Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-09-13
LIFE IN ALASKA
On the Pretty Ion Islands-The Funeral of a
Russian Woman at the Greek Church.

On the Pretty Ion Islands-The Funeral of a
Russian Woman at the Greek Church.
From L.Gs~ O. Ms. G,o. f. TIRg6.
You have asked me to give you an idea
of life in Alaska, and will try to make you
understand how We live in the PretylOf
Islands. Our house lie detached from any
other, and has four comfortable rooms,
neither of which is q kitchen, so we have
taseu cur meals with the employees of the
fuc Companies at little distance from our
owe house. We miss beef which We never
get. excepting when the ships come in, but
seal meat roasted with Woreest arshire
sauce and onions, is good eating. We have
an abundance of GAINED fruit and Vegeta-
bles, and all kinds OF dried fruit, but no
flesh fruit but apples still We might have
much less. We have plenty of milk, as the
company owns two cows, ard as nice Look
irg chickens IS there are anywhere; 80 We
have plenty of eggs Our butter comes
from the States but 10 always good, even
VIXEN three years old, as they told Us
some Of ours was Ii seems so strange to
thrEk Of sou all being warm, when We al
ways dress in flannel, aud fur lined cloak
has been very comfortable We rarely see
the sun, and new have seen the moon aud
s'ars think of il 40 moon-but so far the
days have been SO long that We rarely light
s amp before tea o clock. The seal killers
do not want sunny weather, as it is these
heavy fogs, that bring the seals here in such
numbers.
We have nice green grass and beautiful
wild flowers, such as YelloS p Ipoies batter
cups and many o'her pretty varieties.
You may imagine We are always readyto
90 ANYWHERE for a change, so as one Of the
Russian women had died, we went to the
Greek church to the funeral The woman
was taken in the church at noon, and laid
in state until four Her coffin was pine,
covered with gingham and trimmed with a
rubbing. She was lai Lieut. in a cashmere
dress. a sbswl ABOUND her shoulders, red
elk handkerchief on her head,
white satin ribbon with gilt figures
bound around her head, beau
;iful silk handkerchief in her hand,
and frochi shawl thrown over her. Her
payer book was laid on her hands when the
service commenced lighted candles were
place at the top bottom aud sides Of the
cotiin, and lighted candle is held by each
one, in the church, until the services are over.
The priest read letter, that would take her
through Purgatory. He placed the letter
in be, hands, after which the people headed
by her husband Frustrated themselves De-
tore the CruciGx and kissed it-then kissed
her prayer hook, her forehead aud her lips,
crossing themselves after m ore bowling and
yrcstrstions she was carried out Of the
church the lid Of the coffin still of, small
10Y carrying the bowl Of rice and raisins
fer her use in Purgatory. which was placed
in the coffin By the priest before the lid was
put on. Thsse services are necessary in
o,der TO be buried in consecrsted ground.
We stay out of doors as much as possible
now, anticipating the long winter Of ice
sid snow, when we will be alone 50 far as
outside communication is concerned on this
h-lc Island, and will have to exert all our
powers to make life in any degree pleas
NE