Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-07-01

Wheeling from the Region or the North
Pole.
To ne Editor Of he Register.
PRYBIIoF ISLANDS, ALASKA,
ST. Paul ISLAND, BEHRIYG SEA,
May 59th, 1885.
As said good,by to you in Wheeling
April 18th you requested me to write you OF
our trip to this fsr-off portion of Uncle Sans
dominions. To give you in detail an account
of trip across the continent, finished up
with 2,400 miles sea voyage would re-
quire more space than you could spare and
possibly prove uninteresting reading for
your numerous patrons. | will therefore
refer your readers to "Twain's trip across
the Continent and hurry along to our start
BY sea.
First let me pitch into you little for
your statement in the Sunday REGISTER
after left your city, that 81 had bid fare
well to Montana forever" How you could
get such an impression sn at a loss to
know, but editors, ike ordinary mortals,
are not infalhble. Montana is my home,
and to Montana ] have anchored my ship.
All my interests are with her, as believe
she will in the near future attract more at
tention throughout the United States and
Europe from capitalists and emigration
than any other western State or Territory.
We left Wheeling April Is, arriving in
Glendive, Montana on the Both, and on the
Sd of May, at public auction, sold our
household furniture, packed up such things
as we did not wish 10 part with, and stored
them awaiting our return from Alaska. On
the pight Of the Sd started for San Francisco,
where we arrived without delay or accident
en- the morning OF the Sth. The vessel on
which we were TO sail for our new station
was to leave the wharf promptly at 10 a. N.
Sunday, the 10Th. Our stay was short IN
the city, to gather the odds and ends for
our outfit and get them aboard ship for
voyage to q country We knew rot OF. We
did the best we could, trusting to tie supply
store of the Alaska Commercial Company
for the unprovided comforts and necesssries
of life. After two delightfully."- comfortable
rights rest at the Palace Hotel, refreshed
and supplied with everything excepting
some OF Uncle Michael Reillys hes" "
which Henry Hamm promised but forgot
we boarded the good steamer st. Paul at
9:45 q. m. and at 10 she steamed away
from the wharf, drawing III feet, loaded
with supplies of all kinds for the fur COM
panies' stations in Alaskan waters.
The st. Paul
is q very staunch iron vessel, brig rugged 900
tons, built and owned by the Alaska Com
mercial Company, and is used to transport
all the compsnys supplies and turs to and
from Alaska. They also own SIX smaller
vessels to ply between their various stations
and their depots of supplies, carrying goods,
men and furs. The st. Paul loads at
Ounslaska all furs and makes her last trip
of the season to San Francisco IN the month
Of September of each year. when the seal
killing is over. Our passenger list en-
braced the companies agent at st. George,
St. Paul, ST. Michaels and Yucon river.
Mr.. Leon Stass, one of the members OF the
company and general agent, DR.. Nsyes, the
Musician of st. George, Mr.. Townsend, q
naturalist sent out by the Fish Commission
from Washington to gather specimens, r.
F. RYAN and Capt. A. P. Land, Assistant
Suecial Agent and myself, wife, daughter
and the Junior, besides some half dozen men
who win be occupied for the killing season
only.
was monotonous, the sea being moderately
rouph and desperately lonely. The North
Pacific ocean is the most unfrequented sea,
rot excepting the Arctic, q "Gouney ever
few over. Captain Erskin, commander OF
the ST. Paul, SAYS in FIVE years he has never
met q sail from Frisco to Alaska, and IN
fifteen years as commander OF the AiSshs
Company has never lost q ship although ne
has frequently been caught in the ieeoergs
from the Arctic and always worked out
safely. .c.,,o,
Gate" when the ship slowed up to put on
the n;lot by whom we all sent postsls
10 he mailed to our friends. Now
fairly at sea, the waves rolling
b;vb and the little ship rocking and Plung-
inc AGAINST a strong head wind, which pre-
vented the hosting of the sails TO steady the
vessel We began to feel that the broad
ec-es of Moutanas prairies would be more
Gladly welcomed than ever before, the hrst
passenger to fall victim to inst most nor
rible of al dissgreeable sickness was my
daughter Katie, with the writer as close
second. We were both soon past caring
For the civilization we left behind us, or tns
nsvst;ss Of this wicked world. Meh'
+ Is simply indiscribsbly norFio,s,
ors must experience it to fully
ann Snnreciste the intensity of its disagreeaoles,
US the Junior was sick two days ana
w;sSsd he had never left Montana De
Srsced M and proved to be as good sailor
tSs remainder of the trip as his motne5 !;
Tho Was never sick, but had her hands tG ,
r.r;ng for those of Us who were never so'e
- Leave our bunks. Mr.. Townsend OF tne
Sm;,bsopisn, caught some 6ne specimens Is
q ,Ss black Albasross or "Gouney on .
Sook and line, measuring SIX feet rom ug !,
- s;o They sre a very 6us specimen s,i, o.
sss fowls and are for exhibition IN the o1 ~
oman scH an, he has permission to 'a &c
dozen specimens OF inc III
ssals sea lions. ana :,
$50 Won win in due time find mounted 10 Iu
w ms Sm;sSsouian, to take the places OF sne
olS worn ont specimens which now aiSsrA''
me F ,Du days and two hours brought u !
O"nsIsska, the irst landing; II vas So
g II morning vhea ioos ed. gu y
elo os com - and csaghs the first s,gas 2
o. ny ~. reaks Of the Anntian isiancs sos -,
The s's e fs ing way Of This was mos !,
erils Y s;shf 20 jehpd Was hallea y :,
80 SO 80 ~ poand5 Nip steamed $40 - ~