The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-08-08
MIDSUMMER IN REMOTE BUT
BEAUTIFUL ALASKA.
TIE Sun Setting Late at Night-yOy.
aging Among u Thousand Isles-IHh.
incense GlncierS-A Land Of PnGean.
tries and Wonders.

Tic SUN setting I.Nte az N1sht-SOy.
aging Among - Thousand ls1es-hm.
incense GlncierS-A Land Of Pnsean.
tries and Wonders.
Surfeitel with the hollow pleasures of sea-
sons spent at popular seaside resorts, coveting
not tie yarlH R9p!At9ny Of the interior, the
heat of the Sandwich islands, nor the iaIigue
of mountain rambles, several San Francisco
ladies' resolved this. year to vary the usual
routine by flying trip to the north. The
excursion proved most enjoyable one, and
one of the members of the party gave n
graphic account of its incidents in an inter
view with Chronicle reporter.
we took passage on the steamer State of
California" she said. "At Portland we de-
viated little from the ordinary route, run
ming up the Columbia river to the Dalles.
The beautiful scenery we found there was a
surprise and n delight to us all, and, speak
ing with it freshly pictured upon my mind,
feel like saying that it is worth a dozen
Yosemites. At one point we saw nine water
falls, some of them very large and falling
froW a lofty height. We left Port Townsend
on the Isl ai 4HHe; The voyage north from
this point Is exceedingly Interesting; think
the general impression among those who
have not taken the trip is that the course
wholly an inland voyage, for the northern
coast is tlanked with succession of islands,
and the steamer passes between these and
the mainland. The voyager is therefore
| rarely out of sight of land, and the scenic
effects on either hand are sometimes of mar
velons beauty. Some of the islands are
richly wooded, while others show broad
patches of meadow land or wild and rugged
rocks. The scenery on the mainland is
| equally picturesque and diversified. The
| channel in many places is narrower than the
| Columbia river and requires the most careful
pilotage to make the passage safely. We
passed through Grenvile channel, where the
| Saranac was lost three years ago, At this
place the tide sets in on either side of the
island opposite so powerfully AS to cause n
perfect eddy at times.
| "We reached Stka two weeks from the time
we left San Francisco. 1t is n pretty place,
neatly laid ont, containing many nice-look-
ing buildings, with II foreground of water
and a background of mountains. The most
prominent buildings are the Greek Church
| a neat wooden ediiice, with a tall spirc-and
the CASTLE formerly occupied by the
Russian Goyernor-a large building, promi-
nently located on a high point of rock. The
Indian village lies just below, and in odor
and aspect is one of the most revolving and
disgusting sights imaginable. We have
brought home few mementoes of it, odor
| and all You shall have the privilege OF
| enjoying Q bile of the fragrance yourself"
Stepping lightly to Il mantle, the fair tray
| eler took down n small piece OF wooden cary
ing, resembling miniature canoe, saying
This has undergone repeated washings
and scrapings since it came into our posses
| sion, but the delectable perfume Of that
| Indian village refuses TO leave it,
The interviewer bowed his face over the
curious Bit of handiwork, fashioned out of q
hard, close.grained wood and was rewarded
by powerful and indescribable aroma,
There was hint OF Limburger cheese, a sug,
gestion of carton, scent like Chinese fish
| market, a reminder Of the odorS OF Butcher.
town mingled with an intangible something
that told of filthy huts, dirty food, and an
unwashcd population.
| 80 Is the general appearance OF the natives
grepossessing 2"
"They are quite in harmony with theil
abodes-unolean, ignorant, and dissolute
looking. Some of them smear their faces
with a kind of lampblack, to keep OH the
mosquitoes, and their coal black faces, taken
in conjunction with their singular hair,
which has been faded by the sunlight to a
dull mahogany, gives them curious aspect
They all have a peculiar old and witlered
look We did not see oung-looking face
among those who had passed childhood
The Indians have threatened to revolt lately
but the Jamestown lies anchored there Will
her guns bearing straight down ON the vii
lage, and no apprehensions are entertained
Of the courage of the sayages waxing sogrea
as to brave powder and shot"
How did you like the climate i''
ave were very agreeably surprised, hay
ing expected to find the weather rather frigd
During the whole of our stay 1t was warn
and sunny though the air was very braCng
Sitka seems far north to US, but is in reality