The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-09-11
DEATH ON A GLACIER.

Tales of death in tho frozen Alaskan coun'
try have reached civilization in recent years,
but none of them surpass and few of them
compare with the one which has just reached
Seattle concerning the death of three men.
Charles A. Blackstone. George Botcher and j.
w. Mainque. They were forced TO give up
their lives last April, but IL was not until
now the news OF their death reached this city.
The three men were expert miners. They
went north on the steamer Lalme in March,
1896. For time they were at Cooks Inlet
and later they went TO Circle City. They re
mained in tie district until March Of this
year. but fortune did not favor them and
March 25 they started back TO Seattle, intend
ing TO go TO Portage bay, an arm Of Prince
William sound. There they expected to take
passage a steamer.
To reach Portage bay they had to cross
Portage glacier, which is about 80 miles in
width, and (Which extends almost the entire
distance from Sunrise City TO Prince William
sound. They started on their journey across
frozen fields of ice TO the sornd, carrying
provisions enough with them TO last until
they took the steamer. They also carried the
mail from Sunrise City. March q they were
seen on the glacier by Mr.. Gladhouso ana
by n Swede named Peterson. They were
never seen alive afterward
Before Blackstone left this city he asked a
| friend, George Hall, to look out for his wife
| and family should anything happen him.
! Whom word reached this city that the tlssse-
| men had left Circle City and had not made
| connection with the steamer at Portage bay
ii all went to Alaska TO investigate. He
easily found traces of the men, and started
out on their trail in the center of Portage
glacier, which is high mountain, and from
all the evidence In Halls possession 4 would
seem that his friends, instead OF crossing the
glacier direct TO Portage bay, had lost their
Way and had ascendel that terrible mountain,
coming out on the wrong side of the glacier.
On the side on which they came out the
glacier ends abruptly and drops into another
arm of Prince William sound, by means of an
almost perpendicular cliff. AT the bottom of
this cliff there is however, short line of
beach, about 80 yards in width. Mr.. Hall
found how Blackstone Botcher and Malinque.
after reaching the top of this perpendicular
cliff, had crawled under ledge of ice. From
statements found in Blackstone's diary, il is
evident that most of their provisions had been
lost in crossing the mountain. However that
mayb be, both Botcher and Malinque perished
under this ledge of ice, as evidenced by the
following statement found on Blackstone's
body:
Saturday, April 4, ls97.-This is to GER
tify that Botcher froze TO death Tuesday
night. j. ". Malinque died Wednesday fsre-
noou, being frozen 50 badly. @. A. Blackstone
had his ears, nose and four fingers on right
hand and two on left hand frozen. an inch
! back. The storm drove US on before II over
took us within an hour OF the summit 1t
drove everything we had over the cliff
cept blankets and moose hide. which we
| crawled under. Supposed to nave been 40 de-
! grees below zero. Friday / started for Salt
Water. l don't know how l got there without
outfit Saturday afternoon / gathered up
evoryt thing. Have enough grub for ten days,
providing bad weather does not set in. Sport
was blown over the elm. i think can hear
| him howl once in while"
The bodies of Malinque and Botcher were
never found. Ii would appear that Black
stone went over tine cliff with the intention of
finding the dog. From his, diary, IL seems
that he found his dog. and finally, in order
10 prevent himself from STRIVING to death. he
was forced To kill and eat IL. But il was Of
no avail: no relief came. and he starved or
froze 10 death. On May q, just two months
| after the three left Sunrise City, Mr.. Hall, on
| his errand of love and mercy, found the body
! of his old friend at the bottom of the cliff.
! together with the bones of his dog. Mr.. Hail
! gave his body burial.
Blackstone was 80 years old, was native
| of Oregon. and had lived in Portland. Gem
/ tralia, Wash, and Seattle. While living here
/ he conducted n candy and fruit stand. Botcher
/ was native Of Montana, was 80 years OF age.
/ and for many years followed mining.
| Malinque was y native Of Indiana, was 30
/ years of age, was graduate OF Hamilton Col
| lege, Missouri, and was practical miner.
/ For many years he was partner OF Mr..
| Hall, the hero Of this story.