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Charles Larpenteur, in Forty Years a Fur Trader, presents a participants view of events as they unfolded during the Smallpox epidemic at Fort Union starting in June 1837. "After
my return from the Canoe camp [an Assiniboine Indian camp] nothing
worthy of remark took place until the arrival of the steamer, late in June
[1837]. The mirth usual on such occasions was not of long duration,
for immediately on the landing of the boat we learned that smallpox was on
board. Mr. J. Halsey, the gentleman who was to take charge this
summer, had the disease, of which several of the hands had died; but it
had subsided, and this was the only case on board. Our only
apprehensions were that the disease might spread among the Indians, for
Mr. Halsey had been vaccinated, and soon recovered. Prompt measures
were adopted to prevent an epidemic. As we had no vaccine matter we
decided to inoculate with the smallpox itself; and after the systems of
those who were to be inoculated had been prepared according to Dr. Thomas'
medical book, the operation was performed upon about 30 Indian squaws and
a few white men. This was done with the view to have it all over and
everything cleaned up before any Indians should come in, on their fall
trade, which commenced early in September.
The smallpox matter should have been taken from a very healthy
person; but, unfortunately, Mr. Halsey was not sound, and the operation
proved fatal to most of our patients. About 15 days afterward there
was such a stench in the fort that it could be smelt at the distance of
300 yards. It was awful — the scene in the fort, where some went
crazy, and others were half eaten up by maggots before they died; yet,
singular to say, not a single bad expression was ever uttered by a sick
Indian. Many died, and those who recovered were so much disfigured
that one could scarcely recognize them. While the epidemic was at
its height a party of about 40 Indians came in, not exactly on a trade,
but more on a begging visit, under the celebrated old chief Co-han; and
the word was, "Hurry up! Open the door!" which had been locked
for many days, to keep the crazy folks in. Nothing
else would do — we must open the door; but on showing him a little boy
who had not recovered, and whose face was still one solid scab, by holding
him above the pickets, the Indians finally concluded to leave. Not
long afterward we learned that more than one-half of the party had died
— some said all of them. In the course of time the fort became
clear of the smallpox, but the danger of infection continued. Back to S.S. St. Peters and the 1837 Smallpox Epidemic
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