Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1879 — Frightful Story from the Arctic Ocean. [ARTICLE]

Frightful Story from the Arctic Ocean.

Capt. Sands reports a frightful story from St. Lawrence island, in the Behring sea. Almost the entire population of the southeastern end of the island has perished of starvation. A party landed from the Collins and were horrified to find 250 corpses in one field. The living had carried the dead away from the huts unjtil at length, overcome themselves, they in turn died in the huts, and so remained. Everywhere the scene was frightful. One little girl the Captain speaks of seeing stiff in death, with her head resting on her hand, while the body leaned over the remains of a whale. Mr. Sands attributes the starvation to rum. Nearly every “trader” goes to the Arctic loaded with it, and so long as the liquor lasts the natives will not go fishing. Then it is too late, and starvation follows. On the northwest end of the island about 200 natives are still alive. He says that revenue steam cutters are of no use to stop the traffic. The “traders” see the smoke, and get out of the way, or get rid of their contraband liquors before, they can be reached. A sailing vessel of 100 tons, he says, could end the traffic. - -New York Herald.