The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-02-17
Alaska Curiosities.

trating his discourse with map, anu
also with q big trunk full of curiosities
and products of Alaska. These he piled
upon the tables-shawls, canoes, fishing
apparatus, and long string Of curlosi-
ties, chiefly ornamented In high colors.
A big potato and turnip were among the
products. The wood included the yell
low cedar--a beautiful hne-grained arti-
Gle, light as white wood, but much
superior for many purposes, and suscep-
tible of a fine polish. Its color Is that of
rather pale lemon. The Russians had
occupied Alaska for its seal fisheries for
century. Our coast line was pointed
>ut on the map to the point where,
tnsihg north, 1t reaches Mount st.
Elias, a mountain $4,000 feet high, and
having huge glaciers. Beyond, 1t goes
west to Behring sea. There Is coast
line of 2,200 miles. The whole territory
of Alaska comprises 6s0, 600 square miles,
by far the most extensive of our posses
sions, and reaching north indefinitely
20 the pole, perhaps. Sitka and Fort
Wrangle are down toward the southeast
part, on the coast. Captain Cook sailed
around there in the last century, and
Cooks inlet bears his name. The Rus
slams held monopoly of the fur trade
till we bought the country, In 1867.
People have been taught that 1t was an
insane purchase, and both Seward and
Sumner have been blamed-but L think
it is the finest possession we have, and
it will yield good return. AT once
there was rush of spectators to Alas
ka, and pre-. emption claims were set up.
The Government directed that such
claimants be forced out, at the point of
the bayonet If necessary-and the troops
were sent up there. They have discour-
aged the settlement of the country.
That is why so little is known of 1t.
Alaska, has 100 islands. They extend
along the coast for thousand miles.
All through that great distance steamers
can go on deep but smooth water, all the
way. The seal rocks lie off to the west,
there, in Behring sea. Up there, inland,
toward the north, flows the great Yukon
river-2,O00 miles long, and almost as
big as the Mississippi; it empties
through delta into Behring's straits.
The thousand islands along the south
ern sea shore of Alaska rise sheer, like
rocky mountain walls, out of the sea,
and large ships can sail right up to
them; they are mountains rising up
from the sea, and presenting the most
magnificent scenery / have ever met
with. The climate around Sitka is mild
and not subject to the extremes you
have here. Sitka is up north in latitude
90 but it has no cold winter weather
and no hot summer weather. Last
winter the lowest point reached at any
time was go; and winter before last
there was no ice whatever. 1t is very
agreeable summer climate. In fact the
southern coast, from Fort Wrangle to
Sitka, is the most delightful spot on the
globe. 1t is, climatcally speaking, well
balanced There are no insect pests, no
tormenting flies, nc bugs 1t is para
disc.
The coast scenery is absolutely mag
nlhtCnb. Ou Cufi Bull ll6ut up w IO
saw from one place seven great glaciers
pouring over the slopes of Mt. Fair
weather. 1t is the testimony of those
who have seen both, that this Alaska
scenery surpasses that of the Alps or the
Pyrenees.
The people have their good and their
bad traits. First, as to their bad quail
ties-they are great gamblers. They
will gamble away their last dollar or
their last blanket. Here the speaker
exhibited their 'gambling-sticks,"
curious arrangement They will bet
on canoe races-a man will bet his
slaves, and lose all. have seen this.
Another of their vices is licen tiousness,
which dates from the arrival of the
white races among them.
They are also fond of strong drink.
And they progressively now make
their own liquor. One Lawson taught
them how. He distilled mash into
rum by rigging up an oil-can, putting
in a " worm" and showing them how
to do it. The liquor is called " Hoo
chino" Our soldiers there will drink
anything in the shape of liquor, and if
they cannot get that they will drink
Worcestershire sauce, and even red ink,
for the alcohol it contains. An Indian
woman impaired the secret of making
rum out of molasses. AT once a great
demand arose for molasses, and it sold
for SO cents gallon when l was there.
Everybody seemed to be carrying pail
of molasses. l inquired into 1t and