The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-05-23
AN AWFUL EXPERIENCE
DEATH OF AN EX-VlRGlN.
IAN.
In Alaska-L. p. Hodge, Who Was Form
erly an EmplOye of the 'MadisOnian''
Frozen to Death-The Story of His
Fate.

l.. S. Hodge, a printer who worked
for a number of years in the MADISON
Ian office and who was we'll known in
Virginia, is believed to have frozen to
death in the wilds of Alaska. The story
of his fate is graphically told in the
Alaska news, which we reprint through
the courtesy of A. J. Wilcomb.
Upon the arrival of the Rustler this
morning it was learned for the first
time positively that the American mail
which started for Forty Mile last De-
cember had been safely delivered at it's
destination, and the carrier had re-
turned again to civilization. Jimmie
Jackson is quite a hero to-day, and as
he walked up Seward street, clad in his
parka and moosehide boots, he attract
ed as much attention as a circus. His
trip of nearly 1000 miles was a peril
u one; one that the hardest and
most experienced mOuntaineer would
have long hesitated before attempting.
Not that the journey would have been
so dangerous at d favorable season of
the year, as it would not, and the same
ground has been covered by hundreds
Of others, made, however, in the spring
Or fall when travelling in the interior
was good and the perlls incident to Arc
tic storms and billiards. had passed.
But to leave Juneau for Forty Mile in
December, when winter is at it's worst,
and when residents of the Yukon
scarcely venture outside their cabins,
was considered by the Old-timers here.
who were fully acquainted with the
rigors OF an Alaska winter, to be little
short OF suicidal. Five persons com
prised the party which left for the in
terror in charge OF the mail, three In
dians, Jimmie jackson, his nephew AL
bert. and Chilkat Bob. The other two
were white men, l.. S. Hodge and N.
McNells, the former being a printer
formerly in the employ OF the News,
and the latter d miner, who for a time
worked On the Silver Queen at Sheep
creek. The friends OF the two white
men did their utmost to persuade them
not to attempt the journey at that
time OF the year: they We're unused to
hardships, had never roughed it, and
were in no way Injured to the cold and
storms they had every reason to antici'
pate. The pleadings were of no avail
and now, beyond all reasonable doubt,
it is believed they have paid the penal
ty of their rashness with their lives.
Since the last of January, jackson
has been heard from three times, indi.
rectly, through parties who had passed
him on their way out. In each instance
but little news cOnld be learned of the
fate of Hodge and McNelis beyond
that the party had become separated al
lake Atlin and the Indians had pro.
ceeded on down thu river. 1t was gener
ally supposed that the white mer
could not keep up with the Indians, and
becoming exhausted, they had dropped
behind and were left to get on the best
way they could themselves. The facts
of the case, as told by Jackson, togeth'
err with the principal incidents OF the
trip, are as follows:
The party left Juneau ON the 10th Of
December, having an outfit all told
weighing between 800 and 900 pounds.
A large canoe conveyed them to the Ia.
kou inlet, thence up the inlet almost tc
the mouth of the river. The first camp
was made at Sheep creek, just below
town, and the second at Bishop point
Upon reaching the inlet the weather
was very rough and the seas rolled sc
high as to almost swamp their canoe.
The wind was fair and stiff enough tc
send them flying until their mast broke
after which they resorted to oars and
paddles. AS the upper end of the har.