The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-07-04
DAYLIGHT SCENE IN ALASKA.
Beauties of Sunrise on q G1acier-A
Dazzling Scene,

Beauties of Sunrise on a G1acier-A
Dazzling Scene.
After we had seer the unwilling Of
the majestic peaks and glaciers that
evening, and their baptism in the
dOwn-pouring sunbeams, it was incon-'
ceivable that nature could have any,
thing finer to show us. Nevertheless.
compared with what was coming the
next morning, all that vas as nothing.
AS far as we could see, the lovely dawn
gave no promise of anything uncom-
mon. It's most impressive features
were the frosty ~clearness Of the sky,
II a deep, brooding calm, made all
the more striking by the intermittent
thunder of the bergs. The sunrise we
did not see at all, for we were beneath
the shadows of the ford cliffs; but, in
the midst of Il studies, we were star
tied by the sudden appearance of a red
light burning with a strange, unearth-
ly splendOr on the topmost peak Of the
Fairweather Mountains. Instead Of
vanishing as suddenly as it had ap-
pcared, it spread and spread until the
whole range down to the level Of the
glaciers was filled with the celestial
fire. In color it was at first q vivid
crimson, with a thick, furred appear
ance, as fine as the alpen glow, yet in
describabaly rich and deep-nOt in the
least like a garment or mere external
flush or bloom through which one
might expect to see the rocks or snow,
but every mountain apparently glow
ing from the heart like molten metal
fresh from a furnace.
Beneath the frosty shadows Of the
ford we stood hushed and awe-stricken
gazing at the holy vision, and had we
seen the heavens opened and God made
manifest our attention could not have
been more tremendously strained.
When the highest peak began to burn
it did not seem to be stepped in sun
shine, however glorious, but rather as
If it had been thrust into the body Of
the sun itself. Then the supernal fire
slowly descended, with a sharp line Of
demarcation separating it from the
cold, shaded region beneath; peak after
peak, with their spires and ridges and
%cascading glaciers, caught the heavenly
glow, until all the mighty host stood
TRANSPORTED, hushed, and thoughtful,
as if awaiting the coming Of the Lord.
The white, rayless light Of the morning.
seen when 1 was alone amid the silent
peaks of the Sierra, had always seemed
to me the most telling of the terrestrial
manifestations Of God. But here the
mountains themselves were made di-
vino on1 Ioo1ornI bic olory -, or,,,
still more impressive.
How long we gazed 1 never knew.
The glorious vision passed away in q
gradual, fading change through q thou
sand tones of color to pale yellow and
white, and then the work Of the ice
world went on again in everyday beau
ty. The green waters of the ford were
filled with sun spangles; with the up
springing breeze the fleet Of icebergs
set forth on their voyages, and on the
innumerable mirrors and prisms Of
these bergs and on those Of the shat
tered crystal walls of the glaciers COM
mon white light and rainbow light be-
to glow, while the mountains,
changing to stone, put on their frosty
jewelry and doomed again in the thin.
azure in serene terrestrial majesty. We
turned and sailed away, joining the
outgoing bergs, while "Gloria in Ex-
celsis' still seemed to be sounding over
all the white landscape, and our burn
ing hearts were ready for any fate, feel
Ing that whatever the future might
have in store the treasures we had
gained would enrich our lives forever.
Century.