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In The News
The Mid-Night Sun.
Cape Prince of Wales, Alaska
"Where the sun comes up at midnight from an ice pack round the pole."
Vol. 1, No. 2
September, 1905.
THE CAPE REINDEER
from Annual Statement
The Cape Herds have prospered as well as usual this year. The roping in
the coral last August prevented the deer from fattening as they
other-wise would early in the fall.
On July 30th, 389 deer were taken out of the main herd to form a herd
for the Shishmaref country. A large part of this herd belongs to six
Independent native herders. Frank Iyatunguk, a boy who had proved to be
a good and trustworthy herder, was appointed to keep an account of
births, deaths and other records of the herd. The camp, consisting of
three log houses was placed about ten miles south of Shishmaref Inlet on
the East shore of the lagoon. An abundance of moss was found and the
herd has done nicely.
The deer left in the main herd were kept in the valley of the Nooluk R.,
forty miles N.E. of the cape. This herd consists of deer belonging to
several Independent herders, the American Missionary Association, and
the U.S. Bureau of Education. The Independent herders at this camp were
Ki_yearzruk, Ootenna, Keok, Ibiono, Okbaok, and Eraheruk. The U.S.
Bureau of Education has in this herd, 181 deer.
It places these herds at a disadvantage to be kept so far from their
base of supplies. The crusted condition of the snow in the vicinity of
the cape at times during the winter, and the numerous uncared for dogs
in summer, make it necessary to keep the deer some distance away the
entire year. To stake out a sled deer on poor moss after traveling forty
to sixty miles soon "takes the tallow from their rumps." This year
supplies for the north camp were landed at Shishmaref, ten miles from
the camp.
During the winter the herders needed to sell about twenty five steers to
pay for their annual supplies. They cut out of a small herd, drove it to
Teller and Nome, butchered and sold 26; banked the money and returned.
Following are statistics of the herds:
Deer owned by Eskimos - 824
Deer owned by A.M.A - 389
Deer owned by Bureau of Educ. - 189
No. of Independent herders - 14
No. of Mission herders - 2
Apprentices of Indep. herders - 5
Received by herders from sale of deer meat - $1025
Received by herders from sale of female deer to Gov't - $925
Rec'd by Mission for meat, skins, etc. - $292
Expended by Mission on two Mission herders and herd - $204
Rec'd by Mission for female deer sold Bur. of Educ. - $4800
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MURDER IN SIBERIA
Special to the Mid-night Sun.
East Cape, Siberia, Sept. 10, 1905.
Oogzrotonge, a native of this place recently murdered his cousin. The
murder was the result of a feud and followed a drunken row.
Drinty, a younger brother of Oogzrotonge, and a well known deer man, was
at the Teller Reindeer Station several years ago where he was known as
one of the best men at the herd.
After leaving Teller Drinty returned to Siberia, where in 1905 he was
killed by the man whom Oogzrotonge killed. This last murder was partly
in self defense.
The same feud system prevailed on the American side and has caused many
deaths.
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TANESKI SIBERIAN CHIEF
By Thomas Illayok
The fame of Taneski, a Siberian chief has spread over American as well
as the Siberian shore. Taneski rules over nearly the whole northern
coast. He is a great trader but his influence rests principally in his
honesty and straightforward dealing. "He never drinks and so can think
well." Two years ago Taneski had a thousand reindeer. These have died
off, only a few now living. He has three sons, one of whom is said to be
the fastest runner on the coast. Once he outran a polar bear and getting
around it he headed it back to his brother who killed it.
Taneski carries on a large trade with the deer men, buying skins, and
trading them to American Eskimos and whalers. He differs from Taninger,
another chief by having only one wife. Taninger has six.
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LOCALS.
Enungooluk, a native woman and child of this place, returned in a recent
canoe. She was married to a Siberian who committed suicide.
The seal nets are out and the natives are bringing in a number of seals.
The first haul netted twelve.
The canoes are returning from the annual trading trips, some from
Kotzebue Sound and others from Siberia, Teller and Nome. Fewer deer
skins have been brought over this year than in previous years. Many deer
in the vicinity of East Cape have died during the past two years and
white men have bought a good part of the skins.
Winter weather is about three weeks earlier than last year. Continuous
northerly winds have brought enough snow for dog sledding.
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ADVERTISEMENTS PLACE BY:
Frank Iyatunguk, Manager - The Cape Reindeer Transportation Co.
Ok-ba-ok - Importer & exporter of Siberian & Alaskan furs.
Walrus skins and Tusks at Ootooktok's.
Buy your boots at Kitsenna's.
Ingesinok - Oomiaks for sale.
WANTED - All kinds of curios. Illayok.
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CORYPHENE DISAPPEARED.
The rapid disappearance of the Coryphene is a surprise to everyone. It
was expected that she would settle in the sand bar on which she struck,
but no one expected that within a month of the time she struck that the
entire ship would be lost to sight. On August 30th it was impossible to
touch the deck with a pole thirteen feet long. All that can be seen is
the stump of a mast.
[COLLEEN'S NOTE: The Coryphene was a bark that wrecked August 5, 1905,
16 miles north of Cape Prince of Wales. The steamer Corwin took everyone
aboard. Coryphene left Nome July 28 en route to Tin City when she
stranded in adverse currents and wrecked.]
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