Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-10-20
PROF. wILLOUGHBY, OF ALASKA.
A Character of Note I'm NorthwcSt
md DfscOycrcr of "Silent city"
Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Seattle Post-Inteligencer)
Among the arrivals in the city yes
terday was a man who had never before
seen a railroad-train nor a telegraph-iine.
He was a white man, too: man or IN
telligence, and one who had travelled as
many miles as most men OF MS age. IL
was Richard Willoughby, famiiiariy
known as Professor" Willoughby, one OF
the most picturesque characters OF the
Northwest He came in yesterday from
Juneau, Alaska, on the steamship VII
lana. and, after spending a few hours IN
the city, took passage on the hyer al ITO
for Tacoma, whence he proceeded on MS
WAY to san Francisco, to consuHmate the
sale of the rich tellurium ledge, or when
he was the discoverer, on Admiralty
Island.
The sights and sounds OF civilization
TO which he has been stranger LOT
nearly half a century were, or course.
a revelation to him; nor was ne hlInseH
a less interested object TO those VINO
met him. His appearance Is such as 10
attract attention anywhere. lie Is b Ieet
IL inches tall, and weighs about loo
mounds. Though slim OF frame, he is erect,
despite his threescore years and ten, ana
his muscles have been made hardy anu
vigorous by his many conflicts with IN
dams and wild beasts and wind and wed-
Their He has a long gray beard ana
until yesterday morning wore MS halr
long. The latter he had had CUT mere.
49,. -, .t.n tae white ENDS mad Glsippedreu
his close-cut hair was almost Jet DiacK'
making him look far younger.
He came out 10 California among the
forty-niners, but. leaving tina state before
its present name was adopted. ne pushed
ard n
has since mined and prospected from that
stream. as far north as Cooks Inlet. lie
was in at Silver Bow basin. at the head
of Gold creek, within two days after lhe
discoveries had landed there. lie nau MINI
self made discoveries or no common Vaiue
and Importance. He made the first DIS
coyery of coal In Hoona Island. and also
discovered coal on Killisnoo Island, the
claim which he afterward sofa 10 Chdries
Bartlett, Of Port Townsend. lie puilt the
first trail up Gold creek into silver BOW
BASIN He is known the entire lehsth VI
the Alaskan and British Columbia coast,
as professor Willoughby." He is remark
able for his success in dealing with the
Indians. He goes everywhere among them
alone. and knows all the chiefs personally.
His only troubles with Indians nave come
through an uprising. when he would JOIN
"the bows" as he calls them, and go into
the fight.
7, IS needless to say that such man
has had a variety of the widest KIND
of adventures. one OF these, OF when ne
told Yesterday, will serve to illustrate his
romantic personal history.
-Four years ago." he SAID, tnere was
an ugly bear in the interior, Known lar
and wide as 'club-foot,' on account OF
wound received from some hunter. The
~
slams and nearly as many Indians. i took
two Indians and pack or dogs ana went
after .Club-Foot.' determined, II possible,
to get him. 1t was winter ana the pear
was in his den. | brought MIN out py
blasting with dynamite. The dogs stood
no show with him whatever, ana ne
chased them as he pleased. The lhdiahs
and closed with him, and after nara
fight we got him. had his hide and MS
peculiar crooked lame paw tor long
time in my museum.
This museum Is one OF the wonders OF
Alaska. Professor Willoughby lives all
alone in a plain, double-board cabin on
the waterfront, Just to the right or Car
rolls Wharf at Juneau. One OF the rooms
his liying-room, Is fitted up with some
degree OF comfort. The other, though
roughly finished, contains treasures winch
are the envy of many university mu-
scum. II is one OF the points which all
tourists from the East are sure to visit.
and accounts Of IL have been published
in several Of the eastern papers. II con-
tains a fine collection OF gigantic bones,
rich furs. and rare hides, minerals OF
many kinds. sea-crow, RUSSIAN req
sable. a lot Of old guns and fiintlock-pis-
tolls. and a number of Indian curios. most
~ them presents to the Professor by his
friends among the Indian chiefs.
In this plain and unpretentioA dwelling
Mr.. WiIloughby has lived for many years.
He has no family, and has slept alone
under this humble roof through many
wild winter night. Recently Mr.. Johnson.
who accompanies him Oh nis present IMP
has lived with him part OF the time.
He takes little stock or part In the active
afYairs Of the town. His chief delight Is
in some adventurous expedition. win
equally keen relish be delights to talk
over his adventures around the glow OF
the winter evening fireside. He has a mar
yelious memory. and remembers the de-
tails and dates Of excursions made iorty
wears ago as accurately as those or yester-
day. He has the peculiar knack OF racon'
teur In bringing out the climax OF an
anecdote. and his wild life gives him q
rich store to draw from.
OF all the stories he has told none.
perhaps. has so challenged the creduiity
of ordinary mortals as that OF the silent
CITY" as he calls Il. Ninety miles north
west Of Juneau lies q great glacier. miles
In length, and with an abrupt race 3Oo
feet In height. standing on the summit