Northwest History. Alaska. Famine.

• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1936
• Subjects: Eskimos; Point Barrow; Alaska; Dr. Henry W. Griest; civilization; medical missionary; chickenpox; the United States; communication; dog teams; Arctic; the Presbyterian Hospital; typhoid fever; walrus meat; disease; starvation; the bureau of Indian affairs; Northwest; Pacific > History > 20th century; Indian; Pacific; Barrow; eskimo*; walrus*
• Online Access: http://content.libraries.wsu.edu/cdm/ref/collection/clipping/id/91170

Stricken Eskimos Short Of Food. Stricken Eskimos Short of Food BARROW, Alaska, Feb. 12 — (I.N.S.)—Indications that "we may get some help soon" were received today at this most northerly outpost of civilization by Dr. Henry W. Griest, medical missionary, who with his wife, has been lighting a courageous battle against disease and starvation among the Eskimos An epidemic of mumps, complicated by chickenpox and at least one case of typhoid fever is raging in the Barrow area. Relief asked from the bureau of Indian affairs of the United States government by Dr. Griest to aid in carrying on his fight was refused, the missionary declared. He did not reveal who sent the wire indicating some help might be forthcoming. Surrounded by ice, its only possible communication with the outside world by means of dog teams, or airplane, and that particularly hazardous in long Arctic winter which holds this section in' its grasp, food supplies among the Eskimos are running low. Fuel also is nearly depleted in all igloos and in some instances the Eskimos already are without means of producing heat. In one instance an Eskimo's child who was convalescent from typhoid fever was taken from the Presbyterian Hospital operated by Dr. Griest and removed to a home where diet consisted entirely of flour and walrus meat. Failure of hunters to obtain the usual supplies of meat during the brief sumrat- months is being keenly felt. Stocks of walrus meat have dwindled almost, to nothingness and seal are extremely scarce this Only eight able-bodied men remain in the settlement to carry on the hunt for seals to provide food.