T H E CHEM AW A A M ERICA N
PAGE 4
OUR LITTLE HEROINE
Some time ago there arrived at Chemawa from the
Far North a little Indian girl who is beyond doubt
every inch a heroine. We take pleasure in printing
a dispatch which was given the papers at the time of
the trip to our school, as follows: The most popular
passenger on the steamship Victoria, in port here to
day, was little Mary Buck, a 14 year-old crippled
Indian girl. The Victoria came from Nome.
Mary, whose Indian name is Iggiyuk, was one of a
party of five native children on their way to the Indian
school at Chemawa, Ore. Her story is told by Dr.
James H . Condit, superintendent of the board of
Presbyterian home missions for Alaska.
“ M ary’s troubles began in the fall of 1919,” said Dr.
Condit. “ She was living at Rocky Point, nine miles
from Nome, with her father and mother, two brothers
and a sister. Shortly after the last trip of the steam
ship Victoria, the “ flu” broke out in Nome and the
surrounding country. More than half of the Eskimo
population died. There were left 75 flu orphans,
among them Mary.
“ When a relief party entered M ary’s home they
found the parents dead and the four children huddled
together in one bed. It was very cold, being in the
dead of winter. Mary, then 12, and an older brother
had taken off most of their own clothes and wrapped
them about the two smaller children. The brother
died a short time later from the effect of the cold.
M ary’s left leg was frozen and had to be amputated
above the knee. ”
Mary was taken to live with her grandmother at
Mountain Village, Dr. Condit relates, but finally the
government teacher there put her on a barge and sent
her down the Yukon to take the steamer for Seattle to
go to the large school at Chemawa. The girl had
practically no clothing and an old sourdough at Moun
tain Village had given her $20 to purchase some.
Mary was supplied with crutches when her leg was
amputated, but they are too short now and have been
broken several times.
Last Sunday night during service on the Victoria,
Dr. Condit brought the little Indian g irl’s case to the
notice of the passengers and they took up a collection
of $105 to buy her an artificial limb. This amount
has been found to be insufficient. An artificial limb
of the rtg h t kind costs $150 or more. Dr. Condit has
deposited the $105 with the United States bureau of
education in the Smith building here to be used as
seems best for Mary.
INDUSTRIAL ITEMS
The farm and garden details are sorting potatoes.
O ur ice plant has been undergoing repairs and is
just in commission again.
Classes in mechanical drawing number eight at
present. There are 75 boys of the vocational division
enrolled.
The mason detail has repaired the walls about the
roof of the plumbing shop and the carpenters are
placing a new roof on the building.
The two trucks and a team have been busy of late
hauling dirt to fill holes in the lawn and protect the
ditches where new heating lines were installed.
The painters are at work in the Small Boys’ quarters
at present. As soon as material can be obtained new
lockers will be built in this building. There is con
siderable plastering to be repaired there also.
The flood of last week filled the basement of the
school building and did considerable damage to the
heating lines there. However, the plumbers, through
strenuous effort, soon removed the water with a steam
jet. The hospital basement was also flooded and was
treated in a like manner.
CHEMAWA PLEDGE
As a student of the Chemawa Indian School, which
is maintained by the people of the United States, I
heartily acknowledge the obligation I owe for the
opportunities open to me here for training, ideals and
vision for life, which I deeply appreciate and regard
as a sacred trust. I do hereby pledge my honor that
it will be my most cherished purpose to render as
bountiful return to the United States in faithful and
ardent devotion to the commom good of Chemawa and
the advancement of its interests as will be in my power.
It will be the aim of my efforts to labor for the highest
good and glory of my country, and ever to be loyal to
Chemawa, this great school, and all for which it stands.
ACADEMIC NOTES
January 22 and 23 brings the mid-year tests in many
of the industrial subjects and in the seventh grade
geography and eighth grade history.
Miss Lydia Bishard from Seattle reported Jan. 10
and the following day relieved Miss Thompson who
has had charge of the adult primary classes. We re
gret to lose Miss Thompson; she has many warm
friends at Chemawa. Miss Bishard is a teacher of
experience in public school work as w’ell as in the In
dian schools; she has been employed at Tongue Riyer,
Montana.
At the students’ request Miss Weaver read the
pleasing little story to the B Division in the assembly
Wednesday that the A Division enjoyed the previous
week. Miss Gunn gave a review of the situation in
the Near East and the causes of the present unrest.
Roy Courville and Sadie Napoleon covered recent hap
penings of general importance in a few well chosen
questions.
Questions have been received from the office of the
County Superintendent for those who were conditioned
in certain subjects in the state examinations for the
eighth grade last May. Anna Lee Thomas will take
the history test and Robert Peratrovich will take the
tests in history and spelling. Of the large number
who took the examination for state diplomas there
were only four failures. All of the sixth grade stu
dents who took the physiology test in the state exam
inations passed with good grades.