Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-06-23

Ate His Moocasins.

Charles Otterson. who is registered
at the Commercial Hote at San Fran
cisco, from Alaska, has passed through
an experience which no ordinary man
could have outlived. Hunger and eX-
posure 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 ofreturning 10 Sitka.
About ten months ago, said he,
Il first took it into my head to 20 10
Alaska. Ny object was to prospect
for gold. | had followed mining for
a good many years in Colorado and
Nevada. bat some way or other | had
never been able 10 strike it right.
When | left here | had about $500
in cash with me, and when | reached
Sitka made numerous inquiries and
finally concluded TO try my lack in
the mountains back of the Fish river
about 100 miles from the coast. This
determined upon. | bought few
cooking utensils. IA prospector' Quilt,
aud quantity OF provisions sufii-
cient, as | calculated, to last me
about six months.
Making my way up the river in
small boat which makes occasional
trips, l bought small donkey, and
packing my things on it struck into
the interior The country is exceed
iugly rough and found it necessary
at last to establish camp. Here |
cache great part Of my provisions
and would make extended trips among
the mountains. | expected 10 spend
the winter in cabin | had built, but
in December "A lot of wandering ma
tives made descent one day on my
camp while | was absent and stole
nearly everything had. The don
key in the meantime had died, and |
found myself in the heart OF wild
country with about enough provis-
ions left to last me week.
II saw that my only chance was to
make at once Tor the settlements. and
| struck out in the direction OF the
river. The second night IA bowling
storm came on. | lost my way, and
in spite Of my heavy clothing came
very nearly freezing to death.
Il wandered about for nearly three
days, living on raw bacon, and that
in limited quantities, "a | was doing
all | could to nurse my little store,
knowing that when it was gone star
vation would stare me in the face.
AT the end Of ten days my last
particle of food had disappeared, and
| was 50 weak from cold and exposure
that l could hardly stand on my feet.
| knew that | must keep on, and .an
extra pair Of moccasins | had were
eaten. They lasted for three meals,
and ] tell you they were about "a
good, it seemed to me, rs anything
had ever eaten.
'All this time | could make but
few miles IA day, | was 50 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 strug
gled on. 4 few miles farther on |
came upon an Esquima2 village, aud
here | was taken care Of by the ma
tives. 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 | regaiued my strength rapidly,
aud little more than month ago
was able TO start for San Francisco.
am confident that there is IA great
deal Of gold in the country was in
and l mean 10 20 there again as soon
as can make arrangements TO do
So"