The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-16
BRAVE TOPEKA GIRL.
A Letter From Miss Emma
Kelly of This City
Written just Before Starting
For the ChflkOOt Pass.
An Account of Her Trip Northward
Written Home to Her Parents Here.

Miss Emma Kelly, the Topeka young
woman who started to Klondike, has
reached Dyea, and started over the
Chilkoot pass, as related in yesterday s
State Journal
In a letter written to her parents, ex-
Senator and Mrs. H. B. Kelly, who re-
side at Tenth and Monroe streets, and
received yesterday, she tells of her trip
by steamer. She has written the letter
on different days of the trip. ending
with her arrival at Dyea. The first date
is September %. Following is the let
ter
ON steamer Willamette Cgoing into
VictOria). I sailed yesterday morning
from Seattle and have been on the wa
ter two days, but am not seasick. am
having fine trip We have lots of
good things to eat on the boat, and my
room is very pleasant. The man of
whom | wrote you, Mr.. BigeIOW with
and kind to me. We will get into Dyea
Sunday night or Monday morning, and
will start at once over the pass, which
we can cross in five days. Then we will
take Mr.. Bigelow's fine boats and row
right through lakes Linderman and
Bennett, then down the Yukon river.
In 70 or 80 days we will be safely in
Dawson City. Mr.. BigelOW gave me
the best dog in the country. He is 3
years old and was in Alaska two years
and is trained to harness and can draw
a sled on which is IS pounds. 1 am go
ing to bring him home with me when I
come He viii sleep in my tent and
guard me night and day. He will haul
my food on a sled.
September 24-We were in Victoria
three hours yesterday and had fine
buggy ride. Captain Hunter plays the
violin and I play with him on my gui-
tar. He and the purser of the ship can
not do enough for me. They told me
could run the boat 'K1ondil1e.' my dog,
has the best on the ship. He is a great
pet.
About $50 passengers are on the ship
of whom so are women. Three of the
women are going on through to Daw-
son City this winter.
september 26-We are having a love-
~ trip, only last night we had an awful
storm and every body on shipboard was
seasick. Last night a steamer brought
us the news of the big glacier on Chill
kOOt pass tumbling down and killing
three people. We will pass just east
of it, We will get into Dyea Tuesday
noon and start over the trail. Friday
we will be at lake Linderman. I have
seen some of the most beautiful scenery
in the world. l can see mountains in
don't feel as cold here as 1 did in June
in Chicago.
There is a jolly lot of people on the
steamer and the crew is a most pleas
ant one 1 can't mail this letter until
get to Dyea- 1t will go back on this
steamer. This morning we passed
Queen Charlotte islands. Tomorrow we
get to Sltka, the oldest town in Ameri-
ca. We spent part of today in Juneau
the metropolis of Alaska, and to make
sure of help to carry my baggage,
hired six big Indians to carry US over
the pass. 1 have to pay SO cents
pound for my baggage. The captain of
the steamer let me take the six Indians
on board free, otherwise it would have
cost me $50 We can get over the pass
easily in two days; then we will saMl
into Dawson City by October 20. I
will write to you from there.
September 2S-Arrived at Dyea this
p. m. and hasten to mail this letter
Will start tomorrow morning across
the pass. Rest assured that am with
the best guide in the country and I will
get through safely.
EMMA L. KELLY"