The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1896-12-12
BACK FROM ALASKA.
Lee Arnett and Wife in Cali
fornia.
AFTER A LONG ABSENCE IN THEFAR
NORTH
They Return to Their
Former Home.

Iney Return TO Ihelr
Former Home.
QUITE A SUCCESSFUL VENTURE.
A Brief Note to the Old Folks Mt Home
and Letter TO Their Local Paper
at Angels, California Arnett's
Old Monongalia Friends will BE
Glad to Hear from Him.
Below is brief note from ]. L. Ar
nett and wife to his parents who live
at Arnettsville. Following is also a
letter copied from the Angels, Cali
fornia Voice, the local paper publish
ed at Lees home in California, Both
will be read with interest,
ANGELS CAMP, CAL, Oct. %.
Dear Folks;-With pleasure / will
tell you that we are back in Angels
alive and well. We came out by way
of st. Michaels by water over five
thousand miles. We were 55 days,
l was dreadfully sick most of the way
but got all right at the last.
| We have not decided what we will
do yet; will rest awhile first. Lee is
as portly and handsome as he can be.
He has bought me lots Of fine clothes
and lovely gold watch and two
rings, one of them diamond, and
himself gold watch and Of course be
had to buy clothes for we have not
received our trunks yet and if we had,
everything in them is old and out OF
date.
! hope you are all well and will
write as soon as you get this. Good
night-Love to all. ALMA.
l will put my mark on this paper to
let you know | have not forgotten
how to write. We have had few let
ters from you in two years. / wish
you would all let US hear from you.
Tell Nancy / want to know how my
namesake is and what she wants for
a present. l will write long letter
soon. Hoping this will find you all
well, with love, J. L. ARNETT.
Following is Mr.. Arnett's letter te
his home paper the Angels, California
| Voice:
Having been requested by my
friends to give a brief outline of my
travels since leaving Angels Camp in
August, 1898, | will now endeayor to
do so.
First, we went to Chicago and spent
several interesting days visiting the
worlds fair. From there we went to
West Virginia, my native home. At
ter visiting friends and relatives near
ly one year we turned our steps home
ward and, coming as far as Seattle,
concluded to try Alaska-the land Of
the midnight sun.
We left Seattle on the excursion
steamer Queen. We visited the Muir
glaciers and many other points of in
terest, arriving at Juneau August 10,
1894. Juneau is an enterprising lit
tie town situated near the coast and
north of Sitka. The mineral resour-
ces which are being discovered in its
mountains make it a point of great
interest to the capitalist.
With a party of six we left Juneau
on the slocp Mayilower, September 10,
1894. 1t took us as far as Dyer Inlet,
the head of canal navigation. From
there we walked across the Chilcat
mountains to the head of Lake Lin
derman. We hired Indians to carry
our outfits at the rate of $15 per 10t
pounds. With the exception of my
wife, who was carried across by an In
dian, we all waded several crossings
in ice cold water up to our waists
holding onto pole to keep from be-
ing washed off our feet by the power
full current which runs there. We
were five days reaching Lake Under
man, which we did without accident
But there were several laughable oc-
currences of which l have not space
to write. We were fortunate in meet
ing a party who came up the Yukon
river and brought their boat, which
saved us many days work, for we
would have been obliged to whipsav
our lumber and build a boat. We
started next morning on our journey
down the lakes, and our trip on the
water was quite relief after our hare
climb over the mountains.
From the lakes we come into Taxa
heeria river, thirty miles long, which
empties into Lake Lebarge, the source
of the Yukon. l will say to those
who go in the spring that they car
sleigh their outfit across the noun
tain instead of packing. Some have
found it convenient to sleigh thei
outfit across the lakes. BY so doing
they can get through the canyon an(
White Horse rapids, whereas if the.
went by boat they would have to por
tage around those rapids which ar
exceedingly dangerous. When they
have fair wind they rig sail on tn,
sled and go flying.
Mr.. Hagan and l took our boat ant
the outfit through the canyon, Will
the rest of the party walked round
Next time think would walk rount
too. At the White Horse we carried
everything around (about half mile,
and lowered the boat with ropes. w
were wet through and half frozen
My wife had made a big camp fir
and a good supper, including pot o
beans, commonly called 'sYukol
strawberries. We were up brigh
and early next morning and on on
way, for we were afraid the Yukol
river would freeze before we reache,
Forty Mile.
In crossing Lake Lebarge we en-
countered some very rough weather
We passed the old Mccormick tradin
post, which is now inhabited only b
Indians.