The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1889-08-09
THE SILENT ClTY.D
wonderful Photograph Taken Of n.
markable Mirage In Alaska.

markable Mirage In Alaska
During the past fifteen years Professor
Richard ID. Willoughby has been char.
acter in Alaska well known among
whites and natives. As one of the early
settlers OF old Fort Wrangel, in which
his individuality was stamped among
the sturdy miners who frequented the
then important trading post, he hes
grown with the far off territory, and ia
today as much part of Aiaska's history
as the totem poles are identified with
the past lives of native chieftains. To
him belongs the honor of being the first
American who discovered gold within
Alaskas ice bound peaks
Professor Willoughby is favorably
known from Fort Tongas to Mount st.
Elias. He lived third of century
along the coast, and his knowledge Of
Southeastern Alaska forms an Arctic
encyclopedia of which he himself Is an
inseparable part. He left civilization so
long ago that he does not remember of
ever having seen a locomotive or a train
of cars. He is a man of robust stature
and about so years of age. AS a miner
he has no equal in the territory. He has
exposed more locations of mineral wealth
than any other three men, and is at pres
ent the owner of many promising claims.
Among other things upon which he em-
ploys his spare momentsis photography.
While pursuing this scientific amuse-
ment Professor Willoughby frequently
discovered remarkable mirages, and af-
ter four years of labor, amid dangers,
privation and suffering, he accomplish
ed for the civilized world feat in pho
Biography heretofore considered prob
lematic. 1t was on the longest day in
June, 1888, that Willoughby's camera
took within its grasp the reproduction of
acity remote and, at first glance, thought
to be within the recesses of another
world. This remarkable photograph was
taken at 9o'clock at night in Glacier bay.
The mirage city was named by Profes-
sor Willoughby "The Silent City" The
first two copies were sent to the govern
ment officials at Washington, D. C. The
second was placed in the hands of the
purser of an Alaskan steamer, and the
third copy was sent to The Chronicle. 1t
is 10 inches in length by 8 inches in width.
The view, sometimes indistinct, is appa-
rently taken from public park or gar
den on hill In the foreground is q
graveled walk, a stout fence, rustic
seat and little child at play. Beyond
the stone wall are the roofs of houses,
with clumps of trees at the sides. In the
distance are the half completed towers
of cathedral and several tall public
buildings, while far away, enveloped In
what appears to be cloud like atmos-
phere, are tall smoke stacks and the
towers of churches. The style of archi-
lecture is decidedly modern, the roofs
are like those of England or the British
provinces. The chimneys are made Of
tiles. Taken as whole, it is remark
able photograph, artistic to large de-
gree.
A correspondent of The Chronicle,
writing from Juneau, Alaska, says of
Willoughby and his wonderful photo
graph: 1.-The professor is perfectly
straight in his business transactions, and
in my dealings with him have foun
him the soul of honor. / have frequent
ly seen mirages in Alaska, but never
saw the photograph of one. Peterson
artists here, say the picture is genuine
production, and think it is of city in
Russia. San Francisco can probably To-
cate the town"
A hundred people or more were
shown the photograph yesterday. Some
regarded the whole thing as n fraud,
while others believed it the genuine
Photographic result of a mirage. One
man related his experience with mi
rage in Death Valley, in San Bernardino
county. Going down the mountain side
into the valley one sees mirage repre-
senting IA luxuriant garden with lakes.
rivers, waterfalls and rich vegetation.
Upon reaching the base of the noun
tain barren, sandy desert is found in
the valley.
The expert photographer employed at
Tabor's art rooms examined the photo
graph critically and said: II never
heard of city represented in mirage
before. / have seen islands and land
scapes, but never city. The photo
graph is the result of badly exposed
plate. regard it as a trick. Such re-
suit could be obtained in making a copy
from a similar photograph by long ex-
posure on bright moonlight night, say
an hours exposure. But the figure of n
human being, like those of the children
in the foreground of this picture, would
not show at all in the representation of q
mirage This photograph was taken by
a rapid exposure, about two or three Sec
onds in duration, either in q bad light OF
poor exposure"
Mirages, as a general rule, represent
scenes in the immediate vicinity, not
over few nundred miles away at the
best. At first the city of Victoria was
suggested, but an old resident of that
city denied the likeness. Victoria is fully
900 miles from Glacier bay, where the
alleged photograph was made. A score
of persons yentured an opinion as to the
location of "The Silent City" However,
no one could be found who recognized
the scene. At Tabor's and other photo
graphic establishments it was thought
the picture was that of city in France
or Germany A dozen persons agreed
that II resembled Montreal or Quebec,
possibly Halifax. The agents of the Ca
madam Pacific, who are well acquainted
with Canadian cities, stated that 1t could
not be Toronto, Ottawa or Quebec. They
were divided in opinion as to Halifax
and Montreal. In the latter city there is
q cathedral building resembling the one
in the photograph. AS final result of
yesterdays investigation Montreal ap-
pears to be the most likely city repre-
sented in the wonderful mirage picture
of "The Silent City."-San Francisco