90 ALASKA FISHEKIBS AND FUE INDUSTRIES, 1911. 



DEATH OF DR. CHICHESTER AND DR. HAHN. 



On May 31, 1911, a distressing accident occurred on St. Paul 

 Island. Dr. Harry D. Chichester, assistant agent, and Dr. Walter L. 

 Hahn, the naturalist on the seal islands, with their wives and a 

 native, Neon Tetof, while sailing on the lagoon were unable to put 

 about successfully in the high wind and by the capsizing of their 

 boat were exposed to the ice-cold water for more than an hour. All 

 were alive when rescued, and Mrs. Chichester and Mrs. Hahn, by the 

 diligent efforts of the physician, were resuscitated. The native also 

 survived, but Dr. Chichester and Dr. Halin, necessarily left without 

 medical attention for a time, succumbed to the effects of the exposure. 



In this tragic event the fur-seal service has lost two of its most 

 able and valuable employees. In addition to looking after all busi- 

 ness and administrative affairs of the island during the preceding 

 winter. Dr. Chichester had entered upon a careful study of the 

 sanitary and health conditions on the islands, having graduated in 

 medicine in the preceding spring and during his medical course given 

 special attention to those diseases, such as pulmonary affections, 

 which are most prevalent among the Aleuts. These studies and his 

 intimate knowledge of the conditions on the seal islands led him to 

 believe that all infectious diseases can be completely eradicated in 

 those restricted localities, and, inspired by this ambition and hope, 

 he entered vigorously upon the securing of the vital and statistical 

 data necessary to enable him to formulate a definite method of 

 procedure. The progress he had made was so encouraging as to 

 induce the belief that had he lived Dr. Chichester would have realized 

 his ambition completely. Unquestionably he would have been able 

 greatly to improve the health conditions on the Pribilofs. 



Dr. Hahn entered upon his duties as naturalist in the fall of 1910. 

 His training, wide field experience, and well-known ability and 

 enthusiasm as a zoologist and practical busiQess man were assurance 

 that his appointment to the position of naturalist, just established, 

 would prove a wise selection. His report, written up to the very 

 day of his death, shows that he possessed a remarkably clear under- 

 standing of the problems with winch he had to deal. Arriving at 

 the islands August 23, 1910, he made daily observation and study of 

 the seals and foxes throughout the f aU, winter, and spring. He also 

 gave attention to the birds and other animals on and about the 

 islands, to the plants, and to meteorological phenomena, and gave 

 much thought to the local educational problems and the intellectual 

 and moral well-being of the natives, working out a system of educa- 

 tion such as he believed best adapted to their needs. 



