Rensselaer Republican, Volume 12, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1879 — Cremation in Alaska. [ARTICLE]

Cremation in Alaska.

Rev. Sheldoh Jackson, of this city, Synmlioal Missionary of Colorado, Hew Mexico, Utah and Montana, recently made a visit to Alaska, and while there saw many interesting things. He gives an account of a visit made to a garden owned by a Mr. liaVidsdh, of Fort Wrangle. At tne upper end of -Mr/ Davidson’s garden he saw a white sheet stretched between two poles and if it might be intended for a scare-crow. Upon inquiry he found that it contained the ashes of a boy that was drowned the week before. His friends had Rev. Mr. Yonng that it 1 ’ should have a Christian burial; put during Saturday night they*took tbh body hp tlie beadh, and eari> flabtoth morning horned it, the charred wood still remaining. Several, largg* dry stacks were laid side by side upon the beach. Upon these yere placed the bpdy of the boy. -Other sticks were piled over the body, and the whole set bn fire amid the waps ‘And superstitious .incantations, of hired mourners.'w ‘

In about an hour the body was consumrit. ISAfler the fire haAbbofed down, the ashes were. carefully gathered up and placed Its \ basket' until k stfithble box eould.be carved for their permanent preservation. When all was ready, an old Indian w oman > bowed down with age and inftrmitiek, took, up th e basket andjtaifcfid foX- A-pine tree, wjncfe-.had previousfr r beep i; spirted for the purpose. Sne #aa fonowed by the mournthe tree two poles, about eight feet high, were driven into the ground two feet apart. The hasket containing the ashes was tied between these poles, tod a muslin bag, like a large pillow-slip, palled down' over the poles and basket and Closed at the bottom. On the outside of the sheet i% sometimes rudely punted a face, through which tthe spirit Morning and evening the parents of the boy come out from their hut, and. ate, 10 a kept up sos months, for tijey have never heard of iHe gfdrfrCmmbrtCT, who arone can comfort sorrowing hearts. Those whose bodies are burned, are iuppdsed to be warm in ths next world, and the others cold. They believe in the transmigration of souls from one body to another, but not to animals. And the . Wish is often expressed that in the next change they may be born’ into this or that powerful family. The funeral ceremqnrp efteri.' list four days. If slaves are then sacrificed, it Tefieves their 3*nfc«l¥oU *&k in the next world. Dead slave* too often east into the sea. At the funeral of chiefs the traditions and history of the tribe are. rehearsed. If. these ceremonies speaks the Word, and the water of death is small, and the soul is carried to* place of rest an‘d forgetfulness. -Then; after, a long time it comes back to some descendant bn it’s sister’s side and lives another life. To such superameliorating and elevating their condition in this life, and presenting to them a glorious immortality through the crucified and risen -Savior, is the 'work, of the Board of Home Missions.-- Denver lYibune. ' It is estimated by some authorities that the lumber production of the Northwestern States will fall fully 800,- ° 00 ’ 000 . Mrticijwed amount, and that in consequence of the inferior quality of the Jog* est, the supply of choice kanbeir to meet the ‘ demand will be small. This is one cause of the recent lumber “ boom.”