REINDEER in ALASKA|
Lieut. E. Bertholf Brings a Herd of
254 from Siberia.
His Long Trip Over Ice and Snow
a Wonderful Story --
How the Deer are Cared For and What They Cost.
Special to The New York Times. October 13, 1901.
TACOMA, Washington, Oct. 12 -- Dr. Francis H. Gambell,
Superintendent of Government reindeer stations in Alaska,
arrived this week from Cape Nome bringing a full account of
Lieut. E. Bertholf's arrival in Alaska from Siberia, with a new
herd of 254 reindeer.
The Lieutenant's safe arrival with his herd is the culmination
of a most remarkable trip, which in its various stages has
attracted the attention of the Government and the world since
November, 1900. Leaving New York he went to London, thence to St.
Petersburg, and on to Irkutsk by rail, thence forward by
Russian reindeer and dogs to Orla, on the Bering Sea coast.
There the Lieutenant gathered his herd, and, driving them
aboard the steamship Prosper, carried them across to Teller
or Port Clarence, where they were disembarked, whence they
are to be distributed to the various herds scattered over Alaska.
The new deer are of a different breed or variety from those
previously brought over, and are expected to add much to
the value of the herds. Dr. Gambell's account of the
Lieutenant's experiences and his assembling the herd
is most interesting.
"We have now over 4,000 deer in Alaska," said the doctor.
"Those previously brought across are of a smaller variety,
secured from the Chuckees tribe in the northern part of
Siberia. Those brought over recently by Lieut. Bertholf are
from Orla, on the southern coast of Siberia. They are
arger than the others. The Chuckees deer are vari-colored,
being white, spotted brown and dun, while Bertholf's deer,
the Tonguse, are more rangy and of a dark brown color.
They are heavy enough to carry a man on their backs, and
Lieut. Bertholf, who weighs over 200 pounds, rode one
through the deep snows while gathering his herd.
These deer haven't as large horns, but have neater heads and
thicker necks and longer legs.
"At Orla Lieut. Bertholf had an account with a Russian firm,
and through them did most of his trading with the natives.
The Chuckees tribe in Northern Siberia has little idea of
the value of money and seek to do business altogether by
barter. Hence, the Government, when buying deer, had to
trade powder, flour, crackers, &c., directly with the
natives. Lieut. Bertholf had an account with one house,
and this gave supplies for deer and turned them over to
the Lieutenant. The price for each deer was $6.50. Lieut.
Bertholf became somewhat proficient in the use of the
Tonguse dialect and did his trading direct on his own
account. One man had a herd of 10,000 deer, being a very
rich native in the eyes of his neighbors.
"After collecting his herd and chartering the Prosper at
Vladivostok, Lieut. Bertholf had some trouble in securing
natives to accompany the herd over on the ship. Despairing,
he resorted to his authority, as shown by his letters from
home and from St. Petersburg, and used it.
"'Here,' said he to some natives, 'I am big man. You must
go with me.' Two natives were overawed and consented, and
these two fed the deer and looked after them on the way over.
He was ten days from Orla to Port Clarence, and part of the
time there was a rough sea that tossed the deer from side to
side, killing a few. It was the first time the two natives
had ever been out to sea, and when the Lieutenant, when they
were well over, asked the two men if they enjoyed the trip.
"'Thank God,' they replied in Tonguse, 'we are nearly across.'
After they landed and had a look at the Alaska herd they were
"Lieut. Bertholf brought over all his Siberian clothing, his
traveling sled, &c. In Russia, they drive two deer to a sled,
while in Alaska but one deer is driven. The Lieutenant, while
traveling, slept, cooked and ate and lived in his sled. His
arctic clothing was made wholly from reindeer skin and worn
over his European garments. He took photographs all along
the route and has a wonderful collection.
"After landing his deer he returned by the Prosper to
Vladivostok and will return to America about November by
way of Japan and Hongkong."
Dr. Gambell gives the following report of the reindeer now
in Alaska, the figures being approximate:
Point Barrow, Rev. Marsh Superintendent... 250
Point Hope, natives… 150
Kotzebue Sound, Rev. Samms… 200
Cape Prince of Wales, W.T. Locke… 1,000
Teller reindeer station, T.D. Breng… 700
Sinrock, natives… 500
Golovin Bay, Carl Lynd… 250
Eaton Station, A.E. Calson… 700
Bethel Station, S. Romig… 250
St. Lawrence Island, Dr. E. O. Campbell… 100
"The Bertholf deer are to be scattered equally among the stations,
to increase the efficiency of the Chuckee deer," continued the doctor.
"All the deer so far brought over amount to less than 1,000; but
next year the Government hopes to add another 1,000 from Siberia.
The herds are all increasing very fast and are beyond the experimental
state. A few of the males are being killed for food, but no females.
The Eskimos in Alaska are taking kindly to them and are serving
apprenticeships at the stations. Four of the Laplanders who came
from Norway in 1898 have been given herds of 100 each on a five
year contract. They are at the end of that time to return the
original number to the Government and keep all the increase.
Alaska natives are serving them as apprentices. The Government
is to assist the Laplanders in getting their supplies, but they
must pay their own way. The four men have sent to Norway for their
families and relatives, and propose to live in Alaska.
Dr. Gambell has lived three years in Alaska, and has been at
all stations save Point Hope and Point Barrow. He used deer
in traveling, save in Winter, when the crust and ice prevented,
and dogs were resorted to. His home is at Winfield, Iowa, but
he will winter in Washington.
During the present Winter the local Superintendent at Eaton will
drive a herd to Nulato for the Catholic mission to look after for
the natives, and another herd to the Episcopal mission on the
Tanana, 240 miles from Nulato. In this way the Government will
gradually cover all of arctic Alaska with reindeer. They eat moss
with the same relish they do in Siberia, and seem to thrive anywhere.