Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1897-01-28
fl TRIP THROUGH HLHSKH.
Interesting Letter to the Herald from an Old
Grant County, Boq.


Until recent years but little was
known of this country. On account
of Inconvenience in mode of travel and
extreme temperature of climate, the
aged meier sought here magical
fountains" or the invalids restoration
for squandered health.
Many are the discussions as to
which does more towards the civiliza-
ton of country, the railroad or the
newspaper. BE that as it may, yet
when the fact becomes known that
this territory contained rich deposits
of gold, the tide of immigration set
that way.
Yet Alaska sounds very distant to
some people and of great interest to
many others whom have met since
my return Having been there nine
teen months as prospector and at
the same time improved every oppor-
tunity to gain information about the
country in all respects, will tell YOU
Of Alaska as found it.
Let us buy our tickets in Seattle for
Juneau, Alaska. and board the Chill
kat, steamer of four hundred tons.
We find it laden with provisions,
miscellaneous and a crowd of prospee-
tors anticipating fortunes Wheel to
turn in their path, enabling them to
return in few years with sufficien.
gold-dust that they can lead live in
dependent. The passage from Seattle
to Jundeau is an inland passage, open
ing out on main ocean at but three
points, viz. Queen Charlotte Sound.
Milbank Sound and Dixon's Entrance.
OF these | will make further mention.
Steaming out of Puget Sound we
bid adieu to our "natiye land" not
knowing at what future day we will
return to its smiling shores. Stop
ping at Port Townsend. where the
quarantine officer came on board and
finding things satisfactory so far as
he was concerned, granted our clear
ancc papers, and we entered Georgia
BAY, British waters. Vancouver is
land is to our left and the shores of
British Columbia to our right. The
scenery here is simple though delight
full. Vancouver island is traversed
by a low range of mountains, and the
numerous flocks of sheep that can be
seen grazing. bespeake the occupation
of large portion of the inhabitants.
On the British Columbia shores are
the Coast Ranges. Their sides are
covered with immense forests of fir
and cedar. Many snow capped peaks
can be seen, the highest of which is
Mt. Baker. 14,444 feet high. From
the Gulf of Georgia we pass to Sew
mour Narrows. This pass was un-
doubleday cut through at some early
date by the water. It's banks are very
abrupt varying from fifty to one hum
dred feet in height above high tide
1t is very dangerous to enter this at
only high or low tide as the tide rip
is 50 strong that the large whirlpools
would swallow up any sized vessel
that would attempt to make the pass
A Russian and an English Man-of-War
attempted this when the tide rip was
in rage aad were lost
Passing safely through these mar
rows we arrive at st st. Mary's is
land. Here .'Old Glory" floating in
the breeze tells us that we are a an
American port. A custom house of
ficer boards the vessel and takes pas
sage for the furthest point the vessel
has clearance papers for, returning on
the same vessel to St. Mary's island
Now we enter Queen Charlotte
Sound, the first point that opens on
main ocean and encountering strong
Southwestern makes us all realize we
are 'out on the ocean sailing Queen
Charlotte Sound is forty miles across.
1t is dotted with many islands covered
with shrub timber Inhabitants are
principally Indians Of the Tolngas
tribe. The Wrangle narrows follow,
and narrow. indeed, are they II it
were not for buoys placed on hidden
rocks it would be impossible to make
the pass through them Fl Wangle
is but i stopping port Of about three
hundred and fifty inhabitants and is
situated at the mouth Of the Stickene
river This place is the first point Of
gold discovered in Alaska in 1853 by
Hanru TTihbofs a Canadian EraRoh-