The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-08-01


said Mrs. Berry yesterday, "but, at
the same time. think may say that
few women could have gone through
successfully what I have encountered
in the last ten months.
ION the 18th of March last year I
married Mr.. Berry and came direct to
San Francisco, where we spent two or
three days. From here we sailed for
Juneau, and there our difficulties be-
gan. We had been told that the trail
from Juneau to Forty Mile was uncer-
tain and dangerous and too difficult
for any woman to undertake. In spite
of that, however, 1 determined to make
the trip, for 1 had left home with the
intention of spending at least five years
in the wilds of Alaska. The journey
from Juneau to Forty Mile camp is a
romance in it's way. I was full of ex-
citing incidents, privations, and, in
many instances escape from death
seemed almost impossible.
From Juneau we took the steamer to
Dyea, and once there our hard work
really commenced. The transportation
was slow, the dog teams were not &C
customed to the climate, and altogeth-
er we appeared to be in a bad fix. 1t
was March "a when we left Juneau,
and it was not until June 10 that we
arrived at our destination.
1.-The journey over ice and snow was
an experience that I am not likely to
soon forget. The accommodations for
a woman were very poor, though we
had the best that was obtainable. We
carried with US a stove and tent, ana
the latter we pitched every night on
some spot where the snow was nara.
Our beds were made Of boughs. MI.
Berry was careful to see that L had
every comfort possible. Just before
leaving Juneau I was given large
bear skin robe, which added much 10
my comfort.
'T rode all the way from Juneau 10
the mining camp. During the journey
1 was strapped to the sled or boat, as
considerably better than walking,
there was always an uncertainty
about my position which made 1t I'M
comsortab BILE. At first it was very,
very cold, but after a time got used
to it. One of the greatest dl1ncullies
we had to encounter was the mas nous,
thickness of the trail. The snow fell
SO heavily and the winds blew so nigh
that it frequently happened we We're
able only to follow the trail with the
greatest difficulty.
ST think the most remarkable eX-
perience I had during the overland
tourney was the trip over Lake La
barge. When we reached that point
we found the lake broken up in the
day time, though at night there was
a thin ice which made travel possible.
We saw that it would be impractical
BILE to make the portage from there
to the river, so we determined to make
the trip during the night. am sure
1 don't know just how 1t happened,
for was asleep most of the time: One
night in May I retired to my berth on
a scow which we had built, and woke
up the next morning thirty-siX miles
away We had crossed the lake in
one night, and undertaking which 1
do not think had ever been accom-
plished before or since. I was told by
my husband that a sail had been hoist
ed on the scow, which helped the days
over the lake.
81 want to say just here that the
trip over the Juneau route when the
lakes and rivers are broken up and
filled with floating ice is particularly
hazardous to women. They are not
nearly so we'll able to stand the hard
ships and dangers incident to such a
journey. 1 do not hink I would be
willing to make the same trip again,
though if my husband goes back next
spring shall probably accompany
him. a,,
when we arrived at Forty Mile we
found that there was absolutely moth
ing to do. My husband struck a claim
and made some money in that way,
but it was hardly enough to keep us
going. In anticipation of just such
luck, however, we had brought ample
supplies with US, and also some money,
and so we did not suffer. Just as we
were beginning to despair, there came
the news of the wonderful find on the
Klondyke. I told my husband the best
thing we could do would be to go i'm
mediately to that section. He objected
at first, but finally yielded to my per-
suasion, and started for the diggings.
II was left behind by my own re-
quest to fix UP the camp and to take
all the provisions we had to the new
discovery. 1 cannot begin to tell you
of the hardships I encountered. The
river was already beginning to show
signs of floating ice, and I knew it
would be only a short time before it
would be completely frozen over
Finally, however, 1 got everything in