectfully, 

D.  H.  Jarvis, 

First  Lieutenant ,  Revenue-  Cutter  Service , 
Commanding  Overland  Relief  Expedition. 

The  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 

Washington ,  D.  C. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  95 


REPORT  OF  LIEUT.  D.  H.  JARVIS,  REVENUE-CUTTER  SERVICE,  TO 
CAPT.  F.  TUTTLE,  REVENUE-CUTTER  SERVICE. 

United  States  Revenue-Cutter  Service, 

Overland  Relief  Expedition, 

Cape  Prince  of  Wales ,  Alaska ,  January  25,  1898. 

Sir:  I  respectfully  report  my  arrival  at  this  place  on  the  24th  in¬ 
stant.  Upon  delivering  to  Mr.  Lopp  his  mail  and  explaining  to  him 
the  necessity  and  object  of  the  expedition,  and  that  the  Government 
was  particularly  desirous  that  he  should  join  it,  he  has  consented  to 
go  and  take  his  reindeer  herd  and  herders. 

The  herd  is  the  property  of  the  American  Missionary  Association, 
and  the  herders,  together  with  several  individual  natives  at  this  place, 
and  is  given  with  the  understanding  contained  in  Department  order 
of  November,  1897,  that  it  will  be  returned  next  summer,  together 
with  the  average  number  of  fawns  that  will  be  born  to  it  the  coming 
spring. 

There  are  now  in  the  herd  301  deer;  9  of  these  I  had  to  buy  from  a 
native,  Kummuk,  at  $15  per  head,  San  Francisco  prices,  giving  him 
an  order  on  you  for  such  articles  as  he  desired ;  the  remaining  292 
should  have  140  living  fawns  in  April,  making  432  deer  to  be  returned 
to  the  American  Missionary  Association  and  the  people  here  through 
Mr  Lopp  as  their  representative.  This  is  the  number  that  should  be 
returned  the  coming  summer,  but  if  for  any  reason  this  can  not  be 
done,  the  natural  increase  of  the  herd  that  would  follow  the  next 
spring,  had  the  herd  not  been  disturbed,  will  have  to  be  taken  into 
consideration  upon  fulfilling  the  contract  on  the  part  of  the  Govern¬ 
ment.  I  have  also  agreed  that  it  shall  be  the  option  of  the  American 
Missionary  Association  or  the  people  here  owning  deer,  to  sell  to  the 
Government  a  limited  number  of  those  given  to  the  use  of  the  expe¬ 
dition  at  the  ruling  price  in  any  neighboring  market  in  this  section. 

I  have  engaged  Mr.  Lopp  and  the  herders  at  the  following  salaries 
for  their  services:  Mr.  Lopp,  $150  per  month;  the  herders,  $30  per 
month,  and  that  the  money  can  be  invested  in  San  Francisco  and  the 
articles  will  be  brought  to  them  by  the  Bear.  The  herders  engaged 
are  Artisarlook,  Point  Rodney;  and  Sakwenna,  Ootema,  Netaxite, 
Kiveatzruk,  Stuk,  and  Keok,  of  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  Alaska;  and 
Tautook,  of  Port  Clarence,  Alaska.  The  latter  has  two  deer  that  he 
has  brought,  and  will  either  sell  or  exchange  for  females  if  the  deer 
are  returned  the  coming  summer. 

Respectfully,  yours, 

D.  II.  Jarvis, 

First  Lieutenant ,  Revenue-  Cutter  Service, 
Commanding  Overland  Relief  Expedition. 

Capt.  F.  Tuttle, 

Commanding  Revenue  Cutter  Bear. 


96  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


REPORT  OF  LIEUT.  D.  H.  JARVIS,  REVENUE-CUTTER  SERVICE,  TO 
CAPT.  F.  TUTTLE,  REVENUE-CUTTER  SERVICE. 

Overland  Relief  Expedition, 

Point  Hope ,  Alaska ,  March  5,  1898. 

Sir:  I  respectfully  report  the  arrival  of  Surg.  S.  J.  Call  and  myself 
at  tli is  place  February  20.  Upon  our  arrival  I  learned  that  the  peo¬ 
ple  on  the  vessels  at  Point  Barrow  were  all  right,  and  would  be  until 
May,  and  hearing  from  Mr.  Lopp  that  he  had  arrived  at  Cape  Krusen- 
stern  on  the  morning  of  February  17,  I  proceeded  to  meet  them  at 
Kevuleek  River.  After  making  all  arrangements  for  their  progress 
and  supplying  them  with  necessary  clothing,  they  were  started  across 
from  Kevalina  on  the  second  instant,  and  expect  to  come  out  on  the 
coast  about  the  mouth  of  the  Pitmagea  River. 

I  have  made  all  preparations  to  leave  here  to-day  with  Surgeon 
Call  for  Point  Barrow.  Second  Lieut.  E.  P.  Bertholf  will  remain  here 
and  care  for  any  of  the  men  who  may  be  sent  down  from  Point 
Barrow  in  the  spring. 

The  health  of  the  expedition  has  been  good,  and  no  accidents  or 
mishaps  have  occurred. 

All  the  expenses  of  the  expedition  in  this  region  will  be  assumed 
by  Mr.  Nelson,  of  H.  Liebes  &  Co.’s  whaling  station. 

Respectfully,  yours, 

D.  H.  Jarvis, 

First  Lieutenant  Revenue-  Cutter  Service , 
Commanding  Overland  Relief  Expedition. 

Capt.  F.  Tuttle, 

Commanding  Revenue  Cutter  Bear. 


REPORT  OF  LIEUT.  D.  H.  JARVIS,  REVENUE- CUTTER  SERVICE,  TO 
CAPT.  F.  TUTTLE,  REVENUE-CUTTER  SERVICE. 

LTnited  States  Revenue-Cutter  Service, 

Steamer  Bear, 

Port  of  Point  Barrow ,  Alaska ,  August  16,  1898. 

Sir:  I  respectfully  report  that  upon  the  arrival  of  the  overland 
relief  expedition  at  this  place,  March  29,  1898,  there  were  quartered 
on  shore  100  officers  and  men  of  the  wrecked  vessels  Orca ,  Jessie  H. 
Freeman ,  and  Navarch ,  and  of  the  steamer  Belvedere.  Upon  consul¬ 
tation,  the  situation  was  found  to  be  such  that  I  deemed  it  necessary 
to  take  charge  and  establish  myself  at  the  Cape  Smyth  Whaling  Com¬ 
pany’s  station,  where  nearly  all  the  provisions  were  held.  The  avail¬ 
able  stock  of  provisions  had  already  been  rationed  to  last  until  the 
latter  part  of  August,  and,  though  there  was  no  distress,  the  allowance 
was  necessarily  small.  I  immediately  communicated  with  the  masters 
of  the  schooner  Rosario  and  steamers  Newport ,  Fearless ,  and  Jeanie , 
and  received  assurances  from  them  that  they  thought  they  would  be 
able  to  caiuy  their  crews  through  until  August,  but  on  greatly  reduced 
rations.  The  vessels  were  distributed  over  a  distance  of  150  miles 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  97 


and,  as  far  as  the  difficulties  and  possibilities  of  hauling  would  per¬ 
mit,  the  provisions  had  been  equitably  divided  between  all  the  vessels 
and  the  people  on  shore.  I  was  constantly  in  communication  with 
the  vessels  and  visited  them  all  to  ascertain  their  position  and  con¬ 
dition,  and,  from  the  point  of  control  over  the  whole  situation,  worked 
with  the  masters  for  such  good  order  and  distribution  of  food  as  would 
keep  all  on  the  same  allowance  as  far  as  possible  and  secure  a  final 
good  outcome. 

On  the  day  of  arrival  I  was  presented  with  a  petition  from  the  mem¬ 
bers  of  the  crews  quartered  here,  asking  that  their  condition  be  looked 
into.  They — 76  men — were  at  that  time  living  in  the  old  building  of 
the  Pacific  Steam  Whaling  Company.  Their  quarters  Avere  immedi¬ 
ately  inspected  and  found  to  be  in  a  bad  condition.  The  building, 
22  by  55  feet,  was  old  and  leaky.  It  had  been  abandoned  and  was 
fitted  up  in  October,  1897,  to  accommodate  these  men.  The  only  heat 
was  from  the  cooking  range  in  the  center,  and  the  steam  from  this 
caused  drippings  that  kept  the  floor  and  sides  constantly  wet  and  full 
of  ice.  In  most  of  the  berths  the  bedclothes  were  never  dry.  The 
accumulation  of  dirt  and  filth  was  such  that  only  the  cold  weather 
prevented  serious  sickness  of  all  hands.  The  clothes  and  persons  of 
the  men  were  in  most  cases  filthy,  due  to  seal  oil  lamps  that  were 
used  in  the  endeavor  to  keep  warm,  and  a  change  of  quarters  and 
habits  was  necessary  immediately.  Scurvy  had  made  its  appearance. 
There  were  two  well-developed  cases  and  indications  of  others. 
Twenty-five  of  the  men  were  placed  in  the  refuge  station,  where  the 
officers  were  already  quartered,  making  40  in  all  there;  23  in  the 
schoolroom  of  the  Presbyterian  Mission,  now  occupied  by  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  II.  R.  Marsh,  who  kindly  gave  its  use,  and  28  in  a  building  of 
the  Cape  Smyth  Whaling  Company,  formerly  used  as  a  storehouse. 
To  fit  up  and  to  heat  these  extra  quarters  the  old  building  was  torn 
down  and  used  for  firewood,  there  being  scarcely  enough  coal  on  hand 
to  do  the  cooking.  Clothing  was  the  next  consideration,  and  a  col¬ 
lection  was  made  of  all  that  could  be  found,  the  natives  contributing 
the  greater  part,  and  it  was  issued  to  such  men  as  most  needed  it. 
The  allowance  of  soap  was  increased  and  the  men  were  required  to 
keep  their  clothing  and  persons  clean.  A  daily  inspection  of  quar¬ 
ters,  clothing,  and  men  was  instituted,  and  a  radical  and  gratifying 
change  was  soon  apparent  in  the  health  and  appearance  of  all.  The 
scurvy  patients  were  soon  well,  and  from  that  time  until  your  arrival 
there  was  no  serious  illness.  June  8  Philip  Mann,  age  46  years, 
native  of  New  York  City,  seaman  of  the  steamer  Jessie  H.  Freeman , 
while  walking  along  the  beach,  dropped  dead  from  heart  disease.  He 
had  been  complaining  all  winter  and  had  a  short  time  before  been 
relieved  from  all  heavy  work.  The  body  was  given  an  appropriate 
burial  and  the  grave  marked  by  a  headstone  with  name  and  identity. 

The  allowance  of  meat  at  all  points  was  short  and  inadequate  and 
S.  Doc.  34 - / 


98 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


wholly  dependent  upon  the  success  of  the  hunters  and  the  possibilities 
of  hauling  from  the  distant  stations.  Hunters  were  kept  out  for  deer 
as  late  as  June  1,  and  for  ducks  and  eggs  when  they  arrived,  the  last 
of  May.  This  stock  was  too  short  and  too  precarious  and  was  increased 
by  killing  180  of  the  reindeer  brought  by  the  expedition.  The  daily 
allowance  was  increased  from  one-half  pound  to  1^  pounds  per  man, 
which  made  a  comfortable  and  sufficient  ration.  One  pound  of  flour 
per  day  was  issued,  and  the  few  small  stores  on  hand  were  distributed 
to  give  some  little  variety  to  the  food  and  prevent  scurvy. 

All  danger  of  serious  shortage  was  now  removed,  the  tension 
under  which  everyone  had  been  during  the  winter  was  relieved,  and 
it  only  remained  to  keep  everything  well  in  hand  and  the  men  and 
natives  under  good  control.  Such  authority  as  was  necessary  was 
used,  though,  considering  the  situation  with  nearly  300  men  and  500 
natives,  the  general  good  order  was  remarkable;  after  our  arrival 
there  was  no  occasion  for  the  exercise  of  severe  measures. 

On  April  22  a  sled  arrived  from  Herseliel  Island  bringing  news  of 
the  arrival  back  there  of  the  bark  Wanderer  on  September  8.  The 
steamer  Mary  D.  Hume  was  wintering  there  with  two  years’  supplies 
on  board,  so  all  anxiety  on  the  Wanderer's  account  was  relieved. 

On  July  2,  during  a  heavy  southwest  gale,  the  schooner  Rosario 
was  crushed  by  the  ice.  Being  near  the  shore,  her  crew  got  out  safely 
and  saved  all  their  provisions.  Nine  of  her  crew  were  subsequently 
brought  to  Cape  Smyth,  the  master  and  officers  remaining  camped  on 
the  shore  by  the  wreck. 

The  reindeer  herd  was  kept  at  a  distance  of  from  10  to  15  miles 
from  Cape  Smyth  ready  for  any  calls  upon  it.  Artisarlook  and 
Utenna,  herders  from  Point  Rodney  and  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  were 
kept  to  care  for  the  deer,  and  four  native  boys  were  engaged  to  assist 
them.  The  feed  was  good,  and  but  one  death  occurred  from  natural 
causes,  though  there  was  a  large  proportion  of  deaths  among  the 
fawns  born  due  to  the  hard  travel  of  the  mothers  so  near  the  calving 
time. 

The  situation  last  fall  upon  the  vessels  first  being  caught  was  a  most 
precarious  one  and  looked  gloomy  and  serious.  Its  final  good  outcome 
seems  providential.  Everyone  turned  to  and  worked  to  his  utmost 
to  obtain  what  was  possible  in  the  countiy,  and  the  natives,  recogniz¬ 
ing  the  seriousness  of  the  situation,  gave  invaluable  aid  and  denied 
themselves  such  food  as  was  required  for  the  white  people.  On  shore 
Mr.  C.  E).  Brower,  manager  of  the  Cape  Smyth  Whaling  Company, 
gave  up  everything  in  his  station  except  his  personal  supplies,  and 
these  he  shared  with  as  many  as  he  could  accommodate  in  his  house. 
He  controlled  the  situation  ashore  and  furnished  most  of  the  native 
hunters,  teams,  clothing,  and  other  necessaries  for  the  care  of  the 
men.  His  arrangements  were  excellent,  and  upon  our  arrival  the 
whole  resources  of  his  station  were  placed  at  our  disposal  and  he  gave 
his  knowledge  and  help  in  all  matters.  Mr.  E.  A.  Mclllienny,  in 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  99 


charge  of  the  Pacific  Steam  Whaling  Company’s  buildings,  and  Dr. 
II.  R.  Marsh  also  gave  material  aid. 

The  arrival  of  the  overland  expedition,  when  things  were  again  tak¬ 
ing  a  serious  turn,  was  most  timely.  Y our  orders  and  the  orders  of  the 
Department  Avere  fully  carried  out  and  nothing  was  left  undone.  The 
difficulties  and  dangers  of  travel  in  an  arctic  winter  were  met  and 
overcome  without  accident  or  mishap.  There  was  never  any  let  down 
in  the  work  from  beginning  to  end,  and  the  highest  commendation  is 
due  Second  Lieut.  E.  P.  Bertholf,  Revenue-Cutter  Service,  Surg.  S.  J. 
Call,  and  Mr.  W.  T.  Lopp  in  making  this  successful  outcome  of  a  try¬ 
ing  and  difficult  expedition,  which  contributed  so  much  to  the  relief 
of  the  serious  situation  found.  The  native  herders  who  gave  up  their 
deer  so  cheerfully  and  then  drove  them  to  Point  Barrow  I  hope  will 
not  only  be  reimbursed,  but  also  rewarded  for  their  valuable  aid. 

I  beg  to  be  allowed  to  submit  later  data  and  particulars  necessarily 
omitted  here. 

Respectfully,  yours, 

D.  II.  Jarvis, 

First  Lieutenant ,  Revenue- Cutter  Service , 
Commanding  Overland  Relief  Expedition. 

Capt.  E.  Tuttle, 

Commanding  Revenue- Cutter  Bear. 


Reindeer'  account ,  Point  Barroiv  relief  expedition. 


Received  from  Artisarlook _ _ .  _ _ _  133 

Bought  at  Port  Rodney _ : _ _  5 

Received  from  Mr.  W.  T.  Lopp  et  al _ _ _ 292 

Bought  at  Cape  Prince  of  W ales _ _  9 

Received  from  Tautook _ _ _ _ _  2 

Received  from  Tautook  Government  herd _  _  5 

Received  from  Tautook  Golovin  Bay  herd _ _ _  2 

-  448 

Lost  and  killed  en  route _ _ _  66 

Killed  for  food  at  Point  Barrow _ _ _  180 

Died  at  Point  Barrow _ _ _ _  1 

-  247 

201 

Fawns  born  at  Point  Barrow _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 254 

Fawns  died  at  Point  Barrow _  64 

- 190 

Remaining  at  Point  Barrow _ 391 

Recovered  at  Point  Barrow _ _ _ _ _  34 

Killed  for  food _  _  5 

- 29 

Fawns  born  at  Point  Hope _ _ _ _ _ _  25 

Fawns  died  at  Point  Hope _ _ _  6 

—  19 


Remaining  at  Point  Hope _ _  48 

Total  deer  remaining  at  Point  Barrow  and  Point  Hope.. . . .  439 


100  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

REPORT  OF  LIEUT.  E.  P.  BERTHOLF,  R.  C.  S.,  TO  CAPT.  F.  TUTTLE, 

R.  C.  S. 

United  States  Revenue-Cutter  Service, 

Point  Hope ,  Alaska,  July  15,  1898. 

Sir:  In  accordance  with  the  instructions  of  Lieutenant  Jarvis,  Rev¬ 
enue-Cutter  Service,  commanding  the  overland  relief  expedition, 
under  date  of  March  5,  1898,  a  copy  of  which  is  hereby  inclosed,  I 
respectfully  submit  the  following  report. 

The  plans  referred  to  for  the  return  of  Mr.  W.  T.  Lopp  related 
principally  to  the  transportation  of  provisions  up  the  coast  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Pitmegea  River.  This  was  done  as  directed,  and  Mr. 
Lopp  left  here  on  the  23d  of  April,  leaving  behind  one  deer  herder  to 
care  for  the  deer  that  had  strayed  from  the  main  herd  while  en  route 
to  Point  Barrow. 

When  Mr.  Lopp  and  myself  left  Aneyok  (near  Cape  Krusenstern) 
with  the  deer  herd,  on  the  21st  of  February,  it  had  been  decided  to  send 
back  to  their  homes  four  of  the  native  herders  then  with  the  herd,  and 
these  were  consequently  left  behind  at  that  place,  provision  having 
been  made  for  their  return  travel. 

Having  accompanied  Mr.  Lopp  and  the  herd  along  the  coast  as  far 
as  the  place  where  he  was  to  strike  across  the  lagoons  for  the  Kevu- 
leek  River,  I  parted  company  with  him  on  the  27th  of  February  and 
proceeded  to  this  place,  in  accordance  with  previous  orders  from  Lieu¬ 
tenant  Jarvis. 

Here  I  received  word,  on  March  21,  that  some  of  the  deer  were  at 
Aneyok,  in  charge  of  two  of  the  herders.  I  sent  word  to  him  to  drive 
the  deer  up  here,  and  on  April  21  they  reached  this  place,  in  charge 
of  It  uk  and  Keok..  It  appears  that  somewhere  between  Aneyok  and 
the  Kevuleek  River  these  deer,  34  in  number,  had  strayed  from  the 
main  herd,  and  a  native  who  had  acted  as  a  guide  for  Mr.  Lopp  had 
discovered  them  on  his  return  to  Aneyok.  As  the  herders  had  not  yet 
started  on  their  return  trip,  they  went  after  the  deer  and  drove  them 
back  to  the  village,  after  which  they  all  returned  to  their  homes,  except 
Ituk  and  Keok,  who  then  drove  the  herd  here.  Three  deer  had  been 
killed  for  food  on  the  way,  so  that  when  they  arrived  here  there  were 
31  in  the  herd,  26  of  them  being  females.  I  gave  the  herders  my  tent 
and  camp  gear,  employed  three  young  natives  to  help  them,  and  sent 
them  with  the  deer  several  miles  back  in  the  hills,  where  the  moss  was 
good  and  they  would  not  be  troubled  by  the  dogs  from  the  villages. 
There  the  camp  was  established  and  the  deer  cared  for.  From  time 
to  time  I  have  supplied  these  four  natives  with  such  clothing  and  pro¬ 
visions  as  were  deemed  necessary,  and  also  tobacco,  cartridges,  shot, 
lead,  and  powder.  All  these  articles  I  obtained  from  Mr.  Rustan 
Nelson,  manager  of  Liebes  &  Co.’s  whaling  station  at  Point  Hope,  and 
charged  the  same  to  the  account  of  the  overland  relief  expedition. 
Up  to  the  present  time  2  of  the  old  deer  have  been  killed  for  food,  and 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  101 

25  fawns  have  been  born,  6  of  which  have  died,  thus  leaving  29  old 
deer  and  19  fawns  in  the  herd,  and  apparently  well  cared  for  and 
attended  to. 

With  regard  to  the  illicit  distilling  of  spirituous  liquor  by  the 
natives,  I  have  made  several  trips  to  the  different  villages  and  visited 
and  searched  all  the  native  houses  from  Cape  Thompson  to  Point 
Hope,  discovering  and  destroying  G  stills  and  about  10  gallons  of  mash 
nearly  fermented.  On  two  of  these  trips  I  have  been  assisted  by  Capt. 
Peter  Bayne  and  Mr.  Henry  Koenig  (commonly  known  as  Cooper), 
who  have  whaling  stations  on  the  Point,  and  I  have  been  most  materi¬ 
ally  assisted  b}r  Mr.  Nelson,  who  has  accompanied  me  on  several  of 
the  trips.  When  I  visited  the  native  village  at  Point  Hope,  Mr.  Nel¬ 
son  and  myself  searched  several  of  the  houses  there,  but  finding  no 
trace  of  what  we  were  looking  for,  I  concluded  to  talk  to  the  natives 
and  try  persuasions,  Mr.  Nelson  acting  as  interpreter.  After  telling 
them  about  the  bad  effects  of  whisky  I  recited  instances  where  whole 
villages  had  been  depopulated  by  indulgence  in  the  liquor,  thus  being 
rendered  incapable  of  procuring  the  necessary  food  supplies  for  the 
winter.  The  natives  appeared  very  much  impressed  by  what  had 
been  said,  and  they  soon  showed  us  many  places  where  the  stills  had 
been  hidden,  buried  in  the  snow,  and  in  a  short  time  we  had  destroyed 
9  stills  which  had  been  concealed  in  all  sorts  of  snow  banks,  where  it 
would  have  been  almost  impossible  for  us  to  have  discovered  them. 
The  following  day  a  native  woman  came  all  the  way  down  here  from 
Point  Hope  and  gave  me  5  still  pipes,  the  tubs  of  which  she  said  had 
been  broken  up.  This  makes  in  all  20  stills  that  have  been  destroyed. 

There  remain,  I  believe,  many  other  stills  in  this  vicinity,  which  I 
have  been  unable  to  discover;  but  even  if  they  were  all  destroyed, 
the  natives  could  easily  make  others,  and  I  am  convinced  that  this 
illicit  distilling  can  not  be  stopped  unless  the  whites  are  prevented 
from  trading"  molasses  to  the  natives  or  the  molasses  is  diluted  by 
some  article  that  will  prevent  fermentation.  In  this  connection  I  will 
state  that  I  have  been  asked  by  several  natives,  who  seemed  to  be 
very  intelligent,  the  very  pertinent  question  why  the  white  men  are 
allowed  to  trade  molasses,  if  it  is  wrong  for  the  natives  to  make 
whisky,  and  why  the  ships  are  allowed  to  trade  whisky  to  the  natives. 
I  can  not  speak  too  highly  of  the  aid  given  me  by  Mr.  Nelson  in  this 
matter,  whereas  it  is  an  open  secret  that  there  have  been  times  when 
white  men  on  Point  Hope  have  encouraged  this  illicit  distilling  by 
buying  and  drinking  the  concoction  after  it  had  been  brewed  by  the 
natives. 

The  circumstances  of  the  murder  of  the  native  Washok  by  the 
other  natives  last  fall  are  as  follows:  About  11  o’clock  in  the  forenoon 
on  the  17th  of  November,  1897,  Mr.  Rustan  Nelson  was  sitting  in  his 
house  reading,  and  Messrs.  Charles  Sandbourne  and  George  F.  Tilden 
were  working  in  one  of  the  other  rooms  of  the  house,  when  they  all 


102  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

heard  two  rifle  shots  in  quick  succession,  followed  soon  after  by  four 
others.  Mr.  Nelson  put  his  revolver  in  his  pocket  and  ran  outside, 
and  there  saw  close  by  the  house  the  two  natives  Avulik  and  Shuku- 
rana,  each  with  a  smoking  rifle,  standing  over  the  body  of  Washok, 
who  was  dead,  with  six  bullet  holes  in  his  body.  Washok’s  wife  was 
close  by,  and  several  other  natives  were  running  to  the  scene  of  the 
firing.  Sandbourne  and  Tilden  ran  out  soon  after  Nelson,  and  after 
ascertaining  that  Washok  was  beyond  help  they  all  returned  to  the 
house.  Soon  the  body  was  buried  after  the  usual  native  fashion. 
It  appears  that  Washok  and  his  wife  were  returning  to  the  village 
with  a  load  of  wood,  when  the  two  above-named  natives  concealed 
themselves  and  committed  the  murder. 

There  was  probably  only  one  actual  witness  to  the  affair  except  the 
murderers,  and  that  was  Washok’s  wife,  all  the  other  natives  in  the 
village  being  out  of  sight.  Subsequent  inquiry  developed  the  fact  that 
the  other  natives  in  the  village  knew  the  shooting  was  to  take  place. 
The  natives  give  as  a  reason  for  the  killing  that  Washok  was  a  bad 
character,  having  threatened  the  life  of  an  old  man  in  the  village, 
and  having  shot  at  two  men  the  night  before  he  was  killed.  After 
the  killing  the  two  murderers  left  this  place,  Slmkurana  going  to 
Tarpkwa,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  peninsula, 
and  Avulik  going  to  another  village  near  Cape  Thompson.  Avulik 
came  back  here  this  spring  to  work  for  Mr.  Nelson  during  the  whal¬ 
ing  season,  and  it  had  been  my  intention  to  take  him  on  board  the 
Bear  with  me  when  I  reported  and  turn  him  over  to  you.  I  had 
planned  to  do  this  without  exciting  the  natives’  suspicion,  for  it 
seemed  quite  unnecessary  and  impracticable  for  me  to  seize  him  and 
hold  him  here  a  prisoner,  as  there  is  no  place  to  shut  him  up  securely. 
It  has  been  the  custom  of  the  natives  to  remain  at  the  whaling  sta¬ 
tions  until  the  ships  arrive  in  the  spring,  so  as  to  get  their  pay,  and  I 
could  easily  have  taken  him  on  board  the  Bear  without  exciting  his 
suspicion.  But  this  spring  no  whales  were  caught  and  no  pay  was 
coming  to  the  natives,  and  they  have  been  gradually  leaving  for  the 
eastward  to  catch  their  fish  for  the  winter.  Avulik  seemed  in  no 
hurry  to  leave,  and  said  he  was  going  to  wait  for  the  ships;  but  when 
I  returned  on  the  10th  of  July,  after  a  trip  to  Point  Hope,  I  found 
that  Avulik  and  his  brother  had  departed  in  their  canoe  for  the  Kev- 
uleek  River,  where  they  are  going  to  live  this  winter.  He  probably 
went  to  the  eastward  to  fish,  as  seal  is  very  scarce  here  now,  and  I 
am  sure  he  had  no  idea  of  my  intentions  toward  him,  as  I  had  spoken 
to  no  one  about  him  but  to  Mr.  Nelson,  and  neither  he  nor  I  have 
ever  talked  of  the  matter  in  the  presence  of  anyone  else. 

Avulik  can  be  found  at  or  near  the  mouth  of  the  Kevuleek  River, 
and  Shukurana  is  somewhere  on  the  south  side  of  Kotzebue  Sound. 
The  witnesses  to  the  affair  can  be  found  here,  except  Mr.  Tilden,  who 
is  probably  in  San  Francisco. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  103 


On  or  about  the  27th  of  May  another  native  murder  occurred.  A 
native  named-  Animeah  shot  and  killed  his  former  wife  because  she 
refused  to  return  and  live  with  him  and  his  other  wife.  I  would  have 
endeavored  to  bring  him  on  board  the  Bear ,  but  he  died  July  10 
from  some  affection  of  the  chest. 

Very  respectfully, 


E.  P.  Bertholf, 

Second  Lieutenant ,  Revenue- Cutter  Service 


Capt.  Francis  Tuttle, 

Commanding  Revenue  Steamer  Bear. 


DR.  SHELDON  JACKSON  DIRECTED  TO  REPORT  TO  THE  SECRETARY 
OF  WAR  FOR  INSTRUCTIONS. 

Department  of  the  Interior, 

Washington ,  December  23,  1897. 

Sir:  In  compliance  with  the  request  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  dated 
to-day,  you  are  hereby  directed  to  report  to  him  for  temporary  duty 
in  connection  with  the  duties  enjoined  by  the  act  of  Congress  approved 
on  the  18th  instant,  entitled  “An  act  authorizing  the  Secretary  of 
War,  in  his  discretion,  to  purchase  subsistence  stores,  supplies,  and 
materials  for  the  relief  of  people  who  are  in  the  Yukon  River  coun¬ 
try,  to  provide  means  for  their  transportation  and  distribution,  and 
making  an  appropriation  therefor.” 

Very  respectfully,  C.  N.  Bliss,  Secretary. 

Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

General  Agent  of  Education  in  Alaska, 

Office  of  Education. 


DR.  SHELDON  JACKSON  SENT  TO  LAPLAND  FOR  REINDEER. 

War  Department, 
Washington ,  December  23,  1897. 

Dear  Sir:  You  are  hereby  instructed  to  proceed  at  once,  in  com¬ 
pany  with  Lieut.  D.  B.  Devore,  United  States  Army,  to  Norway  and 
Sweden,  to  purchase  500  reindeer  broken  to  harness,  together  with 
full  outfit  for  hauling  or  carrying  supplies  to  the  Yukon  Valley,  and 
also  to  provide  such  means  as  may  be  necessary  for  shipment  to  this 
country  as  soon  as  purchased,  remembering  that  it  is  essential  that  they 
should  be  landed  here  at  the  furthest  by  the  15th  of  February.  These 
instructions  are  also  to  cover  the  employment  and  bringing  into  this 
country  of  reindeer  drivers. 

Lieutenant  Devore,  of  the  Army,  will  accompany  you  as  disbursing 
agent  and  will  provide  the  necessary  funds  for  all  expenses  and  pur¬ 
chases  in  connection  with  the  procurement  and  shipment  of  the  rein- 


104  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


deer.  I  wish  you  and  Lieutenant  Devore  to  confer  on  all  matters 
pertaining  to  the  purchase  of  these  reindeer  and  the  shipping  of  them. 
These  instructions  are  for  Lieutenant  Devore,  as  well  as  yourself. 
Yery  respectfully, 

R.  A.  Alger, 

Secretary  of  War. 

Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

Special  Agent ,  Department  of  the  Interior , 

Washington ,  D.  C . 


DR.  SHELDON  JACKSON  COMMENDED  TO  THE  DIPLOMATIC  AND 
CONSULAR  OFFICERS  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  IN  ENGLAND, 
DENMARK,  SWEDEN  AND  NORWAY. 

Department  op  State, 
Washington ,  December  21,  1897. 

To  the  Diplomatic  and  Consular  Officers  of  the  United  States. 

Gentlemen:  At  the  instance  of  the  Secretary  of  War,  it  gives  me 
pleasure  to  herewith  introduce  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson,  who  is  about 
visiting  England,  Denmark,  and  Sweden  and  Norway  for  the  purpose 
of  securing  reindeer  in  accordance  with  the  instructions  of  the  Secre¬ 
tary  of  War,  in  pursuance  of  the  authorization  of  Congress  appropri- 
ating  the  sum  of  $200,000  for  the  purchase  of  subsistence  stores,  sup¬ 
plies,  and  materials  for  the  relief  of  people  who .  are  in  the  lrukon 
River  country  or  other  mining  regions  of  Alaska,  and  to  purchase 
transportation  and  to  provide  means  for  the  distribution  of  such 
stores  and  supplies. 

Dr.  Jackson  is  the  general  agent  of  education  under  the  Depart¬ 
ment  of  the  Interior  for  Alaska,  and  is  in  every  way  familiar  with 
that  country.  The  Department  hopes  that  you  will  extend  to  Dr. 
Jackson  every  possible  assistance  he  may  ask  in  die  execution  of  his 
instructions. 

Respectfully,  yours, 

John  Sherman,  Secretary. 


NORWEGIAN  OFFICIALS  REQUESTED  TO  AID  DR.  JACKSON. 

[Aabent  brev.] 

Fra  Den  Kongelige  Norske  Regjerings 

Departement  for  det  Indre. 

Gjennem  de  amerikanske  Myndigheder  har  Departementet  modtage 
Meddelelse  om,  at  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson,  der  er  ansat  under  Indrede- 
partementet  i  Alaska,  har  faaet  i  Opdrag  at  sorge  for  Transport  af 
Levnetsmidler  m.V.  til  de  Guldgravere,  der  overvintrer  i  Klondike, 
og  at  han  i  denne  Anledning  bl.  A.  vil  besoge  Norge  for  at  indkjobe 
Rensdyr  til  saadan  Transport. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  105 


I  denne  Anledning  skal  Departementet  anmode  de  offentlige  Funk- 
tionaerer,  til  hwem  lian  i  saadant  Oiemed  maatte  lienvende  sig,  om 
paa  beste  Maada  at  bistaa  liam  med  Raad  og  Veiledning  til  at  udf0re 
sit  H  verve. 

Kristiania  den  6  Januar,  1898. 

Olaj  Olsen. 

C.  B.  Kirlland. 

[Translation.] 

[Open  letter.] 

The  Royal  Department  of  the  Interior  of  Norway. 

Our  department  has  received  information  through  American  author¬ 
ities  that  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson,  who  occupies  an  official  position  in 
Alaska  under  the  Interior  Department,  United  States  of  America, 
has  been  commissioned  to  provide  for  the  transportation  of  provisions 
for  the  gold  diggers,  who  winter  at  the  Klondike  mines,  and  that  he 
for  this  purpose,  among  other  things,  will  visit  Norway  to  buy  rein¬ 
deer  for  transporting  the  provisions. 

This  department  will  instruct  the  official  functionaries,  to  whom  he 
may  address  himself  with  this  end  in  view,  to  assist  him  with  council 
and  advice  in  order  that  he  may  be  better  able  to  accomplish  his 
undertaking. 

Christiania,  January  6,  1898. 

Olaj  Olsen. 

C.  B.  Kirlland. 


List  of  reindeer  drivers  arid  others  in  the  Lapland- Yukon  relief  expedition  of 
January  and  February ,  1898. 

FROM  KAUTOKEINO. 


Names.  _ 

Age. 

Sex. 

Names. 

Age. 

Sex. 

Johan  Olsen  Pulk,  3  years  a. 

Yrs.  Mos. 
42 

Male. 

Isak  Salamonsen  Nakkila.. 

Yrs.  Mos. 
28 

Male. 

Karen  (his  wife)  . 

50 

Female. 

Nils  Persen  Bals . 

41 

Do. 

Inger  Karen  (child) . . 

15  6 

Do. 

Elen  Marie  (his  wife) _ 

23 

Female. 

Berret  Inga  (child) . . 

10 

Do. 

Ingra  Bals  (child)-. . 

18 

Do. 

Aslak  Johnsen  Bals,4yearsa 

46 

Male. 

Per  (child) . 

15 

Male. 

Susanna  (his  wife) _ 

40 

Female. 

Merit  (child) . 

11 

Female. 

Susanna  (child) _ _ 

Do. 

Per  Mathisen  Spein 

Male 

Mikkel  Aslak  (child) 

5 

Male. 

Ole  Klemetsen  Hatta 

25 

Do. 

Do. 

Johan  Petter  Persen  Rista  b. 

26  6 

Do. 

Aslak  Aslaksen  Gaup. . 

Berret  Anna  (his  wife) _ 

23  4 

Female. 

Kjersten  (his  wife)  a . 

23 

Female. 

Nils  Persen  Sara _ 

40 

Male. 

Ole  Johannesen  Pulk . 

20 

Male. 

Marie  (his  wife). _ _ 

40  8 

Female. 

Isak  Mikkelsen  Tornensis  a 

40 

Do. 

Ellen  (child) . . 

15 

Do. 

Per  Johnannesen  Hatta  a  . 

26 

Do. 

Mikkel  (child).. . . . . 

12 

Male. 

Nils  Klemetsen  a 

28 

Do. 

Morten  (child) . 

6 

Do. 

Ole  Olsen  Bar  a 

36 

Do. 

Klemet  (child) _ 

4 

Do. 

Tnger  (his  wife) 

35 

3 

Female. 

Do. 

Mathias  ( child ) . . . 

Do. 

Inger  Anna  (child) 

Johan  Isaksen  Tornensis _ 

40 

Do. 

Klemet  (child)  _ _ _ 

1  3 

Male. 

Berret  ( his  wif e )  a . . 

35) 

Female. 

Isak  Andersen  Bangoa _ 

-30 

Do. 

Jacob  Larsen  Hatta  . 

29  6 

Male. 

Per  Nil  sen  Siri  n. 

24 

Do. 

Female. 

Berret  (his  wife) . 

50 

Female. 

Ida  Johansdatter  Hatta  .... 

23 

Mikkel  (child).. . 

16 

6 

Male. 

Beret  Nilsdatter  Eira 

21 

Do. 

Berret  Anne  (child) . . . 

Female. 

T jars  T jarsen  H  atta.  n.  . 

26 

Male. 

Ida  Johansdatter _ _ 

8 

Do. 

Klemet  Nilsen 

44 

36 

Do. 

Isak  Johanssesen  Hatta  a. . . 

26 

Male. 

Anders  Persen  Utzi _ 

Do. 

a  Recently  married.  b  Mail  carrier. 


106  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.. 


List  of  reindeer  drivers  and  others  in  the  Lapland- Yukon  relief  expedition  of 
January  and  February,  1898 — Continued. 

FROM  KARASJOK. 


Names. 

Age. 

Sex. 

Names. 

Age. 

Sex. 

Per  Andersen  _ _ _ 

42 

Male. 

Rerret  Nil  sd  after  Eira. 

21 

Female. 

Sofie  (his  wife).. . 

46 

Female. 

Johan  Better  Johannesen 

Sofle  (child) 

11 

Do. 

Nango  .  _  .  _ _ 

30 

Male. 

Anders  Klemetsen  Biti a  ... 

36 

Male. 

Kirsten  (his  wife) . . . 

36 

Female. 

Marit  (his  wife) . . . 

22 

Female. 

Per  (child) . 

1  6 

Male. 

Anders  Johnsen . . . 

24 

Male. 

Samuel  Johannesen Baltoa 

36 

Do. 

Klemet  Bersen  Boini _ 

23 

Do. 

Lars  Larsen  Anthi  a 

26 

Do. 

Per  Larsen  Anthi . . 

39 

Do. 

Johannes  Aslaksen  Raur 

John  Andersen _ 

36 

Do. 

Rauna . . . 

33 

Do. 

Amund  Hansen _ 

22 

Do. 

Ole  Krogh  . . . . 

40 

Do. 

Ole  Olsen . . . . 

20 

Do. 

Iyer  Persen  Vestad _ 

25 

Do. 

Anders  Aslaksen  Bar  . . 

25 

Do. 

Per  Josef  sen  Porsanger _ 

41 

Do. 

Anders  Johannesen  Balto  .. 

33 

Do. 

Pathias  Klemetsen  Nil- 

Marit  (his  wife)’ _ _ 

30 

Female. 

lokka . 

20 

Do. 

Marie  (child) . . . 

Do. 

Hans  Andersen  Siri  . 

22 

Do. 

Johan  Eriksen  Eira  a . 

30 

Male. 

Ole  Johansen  Stenf  jeld 

Marit  (his  wife) . 

34 

Female. 

Roros  (fr.  Roros) . 

24 

Do. 

FROM  BOSEKOP. 


Ole  M.  Rapp . 

21 

Male. 

Ole  G.  Berg . 

40 

Male. 

Lauritz  Stefansen . . 

21 

Do. 

Peder  Berg _  _  _ 

20 

Do. 

Johan  Hilmar  Hansen  _  - 

23 

Do. 

Lauritz  Larsen 

30 

Do. 

Johan  Johannesen  Tverelo. 

21 

Do. 

Rolf  Wiig . 

18 

Do. 

FROM  KAAFJORD. 


Olai  Paulsen  (prize  rifleman) 

31 

Male. 

Hilda  (his  wife) . . 

25 

Female. 

Birgithe  (his  wife) . 

30 

Female. 

Harald  (child) . 

8 

Male. 

Kristian  (child)  -  _ _ 

Male. 

Ragnvald  (child) . . 

4 

Do. 

Margit  (child) . 

5 

Female. 

Oswald  (child)... . 

3 

Do. 

A  If  hild  (child) . . . 

4 

Do. 

Alice  (child)..  ...  ..  _ _ 

6 

Female. 

Magnus  Kjeldberg . 

22 

Male. 

Karl  Johan  Sacariasen _ 

23 

Male. 

Emil  Kjeldberg 

26 

Do. 

Jafeth  Lindeberg 

24 

Do. 

Thoralf  Kjeldberg  -  . . 

22 

Do. 

Wm.  A.  Kjellmann _ 

36  7 

Do. 

Otto  M.  Leinan . 

33 

Do. 

Gunharda  Thomasen . 

18 

Female. 

FINLANDERS. 


Alfred  Salamonsen  Nilima.. 

21  4 

Male. 

Peder  Johannesen  (fr. 

Wilhelm  Basi  (fr.  Lang¬ 

Saxelo) . . 

24 

Male. 

uor  d) _ _ 

28 

Do. 

Samiul  Josefsen  (fr.  Saxelo) 

25 

Do. 

Jeremias  Abrahamsen  (fr. 

Otto  Greiner  (fr.  Saxelo)  -. 

25 

Do. 

Langfjord) _ _ 

25 

Do. 

Hans  Samuelsen  (fr.  Shx- 

Karl  Ove  Suhr  (fr.  Elve- 

elo) . - 

26 

Do. 

bakken) . . . . 

28 

Do. 

Johan  Petter  Stalogargo  b 

33 

Do. 

Alfred  Hermansen  (fr.  Al- 

ten) . . . 

21 

Do. 

a  Recently  married. 

b  Carried  mail  on  skees  to  North  Cape  eight  years. 


Lapps  from  Kautokeino - - - - - - - -  -  - .  47 

Karasjok .  30 

Roros . . 1 

—  78 

N orwegians  from  Bosekop  . . . 8 

Kaafjord. . - . . . - . . .  16 

Finns  . . 10 

from  Hammerfest . , . .  1 

35 

Total . . . . . . . . . . . 113 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  107 


CONTRACT  WITH  THE  LAPLANDERS. 

[Translation.] 

All  the  undersigned  admit  and  make  known  by  these  presents  that 
they  have  hired  themselves  reindeer  herders,  drivers,  tamers,  and  to 
teach  the  Eskimo  in  Alaska  in  reindeer  raising  in  all  its  details,  and 
furthermore,  to  carry  out  such  work  as  our  superiors  put  over  us  by 
United  States  Government  may  require;  also  to  look  out  for  the  rein¬ 
deer  during  transportation  to  Alaska.  F urthermore,  we  bind  ourselves 
to  behave  ourselves  orderly  and  decently  and  to  show  discipline,  and 
also  to  depart  from  our  houses  the  29tli  of  January  next,  from  which 
date  this  contract  goes  into  effect. 

For  the  service  and  work  above  referred  to,  the  undersigned,  Dr. 
Sheldon  Jackson,  acting  for  the  War  Department,  binds  himself  on 
behalf  of  United  States  Government  to  cause  to  be  paid  to  every 
one  of  the  undersigned  the  monthly  salary  attached  to  our  names 
and  all  necessary  and  required  food  and  clothes  (tobacco  not  herein 
counted)  and  free  transportation  to  Alaska.  Should  any  of  the  under¬ 
signed,  after  two  years’  service,  desire  his  salary  to  be  paid  with  rein¬ 
deer  instead  of  money,  such  payment  shall  take  place.  The  price  for 
reindeer  shall  then  be  counted  according  to  the  price  at  that  certain 
time  prevailing  or  which  is  paid  in  the  common  market.  Even  so. 
shall  every  one  of  the  hired  men,  if  he  is  deemed  qualified  bj7- 
appointed  Government  officials,  hayethe  right  to  a  loan  of  100  rein¬ 
deer  for  three  or  five  years,  as  will  be  later  determined,  without  lease 
or  rent,  in  such  way  that  only  the  original  number  shall  be  returned  to' 
the  Government,  and  all  offspring  or  surplus  belongs  to  the  leaser, 
all  other  things,  as  with  reference  to  residence,  etc.,  in  accordance 
with  and  under  such  conditions  as  may  be  stipulated  in  the  contracts 
of  lease.  Such  loan  of  reindeer  can,  however,  not  fake  place  before 
or  after  two  years’  period. 

Also  the  hired  men  shall  have  free  nursing  and  medicine  in  case  of 
illness  and  also  the  salary  shall  be  paid  during  the  illness,  and  free 
schooling  for  their  children,  and  they  shall  be  free  from  taxes  as  long 
as  this  contract  is  binding. 

Time  of  notice  of  end  of  service  is  put  mutually  to  six  months,  but 
no  notice  of  end  of  service  can  take  place  from  the  side  of  the  hired 
men  before  after  two  years’  period. 

This  contract  is  signed  by  all  and  every  one  of  the  undersigned,  but 
duplicates  are  to  be  made  and  to  be  signed  for  and  by  each  one  sep¬ 
arately.  Also  each  one  of  the  hired  men  shall  be  free  from  military 
service  and  have  free  lighting  and  heating,  washing  and  mending  of 
clothes,  and  all  other  things  that  are  connected  with  and  necessary  for 
existence.  The  hired  men  shall  also  be  free  from  work  on  Sundays 
except  with  reference  to  work  absolutely  necessary.  The  hides  and 
furs  of  all  the  wild  deer  which  are  caught  or  .shot  shall  belong  to  the 
man  who  has  got  hold  of  the  deer  and  can  be  sold  by  him  to  whomever 


108  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


he  likes  and  the  money  shall  be  his  private  property.  To  those  of  the 
undersigned  who  are  married  and  have  their  wives  with  them,  the 
provisions  shall  be  given  out  once  a  month  and  be  prepared  and 
cooked  by  the  wife.  The  others  who  are  not  married  shall,  according 
to  their  own  wish,  have  their  provisions  dealt  out  every  month  and 
have  their  food  prepared  by  a  cook  appointed  for  such  service. 

Should  any  of  the  undersigned  after  the  end  of  the  time  of  service 
desire  to  return  home,  he  shall  then  be  at  liberty  to  select  between 
paying  his  own  journey  home  or  that  the  Government  pay  such  jour¬ 
ney  provided  that  the  respective  man  for  such  Expense  serve  six 
months  without  salary. 

The  24th  of  January,  1898. 

Witness: 

A.  Paulsen. 

Wm.  A.  Kjellmann. 

Nils  Sara,  122.33;  Isak  Tornensis,  $22.33;  Jacob  Hatta,  $22.33; 
Lars  Larsen  Ilatta,  $22.33;  Otto  Greiner,  $22.33;  A.  Klemet- 
sen  Biti,  $22.33;  John  Eriksen  Eira,  $22.33;  Per  Mathisen 
Spein,  $22.33;  Aslak  Johnsen  Bals,  $22.33;  Per  Larsen 
Anti,  $22.33;  Hans  Sanuelson,  $22.33;  Per  Josef  sen  Por- 
sanger,  $22.33;  Nils  Klemetsen,  $22.33;  Ole  Olesen  Balir, 
$22.33;  Carl  Sakariasen,  $22.33;  Ole  Krogh,  $22.33;  Jere- 
mias  Abrahamsen,  $22.33;  Rolf  Wiig,  $22.33;  Th.  Kjelds- 
berg,  $33.50;  Alfred  Hermansen,  $22.33;  Ole  Rapp,  $22.33; 
Wilhelm  Basi,  $22.33;  Karl  O.  Suhr,  $28.95;  Ole  G.  Berg, 
$22.33;  Magnus  Kjeldsberg,  $33.50;  Ole  Johnsen  Stensfjeld, 
$22.33;  Jafet  Lindeberg,  $31.26;  Heilmar  Hansen,  $22.33; 
John  M.  Johansen,  $22.33;  Lauritz  E.  Larsen,  $22.33;  Isak 
Andersen  Bangs,  $22.33;  Beret  Eira,  $4.46;  Ida  J.  Hatta, 
$4.46;  Sofia  Andersen,  $4.46;  Marit  Persdatter  Biti,  $4.46; 
Per  Andersen,  $22.33;  Samuel  J.  Balto,  $26.80;  Otto  M. 
Leinan,  $22.33;  Anders  Balto,  $22.33;  Johan  Peter  Persen 
Rista,  $22.33;  Aslak  Aslaksen  Gaup,  $22.33;  Amund  Han¬ 
sen,  $22.33;  Ole  Olesen,  $22.33;  Johan  Peter  Johanesen 
Nango,  $22.33;  Peder  Johanesen,  $22.33;  Samuel  Josefsen, 
$22.33;  Anders  Johnsen,  $22.33;  Iver  Persen  Vest,  $22.33; 
Johannes  Aslaksen  Raima,  $22.33;  Johan  Olsen  Pulk, 
$22.33;  Lars  Larsen  Anti,  $22.33;  Ole  Johannessen  Pulk, 
$22.33;  Lauritz  Stefansen,  $22.33;  Peder  Berg,  $22.33;  O. 
Paulsen,  $40.20;  John  Andersen,  $22.33;  Mathis  Klemet¬ 
sen,  $22.33;  Ole  Klemetsen  Hatta,  $22.33;  Alfred  Nilima, 
$22.33;  Nils  Persen  Bals,  $26.80;  Anders  Persen  tftzi, 
$22.33;  Klemet  Nilsen,  $22.33;  J.  P.  Johanesen  Stalogargo, 
$22.33;  Per  Johannessen  Ilatta,  $22.33;  Per  Nilsen  Siri, 
$22.33;  Klemet  Persen  Boini,  $22.33;  Anders  Aslaksen 
Bar,  $22.33;  Hans  Andersen  Siri,  $22.33;  Emil  Kjeldberg, 
$33.50;  Johan  I.  Tornensis,  $26.80;  Isak  J.  Hatta,  $22.33. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  109 


DR.  SHELDON  JACKSON  DETAILED  TO  TAKE  CHARGE  OF  THE  LAPPS 
AND  REINDEER  EN  ROUTE  TO  ALASKA. 

Department  of  the  Interior, 

Bureau  of  Education, 

Washington ,  I).  C.,  March  10,  1898. 

My  Dear  Sir:  By  the  direction  of  the  honorable  the  Secretary  of 
the  Interior,  yon  are  hereby  detailed  for  special  duty  in  the  district 
of  Alaska.  The  details  of  his  instructions  are  as  follows: 

Dr.  Jackson  will  at  once  proceed  to  Dyea,  in  Alaska,  and  confer  with  the  officer 
of  the  War  Department  in  charge  of  the  Alaskan  relief  expedition  for  the  care 
of  the  reindeer  across  the  country  to  Circle  City  and  their  care  near  that  place 
until  they  shall  be  turned  over  to  him  in  May,  of  1898;  thereafter,  he  will  proceed 
to  sell  them  as  seems  best  for  the  interests  of  this  Department,  and  with  the  pro¬ 
ceeds  arrange  to  purchase  does  to  replace  those  borrowed  from  the  herds  in  Alaska 
belonging  to  private  parties  and  used  during  the  past  winter  for  the  relief  of 
destitute  miners  and  whalers  in  that  section. 

His  traveling  expenses,  including  subsistence,  will  be  paid  by  the  War  Depart¬ 
ment  out  of  the  relief  fund. 

Very  truly,  yours, 

W.  T.  Harris,  Commissioner. 

Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

United  States  General  Agent  of  Education  in  Alaska. 


TELEGRAMS  CONNECTED  WITH  THE  COMMISSION  TO  LAPLAND. 

New  York,  November  22,  1897 . 

Sheldon  Jackson,  Bureau  of  Education: 

Our  company  cables  through  rate  reindeer,  Tromsoe  New  York,  £4  15s.  sterling 
per  head,  including  attendants,  if  500  carried  at  once,  but  excluding  charges 
caused  by  detainment  Christian  sand;  shippers  to  furnish  food  and  stables.  Our 
Mr.  Johnson  will  be  in  Washington  to-morrow  morning.  When  and  where  can 
he  meet  you? 

A.  E.  Johnson  &  Co. 


Sheldon  Jackson,  Bureau  of  Education: 

Our  company  cables  in  continuance  with  our  yesterday  cable,  “Add,  freight 
prepaid.  Ship  not  responsible  for  sickness  or  death.’’ 

A.  E.  Johnson  &  Co. 


[W.  H.  Root,  importer,  exporter,  and  dealer  in  living  wild  animals.  Cable  address,  Deer.”] 

Laramie,  Wyo.,  November  19,  1897. 

Sheldon  Jackson,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Dear  Sir:  Referring  to  yours  of  November  1G,  we  will  deliver  1,000  reindeer  at 
Dyea  or  any  other  regular  steamer  landing  on  the  Pacific  coast  for  §150,000; 
fifty  Lapps,  as  stated,  at  §2,500.  Can  deliver  at  any  time  in  about  ninety  days  after 
contract  is  made. 

Yours,  truly,  W.  H.  Root. 

P.  S.— Prices  are  subject  to  change  at  any  time  without  notice  until  such  time 
as  contract  is  signed. 


110  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


Washington,  D.  C.,  December  22 ,  1897. 

Wm.  A.  Kjellmann,  Alten,  Norway: 

How  soon  and  at  what  price  can  you  purchase  600  No.  1  reindeer,  trained  to 
harness,  and  ship  the  same  with  drivers?  Answer. 

R.  A.  Alger,  Secretary  of  War. 


Alten,  Norway,  December  22 ,  1897. 


Secretary  of  War,  Washington ,  D.  C.: 

Can  probably  ship  500  reindeer  February  15. 


Kjellmann. 


Washington,  December  23, 1897. 

Wm.  A.  Kjellmann,  Alten ,  Norway: 

We  want,  at  once,  500  extra  good  reindeer,  trained  to  harness,  with  harness,  sleds, 
and  drivers.  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  sails  Saturday  to  assist  you.  Telegraph  him 
Cecil  Hotel,  London,  December  31,  how  many  you  have  secured,  and  long  it  will 
take  to  purchase  the  remainder,  and  he  will  cable  you  further  what  to  do. 

G.  D.  Meiklejohn, 
Acting  Secretary  of  War. 


Washington,  D.  C.,  December  24, 1897. 

Wm.  A.  Kjellmann,  Alten,  Norway: 

No  use  unless  they  can  be  shipped  by  January  20.  Dr.  Jackson  and  Lieutenant 
Devore  sail  to-morrow  for  Alten.  In  the  meantime  make  every  possible  effort  to 
assemble  the  reindeer  for  shipment. 

R.  A.  Alger,  Secretary  of  War. 


New  York,  December  25,  1897. 

Wm.  A.  Kjellmann,  Alten,  Norway: 

Hire  all  men  you  need  to  help  you  get  reindeer.  Pay  extra  prices  if  necessary; 
get  good  deer  in  time. 

Sheldon  Jackson. 


Alten,  Norway,  December  31,  1897. 

Sheldon  Jackson, 

Cecil  Hotel,  London,  England: 

Five  men  purchasing  reindeer.  Not  reported  yet.  Moss  on  hand  Roros.  Ves¬ 
sel  must  sail  direct  Alten  America.  Transhipping  dangerous.  Situation 
entangled.  Where  can  I  draw  money  at  once  per  telegraph?  Leave  for  moun¬ 
tains  Monday.  Bring  one  new  twenty-dollar  gold  piece.  Call  Bretania  Hotel, 
Trondhjem. 

Kjellmann. 


Corn  Exchange,  Liverpool,  January  1,  1898. 

Hon.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

Hotel  Cecil,  London: 

Owing  New  Year  holiday  to-day,  fear  unable  say  anything  definite  before 
Monday. 


Ismay. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  Ill 


London,  England,  January  1 , 1898. 

Wm,  A.  Kjellmann,  Alten,  Norway: 

What  is  the  trouble?  Will  telegraph  funds  if  possible  to-morrow.  Leave 
Thursday  for  Alten. 

Jackson. 


London,  England,  January  3,  1898. 

Wm.  A.  Kjellmann,  Alten,  Norway: 

Telegraph  Dr.  Jackson  at  Trondhjem  Thursday  number  deer  with  drivers  and 
outfit  you  can  have  ready  by  15tli.  He  is  on  the  way;  could  not  telegraph  him. 

Devore. 


London,  England,  January  3,  1898. 

Wm.  A.  Kjellmann,  Alten ,  Norivay: 

Wire  if  safe  to  send  Mississippi  to  Alten  for  reindeer;  also  if  clear  of  ice  during 
winter. 

Lerum. 


Lerum,  London,  England: 

Alten  safe  and  clear  for  any  ships. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  3,  1898. 
Too  early  yet  to  send  vessel. 

Kjellmann. 


Alten,  January  3,  1898. 

Sheldon  Jackson,  Cecil  Hotel,  London: 

Trouble  is  brewing  holding  moss,  reindeer,  without  funds.  Prospects  fair. 
Telegraph  funds.  Am  waiting. 

Kjellmann. 


London,  England,  January  3,  1898. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Hotel  Cecil,  London: 

Have  splendid  steamer  offered.  Three  pounds  ten  shillings.  Please  come  see 
us  quick. 

Abdicate. 
London,  January  3,  1898. 

Hon.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

Hotel  Cecil,  London: 

Hoyland  &  Co.,  8  Great  St.  Helens,  London,  offer  steamer  Grafton  reindeer 
Tromsoe  to  Liverpool.  It  may  possibly  be  helpful  if  you  see  them. 

Ismay. 


London,  January  3,  189S. 

Hon.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

Hotel  Cecil,  London: 

Sutherlands,  38  Sandhill,  Newcastle-on-Tyne,  offer  North  Anglia,  now  at  Nyborg 
Lump  sum.  thousand  pounds,  Tromso  to  Liverpool,  five  days  loading,  discharg¬ 
ing.  Steamer  1,359  tons  net.  Has  between  decks. 

Ismay. 


Washington,  D.  C.,  January  3,  1898. 


Sheldon  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

Secure  sufficient  moss  to  last  reindeer  sixty  days  after  reaching  Dyea.  Answer. 

R.  A.  Alger,  Secretary  of  War. 


112  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  3 ,  1898. 

Secretary  of  War,  Washington,  D.  C.: 

Will  try.  Jackson  not  arrived.  Repeated  to  Jackson,  Trondhjem. 

Kjellmann. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  4,  1898. 

Sheldon  Jackson, 

Grand  Hotel,  Trondhjem,  Norway: 

When  in  Trondhjem,  you  must  kindly  deposit  8,000  or  10,000  kroner  in  Nordenf- 
jeldske  Kreditbank  as  guaranty  and  successive  pay  to  Mr.  A.  Skjerdingstad 
Roros,  with  whom  I  have  bargained  for  900  loads  moss.  Also  arrange  about 
shipping  the  moss  to  Trondhjem  by  rail.  Store  in  open  air  with  cover.  Recom¬ 
mending  Backes  as  agents.  Probably  leave  Devore  few  days.  Trondhjem  attend 
this  matter.  Moss  scarce  here. 

Kjellmann. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  5,  1898. 

Sheldon  Jackson, 

Grand  Hotel,  Trondhjem: 

Can  not  ship  reindeer  January  15.  Don’t  send  vessel  too  early.  Secretary 
Alger  telegraphed  yesterday  following:  “  Secure  sufficient  moss  to  last  reindeer 
sixty  days  after  reaching  Dyea/’  I  answered,  “Will  try.'’  From  our  agent,  Mr. 
Skjerdingstad  Roros,  probably  few  hundred  loads  can  be  had  in  addition  to  what 
is  bargained.  Notify  Skjerdingstad  at  once  per  telegraph  where  to  draw  funds. 
Telegraph  me  necessary  funds  pay  reindeer. 

Kjellmann. 


Wm.  A.  Kjellmann,  Alten,  Norway: 
Are  the  reindeer  dehorned? 


Washington,  D.  C.,  January  6,  1898. 

Geo.  D.  Meiklejohn, 
Acting  Secretary  of  War. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  6,  1898. 

Secretary  of  War,  Washington,  D.  C.: 

Not  yet.  Kjellmann. 


Washington,  D.  C.,  January  7, 1898. 

W.  A.  Kjellmann,  Alten,  Norway: 

Dehorn  reindeer  if  practicable.  Answer. 

Meiklejohn,  Acting  Secretary  of  War. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  7,  1898. 

Meiklejohn,  Acting  Secretary  of  War: 

Will  dehorn  some.  Kjellmann. 


Trondhjem,  January  8,  1898'. 

Kjellmann,  Bosekop : 

Send  ikke  ponge  tu  Skjerdingstad  for  unsmosen.  Jeg  har  beardul  ham  send 
den  tu  Tonseth  Trondhjem  som  vil  bebale  ham  ved  modtagelsen  Sammel  renum 
lappum  ete  i  Alten  fardig  tie  endstibning. 


Jackson, 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  113 


London,  January  6,  1898. 

W.  A.  Kjellmann,  Alten,  Norway: 

Wire  me  under  address  Abdicate,  London,  how  many  reindeer  you  can  guar¬ 
antee  by  the  15th. 

Devore. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  7,  1898. 
Lieutenant  Devore,  Cecil  Hotel,  London,  England: 

January  15,  none.  February  15,  500,  with  sleds,  drivers,  and  250  tons  moss. 

Kjellmann. 


Trondh jem  ,  January  8,  1898. 

W.  A.  Kjellmann,  Alten,  Norway: 

You  can  write  checks  on  Nordenfjeldske  Kreditbank,  Trondh, jem,  for  3,500 
kroner.  I  leave  to-night  for  Alten.  Telegraph  me,  Grand  Hotel,  how  many  deer 
you  have. 

Jackson. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  8,  1898. 

Sheldon  Jackson,  Grand  Hotel,  Thjeni: 

Two  hundred  bargained.  Leave  for  Kautokeino  to-morrow  if  Kreditbank  tele¬ 
graph  money  to-day.  Will  meet  you  Alten. 

Kjellmann. 


Trondhjem,  January  8,  1898. 

Lieutenant  Devore,  Cecil  Hotel,  London: 

E.  A.  Tonseth,  Trondhjem,  Norway,  will  secure  reindeer  moss.  Mail  Monday, 
without  fail,  check  payable  to  his  order  for  £470.  I  did  not  bring  sufficient  pay 
for  moss.  Have  steamship  call  at  Trondhjem  for  400  tons  moss.  Local  steamers 
too  small  to  carry  it  to  Alten.  I  leave  to-night;  reach  Alten  Friday.  Can  tele¬ 
graph  me  Tromsoe  Monday.  Hammerfest  Tuesday  en  route.  Will  not  be  ready 
for  steamship  before. 

J  ACKSON. 


Washington,  D.  C.,  January  8,  1898. 

Sheldon  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

Advise  number,  when  shipped,  and  number  dehorned. 

Meiklejohn,  Acting  Secretary  of  War. 


London,  January  8,  1898. 

W.  A.  Kjellmann,  Alten,  Norway: 

Manitoban  will  be  Trondhjem  about  15th.  Is  moss  there  or  Alten.  Leave  here 
to-morrow.  Address  Allan  Bros.,  shippers,  Glasgow. 

Devore. 


Lieutenant  Devore, 

Care  Allan  Bros.,  Glasgow,  Scotland: 
Moss  mainly  at  Trondhjem. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  8,  1898. 


S.  Doc.  34- 


■8 


Kjellmann. 


114  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


January  10,  1898. 

Lieutenant  Devore,  Cecil  Hotel,  London: 

Buying  delayed  for  funds.  Mail  check  immediately  for  $3,000  to  Nordenf  jeldske 
Kreditbank,  Trondhjem,  Norway,  payable  to  their  order,  and  ask  them  telegraph 
me  the  money  at  Alten.  Can  be  done. 

Jackson. 


Sheldon  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 
Funds  to  your  credit. 


Trondhjem,  January  17,  1898. 


Devore. 


Christiania,  Norway,  January  11,  1898. 

Sheldon  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

Have  you  chartered  steamer  for  your  reindeer  for  New  York,  or  can  you  use  for 
part  thereof  steamer  Tjome  that  has  about  105,000  cubic  feet  at  disposal?  Could 
be  Trondhjem  or  Finmarken  first  half  February.  Kindly  telegraph. 

Ottother. 


Glasgow,  January  11, 1898. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Hammerfest,  Norway: 

Ship  arranged.  Hitch  animals  as  cattle.  Drivers  accordingly.  Leave  via  New¬ 
castle  for  Trondhjem  to-day.  Jansen  wires  possibly  all  can  be  loaded  by  22d. 

Devore,  Central  Hotel. 


Sheldon  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 
What  is  situation? 


Trondhjem,  Norway,  January  16, 1898. 


Devore. 


January  17,  1898. 

Lieutenant  Devore,  care  Tonseth,  Trondhjem: 

Kjellmann  has  bought  500  selected  trained  reindeer;  sleds;  50  drivers.  Ready 
for  shipment  January  29.  January  3  Alger  cabled  Kjellmann  for  500  tons  moss 
extra.  Therefore  bring  700  tons  moss  from  Trondhjem.  Load  cool  part  of  ship. 
Funds  where? 

Jackson. 


Dr.  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 
Funds  Alien’s  Sparebank. 


Trondhjem,  January  17,  1898. 

Devore. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  17,  1898. 

Secretary  of  War,  Washington ,  D.  C.: 

Kjellmann  arrived  from  interior.  Bought  500  choice  reindeer.  All  horns 
removed.  Secured  sleds  and  drivers.  Steamship  loading  moss  Trondhjem. 

Jackson. 


Trondhjem,  Norway,  January  17,  1898. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

Steamer  here  about  19th.  Alten  about  25th.  Be  ready,  if  possible,  Demurrage 
if  delay. 


Devore. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  115 


Trondhjem,  January  17,  1898. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Alien,  Norway: 

Lapp  here  well  recommended.  Want  any  more?  What  terms?  Perhaps  70 
deer  here;  want  them?  Want  any  more  moss  than  what  is  here  and  there? 

Devore.  Grand  Hotel. 


Trondhjem,  January  17,  1898. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Alten: 

Did  Kjellmann  send  following  telegram  from  Alten?  “January  8.  Devore, 
Abdicate,  London,  England:  January  15,  none;  February  15,  500,  with  sleds, 
drivers,  250  tons  moss.  Kjellmann.  Answer.  Haste.  ” 

Devore,  Grand  Hotel. 


Alten,  January  IS,  1S98. 

Lieutenant  Devore,  Grand  Hotel,  Trondhjem: 

Kjellmann  sent  telegram  quoted.  The  moss  mentioned  was  at  Rbros.  Alger 
afterwards  enlarged  order  to  between  000  and  700  tons  in  all.  Only  20  tons  here. 
Bring  rest  from  Trondhjem.  Five  hundred  reindeer  bought;  no  more  wanted. 
Kjellmann  promised  Lapp  K  jeldsberg.  Bringhim.  If  another  well  recommended, 
bring  him  also.  Will  receive  same  as  others.  Contracts  made  here. 

Jackson. 


Trondhjem,  January  18,  1898. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

Plenty  moss  here.  Has  Sivertsen  bought  reindeer  for  Jansen  there?  How 
many?  Am  waiting  answer  last  night's  telegram. 

Devore. 


Alten,  January  17,  1898. 

Sivertsen,  Mosjoen,  Noriuay: 

If  Bosekop  moss  for  me,  notify  agent  turn  it  over  to  me.  Discontinue  buying. 
Will  not  receive  it  Tromsoe  or  elsewhere. 

Jackson. 


Alten,  January  17,  1898. 

Lieutenant  Devore,  Trondhjem,  Norway: 

Be  on  guard  against  Tonseth  and  Jansen.  Both  worked  against  Kjellmann  and 
are  fleecing  us.  Sivertsen  now  buying  moss  here  in  competition  with  me,  raising 
the  price  and  shipping  to  Tromsoe.  Notify  Jansen  we  not  receive  this  unless 
turned  over  to  me  here.  To-day’s  advices:  Plenty  of  moss  to  be  had  Rbros. 
Sivertsen,  since  notified  to  help  me,  has  wired  here  for  deer  in  opposition. 

Before  leaving,  inquire  post-office  for  letters. 

Jackson. 


Trondhjem,  Norway,  January  18,  1898. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

Jansen  has  just  telegraphed  Nelsen  and  Sivertsen  deliver  you  about  GO  tons 
moss,  for  which  he  has  advanced  1,800  kroner  on  our  account. 

Devore. 


Washington,  D.  C.,  January  18,  1898. 

Sheldon  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

Cable  number  attendants.  Have  any  families? 

Meiklejohn,  Acting  Secretary  of  War. 


116  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  19 , 1898. 

Meiklejohn, 

War  Department,  Washington,  D.  C. : 

Probably  15  out  of  50  attendants  have  families.  Will  cable  definitely  before 
sailing.  Reindeer  men  needed  permanently  in  Alaska.  Families  important. 
Have  not  agreed  to  return  any  to  Lapland. 

Jackson. 


Washington,  D.  C.,  January  19, 1898. 


Dr.  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

Inquire  how  many  deer  can  be  shipped  in  cars  8  by  36. 


Meiklejohn. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  20,  1898. 


George  D.  Meiklejohn, 

Acting  Secretary  of  War ,  Washington.  D.  C.: 
Eighteen  or  twenty.  Same  space  as  Mexican  burro. 


Jackson. 


Dr.  J  ackson,  Alten: 

Are  reindeer  all  secure  and  ready? 


Trondhjem,  January  19,  1898. 

Devore. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  19,  1898. 

Lieutenant  Devore, 

Cecil  Hotel,  Trondhjem,  Norway: 

Reindeer  secure.  Being  driven  in  from  interior.  Not  ready  for  shipment 
before  29tli. 

Jackson. 


Alten,  January  18,  1898. 

Lieutenant  Devore,  Trondhjem,  Norway: 

Sivertsen  tried  to  get  reindeer  here  last  week,  but  failed.  Yesterday's  telegrams 
answered.  Kjellmann  contracted  Rcros  moss  7  and  8  kroner  load.  January  8  I 
advanced  Tonseth  on  moss  5,600  kroner. 

Jackson. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  19,  1898 . 

Lieutenant  Devore,  Grand,  Trondhjem: 

Nilson  bought  Sivertsen  and  delivered  me  80  loads  moss  at  total  cost  1,240 
kroner.  He  received  from  them  only  800  kroner,  440  still  due.  Friend  of  Jansen 
wrote  here,  if  they  got  deer,  make  good  thing  out  of  us. 

Jackson. 


Trondhjem,  January 

Dr.  Jackson,  Alten,  Nomvay: 

Plenty  moss;  do  not  take  more  except  at  low  price. 


1898 . 


Devore. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  20,  1898. 

Lieutenant  Devore,  Trondhjem,  Norway: 

Shall  I  buy  10  kroner,  load? 


Jackson. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  117 


Dr.  Jackson,  Alten ,  Norway: 

About  700  tons  here,  do  as  you  think  best. 


Trondhjem,  January  21,  1898. 


Devore. 


Trondhjem,  January  21,  1898. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Alten ,  Norway: 

Three  men  used  to  handling  reindeer  want  employment.  Do  you  want  them? 
Steamer  not  yet  arrived. 

Devore. 


Tromsoe,  Norway,  January  21,  189S. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

After  order  from  Mocatta,  Jansen,  London,  is  for  your  account  of  me  in  Sweden, 
bought  500  reindeer,  which  come  to  Skibotten  Monday,  January  24.  Telegram 
from  Jansen  to-day.  You  are  the  receiver.  What  is  to  do?  Telegraph  immedi¬ 
ately. 

SlVERTSEN. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  21,  1898. 


Sivertsen,  Tromsoe,  Norway: 

I  did  not  order  reindeer,  and  refuse  to  receive  them. 


Jackson. 


Dr.  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

What  is  your  outlay  for  moss  and  reindeer? 


Trondhjem,  January  22,  1898. 


Devore. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  22,  1898. 

Lieutenant  Devore,  Trondhjem,  Noncay: 

Paid  so  far,  moss  and  reindeer,  23,875  kroner;  much  more  to  be  paid.  Alten 
bank  unable  to  furnish  money  until  Monday  next.  Jansen  telegraphs  you  ordered 
him  to  get  reindeer.  Did  you  order?  If  so,  how  many? 

Jackson. 

Trondhjem,  January  22,  1898. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

Gave  no  order  to  buy  any  independent  of  you.  Jansen  has  given  me  untold 
trouble. 

Devore. 


Alten,  January  22,  1898. 

Lieutenant  Devore,  Grand,  Trondhjem: 

Sivertsen  telgraphs  that  upon  Jansen’s  order  he  bought  500  reindeer  for  us  and 
that  Jansen  now  telegraphs  him  to  deliver  them  to  me.  I  replied  that  I  did  not 
order  reindeer  and  refuse  to  receive  them.  Better  inform  American  consul,  Trondh¬ 
jem.  No  telling  what  Jansen  may  try  after  you  leave. 

Jackson. 


Alten,  January  22,  1898. 

Lieutenant  Devore,  Grand ,  Trondhjem: 

Compel  settlement  with  Jansen  while  you  have  consul,  Trondhjem,  to  assist  you. 
Remember  Jansen  paid  only  800  kroner  here  for  moss. 


Jackson. 


118  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


Alten,  January  22 ,  1898. 

Lieutenant  Devore,  Grand,  Trondhjem ,  Norway: 

See  ship’s  papers  custom-house,  Trondhjem,  are  straight.  Allow  taking  cargo 
Alten  and  sailing  direct  America.  N o  custom  office  here.  Telegraph  sailing. 

Jackson. 


Dr.  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 
Is  harness  provided? 


Washington,  D.  C.,  January  22,  1898. 

Meiklejohn. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  22,  1898. 


George  D.  Meiklejohn, 

Acting  Secretary  of  War,  Washington ,  D.  C.: 
Harness  and  sleds  all  provided. 


Jackson. 


Trondhjem,  January  24,  1898. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

Ship  here  fear  won’t  hold  all  moss.  How  many  Lapps  go?  Have  you  sufficient 
funds? 

Devore. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  24,  1898. 

Lieutenant  Devore,  Trondhjem,  Norway: 

Probably  sufficient  funds.  About  80  to  100  people  and  grown  children.  If  ship 
won’t  hold  moss,  place  200  tons  with  commission  house  for  sale;  500  tons  sufficient 
for  us.  Take,  however,  all  you  have  room  for.  Perhaps  better  pack  some  ice  with 
moss. 

Jackson. 


Trondhjem,  January  24,  1898. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

Ship  could  not  come  to  wharf.  Loading  by  lighter.  Moss  broken  up;  not 
sacked;  can’t  take  all.  Ice  impracticable.  Kjeldsberg  not  reported. 

Devore. 


Trondhjem,  January  26,  1898. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

Loading  delayed  by  rough  water.  Probably  leave  here  to-morrow  morning.  Is 
Treasury  check  taken  there? 

Devore. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  26,  1898. 

Lieutenant  Devore,  Trondhjem,  Norway: 

Treasury  checks  taken  if  bank  has  sufficient  money. 

Jackson. 


Trondhjem,  January  27,  1898. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Alten,  Norway: 

Storm  stopped  loading.  Has  bank  sufficient  money? 

Devore. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  119 


Lieutenant  Devore,  Grand,  Trondhjem: 
Bring  3,700  kroner. 


Alten,  January  27,  1898. 

Jackson. 


January  28,  1898. 

Lieutenant  Devore: 

A  few  Lapps  backed  out.  If  three  or  four  well  recommended,  used  to  reindeer, 
bring  them.  Salary  1,000  kroner  year,  with  food  and  clothing. 

Jackson. 


Dr.  Jackson,  Alten: 

Leave  for  Alten  to-night.  Be  ready. 


Trondhjem,  January  28,  1898. 


Devore. 


Hammerfest,  January  29,  1898. 

Dr.  Jackson,  Alten: 

When  is  Manitoban  expected?  Will  she  go  direct  to  sea  when  leaving  Alten  or 
via  another  seaport  in  Norway?  Do  you  wish  the  vessel  cleared  northward  with¬ 
out  calling  at  Hammerfest?  In  that  case  I  will  send  an  officer  at  the  expense  of 
the  steamer. 

Derickson,  Custom-House  Inspector. 


Alten,  Norway,  January  29,  1898. 

Toldboden,  Hammerfest: 

Expected  Tuesday.  Will  consult  captain.  Let  you  know  after  arrival. 

Jackson. 


Washington,  D.  C.,  February  2,  1898. 

Sheldon  Jackson,  Alien,  Norway: 

You  sail  when? 

Meiklejohn. 


Alten,  Norway,  February  3,  1898. 

George  D.  Meiklejohn, 

Acting  Secretary  of  War: 

Ship  delayed  by  storms.  Expect  to  sail  to-morrow  morning.  Will  cable  agaii 

Jackson. 


Alten,  Norway,  February  3,  1898. 

Secretary  of  War,  Washington,  D.  C.: 

Manitoban  sails  to-day  with  530  reindeer  and  87  Lapps,  men  and  women. 

Jackson. 


MR.  H.  E.  REDMEYER  GIVEN  CHARGE  OF  REINDEER  EN  ROUTE  TO 

CIRCLE  CITY. 


Seattle,  Wash.,  March  16,  1898. 
Sir:  lrou  are  hereby  appointed  to  take  charge  of  a  herd  of  reindeer 
i  and  a  party  of  drivers  and  convey  them  across  from  Haines  to  Circle 
I  City,  where  you  will  await  further  instructions. 


120  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


Your  salary  until  February  1,  1899,  will  be  $75  per  month  and 
rations,  to  be  paid  from  the  Alaska  relief  fund. 

After  February  1,  1899,  your  salary  will  be  at  the  rate  of  $900  a 
year,  without  rations,  to  be  paid  from  the  reindeer  fund. 

Sheldon  Jackson, 

United  States  General  Agent  of  Education  in  Alaska , 

Special  Agent  of  War  Department. 

Mr.  Hedley  E.  Redmeyer. 


OFFICERS  OF  THE  ARMY  TO  ASSIST  DR.  SHELDON  JACKSON. 

Headquarters  Department  of  the  Columbia, 

Vancouver  Barracks ,  Wash.,  March  17,  1898. 
Commanding  Officer,  Fort  St.  Michael,  Alaska. 

Sir:  By  direction  of  the  Assistant  Secretary  of  War  you  are 
instructed  to  cooperate  with  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson,  agent  for  the 
Interior  Department,  and  extend  to  him  every  facility  at  your  com¬ 
mand  in  connection  with  his  mission  of  introducing  reindeer  into 
Alaska  not  incompatible  with  the  duty  to  which  you  have  been 
assigned,  the  execution  of  which  is  paramount  to  all  other  consider¬ 
ations. 

By  command  of  Brigadier-General  Merriam: 

Thomas  H.  Barry, 
Assistant  Adjutant- General. 

Fort  St.  Michael,  Alaska,  July  12,  1898. 

Official  copy  respectfully  furnished  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  for  his  | 
information. 

Edward  Bell, 

Second  Lieutenant,  Eighth  Infantry,  Adjutant. 


MR.  H.  E.  REDMEYER  COMMENDED  TO  MERCHANTS. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  April  6, 1898. 

To  the  agents  of  the  North  American  Trading  and  Transportation  j 
Company  or  Alaska  Commercial  Company,  Yukon  River,  Alaska. 
Sirs  :  This  will  introduce  to  you  Mr.  Hedley  E.  Redmeyer,  who  is  j 
in  charge  of  a  herd  of  Government  reindeer  with  the  attendant  drivers.  | 
If  he  and  his  party  should  by  accident  lose  their  provisions,  or  be 
in  urgent  need  of  more  supplies,  you  are  hereby  authorized  to  furnish 
the  same  and  send  bill  in  triplicate,  duly  signed,  to  me,  Bureau  of 
Education,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Very  truly,  yours, 

Sheldon  Jackson, 

United  States  General  Agent  of  Education  in  Alaska. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  121 


MR.  H.  E.  REDMEYER  COMMENDED  TO  TRANSPORTATION 

COMPANIES. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  April  6 ,  1898. 

To  the  transportation  companies  on  the  Yukon  River ,  Alaska . 

Sirs:  Yrou  are  hereby  authorized  to  furnish  second-class  passage 
for  Mr.  Hedley  E.  Redmeyer  and  such  reindeer  drivers  as  he  may 
have  with  him  to  St.  Michael.  The  bill  for  the  same  will  be  made 
out  in  triplicate  and  mailed  to  me,  Bureau  of  Education,  Washington, 
D.  C.,  for  payment. 

If  he  should  have  reindeer  for  transportation,  you  are  authorized  to 
take  them  down  the  river  to  Nulato,  or  a  point  where  the  trail  goes 
overland  to  IJnalaklik  and  St.  Michael. 

Very  truly,  yours, 

Sheldon  Jackson, 

United  States  General  Agent  of  Education  in  Alaska. 


INSTRUCTIONS  TO  WILLIAM  A.  KJELLMANN. 

Haines,  Alaska,  April  9 ,  1898. 

Sir:  When  you  have  placed  the  reindeer  on  good  pasturage  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  summit  on  the  Dalton  trail,  and  assisted  in  get¬ 
ting  the  supplies  up  to  the  reindeer,  so  that  Mr.  Redmeyer  and  his 
party  can  continue  their  journey,  without  further  assistance,  across 
the  country  to  the  moss  hills  back  of  Circle  City,  you  will  take  the 
balance  of  the  party,  together  with  the  supplies,  to  Fort  Townsend  to 
await  the  time  when  they  can  be  sent  to  IJnalaklik. 

Before  leaving  Haines  you  will  settle  all  bills,  so  far  as  you  can,  and 
where  they  can  not  be  paid  for  want  of  funds,  procure  the  bills  in 
writing  to  be  settled  hereafter,  and  send  both  receipts  and  bills  to  me 
at  Washington.  You  will  also  pile  up  in  a  neat  manner  any  sleds 
that  may  be  left.  Extra  harness,  together  with  supplies,  will  be  sent 
to  Fort  Townsend,  to  be  taken  afterwards  to  Eaton  Reindeer  Station, 
near  Unalaklik.  Mark  everything  “U.  S.  R.  S.”  or  “Reindeer,”  Fort 
Townsend,  Wash.  On  your  way  down  the  coast  write  me  a  full 
account  of  the  herd  and  your  success  and  adventures  in  reaching  the 
summit.  Also  send  a  list  of  the  men  sent  in  with  Mr.  Redmeyer. 

Very  truly,  yours, 

Sheldon  Jackson, 
Special  Agent, ,  War  Department. 

Mr.  William  A.  Kjellmann. 


122  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


INSTRUCTIONS  TO  H.  E.  REDMEYER. 

Department  of  the  Interior, 

Bureau  of  Education,  Alaska  Division, 

Washington ,  D.  (7.,  April  9 ,  1898. 

Sir:  When  Mr.  William  A.  Kjellmann  returns  to  the  States  you,  as 
assistant  superintendent  of  reindeer  Government  stations  in  Alaska, 
will  assume  the  control  of  and  be  responsible  for  the  safe  care  and 
transportation  of  275  reindeer,  with  sleds,  harness,  and  other  prop¬ 
erty  of  the  Government,  from  Chilkat  to  pasturage  near  Circle  City 
or  Fort  Cuddahy,  on  American  soil.  When  you  reach  such  pasturage 
you  will  camp  for  the  summer,  or  until  further  instructions.  Mr. 
Kjellmann  can  direct  you  to  good  pasturage  on  the  hills  back  of 
Circle  City.  Unless  they  arrive  before  you  start  inland,  while  you 
are  in  camp  near  Circle  City,  it  is  expected  that  200  head  of  reindeer 
will  be  sold  to  Mr.  P.  C.  Richardson,  who  has  secured  the  carrying 
of  the  mail  from  Juneau  via  Dawson  and  Circle  City  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Tanana;  but  you  will  not  deliver  them  to  him  or  anyone  else 
without  a  written  order  from  myself  or  Mr.  Kjellmann,  which  order 
must  specify  the  number  of  deer,  sleds,  and  harness  that  is  to  be 
turned  over  to  Mr.  Richardson  or  his  agent,  also  the  drivers,  by 
name,  that  are  to  go  into  Mr.  Richardson’s  employ. 

It  is  also  expected  that  another  100  head  of  deer  will  be  sold  to  the 
Klondike,  Yukon  and  Copper  River  Company,  and  you  will  deliver 
to  them  or  their  authorized  agent  only  upon  a  written  order  from  me 
or  Mr.  Kjellmann,  specifying  number  of  deer,  sleds,  harness,  etc.,  1 
also,  by  name,  the  drivers. 

After  the  above  200  are  taken  from  the  herd  you  are  authorized  to  sell 
the  remaining  reindeer  in  lots  of  10,  at  $125  each.  You  must  in  every 
instance  collect  the  pay  before  delivering  the  animals  and  deposit  it 
to  my  credit  with  the  nearest  agent  of  the  North  American  Trading 
and  Transportation  Company,  taking  his  receipt  for  the  same.  You 
can  allow  one  driver  to  accompany  each  lot  of  10  sold  to  private  par¬ 
ties.  If  all  the  deer  in  your  charge  should  be  sold,  you  will  then  take 
passage  down  the  river  to  St.  Michael  and  then  up  the  coast  to  Eaton 
Reindeer  Station,  near  Unalaklik,  bringing  with  you  such  drivers  as 
you  may  have  left,  also  the  Government  property  in  your  hands. 

I  give  you  an  order  on  the  transportation  companies  for  passage 
down  the  river. 

The  rations  that  you  take  in  with  you  are  expected  to  last  until 
August  31,  by  which  time  you  will  be  able  to  reach  the  Eaton  Rein¬ 
deer  Station,  where  the  balance  of  the  rations  will  be  sent. 

You  will  constantly  keep  before  you  that  while  it  is  desirable  that 
Military  Expedition  No.  1,  Captain  Brainard  commanding,  and  United 
States  Interior  Department  herd,  in  charge  of  yourself,  should  cross 
the  country  together  from  Chilkat  to  Circle  City,  yet  yours  is  an 
independent  command — that  you  are  not  under  orders  from  Captain 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  123 


Brainard.  The  Secretary  of  the  Interior  will  hold  you  personally 
responsible  for  the  safety  of  the  reindeer  and  other  property  intrusted 
to  your  care. 

If  the  military  officers  wish  to  go  down  to  Dawson  City,  you  will  not 
take  the  herd  in  your  care  down  into  the  valley,  but  will  remain  on 
pasturage  on  the  hills  until  they  go  down  and  return. 

While  you  are  entirely  independent  of  the  military  expedition,  yet 
I  wish  you  to  render  it  such  assistance  in  crossing  the  country  as  you 
can  without  injuring  or  overworking  the  deer  in  your  charge. 

The  harness  belonging  to  the  sleds  you  will,  if  you  can,  take  with 
you  after  the  sleds  are  left. 

If  the  snow  gives  out  entirely  before  you  reach  Circle  City,  you  will 
cache  your  sleds  and  make  a  note  of  the  location,  so  that  they  can 
be  recovered  next  fall.  You  will  take  with  you  a  board  to  place  by 
the  sleds,  upon  which  is  painted  “These  sleds  are  the  property  of  the 
United  States.” 

While  in  camp  drill  the  men  in  speaking  English.  Encourage  them 
to  try  and  use  the  English  they  may  learn.  Use  it  yourself  as  far  as 
possible  in  conversing  with  them. 

You  will  from  time  to  time  send  a  man  to  Circle  City  for  the  mail, 
which  will  be  sent  to  that  post-office  on  the  steamers  that  will  arrive 
from  the  middle  of  July  onward. 

If  by  any  chance  you  are  overtaken  with  disaster  and  lose  your 
rations,  you  can  apply  to  either  the  North  American  Trading  and 
Transportation  Company  or  the  Alaska  Commercial  Company,  and 
have  the  charge  made  to  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Education,  in 
triplicate,  and  mailed  to  me  at  Washington. 

Very  truly,  yours, 

Sheldon  Jackson, 

United  States  General  Agent,  of  Education  in  Alaska. 

Mr.  IIedley  E.  Redmeyer. 


REINDEER  CAN  BE  SOLD  AT  COST. 

Department  of  the  Interior, 

Washington ,  April  25,  1898. 

Sir:  Referring  to  your  verbal  report  of  even  date  regarding  the 
reindeer  in  Alaska  turned  over  to  you  by  the  War  Department,  I 
have  to  state  that  authority  is  hereby  granted  you  to  sell  said  rein¬ 
deer  at  such  prices  per  capita  as  in  your  judgment  may  be  proper. 
In  no  case,  however,  shall  they  be  sold  at  a  less  price  than  what  they 
cost  the  Government  per  head. 

Very  respectfully,  C.  N.  Bliss,  Secretary. 

Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

General  Agent  Education  in  Alaska. 


124  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

REPORT  FROM  H.  E.  REDMEYER. 

Mountain  Camp,  May  31 ,  1898. 

Dear  Sir:  When  you  receive  this  letter  Mr.  Paulsen  will  be  in 
Seattle  and  can  give  you  the  necessary  information  in  regard  to  us 
and  our  reindeer.  There  is  no  chance  whatever  to  use  the  sleds,  as 
the  snow  is  all  gone.  We  had  only  one  night  hard  crust  since  you 
left  us,  and  then  we  went  about  3  miles  and  the  deer  were  all  tired 
out,  being  still  weak  from  the  effects  of  starvation.  Seeing  that  it 
might  take  two  months  before  we  can  reach  White  River,  and  then 
be  without  provision,  I  decided  to  send  eight  men  down  to  Seattle  and 
from  there  take  a  steamboat  for  St.  Michael  and  further  on  to  Circle 
City.  W e  are  preparing  ourselves  for  a  hard  and  long  travel.  W e  are 
making  pack  saddles  for  the  deer  and  will  probably  be  ready  to  start 
from  here  the  10th  of  June  and  cross  the  White  River  about  the  10th 
of  July.  We  have  provisions  for  seven  men  until  October,  or  last  of 
October,  so  I  think  we  shall  be  able  to  go  through  all  right.  It  would 
perhaps  be  well  to  send  Paulsen  and  his  men  to  Circle  City  about  the 
last  of  August,  with  four  or  five  months’  provisions,  to  wait  for  us,  or  in 
the  last  of  September  start  out  to  meet  us.  Well,  it  remains  for  you  to 
decide  what  to  do.  All  I  can  say  is  that  I’ll  push  it  through  all  right, 
so  you  need  not  fear;  you  can  depend  on  me.  My  best  regards  to  Dr. 
Jackson. 

Yours,  very  truly,  Hedley  E.  Redmeyer. 

Mr.  W.  A.  Kjellmann. 


INSTRUCTIONS  TO  O.  PAULSEN. 

Mountain  Camp,  May  31,  1898. 

Sir  :  On  the  1st  of  J une  you  will  take  control  of  and  be  responsible  for 
the  care  and  transportation  of  seven  Laplanders.  Y ou  will  return  with 
them  to  Haines  Mission  and  there  immediately  secure  tickets  for  them 
and  for  yourself  on  a  passenger  steamer  for  Seattle.  On  arriving  at 
Seattle,  telegraph  to  Mr.  Kjellmann  and  find  out  whether  he  has  gone 
to  St.  Michael  or  not.  If  he  is  in  the  States,  you  will  then,  either  by 
telegraph  or  mail,  communicate  with  him  and  explain  why  you  were 
sent  back,  and  he  will  then  take  charge  of  you  and  your  men.  If, 
however,  Mr.  Kjellmann  has  gone  to  Alaska,  you  will  then  immedi¬ 
ately  secure  tickets  for  yourself  and  your  men  on  a  passenger  steamer 
for  St.  Michael.  After  you  reach  St.  Michael,  secure  ticket  for  your 
men  and  yourself  on  a  Yukon  River  steamboat  and  continue  your 
journey  to  Circle  City,  where  you  will  stay  and  await  orders  from  Mr. 
Kjellmann,  who  will  be  there  by  that  time. 

Respectfully,  yours, 

Hedley  E.  Redmeyer, 

In  Charge  of  Government  Reindeer  Expedition,  Alaska. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  125 


The  following  Laplanders  will  be  in  your  charge:  Ole  Klemetsen 
Hatta,  Alfred  Salamonsen  Nilima,  Mathis  Klemetsen  Niloka,  John 
Andersen,  Klemet  Nilsen,  Anders  Persen  Utzi,  and  Johan  Pettersen 
Stalogargo. 

Mr.  O.  Paulsen. 


RELIEF  SUPPLIES  SHIPPED  TO  DR.  SHELDON  JACKSON. 

Dyea,  Alaska,  June  12,  1898. 

SIR:  In  compliance  with  telegraphic  instructions  from  Major- 
General  Merriam,  dated  June  5,  1898,  I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you 
that  I  have  this  day  shipped  to  you  per  steamship  Utopia  all  the 
relief  supplies  remaining  unsold.  Inclosed  are  invoices  and  receipts 
for  the  same.  Kindly  sign  duplicate  receipts  and  return  them  to  me. 

Very  respectfully, 

Henry  C.  Cabell, 

First  Lieutenant ,  Fourteenth  Infantry , 

A.  G.  M.  and  C.  S.,  Alaska  Relief  Expedition. 

Eight  inclosures. 

Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson,  Seattle ,  Wash. 


CLOTHING  AND  SUBSISTENCE  FOR  LAPPS,  NORWEGIANS,  FINNS,  ETC. 

War  Department, 

W ashington,  June  18,  1898. 

Dear  Sir:  In  response  to  your  letter  of  6th  instant,  in  which  you 
ask  that  the  commanding  general,  Department  of  the  Columbia,  be 
authorized  and  directed  to  furnish  the  Lapps,  Norwegians,  Finns,  etc., 
clothing  as  well  as  subsistence,  in  accordance  with  contract,  and  that 
permission  be  granted  you  to  turn  over  to  the  Interior  Department 
such  subsistence  received  from  this  Department  and  remaining  on 
hand  at  the  expiration  of  this  Department’s  contract  with  the  Lapps, 
January  31,  1899,  I  beg  to  inform  you  that  under  date  of  13th  instant 
the  Quartermaster-General  was  directed  to  advise  the  chief  quarter¬ 
master,  Department  of  the  Columbia,  by  wire,  to  furnish  you  clothing 
for  the  Lapps  in  that  Department,  under  your  charge,  according  to 
the  terms  and  conditions  of  the  contract  between  the  said  Lapps  and 
the  United  States  Government,  and  that  officer  reported,  under  date 
of  the  15th  instant,  as  follows: 

Respectfully  returned  to  the  honorable  the  Secretary  of  War  with  report  that 
telegraphic  directions  have  this  day  been  sent  to  the  chief  quartermaster,  Depart¬ 
ment  of  the  Columbia,  to  carry  out  the  foregoing  instructions  of  the  Secretary  of 
War,  and,  further,  to  forward  by  mail  a  report  of  the  action  taken. 

The  question  of  granting  you  authority  to  turn  over  to  the  Interior 
Department  such  subsistence  stores  as  may  be  on  hand  January  31, 


12G  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


1899,  is  now  receiving  consideration  as  to  the  legal  question  involved, 
the  outcome  of  which  will  he  transmitted  to  you  hy  further  letter  at 
an  early  day. 

Very  respectfully,  G.  D.  Meiklejohn, 

Acting  Secretary  of  War. 

Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

St.  Michael ,  Alaska ,  via  Seattle ,  Wash. 


REINDEER  FURNISHED  THE  MAIL  CONTRACTOR. 


Seattle,  June  27,  1898. 

Sir:  You  are  hereby  authorized  to  turn  over  to  Mr.  S.  D.  I.  Emer¬ 
son  or  his  order  as  many  reindeer  as  he  may  require  for  the  postal 
service,  upon  the  payment  for  the  same,  by  certified  check  made  out 
to  my  order,  at  the  rate  of  $125  for  each  animal. 

You  will  remain  with  the  balance  of  the  deer  unsold  until  further 
orders,  retaining  a  sufficient  number  of  Lapps  to  care  for  the  deer. 
The  other  Lapps  can  be  given  to  Mr.  Emerson,  and  perhaps  he  will 
leave  them  all  together  for  the  present. 

Very  truly,  yours, 


Sheldon  Jackson. 


Mr.  H.  E.  Redmeyer, 

In  Charge  of  the  Reindeer. 


DISPOSITION  OF  ALASKAN  RELIEF  EXPEDITION  SUPPLIES. 

War  Department, 
Washington ,  July  8 ,  1898. 

Dear  Sir:  As  supplemental  to  Department  letter  of  18th  ultimo, 
you  are  informed  that  your  request  of  June  6,  for  permission  to  turn 
over  from  the  War  Department  to  the  Interior  Department  any  excess 
of  butter  and  bacon  from  the  relief  supplies  which  may  be  on  hand 
January  31,  1899,  is  granted. 

Very  respectfully,  G.  D.  Meiklejohn, 

Acting  Secretary  of  War. 

Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

St.  Michael ,  Alaska ,  via  Seattle ,  Wash. 


REINDEER  TO  BE  RETURNED  TO  CAPE  PRINCE  OF  WALES  AND 

POINT  RODNEY. 

United  States  Steamer  Bear, 

Off  Cape  Prince  of  Wales ,  Alaska ,  July  13,  1898. 
My  Dear  Sir:  Mr.  Jarvis  informs  me  he  promised  Mr.  Lopp  and 
Charlie  that  the  deer  taken  from  Cape  Prince  of  Wales  and  Point 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  127 


Rodney  should  be  returned  this  season.  Under  this  promise  the  deer 
were  delivered  to  him. 

I  earnestly  hope  nothing  will  be  allowed  to  interfere  with  the  deliv¬ 
ery  of  the  deer  to  Mr.  Lopp  at  the  earliest  possible  moment. 

I  understand  that  Mr.  Kelly  has  about  1,000  deer  at  St.  Lawrence 
Bay. 

Respectfully,  yours,  F.  Tuttle, 

Captain ,  Commanding  Relief  Expedition. 
Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

Agent  Education  for  Alaska. 


REINDEER  HERD  AT  POINT  BARROW. 

Hotel  IIealy, 

St.  Michael  Island ,  July  15 ,  1898. 

Dear  Sir:  Learning  that  the  domestic  reindeer  sent  to  Point  Bar- 
row  for  the  relief  of  the  whalers  were  not  all  needed  this  spring,  I  have 
sent  some  herders  with  provisions  to  take  charge  of  them. 

It  is  my  plan  to  keep  the  herd  together  this  coming  year.  But  in 
the  summer  of  1899  I  hope  to  be  able  to  make  arrangements  by  which 
a  herd  can  be  set  aside  for  your  mission  and  another  for  the  Episcopal 
Mission  at  Point  Hope.  In  the  meantime  the  herd  will  be  kept  on 
suitable  pasturage  between  Point  Hope  and  Point  Barrow. 

You  are  hereby  authorized  and  directed  to  turn  over  the  herd  to  the 
Laplander  who  brings  you  this  letter. 

Very  truly,  yours, 

Sheldon  Jackson, 

United  States  General  Agent  of  Education  in  Alaska 

and  Superintendent  of  Government  Reindeer. 

Dr.  II.  Richmond  Marsh, 

Point  Barrow. 


REINDEER  HERD  AT  POINT  HOPE. 

Department  of  the  Interior, 

Bureau  of  Education,  Alaska  Division, 

St.  Michael ,  July  15 ,  1898. 

Sir:  You  are  hereby  directed  to  turn  over  any  reindeer  in  your 
charge  to  Electoona  and  Ahlook,  Government  herders,  who  will  drive 
them  into  the  main  herd  between  Point  Hope  and  Point  Barrow. 
Very  truly,  yours, 

Sheldon  Jackson, 
Superintendent  of  Reindeer. 

Dr.  Driggs,  Episcopal  Mission 

(or  whoever  is  in  charge  of  domestic  reindeer  in  the  vicinity  of 
Point  Barrow. ) 


128  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


MR.  N.  V.  HENDRICKS  TAKES  OVERSIGHT  OF  REINDEER  BELONG¬ 
ING  TO  THE  EPISCOPAL  MISSION. 

St.  Michael,  Alaska,  July  2%,  1898. 

Sir:  I  have  the  honor  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter  of 
the  21st  with  reference  to  your  taking  the  herd  of  reindeer  belonging 
to  the  St.  James  Episcopal  Mission,  Rev.  J.  L.  Prevost  in  charge. 

In  reply  permit  me  to  say  that  on  the  part  of  the  Government  I  see 
no  objections  to  your  doing  so,  provided  you  assume  the  same  obliga¬ 
tions  that  were  assumed  by  Mr.  Prevost  and  carry  out  the  letter  and 
spirit  of  the  purpose  for  which  said  deer  were  loaned  by  the  Govern¬ 
ment,  to  wit,  the  introduction  of  domestic  reindeer  among  the  natives 
and  the  training  of  some  of  their  young  men  to  the  management  and 
care  of  the  deer.  When  a  native,  after  an  apprenticeship  of  five 
years,  has  learned  the  business  he  is  to  be  given  18  female  and  2 
buck  deer  as  a  starter  for  his  private  herd.  Any  time  after  five 
years  from  the  date  of  the  original  loan  the  Government  can  call  for 
50  head. 

I  hope  you  may  be  able  to  make  satisfactory  arrangements  with  Mr. 
Prevost,  as  I  judge  you  will  give  more  time  to  the  development  of  the 
herd  than  the  missionaries  will  be  able  to  do. 

If  you  complete  your  arrangement,  you  will  have  Bishop  Rowe  or 
Mr.  Prevost  address  a  letter  to  Mr.  William  A.  Kjellmann,  requesting 
him  to  send  the  Episcopal  herd  now  at  Golovin  Bay  overland  to  St. 
James  Mission,  and  turn  them  over  to  your  care.  Also  arrange 
with  Mr.  Kjellmann  for  two  Lapps.  Until  the  deer  loaned  by  the 
Government  are  returned,  the  herd  will  be  open  to  the  inspection  of 
the  Government  agent. 

Truly,  yours,  Sheldon  Jackson. 

Mr.  N.  V.  Hendricks, 

Anvik ,  Alaska. 


SUPPLIES  RECEIVED  BY  DR.  H.  R.  MARSH. 

United  States  Steamer  Bear, 

Point  Barrow ,  Alaska,  August  J,  1898. 
Received  from  Capt.  F.  Tuttle,  Revenue-Cutter  Service,  command¬ 
ing  U.  S.  S.  Bear ,  commanding  LYiited  States  relief  expedition,  391 
reindeer,  and  the  following  articles,  viz,  one  hundred  45/70  car¬ 
tridges;  12|  pounds  powder;  1,000  primers,  No.  2;  50  pounds  soap; 

1  barrel  pork,  200  pounds;  1  box  coffee,  36  pounds;  1  tent  and  stove; 

2  sacks  beans,  176  pounds;  one-half  barrel  sugar,  140  pounds;  20 
sacks  flour,  1,000  pounds;  7  sleds;  8  harnesses,  on  account  of  the 
Board  of  Home  Missions  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United 
States. 


H.  R.  Marsh,  M.  D. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  129 


SIBERIAN  REINDEER  ISSUED  TO  CAPE  PRINCE  OF  WALES. 

Teller  Reindeer  Station,  August  12,  1898. 

Dear  Sir:  I  regret  to  say  that  I  have  only  secured  173  or  174  rein¬ 
deer  for  you  this  season,  many  of  them  fawns.  That  will  be  all  for 
this  year. 

When  I  reached  Siberia  Mr.  Kelly  and  assistants  had  left,  leaving 
no  word  of  who  had  the  deer  in  charge  or  how  many  they  had.  The 
result  was  I  had  to  take  the  word  of  the  natives,  and  only  found  100 
head  as  the  result  of  Mr.  Kelly’s  work.  I  am  veiy  sorry  not  to  be 
able  to  replace  the  whole  herd  this  season.  I  hope  to  do  better  next. 
The  steamer  Del  Norte  was  near  your  place  about  11  o’clock  last 
night,  but  as  it  was  too  rough  to  land  the  deer  we  came  here. 
We  attempted  to  swim  the  deer  ashore  and  lost  13.  Sorry  not  to  see 
you  even  for  a  few  minutes.  I  leave  some  blank  books,  and  papers, 
and  magazines  for  you  at  this  station  in  charge  of  a  miner,  Dr.  Bran¬ 
don,  who  will  live  in  station  house  this  winter.  >. 

Your  friend,  Sheldon  Jackson. 

W.  T.  Lopp,  Esq., 

Cape  Prince  of  W ales. 


DR.  BRANDON  PLACED  IN  CHARGE  OF  TELLER  REINDEER  STATION 

Teller  Reindeer  Station,  August  12,  1898. 

Sir:  You  are  hereby  requested  to  take  charge  of  the  Government 
buildings  and  other  property  at  this  station  and  see  that  the  same  are 
not  injured  by  natives  or  whites  during  your  sojourn  in  this  place, 
in  return  for  which  you  are  given  the  use  of  the  buildings  free  of  rent. 

If  circumstances  cause  you  to  remove  before  some  one  arrives  next 
season  to  look  after  the  property,  you  will  kindly  leave  the  key  with 
Ku  to  ke  na,  and  ask  him  to  look  after  the  property  for  the  Govern¬ 
ment.  Very  truly,  yours, 

Sheldon  Jackson, 

United  States  General  Agent. 

Dr.  Brandon,  Port  Clarence ,  Alaska. 


A  LOAN  OF  REINDEER  OFFERED  TO  THE  ROMAN  CATHOLICS. 

Hotel  IIealy,  St.  Michael,  August  20,  1898. 

Madam:  The  Government  is  now  ready  to  loan  to  your  order  100 
head  of  reindeer  (the  Swedish  Mission  at  Golovin  Bay  received  but 
50;  also  the  Episcopal  Mission  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tanana  50)  under 
the  following  conditions,  which  are  the  same  as  given  to  the  other 
societies,  to  wit: 

First.  The  herd  is  to  be  kept  for  five  years  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Nulato,  the  priest  there  taking  the  oversight  of  them  for  you. 

S.  Doc.  34 - 9 


130  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


Second.  At  the  end  of  five  years,  the  same  proportion  of  male  and 
female  deer  are  to  be  returned  to  the  Government,  your  society  keep¬ 
ing  all  over  and  above  the  100  deer  to  be  returned  to  the  Government. 

Third.  The  Government  will  pay  the  salary  of  a  Lapp  and  his 
family,  who  will  take  charge  of  the  herd  and  teach  your  young  men 
the  business.  It  is  expected  that  in  five  years  some  of  your  young 
men  will  have  so  mastered  the  business  of  raising  reindeer  that  you 
can  dispense  with  the  further  services  of  a  Lapp. 

Fourth.  Your  society  will  be  expected  to  furnish  the  Lapp  and  his 
family  food  and  clothing  while  in  your  employ.  Mr.  Kjellmann  can 
furnish  you  an  unmarried  Lapp  if  you  prefer. 

Fifth.  If  these  terms  are  agreeable  to  you,  you  will  mail  to  me, 
Bureau  of  Education,  Washington,  D.  C.,  a  written  acceptance  of 
them,  and  inclose  a  copy  of  the  same  to  William  A.  Kjellmann,  super¬ 
intendent  of  reindeer  station  at  Unalaklik,  via  St.  Michael,  with  the 
request  that  he  send  the  deer  for  you  to  the  priest  at  Nulato. 

Sixth.  Mr.  Kjellmann  will  then  drive  them  up  to  Nulato  for  you. 

We  specify  their  being  kept  for  the  first  five  years  in  the  vicinity 
of  Nulato  for  important  public  interests  that  I  will  mention  to  the 
priest  when  I  see  him. 

Hoping  you  may  find  the  herd  a  help  in  your  mission  work  and  in 
time  an  unfailing  supply  of  fresh  meat  for  your  table,  I  remain, 

Very  respectfully,  yours, 

Sheldon  Jackson, 

United  States  Agent  of  Education  in  Alaska. 

The  Mother  Superior,  Holy  Cross  Mission, 

Yukon  River ,  Alaska. 


LOAN  OF  REINDEER  ACCEPTED  BY  ROMAN  CATHOLICS. 

St.  Michael,  Alaska,  September  15,  1898. 

Dear  Sir:  Please  find  inclosed  a  written  acceptance,  on  behalf  of 
the  Catholic  Mission  at  Nulato,  of  your  proposal,  dated  August  20, 
1898.  After  the  conversation  I  had  with  you  on  the  subject  I  referred 
it  directly  to  Very  Rev.  Fr.  Perre,  and  so  also  did  the  mother  superior  J 
in  Holy  Cross  Mission.  I  am  now  authorized  by  him  to  accept  it  in  | 
the  terms  here  inclosed.  A  copy  of  the  same  acceptance  shall  be  for¬ 
warded  to  Mr.  Kjellmann,  together  with  the  substance  of  the  following 
observations:  First.  We  have  not  found  as  yet  at  or  about  Nulato 
the  desired  spot  where  to  locate  the  herd.  We  should,  therefore,  if 
it  be  sent  this  year,  leave  it  almost  midway  between  Holy  Cross  and 
Nulato,  on  the  Shageluk  River,  where  it  will  have  an  abundant  supply  i 
of  food  for  the  winter.  Second.  We  prefer  to  have  a  married  Lapp 
with  his  family.  Third.  W e  consider  it  most  important  for  the  success  i 
and  good  working  of  the  plan  that  the  deer  be  delivered  over  to  us 
in  excellent  condition,  and  we  would  insist  much  more  on  qualitj^  than 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA,  lol 


on  number,  and  would  prefer  50  good  ones  to  100  in  a  rather  poor 
condition. 

Yours,  truly,  Julius  Jette,  S.  J. 

Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

United  States  Agent  of  Education  in  Alaska. 


St.  Michael,  Alaska  Territory, 

September  15 ,  1898. 

The  proposal  made  by  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  to  intrust  the  Catholic 
Mission  at  Nulato  with  the  charge  of  100  head  of  reindeer  having  been 
handed  to  me  through  Very  Rev.  Father  J.  B.  Rene,  S.  J.,  prefect  apos¬ 
tolic  of  Alaska,  I  hereby  declare  that  I  accept  it  as  it  stands  and  under 
the  conditions  stated  in  the  letter  of  Dr.  Jackson,  dated  August  20, 
1898.  This  acceptance  is  on  behalf  of  the  Catholic  Mission  at  Nulato. 

Julius  Jette,  S.  J., 

In  charge  of  the  Nulato  Mission. 


REPORT  OF  H.  E.  REDMEYER. 

Lake  Klukshu,  Northwest  Territory, 

September  1,  1898. 

Dear  Sir:  I  thought  that  I  had  better  report  our  whereabouts  to 
you  or  to  the  Department  of  the  Interior,  the  cause  of  our  delay,  also 
the  condition  of  the  reindeer.  When  we  left  the  pasturage  near 
Pleasant  Camp,  May  22,  we  had  164  reindeer,  which  was  all  that 
recovered  from  the  starving  condition  they  were  in;  the  rest  died  of 
starvation  or  disease  caused  by  starvation.  These  164  were  alive,  but 
there  were  many  that  could  just  follow  the  herd  which  I  knew  would 
die  later  on.  The  number  has  been  considerably  reduced,  so  the  total 
number  of  reindeer  in  our  herd  is  at  the  present  date  144.  Three  of 
those  are  sickly  yet  and  do  not  look  good,  but  the  rest  are  in  a  splendid 
condition  and  are  fat  and  healthy. 

IOf  the  20  deer  that  died,  the  majority  died  from  not  having  enough 
\  strength  to  digest  the  food,  while  some  died  of  a  disease  which  the 
1  Laplanders  call  in  their  language  “sloopo;”  it  rots  the  hoof  away. 
I  Three  died  from  accidental  causes. 

In  regard  to  our  travel  I  must  say  that  I  have  had  nothing  but  hard 
luck.  I  shall  only  in  a  brief  letter  indicate  the  details. 

As  before  stated,  I  left  Pleasant  Camp,  May  22,  after  the  deer  had 
I  gained  a  little  strength.  It  was  too  late  in  the  spring,  and  the  snow 
was  melting  away  fast.  We  could  do  nothing  as  long  as  the  snow 
was  soft,  so  we  had  to  wait  for  cold  nights  and  then  travel  at  night. 
Seeing  that  I  could  make  hardly  any  progress  and  that  it  might 

I  take  us  all  summer  to  reach  Circle  City  and  our  provisions  would  last 
us  only  to  the  31st  of  July,  I  decided  at  once  to  let  eight  of  my  men 
go  down  to  Haines  Mission,  and  take  a  steamer  for  Seattle,  and  then 
find  out  if  Mr.  Kjellmann  was  in  the  States  or  not.  If  he  had  gone 


132  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

to  Alaska,  I  instructed  them  to  secure  passage  via  St.  Michael  to  Circle 
City,  where  they  would  meet  Mr.  Kjellmann.  I  made  out  orders  to 
steamboat  companies,  restaurants,  and  lodging  houses  at  Seattle,  pay¬ 
able  by  you,  similar  to  those  orders  you  had  given  me.  There  were 
seven  Laplanders,  with  Mr.  O.  Paulsen  in  charge  of  them;  the  remain¬ 
ing  seven  of  us  continued  to  travel  and  went  about  43  miles,  when  we 
found  that  the  snow  was  all  gone.  Our  only  chance  to  travel  was  to 
abandon  our  toboggans  and  commence  packing  our  provisions  on  the 
deer;  but  as  the  deer  were  in  such  a  poor  condition,  we  had  to  wait 
until  they  gained  more  strength,  as  it  is  harder  for  an  animal  to  pack 
than  to  pull.  In  the  meantime  we  made  pack  saddles  and  divided  our 
provisions  into  25-pound  packages  or  sacks.  This  was  not  all  that 
detained  us;  we  could  not  follow  the  Dalton  trail  on  account  of  the 
brush  and  underwood,  as  we  would  surely  have  lost  some  of  our  deer. 
So  we  had  to  stick  to  the  mountain,  which  is  nothing  but  needle 
points.  We  crossed  the  valley  from  one  side  to  the  other  in  order  to 
find  more  level  ground  or  a  good  mountain  to  travel  on.  That  is  the 
way  we  have  been  doing,  until  now  we  are  in  such  a  range  of  moun¬ 
tains  that  it  is  impossible  to  travel.  .  I  therefore  left  the  deer  in 
charge  of  Mr.  Kjeldsberg  on  this  mountain  and  went  about  40  miles 
alone  on  the  Dalton  trail.  After  I  came  back  I  decided  to  take  the 
Daiton  trail  from  here  to  Hutchie  village,  as  there  is  not  so  much 
brush  or  underwood. 

Before  going,  I  wanted  to  report  to  you,  as  I  have  done  now;  also  go 
down  to  Dalton  Post,  which  is  about  30  miles  from  here,  and  try  to 
secure  one  month’s  provisions.  We  have  provisions  to  last  us  to  the 
28th  of  October,  but  it  might  take  a  longer  time  to  reach  Circle  City, 
and  we  want  to  be  sure.  I  shall  try  to  get  it  from  Dalton.  I  will 
save  the  Government  from  buying  shoes  if  I  can  get  a  green  cowhide, 
as  the  Laplanders  can  make  their  own  shoes  or  moccasins  of  that. 
I’ll  make  the  order  payable  by  the  War  Department  or  by  you.  No 
disease  has  been  among  my  men,  as  they,  as  well  as  myself,  have  had 
hard  work,  and  our  provisions  are  limited.  I  will  only  say  this  much: 
The  deer  will  be  brought  in  safety  to  Circle  City  if  no  unforeseen  mis¬ 
hap  occur.  After  the  journey  is  at  an  end  I  shall  send  you  my  diary, 
also  the  report  in  full.  It  is  hard  to  tell  when  I  will  be  in  Circle  City. 
I  don’t  believe  that  I  will  reach  the  Hutchie  Y alley  before  the  last  of 
this  month,  and  by  that  time  we  will  have  snow  sufficient  to  use  the 
sleds,  which  we  shall  have  to  make  then.  It  won’t  take  a  long  time 
to  drive  in  there  after  we  get  the  snow.  Hoping  you  believe  me 
faithful  to  what  I  am  intrusted  with,  I  remain, 

Yours,  very  truly, 

Hedley  E.  Redmeyer, 

In  charge  of  the  United  States  Government 

Reindeer  Expedition ,  Alaska i. 

Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson, 

Washington ,  D.  C. 


AGRICULTURE  IN  THE  YUKON  VALLEY. 


Washington,  D.  C.,  December  31,  1897. 

Sir:  On  the  30th  of  April  last  I  had  the  honor  to  receive  through 
you  a  request  from  the  honorable  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture  that  I 
should  secure,  during  my  expected  tour  of  Alaska,  such  items  as  I 
could  with  reference  to  the  agricultural  and  horticultural  possibilities 
of  the  region  adjacent  to  the  Yukon  River.  In  compliance  with  that 
request,  I  beg  permission  to  submit  herewith  the  following  report  to 
the  honorable  the  Secretary  of  Agriculture: 

Leaving  Washington  on  the  1st  of  June,  I  embarked  at  Seattle  on 
the  steamship  Portland  on  the  12th,  reaching  Unalaska  on  the  21st 
and  St.  Michael,  60  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Yukon  River,  on  the 
26th.  Taking  passage  on  the  river  steamer  P.  B.  Weare,  I  left  St. 
Michael  July  5,  entering  the  north  channel  of  the  Yukon  delta,  a  dis¬ 
tance  of  72  miles,  that  same  forenoon.  The  trip  was  continued  the 
entire  length  of  the  Yukon  River  through  Alaska  into  the  Northwest 
Territory  of  Canada  to  Dawson  (Klondike),  a  distance  of  1,652  miles. 
I  reached  Dawson  July  25,  and,  after  remaining  there  two  days,  left 
for  my  return  trip  down  the  river,  reaching  St.  Michael  August  24, 
having  spent  nearly  two  months  in  inspecting  the  river  region  and  one 
month  at  St.  Michael. 

While  the  Yukon  Valley  will  never  be  an  agricultural  section  in 
the  same  sense  in  which  that  term  is  understood  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley,  yet  it  has  agricultural  capacities  much  in  advance  of  the 
public  sentiment  of  the  country. 

With  reference  to  climate,  soil,  and  natural  productions,  the  Yukon 
Valley  can  be  divided  into  three  sections. 

First.  The  delta  and  mouth  of  the  river,  the  climate  of  which  is 
affected  by  its  proximity  to  the  ocean.  In  this  section  may  also  be 
properly  included  the  shores  of  Norton  Sound. 

Second.  The  Middle  Yukon  Valley  from  Ikogmute  (315  miles  from 
the  mouth  of  the  river)  582  miles  to  the  mouth  of  the  Tanana. 

Third.  The  Upper  Yukon  Vallejq  extending  from  the  ramparts  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Pelly,  a  distance  of  900  miles.  The  Upper  Yukon 
is  differentiated  from  the  middle  district  mainly  by  the  difference  of 
altitude  and  climate. 


133 


134  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


THE  DELTA  DISTRICT. 

The  plants  of  this  region  are  the  dwarf  willow  and  birch  in  the 
ravines  and  on  the  flats,  with  dwarf  pines  back  from  the  ocean.  Dur¬ 
ing  the  summer  season  many  kinds  of  wild  flowers  abound.  This  is 
equally  true  of  the  whole  length  of  the  river  and  its  tributaries.  Wild 
onions  are  found  in  sandy  places  near  the  ocean  beaches,  but  not 
much  used  by  the  natives.  Salmonberries  and  blueberries  are  found 
on  short  bushes  in  the  moss  on  the  tundra.  These  ripen  about  the  1st 
of  September.  They  are  gathered  by  the  natives  and  preserved  in  fish 
or  seal  oil.  Thus  preserved  they  are  considered  a  great  delicacy. 
The  most  characteristic  of  all  the  natural  productions  are  the  mosses 
and  lichens,  especially  the  Cladonia  rangiferina ,  which  is  the  native 
food  of  the  reindeer.  There  are  also  several  kinds  of  grass  suitable 
for  forage,  the  largest  and  most  abundant  of  which  is  a  species  of  red- 
top,  growing  from  2  to  4  feet  high.  Both  the  Cladonia  rangiferina 
and  the  red-top  are  found  throughout  the  whole  valley  from  the  head 
to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  a  distance  of  over  2,000  miles.  The  snow 
leaves  the  ground  bare  about  June  1,  and  returns  early  in  October. 
Hard  frosts  may  be  expected  the  last  of  September.  The  extreme 
lowest  temperature  (Fahrenheit)  in  winter  is  from  — 36°  to  — 40°  and 
the  highest  in  summer  87°.  The  average  for  June  and  July  is  48°. 
The  frost  never  wholly  leaves  the  ground,  which  thaws  out  to  a  depth 
of  from  1  to  4  feet,  according  to  exposure.  The  snow  seldom  exceeds 
2  feet  in  depth.  June  and  July  are  the  rainy  months.  In  1897,  an 
unusually  dry  season,  the  cloudy  days  exceeded  the  fair.  In  August 
the  fair  days  exceeded  the  cloudy. 

The  soil  is  of  a  loose  clay,  mixed  with  gravel  covered  with  moss,  and 
in  some  places  with  peat  and  moss.  The  beaches  on  the  ocean  and 
first  terrace  back  of  the  beach  consist  of  gravel.  The  delta  is  com¬ 
posed  of  silt  brought  down  and  deposited  by  the  river. 

In  preparing  the  ground  for  cultivation,  the  peat  and  moss  on  the 
surface  are  usually  carted  away;  sometimes  it  is  dried  and  burned. 
In  other  cases  it  is  cut  up  and  mixed  with  the  soil.  On  the  coast  sea¬ 
weed  is  gathered  and  mixed  with  the  soil  to  enrich  it.  When  well 
pulverized,  the  ground  is  thrown  up  into  high  ridges,  both  for  drainage 
and  exposure  to  air  and  sun.  There  are  large  areas  available  for 
such  cultivation,  but  the  expense  and  labor  are  so  great  that  practi¬ 
cally  only  small  areas  will  be  cultivated  for  home  use.  The  mission¬ 
aries  of  the  Swedish  Evangelical  Union  at  Unalaklik  and  at  Golovin 
Bay,  and  also  the  traders  at  both  places,  are  raising  good  potatoes, 
turnips,  rutabagas,  beets,  lettuce,  and  radishes.  The  soil  is  ridged 
up.  The  potatoes  are  kept  in  a  deep  cellar.  Goats  and  cattle  have 
been  tried  at  the  mission  stations  and  at  the  trading  station,  St. 
Michael.  The  goats  are  usually  killed  by  Eskimo  dogs.  The  cattle 
do  well  in  summer,  but  have  a  hard  time  during  the  long  winter. 
The  only  domestic  animal  suited  to  the  climate,  that  thrives  and 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  135 


proves  profitable  for  raising,  is  the  reindeer.  It  will  be  valuable  for 
milk,  cheese,  meat,  transportation,  and  clothing.  Cattle  are  kept 
housed  up  all  winter.  The  reindeer  are  pastured  alike  in  summer 
and  winter,  thrive  without  any  shelter  other  than  that  afforded  by 
the  valleys  among  the  mountains,  and  require  no  other  food  than  the 
moss,  which  they  procure  for  themselves.  No  other  stock  raising  is 
practicable  or  profitable. 

Botanical  specimens  from  this  district  were  prepared  and  forwarded 
to  me  by  Rev.  T.  L.  Brevig,  of  Port  Clarence,  and  by  the  missionaries 
of  the  Swedish  Evangelical  Union  at  Unalaklik.  These  I  have  sent 
to  the  Department  of  Agriculture. 

THE  MIDDLE  YUKON  DISTRICT. 

The  plants  of  this  district  are  the  larch,  fir,  birch,  and  cottonwood 
trees,  alder,  willow,  and  various  wild  berry  bushes  enumerated  under 
the  head  of  berries.  Of  edible  roots  there  is  a  sour  dock,  or  wild 
rhubarb,  the  leaves  of  which  make  excellent  greens.  The  natives 
prepare  it  for  winter  use  by  salting  down  the  leaves  in  barrels  and 
then  sinking  the  barrels  in  the  frozen  ground  to  keep  the  contents 
cool.  There  is  also  a  native  root  called  quactloi,  which  is  well  liked 
by  the  natives.  Along  the  rivers  iSva  rush  resembling  the  common 
horsetail  rush  that  bears  black  tubers  the  size  of  a  pea,  also  a  species 
of  wild  rice  and  two  herbs  and  a  fungus  growing  upon  the  birch 
which  are  used  for  tea.  Wild  berries  abound.  These  are  a  kind  of 
whortleberry,  salmonberry,  bearberry,  blueberry,  blackberry,  cran¬ 
berry,  redberry,  currants  (red  and  black),  crowberry,  raspberry,  a 
sort  of  strawberry  (very  fragrant),  the  juniper  berry,  on  the  rocky 
hills,  and  the  roseberry. 

Grasses  are  abundant  for  forage,  especially  the  redtop,  which  grows 
in  places  from  5  to  6  feet  high.  There  is  also  a  species  of  purslane 
and  chamomile,  of  which  the  cattle  are  very  fond.  Marshalia  augusti- 
folia,  nasturtium,  equisetum,  larkspur,  crowfeet,  bulrushes  in  swamps, 
white  and  yellow  water  lilies,  some  lycopodiaces,  and  several  kinds 
of  mosses  and  lichens,  mostly  on  the  hills,  including  the  reindeer 
moss,  are  found. 

In  ascending  the  Yukon  the  left  (north)  bank  is  hilly  and  furnishes 
many  good  spots  for  cultivation.  The  right,  or  south,  is  flat,  at  least 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Tanana,  and  covered  with  forests  and  marshes. 
The  same  is,  to  a  considerable  extent,  true  of  the  valleys  of  the 
tributaries  to  the  Yukon.  The  bottom  lands  are  subject  to  overflow. 

The  hillsides  with  a  southern  exposure  are  most  favorable  for  rais¬ 
ing  vegetables.  The  ground  is  usually  free  from  snow  about  the  1st 
of  June,  though  in  sheltered  places  it  remains  until  the  last  of  June. 
Lettuce  and  radish  seeds  have  germinated  as  early  as  May  26.  In 
1895  the  first  wild-currant  blossoms  made  their  appearance  May  30. 
The  season  of  1896  was  a  late  one.  The  ice  broke  up  in  the  river  May 


136  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


28,  and  for  a  week  afterwards  the  lowlands  were  hooded.  Hard  frosts 
are  expected  in  the  latter  part  of  September.  In  1888,  at  Anvik,  the 
first  killing  frost  was  August  26;  1889,  September  20,  and  1896,  Sep¬ 
tember  23.  At  Nulato,  on  August  25,  the  thermometer  registered  25°. 

At  Koserefski,  for  the  years  1894-1897,  the  maximum  cold  in  Janu- 
ary  and  February  varied  from  —  50°  to  —  59° .  For  the  growing  months 
of  May,  June,  July,  August,  and  September  the  temperature  was  as 
follows : 


Date. 

Maximum. 

Minimum. 

Mean. 

May- 

1894  . . . 

59  (30th) 
65  (31st) 

60 

65 

1. 5  (6th) 
22  (2d) 

—3.7 

42 

1895- . . . . . 

36.7 

1896  . .  . . 

1897  . 

21.5 

June — 

1894 . . . 

70  (30th) 

32  (5th) 

1895 . . . . . . . . . 

67  (25th) 
78 

34  (13th) 

50 

1896 . . . . . . . . 

30.9 

51.6 

1897 . . . . . - . 

81 

34  (6th) 

40 

July- 

1895 . . . . 

73  (24th) 
70 

56 

1896 . . . . . . 

35 

53 

1897 . . . . . . . . . . . 

70 

35 

53 

August- 

1898 . . . . . 

61 

31.3 

September — 

1894 . . 

64  (12th) 

29  (19th) 

The  snow  covers  the  ground  from  the  beginning  of  October  until 
the  end  of  May,  and  often  reaches  4  feet  in  depth.  There  is  usually 
a  heavy  fall  of  snow  in  the  latter  part  of  the  winter.  The  summers 
are  usually  rainy,  but  the  proportion  of  bright  and  cloudy  days  is 
difficult  to  state,  for  the  reason  that  the  seasons  var}^  greatly.  For 
instance,  1896  was  cloudy  and  rain  fell  for  forty  days  in  succession, 
while  1897  has  been  so  dry  that  vegetable  gardens  have  had  to  be 
watered  by  hand. 

The  following  table  for  the  summer  months  was  furnished  me  by 
the  Roman  Catholic  missionaries  at  Koserefski,  and  shows  the  propor¬ 
tion  of  cloudy  and  bright  days,  also  the  rainfall.  They  also  kindly 
furnished  the  preceding  table  on  temperature  at  the  same  place: 


Date. 

Clear. 

Fair. 

Cloudy. 

Rainy 

Rainfall. 

days. 

Total. 

Mean. 

Mav: 

1895 . 

10 

13 

3 

6 

0.37 

0.012 

1896  . . . . . . 

11 

10 

9 

1 

.12 

.004 

1897  . . . 

June: 

1895 . . . 

4 

20 

9 

9 

.99 

.033 

1896  . . 

8 

11 

11 

11 

1.91 

.057 

1897  . 

July 

1895 . . . 

V 

14 

10 

11 

2  19 

07 

1896 . 

1 

5 

25 

17 

2.63 

.085 

1897 . . . . . . 

August: 

1895  ... . . 

8 

9 

14 

16 

2.65 

.085 

1896 _ _ _ 

1897  .... . . . 

September: 

1895  _ _ _ _ _ 

9 

10 

11 

18 

1.71 

.057 

INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  137 


In  the  above  table  some  of  the  days  being  partly  clear  and  partly 
cloudy  have  been  counted  twice,  so  that  in  several  instances  the  total 
is  more  than  a  calendar  month. 

The  soil  of  the  Yukon  Valley  is  a  rich  loam,  formed  from  the  falling 
leaves  of  the  forests,  with  a  sandy  subsoil.  Sometimes  the  river  banks 
that  have  been  cut  down  by  the  floods  or  ice  will  show  alternate  layers 
of  muck  and  sand  15  feet  thick.  Owing  to  the  frozen  subsoil  the  roots 
of  trees  do  not  go  down  deep,  but  spread  out  along  the  ice  and  are 
therefore  easily  removed.  If  there  is  a  thick  layer  of  moss  that  also  is 
usually  removed  in  preparing  land  for  cultivation.  The  land  is  then 
well  spaded  up  and  left  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  sun.  If  stable 
manure  is  to  be  had,  and  is  spaded  into  the  soil,  it  greatly  helps  in  the 
preparation.  The  second  season  a  crop  can  be  raised.  The  area  for 
cultivation  is  greatly  curtailed  by  the  liability  of  the  river  bottom  to 
annual  inundations,  but  there  is  still  a  sufficiency  of  good  land  for 
the  raising  of  all  the  hardy  vegetables  needed  for  the  home  market. 
The  areas  for  pasturage  are  more  extensive,  but  the  climate,  the  eight 
to  nine  months  of  feeding  under  shelter,  and  the  torment  of  the  mos¬ 
quitoes  will  probably  prevent  cattle  raising.  The  pasturage  for  rein¬ 
deer  is  practically  limitless,  and  the  raising  of  reindeer  will  yet  be  a 
large  and  profitable  industry. 

At  Koserefski,  338  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  at  Anvik, 
358  miles,  I  found  gardens  kept  by  the  Roman  Catholic  Mission  at  the 
former  place  and  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Mission  at  the  latter  place, 
in  which  were  successfully  grown  the  following  vegetables :  Potatoes, 
turnips,  cauliflower,  radishes,  lettuce,  cabbage,  carrots,  beets,  and 
pease.  I  saw  potatoes  about  7  or  8  inches  long  and  3  inches  in  diam¬ 
eter,  and  turnips  weighing  10  pounds.  The  surest  crop  is  the  early 
turnip,  the  early  Flat  Duck  growing  to  over  10  pounds  weight.  Pota¬ 
toes  are  of  an  inferior  quality,  being  frequently  watery.  Pease  propa¬ 
gate  themselves.  Radishes,  lettuce,  cabbages,  cauliflower,  and  the 
Egyptian  blood  beet  do  well;  carrots  do  well  in  some  places;  beans 
have  so  far  been  a  failure.  In  a  few  of  the  places  where  vegetables 
have  been  tried,  the  cabbages  have  been  kept  frozen;  the  potatoes  in 
the  cellars  under  the  houses;  turnips,  beets,  and  carrots  have  not  kept 
well.  In  course  of  time  improved  root  cellars  will  be  constructed, 
which  will  secure  much  better  results. 

The  Roman  Catholic  missionaries  at  Koserefski  have  tried  to  raise 
cattle,  sheep,  and  goats.  The  native  dogs  killed  the  goats,  and  the 
sheep  and  cattle  died.  They  are  now  making  their  second  experiment 
with  cattle.  There  is  abundant  grass,  especially  redtop,  both  for 
pasture  and  cutting,  but  the  uncertainty  of  good  weather  for  curing 
hay  makes  it  difficult  to  secure  it  in  sufficient  quantities.  This, 
however,  could  be  remedied  by  the  introduction  of  silos.  However, 
another  and  almost  insuperable  difficulty  in  making  hay  is  the  plague 
of  mosquitoes,  which  makes  the  life  of  the  haymaker  almost  unbear¬ 
able. 


138  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


After  all,  the  animal  which  God  has  created  for  this  region  is  the 
reindeer.  He  is  native  to  it,  and  consequently  thrives  where  other 
animals  are  kept  in  existence  only  by  the  utmost  care. 

Since  the  coming  of  miners  into  this  region,  their  willingness  to  pay 
high  prices  for  fresh  vegetables  will  probably  in  the  next  few  years 
give  a  marked  impetus  to  gardening. 

The  Episcopal  missionaries  at  Anvik  and  Fort  Adams  and  the 
Roman  Catholic  missionaries  at  Koserefski  have  made  collections  of 
grasses,  fruits,  and  vegetables,  which  I  have  forwarded  to  the  Depart¬ 
ment  of  Agriculture. 

THE  UPPER  YUKON  DISTRICT. 

The  conditions  are  very  similar  to  those  existing  in  the  middle 
Yukon,  with  the  increased  severity  of  the  winters,  due  to  the  higher 
elevation  and  greater  distance  from  the  sea. 

The  plants  characteristic  of  this  region  are  such  as  would  grow  in  a 
low,  marshy,  country  having  spells  of  extremely  hot  weather  during 
the  three  months  when  the  ground  is  free  of  snow.  Several  varieties 
of  moss,  coarse  rank  grasses  and  rushes,  low  berry  bushes,  willow, 
juniper,  and  alder  bushes,  fir,  birch,  and  poplar  trees  are  found. 
The  edible  roots  are  the  wild  parsnip  and  rhubarb,  both  used  only  by 
the  Indians.  The  wild  berries  are  the  high  and  low  bush  cranberry, 
blueberry,  salmon  berry,  raspberry,  currant,  salal-berry,  and  rosebuds, 
the  two  last  named  being  used  only  by  the  Indians.  With  the  excep¬ 
tion  of  the  high-bush  cranberry  and  the  blueberry,  the  others  are  not 
plentiful,  but  are  eagerly  sought  for  by  both  whites  and  Indians. 
Jellies  and  preserves  are  made  from  them,  and  the  cranberries  keep 
well  when  frozen. 

Bunch  grass,  swamp  grass,  wild  pease,  goose  grass,  and  a  few  kinds 
of  wild  grains,  timothy,  rye,  etc.,  are  suitable  for  forage.  There  is 
also  a  great  abundance  of  reindeer  moss. 

The  ground  is  not  bare  of  snow  until  June  1.  Hard  frosts  usually 
come  during  the  last  week  of  August,  the  ground  being  frozen  hard 
b}^  September  15.  The  months  of  December,  January,  and  February 
average  about  30°  below  zero,  the  temperature  falling  as  low  as  75° 
and  80°  in  an  ordinary  winter.  March,  April,  and  May  average 
about  zero;  June,  July,  and  August  average  about  65°  above  zero, 
June  being  the  warmest  month,  when  96°  in  the  sun  is  common;  Sep¬ 
tember,  October,  and  November  average  about  zero. 

The  rainfall  and  snowfall  are  light,  an  average  year  having  about 
2-J-  feet  of  snow  and  2-J-  inches  of  rain.  During  tile  three  summer 
months  about  three-fifths  of  the  days  are  bright,  June  being  almost 
entirely  cloudless. 

The  general  nature  of  the  soil  is  peat  and  clay,  a  mass  of  black  dirt 
mixed  with  decayed  vegetable  matter,  moss,  and  roots,  to  a  depth  of 
from  18  inches  to  2-J  feet,  when  solid  blue  ice  is  found  extending  down, 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  139 


no  one  knows  how  far.  Sometimes  a  layer  of  yellow  clay  is  found 
between  the  ice  and  dirt.  The  ice  is  too  near  the  surface  of  the 
ground  for  vegetables  and  grains  to  grow,  unless  deep  trenches,  very 
close  together,  are  dug,  thus  draining  the  ground  as  the  heat  of  the 
sun  penetrates  it.  Even  were  this  plan  practicable,  the  results  would 
hardly  warrant  the  great  expense  of  time,  labor,  and  money  required. 
The  ground  does  not  thaw  out  more  than  a  foot  below  the  surface,  in 
spite  of  the  long  and  hot  summer  days.  Eight  miles  from  Circle  City, 
back  in  the  foothills  along  Birch  Creek,  is  a  large,  sandy  tract  of 
ground  where  some  man  has  an  experimental  garden-  this  year,  and  it 
could  not  turn  out  better  than  it  has,  so  far.  No  ice  is  met,  and  the 
earth  seems  to  be  warm.  The  potato  vines  are  large,  and  already  in 
blossom,  having  been  planted  but  fifty  days.  The  garden  truck  sent 
to  Circle  City  so  far,  is  first-class. 

At  Fort  Cudahy,  1,522  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  river,  on  the 
edge  of  the  Canadian  boundary,  I  found  a  good  garden  kept  by  the 
N.  A.  T.  and  T.  Company.  Pease,  beans,  beets,  radishes,  lettuce,  and 
cabbage  seemed  to  be  thriving  in  the  garden,  which  was  planted  in 
May.  At  Circle  City,  and  perhaps  other  places,  lettuce,  radishes, 
onions,  turnips,  and  pease  for  early  use  are  sown  on  the  roofs  of  the 
houses,  the  log  cabins  being  covered  with  dirt  roofs,  and  the  warmth 
of  the  houses  probably  conveying  heat  to  the  soil  on  the  roofs.  Six 
miles  below  Circle  City  Mr.  R.  Wilson,  who  furnishes  cord  wood  for 
the  steamers,  is  accustomed,  when  an  opening  is  made  in  the  woods 
sufficiently  large  to  let  the  sun  reach  the  ground,  to  loosen  the  soil 
between  the  roots  and  stumps  and  sow  turnip  seed.  In  1896  he 
marketed  3,000  pounds  of  turnips,  receiving  15  cents  a  pound  for  the 
same. 

A  large  vegetable  garden  has  been  established  on  the  Canadian  side 
opposite  Dawson,  the  capital  of  the  Klondike  mining  region. 

Mr.  Jack  McQueston,  an  old-time  fur  trader  at  Forty  Mile  Creek, 
prepared  some  ground,  plowing  it  with  a  team  of  dogs.  Afterwards 
he  trained  a  pair  of  young  moose  to  the  harness  and  plowed  with 
them.  He  succeeded  well  with  the  vegetables  alread}7  enumerated 
as  being  raised  at  other  places. 

At  Fort  Selkirk  Mr.  Harper,  another  of  the  old  fur  traders,  raised 
good  potatoes  by  irrigation,  as  well  as  cabbage,  beets,  parsnips,  and 
carrots.  Barley  matured  well;  oats  and  wheat  onty  tolerably  well. 
From  a  small  keg  of  potatoes  for  seed  Mr.  Harper  raised  1,900  pounds, 
many  of  the  potatoes  being  too  large  for  a  single  meal. 

The  only  domestic  animals  in  this  district  are  the  cats,  which  scare 
away  the  mice,  and  the  dogs,  which  do  the  drawing  and  packing.  A 
few  horses  have  been  tried  at  the  mines,  but  have  not  done  well. 

The  possibility  of  raising  vegetables  has  been  proven,  and  the  high 
prices  at  the  mines  will,  no  doubt,  greatly  stimulate  their  production. 


140  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 


For  the  facts  concerning  the  Upper  Yukon  district  I  am  largely 
indebted  to  Miss  Anna  Fulcomer,  teacher  at  Circle  City.  She  also 
gathered  the  botanical  specimens  that  have  been  sent  to  the  Depart¬ 
ment  of  Agriculture. 

To  sum  up  the  matter,  it  has  been  proved  that  potatoes,  rutabagas, 
turnips,  radishes,  lettuce,  cabbage,  pease,  cauliflower,  carrots,  beets, 
rhubarb,  barley,  and  the  smaller  fruits,  such  as  currants,  cranberries, 
raspberries,  huckleberries,  blackberries,  strawberries,  and  other  vari¬ 
eties,  can  and  are  being  raised  successfully  in  the  Yukon  Valley. 

With  the  establishment  of  an  experimental  station  and  the  patient, 
intelligent  testing  of  other  vegetables,  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  above 
list  could  be  largely  increased.  With  the  high  prices  prevailing  at 
the  mines,  vegetable  farms  should  prove  very  remunerative  in  spite 
of  the  disadvantages  of  the  country  and  climate. 

Mr.  William  Ogilvie,  who  is  connected  with  the  land  survey  of  the 
Dominion  of  Canada  and  has  spent  many  months  in  the  Upper  Yukon 
Valley,  estimated  that  there  are  460,000  acres  of  land  along  the  Yukon 
and  its  tributaries  that  can  be  made  available  for  agriculture. 

It  is  not  probable,  however,  that  it  will  prove  a  profitable  country 
for  cattle,  horses,  and  sheep.  The  winter  climate  is  so  rigorous  that 
they  will  require  warm  housing  and  feeding  for  eight  or  nine  months 
of  the  year.  In  summer  the  mosquitoes  so  worry  the  animals  that 
they  receive  no  benefit  from  the  abundant  pasturage.  Last  winter 
some  of  the  horses  that  were  taken  into  the  Klondike,  when  traveling, 
had  to  be  kept  in  a  tent  at  night,  with  a  good  fire.  When  turned  out 
to  graze,  the  torment  of  the  mosquitoes  reduced  them  to  skin  and  bone. 

The  only  two  domestic  animals  that  are  native  to  the  country  and 
can  live  upon  its  products  are  dogs  and  reindeer.  The  dogs  require 
the  catching  and  preparing  of  fish  for  their  maintenance,  while  the 
reindeer  thrives  on  the  moss,  which  is  abundant  over  large  areas  of 
Alaska. 

All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

Very  truly,  your  obedient  servant, 

Sheldon  Jackson, 

Special  Agent ,  etc. 

lion.  W.  T.  Harris, 

Commissioner  of  Education. 


V.  C.  Gambell,  Wife  and  Child. 

5l  at  Saint  Lawrence  Island.  Alaska,  they  were  lost  at  sea  bv  the 


While  returning  to  their  - -  lsiauu.  AiasKc 

sinking  of  the  schooner  Jane  Grey,  May  2 


While  returnin 
were 


Lrnest  L.  Weber  and  Family. 


lSstatsea  °U  th,e  Kuskokwim  River,  Alaska,  tl 

lost  at  sea  off  the  coast  of  Nunivak  Island,  between  Ji 


>arents  and  middle  child 
27  and  30,  1898. 


NOTES  WITH  REGARD  TO  THE  ST.  LAWRENCE  ISLAND 

ESKIMO. 


By  V.  C.  Gambeli,. 


ORIGIN. 

There  is  no  tradition  that  they  crossed  from  Siberia.  In  ancient 
times  they  used  only  small  kayaks,  and  they  had  no  intercourse  with 
that  side. 

LANGUAGE. 

Similar  to  that  of  Indian  Point  and  Plover  Bay,  Siberia,  though  it 
differs  hi  some  respects.  Very  guttural,  and  has  a  number  of  sounds 
not  in  the  English. 

VILLAGES. 

This  village,  Se  voo  kiik,  and  one  near  the  southwest  extremity, 
on  the  south  side,  Pow'oeluk,  are  at  present  the  only  ones.  The  former 
has  about  330  inhabitants  in  32  houses  and  the  latter  35  in  0.  In  July 
they  scatter  along  the  eastern  shore  of  the  island  and  return  to  the 
villages  in  September,  though  there  are  two  families  who  do  not  return 
till  much  later  from  a  lagoon  15  miles  east  of  here. 

HOUSES. 

The  houses  vary  from  oval  to  nearly  round  in  shape.  They  are 
built  of  pieces  of  wreckage  and  driftwood  about  6  feet  long,  placed  on 
end  in  a  shallow  trench  in  the  ground  and  fastened  to  a  pole  at  the 
top.  Two  posts,  6  to  10  feet  apart  and  15  to  18  feet  high,  support  a 
ridge  piece,  which  in  turn  supports  a  series  of  rafters  about  1  by  3 
inches  and  long  enough  to  reach  from  the  edge  of  the  wall  to  2  to  4 
feet  past  the  ridge  piece.  The  rafters  are  about  2  feet  apart  at  the 
walls  and  are  supported  in  the  middle  by  a  row  of  upright  pieces. 
Walrus  skins  are  placed  over  these  and  carefully  tied  with  rawhide 
ropes  and  weighted  with  rock,  iron  wreckage,  etc.  Sod  is  put  over 
the  edges  of  the  skins  to  exclude  the  snow.  The  peak  of  the  roof  is 
nearer  the  west  than  the  east  end.  The  door  is  on  the  west  end,  as 
all  the  hard  winds  are  from  an  easterly  direction — mostly  northeast. 
The  living  room  is  at  the  east  end,  7  feet  wide  and  from  10  to  30  feet 
long,  depending  on  the  number  living  in  it.  It  is  made  of  heavy  deer¬ 
skins  sewed  together  on  the  top  and  sides,  with  a  walrus-skin  floor. 

141 


142  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

The  front  edge  is  not  fastened  at  the  bottom,  which  allows  it  to  be 
used  as  a  door.  It  is  heated  by  means  of  seal-oil  lamps  and  ventilated 
by  an  opening  in  front,  near  the  top,  4  to  5  inches  in  diameter.  Other 
rooms  partitioned  off  by  means  of  walrus  skins  are  used  to  store  meat, 
boxes,  etc.  Hunting  gear  is  stacked  in  the  main  inclosed  part.  They 
lived,  till  thirty  years  ago,  in  underground  houses,  some  of  which  have 
been  built  over,  to  be  used  as  storehouses  for  their  meat.  The  walrus- 
skin  cover  is  taken  off  and  during  July  and  August  used  in  con¬ 
structing  a  summer  tent. 

CLOTHING. 

Their  clothing  is  made  of  deerskin,  which  they  get  from  Siberia, 
seal  skin,  bird  skin,  and  dogskin,  and  rain  coats  made  from  the  intes¬ 
tines  and  stomachs  of  the  seal  and  walrus.  They  use  a  great  deal  of 
calico  to  make  an  outside  coat  to  protect  their  clothing  from  snow 
and  dirt.  They  are  very  fond  of  woolen  underclothing  and  mittens. 

FOOD. 

Their  food  consists  principally  of  seal,  walrus,  and  whale  meat. 
They  get  but  few  fish,  small  catfish,  and  cod,  in  August  and  Septem¬ 
ber,  when  the  sea  is  not  too  rough.  The  village  near  the  southwest 
extremity  gets  salmon  in  a  lagoon  near  there.  In  the  winter  they  get 
crabs,  which,  in  case  seals  are  very  scarce,  form  an  important  addition 
to  their  larder.  They  get  few  berries,  but  gather  large  quantities  of 
a  short,  fleshy  herb,  a  stone  crop,  something  like  the  old-fashioned 
garden  live-for-ever.  Ducks  and  other  sea  birds  also  form  a  large 
part  of  their  food  from  June  till  September.  They  are  very  fond  of 
flour,  hard  bread,  and  molasses,  which  they  procure  from  the  ships. 

TOBACCO,  ETC. 

Tobacco  is  used  by  all.  Few  smoke;  those  who  do,  draw  the  smoke 
into  their  lungs  and  cough  it  out.  It  is  usually  held  in  the  cheek  and 
the  saliva  swallowed.  When  not  in  use,  a  plug  of  chewing  tobacco 
is  carried  behind  the  ear.  Rum  is  used  by  all  who  can  get  it.  They 
have  learned  to  make  an  intoxicating  liquor  here  duriug  the  past  year. 
They  take  flour  alone,  molasses  alone,  or  mix  them  in  the  proportion 
of  5  to  3,  allowing  them  to  ferment  five  days,  and  then  distill.  Five 
quarts  of  flour  and  3  of  molasses  make  about  a  quart  of  liquor. 

HUNTING  GEAR. 

Of  native  make  they  use  the  harpoon,  poke,  and  canoe.  They  have 
breecli-loading  rifles  and  whaling  gear.  They  handle  a  whaleboat 
well,  but  prefer  to  use  paddles  or  short,  light  oars.  They  are  poor 
marksmen  and  won’t  attack  a  whale  unless  there  are  several  boats  at 
hand,  and  if  they  have  any  choice  will  always  strike  a  small  Avhale. 
Sea  quail  and  sea  pigeons  (small  puffin?)  they  catch  in  nets  like  huge 
butterfly  nets  with  handles  15  feet  long. 


INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA.  143 


CUSTOMS — MARRIAGE. 

Several  men  have  two  wives,  though  the  women  all  seem  opposed  to  it. 
Some  have  an  old  and  a  young  wife,  hut  some  are  near  the  same  age, 
both  young  or  both  old.  Children  are  selected  for  each  other  as  young 
as  8  or  10  years  of  age.  However,  they  often  change  before  they  are 
married,  and  even  after  they  have  been  married  a  year,  or  even  after 
several  years  and  children  have  been  born,  wives  are  exchanged. 
Such  apparently  are  as  good  as  anyone  in  the  community,  though 
the  others  talk  about  it. 

BIRTH. 

Good  care  is  taken  of  a  woman  at  the  birth  of  a  child.  Labor  is 
easy.  The  child  is  born  while  the  mother  is  on  her  hands  and  knees. 
The  mother  soon  sits  up,  but  keeps  the  same  place  five  days,  then  goes 
outside  and  works  the  same  as  any  other  woman.  One  woman  has 
seven  children  alive,  five  and  six  are  not  uncommon,  and  three  or  four 
is  a  fair  average. 

DEATHS. 

Formerly  the  dead  were  interred  near  the  houses.  Later  they  were 
placed  in  a  cave  or  old  house,  of  which  there  are  three  or  more  now 
partly  filled  with  bones.  Now  when  a  death  occurs  the  body  is 
wrapped  in  deer  skins,  a  pole  a  little  longer  than  the  body  is  placed 
lengthwise  on  top  and  all  wrapped  up  with  thongs.  Thongs  about  4 
feet  long  are  tied  on  and  serve  as  handles,  and  from  four  to  ten  men 
drag  it  over  the  ground  about  a  mile  to  a  rocky  bluff  600  feet  high. 
Children  are  placed  at  the  foot  and  important  persons  near  the  top, 
while  those  of  low  degree  are  stationed  midway.  Thongs,  deerskins, 
clothing,  etc.,  are  cut  and  scattered  around  and  the  body  left  com¬ 
pletely  naked.  Tobacco  and  hard  bread  are  placed  at  the  head. 
The  ravens,  foxes,  and  dogs  soon  tear  the  body  to  pieces. 

RELIGION. 

They  have  none.  Some  headless  men  with  shark-like  mouths  made 
the  mainland  of  Siberia.  A  big  bird  became  seasick  and  vomited 
up  the  islands.  Whales,  seals,  and  bears  are  endowed  with  human 
attributes  and  are  fed,  given  drink  and  tobacco  when  killed.  Their 
fathers  and  grandfathers  and  any  dead  of  near  kin  are  fed  about  the 
1st  of  July.  A  family  goes  near  the  bluff,  makes  a  little  fire,  calls 
out  the  name  of  some  relative  and  throws  him  a  piece  of  meat.  Some 
take  a  crowd  along  and  feed  everybody.  The  devil,  or  some  devil, 
causes  sickness.  Some  males  claim  to  have  some  power  over  evil 
spirits,  and  to  protect  against  sickness  or  the  return  of  it  when  a  per¬ 
son  is  convalescent.  Departed  spirits  are  said  to  return  and  sing  and 
dance;  numbers  claim  to  have  seen  them.  The  spirits  are  always 
near  where  they  were  laid  or  where  their  skeleton  is  scattered,  ready 


144  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

to  harm  any  one  who  touches  their  bones  or  anything  which  is  left 
with  them.  Of  other  superstitions  there  is  no  end.  From  whaling 
to  cutting  hair,  everything  must  be  done  in  a  regular  way  or  evil  con¬ 
sequences  will  follow.  Some  are  as  follows :  A  child  must  keep  a  close- 
fitting  deerskin  hood  on  its  head  for  the  first  two  years  of  its  life,  or 
its  head  will  grow  too  large.  A  man  must  not  cut  his  hair  while  his 
wife  is  pregnant  or  some  harm  will  happen  to  her.  If  a  stone  is  moved 
in  winter,  a  storm  will  follow.  If  whaleskin  is  cooked,  all  whales  will 
disappear.  Neither  will  they  come  if  any  wood  belonging  to  a  dead 
person  is  burned.  If  anything  hot  is  put  on  the  snow,  so  as  to  make 
a  steam,  the  walrus  will  keep  away  from  the  island. 

AMUSEMENTS. 

In  the  winter  they  dance  and  sing  in  nice  weather.  A  man  invites 
another  and  all  his  friends  one  day,  who  in  turn  with  all  his  friends 
dances  at  the  other  man’s  house  the  next.  At  these  meetings  they 
trade.  A  man  dances  with  a  woman  and  gives  her  something,  as  a 
piece  of  calico.  She  in  turn  must  dance  with  him,  or  her  husband 
must  dance  with  his  wife  and  return  something  of  equal  value.  On 
pleasant  days  the  men  run  races,  wrestle,  jump,  etc.  In  the  summer 
they  play  ball,  jump  the  rope,  toss  each  other  in  walrus  skins,  etc. 

DISEASES. 

Nearly  all  are  afflicted  with  skin  diseases.  Bleeding  at  the  nose 
and  lungs  is  very  prevalent.  Pulmonary  diseases  are  nearly  always 
fatal.  When  very  sick,  the  patient  is  strangled.  Little  grief  is  shown 
at  the  death  of  anyone.  Ringworm  prevails. 

CLEANLINESS. 

Fur  clothing  is  never  washed  and  cloth  seldom.  In  a  warm  room 
they  are  very  offensive.  They  are  infested  with  lice. 

CHARACTER. 

They  have  not  the  slightest  regard  for  truth,  and  if  caught  in  a  lie 
are  not  the  least  bit  ashamed.  They  steal  anything  they  think  will 
not  be  found  out.  They  steal  lumber,  make  boxes  and  bring  them 
to  be  painted.  They  have  come  in  the  house  when  the  door  was  left 
unlocked  and  taken  canned  goods,  etc.  They  broke  the  lock  to  the 
storehouse  one  stormy  night  and  took  at  least  1,000  primers.  They 
are  very  friendly,  always  smiling,  but  always  backbiting  each  other. 
“A  man  may  smile  and  smile  and  be  a  villain  ”  must  have  been  spoken 
particularly  of  these  islanders.  That  they  are  so  bad  may  be  because 
those  who  were  not  allowed  to  live  at  Indian  Point  or  Plover  Bay  have 
come  here.  They  have  no  regard  for  promises  made. 


RECOMMENDATIONS  WITH  REGARD  TO  THE  DISPOSITION 
OF  LAPPS  AND  REINDEER. 


War  Department,  Washington,  March  3,  1898. 

Sir:  In  accordance  with  your  request  of  yesterday  that  I  should 
give  you  an  approximate  statement  of  cost  of  reindeer  upon  arrival  at 
New  York,  and  also  suggestions  as  to  their  present  disposal,  I  have 
the  honor  to  report  that : 

First.  The  approximate  cost  per  deer  at  New  York  is  $68  (537  deer 
at  $68  makes  $36,516),  sleds  at  $3.50  (418  sleds  at  $3.50  equals  $1,463), 
and  harness  $3  (516  sets  harness  at  $3  makes  $1,533). 

Second.  As  to  what  disposition  to  now  make  of  them,  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  they  are  ho  longer  needed  to  carry  food  to  the  Yukon  Val¬ 
ley,  permit  me  to  suggest: 

(a)  That  the  17  women  and  the  20  to  25  children  of  the  party  be 
left  on  Puget  Sound,  and  in  June  be  sent  by  sea  via  St.  Michael  to 
Yukon  River. 

(b)  That  the  men,  reindeer,  sleds,  and  harness  be  taken  through  to 
Pyramid  Harbor  at  the  head  of  Lynn  Canal,  and  from  there,  in  charge 
of  William  A.  Kjellmann,  superintendent  of  Government  reindeer  sta¬ 
tions  in  Alaska,  be  moved  across  the  country  along  or  in  the  general 
neighborhood  of  the  Dalton  trail,  and  then  along  the  table-lands  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Yukon  Valley  to  good  grazing  grounds  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  junction  of  the  Yukon  and  Tanana  rivers.  Reach¬ 
ing  that  point  the  herd  can  be  left  until  you  determine  what  shall 
ultimately  be  done  with  them. 

The  herd  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tanana  will  then  be  in  a  central  position 
for  any  exploring  expeditions  you  may  wish  to  make  during  the  sum¬ 
mer.  Then  if  during  the  summer  you  establish  a  military  post  in  the 
Yukon  country,  you  will  need  a  portion  of  the  herd  for  the  use  of  the 
commanding  officer  in  the  moving  of  troops  on  official  work.  Then 
if  you  conclude  to  sell  a  portion  of  them,  the  mail  contractor  would 
like  the  privilege  of  buying. 

S.  Doc.  34 - 10 


14o 


146  INTRODUCTION  OF  DOMESTIC  REINDEER  INTO  ALASKA. 

Again,  if  you  should  see  it  to  be  for  the  interest  of  the  Government 
to  establish  a  military  mail  service  from  a  proposed  military  post  in 
the  Yukon  Valley  to  the  coast  in  the  neighborhood  of  Prince  William 
Sound,  some  reindeer  will  be  needed  for  that  service. 

With  regard  to  the  drivers,  I  would  suggest  that  a  portion  of  them 
be  retained  for  the  use  of  the  commanding  officers  as  reindeer  drivers 
in  the  movement  of  troops,  another  portion  be  turned  over  to  the 
Department  of  the  Interior  for  the  use  of  the  Bureau  of  Education, 
and,  if  a  portion  of  the  deer  are  sold  to  the  mail  contractor,  that  he 
be  allowed  to  have  a  portion  of  the  drivers  for  their  care  and  use. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

Sheldon  Jackson, 

Special  Agent  for  Purchase  of  Reindeer. 

The  honorable  the  Secretary  of  War. 


INDEX. 


Agriculture,  Yukon  Valley,  133-140. 

Amusements,  Eskimo,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  144. 

Apprentices,  Golovin  Bay,  13;  Teller  reindeer  station,  11-13;  Unalaklik,  13. 

Barry.  Thomas  H.,  letter  from,  commending  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  to  army  officers 
in  Alaska,  120. 

Bertholf,  Lieut.  E.  P.,  report  of  Point  Barrow  relief  expedition,  100-106. 

Brandon.  Dr.,  and  Teller  reindeer  station,  129. 

Brevig,  Rev.  T.  L., annual  report, Teller  reindeer  station,  58-60;  appointed  super¬ 
intendent  of  station,  11;  log  hook,  62-82. 

Buildings,  Teller  reindeer  station,  12. 

Canada,  no  domestic  reindeer  in,  15-16. 

Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  number  of  herd,  13;  reindeer  to  be  returned  to,  126-127; 
Siberian  reindeer  issued  to,  129. 

Character,  Eskimo,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  144. 

Childbirth,  among  Eskimos,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  143. 

Circle  City,  number  of  herd,  13;  reindeer  belonging  to  Government;  report  of 
reindeer  expedition  to,  132. 

Cleanliness,  among  Eskimos,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  144. 

Clothing,  Eskimo,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  142. 

Commission  to  Lapland,  telegrams  connected  with,  109-120. 

Congregational  mission  station,  number  of  herd,  13. 

Deaths,  among  Eskimos,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  143. 

Devore,  Lieut.  D.  B. ,  disbursing  officer,  commission  to  Lapland,  32, 38. 

Diseases,  Eskimo,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  144. 

Doty,  W.  F.,  teacher,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  48. 

Eaton,  reindeer  station,  annual  report  of  superintendent,  51-56;  deer  lost,  57; 
Eskimos  at,  57;  Lapps  at,  57;  number  of  herd,  13;  ownership  of  deer,  56. 

Episcopal  mission,  N.  V.  Hendricks  takes  charge  of  reindeer,  128. 

Eskimos,  at  Eaton  reindeer  station,  57;  murder  of.  102-103;  St.  Lawrence  Island 
natives:  Amusements,  144;  character,  144;  childbirth,  143;  cleanliness,  144; 
clothing,  142;  deaths,  143;  diseases.  144;  food,  142;  houses,  141;  hunting  gear, 
142;  language,  141;  marriage  customs,  143;  origin,  141;  religion,  143-144; 
tobacco,  142;  villages,  141. 

Finns,  clothing  and  subsistence  furnished  to,  125-126;  list  of,  employed  on  Yukon 
relief  expedition,  106,  108. 

Food,  Eskimo,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  142. 

Fund,  reindeer,  increase  of,  13. 

Gambell,  F.  H.,  appointed  physician,  Teller  reindeer  station,  11. 

Gambell,  V.  C.,  lost  at  sea,  48;  notes  on  Eskimos,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  141-144. 

Golovin  Bay,  annual  report  of  superintendent,  61;  apprentices,  13;  herd,  12,  13; 
number  of  reindeer,  61;  reindeer  belonging  to  Government,  13. 

Harris,  William  T.,  United  States  Commissioner  of  Education,  letter  to  Dr.  Shel¬ 
don  Jackson,  109;  comments  on  reindeer,  16-18. 

Hendricks,  N.  V.,  takes  charge  of  reindeer,  Episcopal  mission,  128. 

Herd,  reindeer,  increase  from  1892  to  1898, 13;  number  and  distribution  in  Alaska, 
1898,  13;  property  of  Government,  13. 

Herders,  Teller  reindeer  station,  11. 


147 


148 


INDEX. 


Houses,  Eskimo,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  141. 

Hultberg,  N.  O.,  annual  report,  Golovin  Bay  reindeer  station,  61. 

Hunting  gear,  Eskimo,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  142. 

Illicit  distilling,  Alaska,  101. 

Interior,  Secretary  of,  authorizing  sale  of  reindeer,  123;  letters  of,  to  President  of 
Senate,  3. 

Interior  Department,  United  States,  relief  expedition  supplies  turned  over  to,  126. 

Jackson,  Dr.  Sheldon,  annual  report,  9-48;  authorized  by  Secretary  of  the  Interior 
to  sell  reindeer  at  cost,  123;  commended  to  army  officers  in  Alaska  by  Thomas 
H.  Barry,  120;  commission  to  Lapland,  32-47;  detailed  to  take  charge  of 
Lapps  and  reindeer  en  route  to  Alaska,  109;  directed  to  report  to  Secretary 
of  War,  103;  instructions  to  H.  E.  Redmeyer,  122-123;  to  William  A.  Kjell- 
mann,  120;  letter  commending  H.  E.  Redmeyer  to  merchants,  120;  letter 
appointing  H.  E.  Redmeyer  in  charge  of  overland  expedition  of  reindeer,  120; 
Norwegian  officials  requested  to  aid,  104-105;  recommended  to  diplomats 
and  consular  officials  by  Secretary  of  State,  104;  relief  supplies  shipped  to, 
125;  report  on  agriculture  in  Yukon  Yalley,  133-140;  sent  to  Lapland  for 
reindeer,  103-104;  trip  to  Siberia,  47-48;  report  of  Point  Barrow  relief  expe¬ 
dition,  95-99. 

Jarvis,  Lieut.  D.  H.,  report  of  Point  Barrow  relief  expedition,  92-94. 

Kittilsen,  Dr.  A.  N.,  annual  report,  Eaton  reindeer  station,  51-56;  resigns  as  phy¬ 
sician  at  Teller  reindeer  station,  11. 

Kjellmann,  T.,  death  of,  59,  80. 

Kjellmann,  William  A.,  arrangements  for  carrying  United  States  mails,  11;  com¬ 
mission  to  Lapland,  34-37;  instructions  to,  by  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson,  121. 

Language,  Eskimo,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  141. 

Lapland,  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson’s  commission  to,  32-47, 103-104;  herd  imported  from. 
13;  reindeer  moss,  34-35;  telegrams  connected  with  commission  to,  109-120. 

Lapps,  at  Eaton  reindeer  station,  57;  clothing  and  subsistence  furnished,  125-126; 
contracts  with,  107-108;  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  detailed  to  take  charge  of ,  109; 
engaged  for  Alaska,  38;  inducement  to  become  permanent  settlers  in  Alaska, 
17-18;  list  of  employees  in  Yukon  relief  expedition,  105-106;  naturalization 
of,  46-47;  recommendations  with  regard  to  disposition,  145-146. 

Letter  of  transmittal,  3. 

Mail  contractor,  reindeer  furnished  to,  126. 

Marriage  customs,  Eskimo,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  143. 

Marsh,  Dr.  H.  R.,  supplies  received,  128. 

Moss,  reindeer,  market  at  Trondhjem,  34-35, 

Norwegian  officials  requested  to  aid  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson,  104-105. 

Norwegians,  clothing  and  subsistence  furnished  to,  125-126;  list  of ,  employed  on 
Yukon  relief  expedition,  106, 108;  naturalization  of,  46-47. 

Origin  of  Eskimos,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  41. 

Plants  of  Yukon  Yalley,  134-140. 

Point  Barrow,  number  of  herd,  13, 127;  reindeer  belonging  to  Government,  13; 
relief  expedition,  reindeer  account,  99;  report  of  Lieut.  E.  P.  Bertholf,  100- 
106;  report  of  Capt.  F.  Tuttle,  83-92;  report  of  Lieut.  D.  H.  Jarvis,  92-99; 
relief  of  wffialers  imprisoned  in  ice,  19-31. 

Point  Hope,  number  of  herd,  13,  127;  reindeer  belonging  to  Government,  13. 

Point  Rodney,  reindeer  to  be  returned  to,  126-127. 

Presbyterian  mission,  number  of  herd,  13. 

Private  reindeer  enterprises,  14-15. 

Redmeyer,  Hedley  E.,  appointed  assistant  superintendent  of  Teller  reindeer 
station,  11;  appointed  in  charge  of  overland  expedition  of  reindeer,  120;  com¬ 
mended  to  merchants,  120;  instructions  to,  by  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson, 
122-123;  letters  of,  124;  report  of  reindeer  expedition  to  Circle  City,  132. 

Reindeer  account,  Point  Barrow  relief  expedition,  99. 


INDEX. 


149 


Reindeer,  at  Point  Hope,  127;  death  of  42,  44;  drivers,  list  of,  in  Yukon  relief  ex¬ 
pedition,  107-108;  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson  detailed  to  take  charge  of,  en  route 
for  Alaska,  109,  sent  to  Lapland  for,  103-104;  Episcopal  mission,  N.  V. 
Hendricks  takes  charge  of,  128;  estimate  of  increase  from  one  hundred  in 
five  years,  18;  expedition  to  Circle  City,  report  of,  132;  fund,  expenditure, 
13;  furnished  mail  contractor,  126;  imported  from  Lapland,  38,  39;  increase 
of,  13;  letter  authorizing  sale  of,  123;  moss,  market  at  Trondhjem,  34-35;  no 
domestic  in  Canada,  15-16;  number  and  distribution  of,  in  Alaska,  13; 
number  at  Golovin  Bay,  61;  number  at  Teller  reindeer  station,  60;  offer  of 
loan  to  Roman  Catholics,  129-131;  private  enterprises,  14-15;  purchasing 
station  in  Siberia,  13;  recommendations  with  regard  to  disposition,  145-146; 
Siberian,  issued  to  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  129;  suggestions  for  distributing, 
17-18;  supplement  to  steamboat  and  railroad,  16-17;  to  be  returned  to  Cape 
Prince  of  Wales  and  Point  Rodney,  126-127. 

Reindeer  stations.  See  under  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  Circle  City,  Eaton,  Golovin 
Bay,  Point  Barrow,  Point  Hope,  Point  Rodney,  Teller. 

Relief  expedition,  Point  Barrow,  83-99;  supplies  turned  over  to  Department  of  the 
Interior,  126;  to  Yukon  River,  40-47. 

Religion,  Eskimo,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  143-144. 

Roman  Catholics,  offer  of  loan  of  reindeer  to,  and  acceptance,  129-131. 

St.  Lawrence  Island,  Eskimos,  notes  on,  141-144. 

Secretary  of  State.  See  under  State,  Secretary  of. 

Secretary  of  the  Interior.  See  under  Interior,  Secretary  of. 

Secretary  of  the  Treasury.  See  under  Treasury,  Secretary  of. 

Secretary  of  War.  See  under  War,  Secretary  of. 

Senate,  United  States,  action  of,  regarding  report,  3;  letter  of  Secretary  of  Interior 
to  President  of ,  3. 

Siberia,  purchasing  station  in,  13-14;  trip  to,  by  Dr.  Sheldon  Jackson.  47-48. 

Siberian  reindeer  issued  to  Cape  Prince  of  Wales,  129. 

State,  Secretary  of,  letter  of,  to  diplomats  and  consular  officials,  recommending  Dr. 
Sheldon  Jackson,  104. 

Station,  reindeer  purchasing,  Siberia,  13-14. 

Stations,  reindeer.  See  under  Reindeer  stations. 

Statistics,  reindeer,  12. 

Swedish  mission,  number  of  herd  at,  13. 

Teller  reindeer  station,  annual  report  of  superintendent,  58—60;  appointment  of 
F.  H.  Gambellas  physician,  11;  apprentices,  11-13;  buildings,  12;  Dr.  Brandon 
in  charge  of,  129;  Hedley  E.  Redmeyer  appointed  assistant  superintendent, 
11;  herd,  12;  herders,  11;  log  book,  62-82:  number  of  herd,  13, 60;  resignation 
of  Dr.  Kittelsen  as  physician,  11;  Rev.  T.  L.  Brevig  appointed  superin¬ 
tendent,  11. 

Tobacco,  Eskimo,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  142. 

Treasury,  Secretary  of,  reports  of  Point  Barrow  relief  expedition  made  to,  83-94. 

Trondhjem,  market  for  reindeer  moss,  34-35. 

Tuttle,  Capt.  F.,  report  on  Point  Barrow  relief  expedition,  83-92;  reports  made 
to,  by  Lieuts.  Jarvis  and  Bertholf ,  95-99, 100-106. 

Unalaklik.  apprentices  at,  13 ;  number  of  herd,  13. 

Villages,  Eskimo,  St.  Lawrence  Island,  141. 

War  Department,  clothing  and  subsistence  furnished  to  Lapps,  Norwegians,  and 
Finns,  125-126. 

Whalers,  relief  of,  imprisoned  in  ice  near  Point  Barrow,  19-31. 

Yukon  relief  expedition,  40-47;  list  of  Lapps  employed,  106,108;  Finlanders, 
106-108;  Norwegians,  106-108. 

Yukon  Valley,  agriculture  in,  133-140;  plants  of.  134-140;  temperature,  136. 


. 


' 


GENERAL  ('HART  OF 


ALASKA 


TO  ACCOMPANY  REINDEER  REPORT  BY 

SHELDON  JACKSON 

GENERAL  AGENT  OF  EDUCATION  IN  ALASKA