Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-02-27
MOSQUITOES IN ALASKA.
Human Life Endangered and Animals
Killed by Them.

a fair wind one day made me think il
possible to take hunt inland, but, to my
disgust, it died down after had proceeded
two or three miles. and my fight back to
camp with the mosquitoes l shall always
remember as one of the salient points of
my life. 1t seemed as if there was an up
ward rain of insects from the grass. that
became a deluge over marshy tracts-and
more than half the ground was marshy.
OF course not sign of any game was seen
except few old tracks and the tracks of
an animal are about the only part of it that
could exist here in the mosquito season.
which lasts from the time the snow is half
off the ground until the first severe frost. a
period of some three or four months. Dur
ing that time every living creature that can
leave the valleys ascends the mountains.
closely following the snow line, and even
there peace is not completely attained, the
exposure to the winds being of far more
benefit than the GOODNESS due to
the altitude, while the mosquitoes
are left undisputed masters of the valleys.
except for a few Struggling animals on their
way from one range of mountains to the
other. Had there been any game, and had
| obtained fair shot, honestly doubt,if
could have secured it, owing TO these pests !;
not altogether on account of their ravepous
attacks upon my face, and especially the
eyes, but for the reason that they were so
absolutely dense that it was impossible to
see clearly through the mass in taking aim.
When got to camp l was thoroughly ex-
hausted with my incessant fight, and COM
pletely out of breath, which had to regain
as best could in sitting smoke from dry,
resinous pine kots. A traveller who had
spent summer on the Lower Yukon,
where did not find the pests SO bad on nv
journey as on the upper river was of opir-
ion that a nervous person without mask
would soon be killed by nervous prostra-
ton, unless he were to take refuge in mid
stream. | know that the native dogs are
killed by the mosquitoes under certain
circumstances, and heard reports, which
believe to be well founded, both from In
dams and trustworthy white persons that
the great brown bear-erroneously but
commonly called the grizzly-of these re-
gions is at times compelled to succumb to
these insects. The statement seems almost
preposterous, but the explanation is COM
paratively simple. Bruin, having exhausted
all the roots and berries of one mountain.
or finding them scarce, thinks he will cross
the valley to another range, or perhaps it is
the odor of salmon washed up along the
rivers banks that attracts him. Covered
with heavy fur OH his body, his eyes,
nose and ears are the vulnerable points for
and here of course they con-
gregate in the greatest numbers. At last
when he reaches swampy stretch. they
rise in myriads, until his forepaws are kept
so busy, as he strives TO keep his eyes clear
of them, that he cannot walk, whereupon
he becomes enraged, and, bear like, rises
upon his launches to fight. 1t is now a
mere question of time until the bears eyes
become so swollen from innumerable bites
as TO render him perfectly blind, when he
wanders helplessly about until he gets
mired in the marsh, and SO starves to
death. = Lieut.. Schwatka's Travels in
Alaska.
He saw His Father.
Father" he began, after taking the old
man out back of the barn, { Your years
are many"
Yes, my son"
You have toiled early and late, and by
the sweat of your brow you have amassed
this big farm"
That's SO. William
1t has panied me more than can tell
to see you at your age troubling yourself
with the cares of life. Father, your de-
Ginning days should be spent in the old
armchair in the chimney-corner"
Yes, William, they should
Now, father, being you are old and
feeble and helpless, give me deed of the
farm, and you and mother live out your
few remaining days with me and Sally
William" said the old man, as he
pushed back his sleeves, IS / think / see the
drift o them remarks. When Tn ready to
start for the poorhouse. FL play fool and
hand over the deed, William
Yes, SIR
g In order to dispel any delusion on your
part that 1 m old and feeble and helpless,
I'm going to knock down half an acre of
cornstalks with your heels ~
And when the convention finally ad-
journed, William crawled to the nearest
haystack and cautiously whispered to him.
self:
And Sally was to breach the same thing
to ma at the same time! wonder if she's
MORALLY injured or only crippled for
life 2"