The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1893-06-10
LIVED ON HIS MOCCASINS.
Terrible Experience of Prospector il
an Alaska Winter


Charles Otterson, who is registered
at the Commercial Hotel from Alaska,
has passed through an experience
which no ordinary man could have out
lived Hunger and exposure to the
frightful winter of the Northwest have
worn him away in flesh, and in the
lines of his face there are still traces of
suffering, but he is already thinking of
returning to Sitka.
"About ten months ago" said he, 81
first took it into my head to go to
Alaska. My object was to prospect in
the hills for gold, l had followed min
Ing for a good many years in Colorado
and Nevada, but some way or other
never had been able to strike it right.
When | left there had about $500 in
cash with me, and when | reached
Stka made numerous inquiries and
finally concluded to try my luck in the
mountains back of the Fish river, about
100 miles from the coast. This deter.
mined upon | bought few cooking
utensils, a prospectors outfit and a
quantity of provisions sufficient, as |
calculated, to last me about six months.
Making my way up the river in
small boat which makes occasional
trips, bought a small donkey, and
packing my things on it struck into the
interior. The country is exceedingly
rough, and | found it necessary at last
to establish camp. Here | cached
great part of my provisions, and would
make extended trips among the noun
tains | expected to spend the winter
in a cabin had built, but in December
a lot of wandering natives made
descent one day on my camp while |
was absent and stole nearly everything
had. The donkey in the meantime
had died and | found myself in the
heart Of a wild country with about
enough provisions left to last me a
week.
81 saw that nay only chance was to
make at once for the settlements, and |
struck out in the direction of 3he river.
The second night bowling storm came
on. | lost my way, and in spite of my
heavy clothing came very nearly freez-
ing to death.
81 wandered about for nearly three
days, living on raw bacon, and that in
limited quantities, as | was doing all |
could to nurse my little store, knowing
that when it was gone starvation would
stare me in the face.
cat the end of ten days my last
particle of food had disappeared, and
was SO weak from cold and exposure
that | could hardly stand on my feet.
knew that must keep on, and an
extra pair of moccasins 1 had were
eaten. They lasted for three meals,
and tell you they were about as good,
it seemed to me, as anything | had
ever eaten.
CAN this time | could make but a
few miles a day, | was so weak and
benumbed with the cold, and just
about the time | was preparing to die
it seemed to me came in sight of the
river. Here | crawled in among the
rocks and rested, and then struggled
on. A few miles farther on | came
upon an Esquimau village, and here |
was taken care Of by the natives, They
were very kind to me, and at last two
of them agreed to take me to Sitka.
"When / reached the latter place |
was still weak and suffering greatly
from the exposure | had undergone,
but | regained my strength rapidly,
and little more than month ago was
able to start for San Francisco. | am
confident that there is a great deal Of
gold in the country | was in, and |
mean to go there again as soon as |
can make arrangements to do So"